Also known as Metro-land, this suburban area north-west of London was a major project by the railway to transform unused land into a series of residential communities. Metroland wasn’t the first time a rail company was instrumental in growing London. In truth, the continued influx of people from the countryside to London in the 19th Century had caused the city’s metropolitan … [Read more...] about London History: A Guide to Metroland – The Suburban Expansion of London Brought On By The Tube
London Long Reads
Exploring London Mercantile History at the Lloyd’s Register Building
While you may have seen the Lloyd's of London building in the City of London designed by Richard Rogers, do you know about the Collcutt building? As part of Heritage Open Days, I went to visit the Lloyd's Register building on Fenchurch Street. Designed by Thomas Collcutt, this late-Victorian office opened in 1901 as a statement building and a sign of prosperity. Lloyd's … [Read more...] about Exploring London Mercantile History at the Lloyd’s Register Building
London Exhibition Report: Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing – Blockbuster New Exhibition at Buckingham Palace
Marking the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci, this exhibition at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, brings together more than 200 of the Renaissance master's greatest drawings in the Royal Collection. As the Royal Collection has more drawings by Leonardo da Vinci than any other Renaissance artist, it forms the largest exhibition of his work in over 65 … [Read more...] about London Exhibition Report: Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing – Blockbuster New Exhibition at Buckingham Palace
Exhibition Report: The New Secret Rivers Exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands
The latest free exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands is Secret Rivers. Open from 24 May to 27 October 2019, it combines art and archaeology with mudlarking, photography, film and much more to uncover the mysteries of London's rivers – both those that flow above ground and those that have been buried beneath our feet. A large wall map shows us the routes of the hidden … [Read more...] about Exhibition Report: The New Secret Rivers Exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands
London Exhibition Report: A Look at the Blockbuster Queen Victoria 200th Anniversary Exhibition at Kensington Palace
24 May 2019 is the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria's birth at Kensington Palace. To mark the bicentenary of this historic event there is a new visitor route, Victoria: A Royal Childhood, through the suite of rooms she would have known well. And over in the Palace's Pigott Gallery, there is a new temporary exhibition, Victoria: Woman and Crown, that considers the private … [Read more...] about London Exhibition Report: A Look at the Blockbuster Queen Victoria 200th Anniversary Exhibition at Kensington Palace
Laura’s London: Four New Permanent Galleries at the National Maritime Museum – Here’s Our First Look!
Following a major £12.6M redevelopment project, The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich has new permanent galleries open from 20 September 2018. 1,000m2 of space in the Museum's East Wing, previously closed to visitors, has been converted to public use adding an additional 40% of gallery space. And just like the rest of the Museum, these galleries are free to visit. The … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Four New Permanent Galleries at the National Maritime Museum – Here’s Our First Look!
Laura’s London: A Look at the Courtauld Impressionists at The National Gallery – From Manet to Cézanne
For the first time in London for 70 years, the National Gallery is displaying major Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterworks from the Courtauld Gallery, purchased in the 1920s by Samuel Courtauld (1876–1947). These are shown alongside paintings from the National Gallery's own collection which the businessman and philanthropist financed and helped acquire. Courtauld … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: A Look at the Courtauld Impressionists at The National Gallery – From Manet to Cézanne
London Bookshop Dreams: Adventures in Buying More Books Than My Luggage Can Carry
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Anglotopia Print Magazine is 2017. Support great long-form writing about Britain by subscribing to the Anglotopia Print Magazine. Subscribe here. Books are my favorite souvenir from my travels in England. I love picking up new books about England for my library back home. Each book is a tangible reminder of the trip and … [Read more...] about London Bookshop Dreams: Adventures in Buying More Books Than My Luggage Can Carry
More Secret London – Twenty Hidden Places in London for You to Explore
There are plenty of places in London you may not know exist unless someone points them out. You might have to go behind a door or down an alley to find them. You may walk past them all the time without seeing what’s right in front of you. Even so, you may know about them, but not know exactly what they keep hidden from the public. Fortunately, we here at Londontopia will … [Read more...] about More Secret London – Twenty Hidden Places in London for You to Explore
Laura’s London: Exploring Clapham South Subterranean Shelter – Hidden London – From the Blitz to the Windrush
We all know there are tube train tunnels under London's streets, and we could guess there are some service tunnels for pipes, but it's still always a surprise to head down underground and find enough space for a village to live safely below. And that's what there is at the Clapham South Subterranean Shelter. This deep-level shelter had room for 8,000 people, and it only took … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Exploring Clapham South Subterranean Shelter – Hidden London – From the Blitz to the Windrush
Fit for a Queen: A Traveler’s Guide to Royal London
London has been a seat of power since the Romans made it their capital in 50 A.D. After they abandoned the settlement in the 5th Century, it would not become a seat of leadership again until Alfred the Great retook control in 886, rebuilding the fortifications, adding new defenses, and transforming the old Roman city into a new population centre for his kingdom. It was from … [Read more...] about Fit for a Queen: A Traveler’s Guide to Royal London
Laura’s London: A Look Behind the Scenes of the New Royal Academy of Arts Renovations Opening This Weekend
The Royal Academy of Arts is hardly new. In fact, it's celebrating it's 250th anniversary this year. But to mark the occasion the RA has undergone an enormous transformation and expansion. And the new Royal Academy is opening on Saturday 19 May 2018. About The Royal Academy The RA was founded in 1768 by a group of 40 artists and architects who became the first Royal … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: A Look Behind the Scenes of the New Royal Academy of Arts Renovations Opening This Weekend
London Fog: London and the Great Smog of 1952 – The True Story
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue #6 of the Anglotopia Magazine in 2017. Support great long from writing about UK Travel, Culture, and History by subscribing to the Anglotopia Print Magazine. As Christmas drew near in London in 1952, a strange phenomenon like something out of a Quatermass story became all too real for the city’s residents. Under a … [Read more...] about London Fog: London and the Great Smog of 1952 – The True Story
Laura’s London: New Exhibition Report – Charles II: Art and Power at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
After over a decade of austere Cromwellian rule, the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 led to a resurgence of the arts in England. The court of Charles II became the centre for the patronage of leading artists and the collecting of great works of art. This served not only as decoration for the royal apartments but also as a means of glorifying the restored monarchy and … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: New Exhibition Report – Charles II: Art and Power at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Laura’s London: Exploring London’s Newest Museum – The Secret Mail Rail and The Postal Museum
Mail Rail is London's newest subterranean heritage attraction. Open from 4 September 2017; the disused postal railway tunnels have been brought back to life as a visitor ride for the first time in their 100 year history. This miniature railway was the world's first driverless, electric railway and was never intended for passengers. While The Postal Museum opened on 28 … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Exploring London’s Newest Museum – The Secret Mail Rail and The Postal Museum
Riding in Black Taxis: A Personal History of a London Icon – London Long Read
In most major cities, taxis don’t really get much love or affection - that’s why the phone app Uber is so popular now. But then most cities aren’t like London—a city that loves its iconic black taxis and appreciates the work it takes to learn The Knowledge (the name for the training all London Cabbies go through). I’ve been riding in London taxis for more than 15 years, and … [Read more...] about Riding in Black Taxis: A Personal History of a London Icon – London Long Read
Streets of London: London’s Most Unique Street Names and Their Fascinating Histories
When a city has been around since Roman times, it tends to develop some very unique names for the city streets. Each era of London’s history has left its mark on the various streets, avenues, lanes, and ways. Here is a small selection of unique London street and place names and their fascinating histories. Crooked Usage The name of this street might be traced back to … [Read more...] about Streets of London: London’s Most Unique Street Names and Their Fascinating Histories
Guest Long Read: A First Time Trip to Camden Market
As I mentioned in my previous article about Portobello Road, going to street markets has been a recent addition to my trips to the United Kingdom. In fact, if you consider that Convent Garden doesn’t count, it was only last year that I started my adventures this way. I was travelling with a group of friends and one of them suggested going to Portobello Road. The experience … [Read more...] about Guest Long Read: A First Time Trip to Camden Market
Guest Long Read: Top 10 Things to do in London with Teens and Tweens
If you are planning to visit London with older children, you might wonder where to begin. What sort of activities would appeal to teenagers and leave a lasting impression? While that might depend on your particular tastes, here is a somewhat diverse list of memorable activities that my teenagers and those in my extended family would recommend to others. 1) The Harry Potter … [Read more...] about Guest Long Read: Top 10 Things to do in London with Teens and Tweens
Guest Long Read: Notting Hill – Portobello Road Market through the eyes of a foreigner
I have been to the United Kingdom several times and I always look forward to going back whenever I can. However, only last year did I have the chance of going to Portobello Road Market and it was an amazing experience. The following lines are about that experience and they reflect how a foreigner feels walking through one of liveliest markets in London. I should add that there … [Read more...] about Guest Long Read: Notting Hill – Portobello Road Market through the eyes of a foreigner
Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Iconic BT Tower You Might Not Know
Standing tall and proud in a city that is now surrounded by even taller skyscrapers, British Telecom Tower was a marvel of its time. Originally known as the Post Office Tower because it was commissioned by the General Post Office, it was built to handle the nation’s communications traffic which is why the midsection is covered with microwave aerials. Begun in 1961 and completed … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Iconic BT Tower You Might Not Know
City of Footie – A Brief Guide to London’s Thirteen Football Clubs
It’s not unheard of for a larger city to have more than one professional football club (or soccer team, depending on your preference). In London, the city is so large and spread out and football is so popular that the Greater London area has no less than *thirteen* different professional league teams, though there are even more amateur and semi-pro clubs. While some are more … [Read more...] about City of Footie – A Brief Guide to London’s Thirteen Football Clubs
London Taxis: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about London Taxis You Might Not Have Known
One of the iconic symbols of the city, London black cabs can be seen whizzing about the streets on a daily basis. Like the yellow cab in America, a London taxi carries with it a certain cultural significance. When Stephen Fry toured America, he did so in a black cab (and actually drives one in Britain as his personal car). But what is it that makes the black cab so important? … [Read more...] about London Taxis: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about London Taxis You Might Not Have Known
London on Film: 10 Classic London Films Every Londonphile Should Watch – What’s Your Favorite?
Naturally, a city as old and grand as London becomes the subject of many films. It plays home to kings and queens, cops and gangsters, and everyday men and women. From views of the skyline to displays of the boroughs’ character, these are ten films that every Londonphile should watch. These films not only tell the story of Londoners but make the city itself a character. This … [Read more...] about London on Film: 10 Classic London Films Every Londonphile Should Watch – What’s Your Favorite?
The London Fiver: Spooky Edition – Five of the Creepiest Places in London You Can Visit
As Halloween approaches, our thoughts turn to the dark and macabre. Cemeteries become spookier, old houses creak louder, and the fall air is a bit chillier. London, of course, is not without its places to give you a fright. Whether a tourist attraction or a naturally creepy location, London is full of its own spooky places to visit, even when it isn’t Halloween. Do you dare … [Read more...] about The London Fiver: Spooky Edition – Five of the Creepiest Places in London You Can Visit
Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!
