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Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hackney

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Like most of London, Hackney is a part of the City that’s had people living in it since before the Romans came.  This northern part of London became a haven for the nobility starting in the Tudor period, and many of its most famous structures started construction.  Today, Hackney is a melting pot of ancient structures and 21st-Century venues.  Whatever your reason for visiting, … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hackney

First Look at the Proposed Designs for the new Museum of London

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The Museum of London is moving in a few years, in a deal that has long been in the works. They're moving to the abandoned Smithfield Market, which has been derelict for a few years. It's going to be an amazing project that will transform an iconic London landmark and save it from demolition. As they begin the planning application process to get approval for the new museum, the … [Read more...] about First Look at the Proposed Designs for the new Museum of London

Heathrow Airport Unveils Master Plan for Third Runway – Standby for Pretty Pictures

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Heathrow is getting a third runway whether anyone likes it or not. It's been a long, drawn-out process but it's the policy of the current British government that a third runway at Heathrow be permitted. As Heathrow Airport, which is now privately owned and desperately wants the new runway to increase capacity, begins the massive consultation process needed to get it approved, … [Read more...] about Heathrow Airport Unveils Master Plan for Third Runway – Standby for Pretty Pictures

The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in July

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By July, we’re moving into the hotter months of a London summer, and the city’s activities heat up to match the temperature.  While events like Pride in London, the Underbelly Festival, and the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships certainly attract a lot of attention, there are plenty of other great events to attend as well.  We’ve managed to identify five different events you … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in July

Guest Post: Five Shocking Execution Sites in Central London

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Editor's Note: This guest post was written by Matt and Jess, guides from Fun London Tours. They've been an advertiser on Londontopia for several years and runs some great tours on offer for visitors to London. Vist their website here and use coupon code: TOPIA20 to save 20% off your tour! By Fun London Tours  Palace of Westminster ‘Remember remember the fifth of November, … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Five Shocking Execution Sites in Central London

Guest Post: London’s Top 7 Lost Street Names

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Editor's Note: The following is a guest post from Evan Evans Tours in London.  The history of London is long, complicated and steeped in mystery. Fortunately for us, there are clues to the truth of it woven into the very fabric of its streets. When you take a walk through London, you’re contributing to the story of a city that has been thousands of years in the making. We’re … [Read more...] about Guest Post: London’s Top 7 Lost Street Names

Top Five Interesting Facts about the Changing of the Guard Ceremony – Guest Post

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Editor’s Note: This guest post was written by Matt, a guide from Fun London Tours. They’ve been an advertiser on Londontopia for several years and run some great tours on offer for visitors to London. Vist their website here and use coupon code: TOPIA20 to save 20% off your tour! If you’re heading to this world famous event, best to do so armed with a little bit of prior … [Read more...] about Top Five Interesting Facts about the Changing of the Guard Ceremony – Guest Post

London Alert: St Paul’s Cathedral Has Lifted Its Ban on Photography (with come caveats)!

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Great news for photographers and visitors to St Paul's Cathedral in London. They have ended their ban on photography within the cathedral. This is wonderful news. Many people flouted the ban anyway (and if you did, you would get a telling off, as I did 15 years ago). Now, the Cathedral has decided to let everyone take pictures of this truly wonderful architectural jewel. They … [Read more...] about London Alert: St Paul’s Cathedral Has Lifted Its Ban on Photography (with come caveats)!

The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in June

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Summer kicks into full gear when June rolls around and London offers a lot to do as the city moves into warmer months.  Festivals, ceremonies, boot markets, and sports are just the beginning of what the city has to offer during the month of June.  No matter what you’re in the mood to do, it’s guaranteed that there is going to be something that will meet your interests.  In … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in June

The London Fiver – Five Ways to Beat the London Heat This Summer

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Sure, London summers don’t get as hot as they do in the United States, but you’d be surprised how warm it can get.  Temperatures in the 70s might seem pretty cool to us, but it’s a little toasty for the average Londoner.  If you want to experience summer the way the locals do, there are plenty of opportunities to cool off throughout Greater London.  Whether you’re chowing down … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Ways to Beat the London Heat This Summer

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sports Bars

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One could certainly argue that every pub in the UK is a sports bar, since it’s naturally where everyone gathers to watch a match.  Certain pubs, of course, are bound to have their favored teams’ colors adorning the walls and cheering supporters on game day.  However, some places go above this to mark themselves as true sports bars, a place seemingly designed only to watch the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sports Bars

Guest Post: 4 Reasons why it’s Time to Take a London Bus Tour

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Touring a city can be tiresome, right? Especially when you aren’t certain about where the attractions are, or the theatres, maybe even the restaurants or shops? Take London tours by bus especially, and you can open up the city to new possibilities. It’s allows you to see the famous places, get your bearings, know the distances between different attractions and explore. With … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 4 Reasons why it’s Time to Take a London Bus Tour

It’s Official: Crossrail – Aka The Elizabeth LIne – Is Officially Delayed Until At Least 2020

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The announcement has been made. Many suspected this would be the case. Crossrail, London's new underground railway, has had its opening delayed until at least Autumn 2020. The entire line won't open until 2021 at the earliest as well. The new cross-London railway line, which will slash journey times across the capital, was supposed to open last year, but at the last minute … [Read more...] about It’s Official: Crossrail – Aka The Elizabeth LIne – Is Officially Delayed Until At Least 2020

Londontopia Store Alert: New Products LIVE – London Tube Map and AtoZ Map 1,000 Piece Puzzles!

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To start off May, we've imported two beautiful and challenging puzzles from UK manufacturer Robert Frederick (based in Bath). First up is a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle of the London A to Z map - a great way to learn the streets by heart! Next up is the London Tube Map - also 1,000 pieces and I hear particularly challenging because of all the white space. Each puzzle is 30x20 … [Read more...] about Londontopia Store Alert: New Products LIVE – London Tube Map and AtoZ Map 1,000 Piece Puzzles!

Laura’s London: Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition – The Design Museum – Our Review – Is It Worth Going?

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Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition has opened at The Design Museum in Kensington and is on until 15 September 2019. A global touring exhibition which started its journey in 2004, has at last reached London where so many of Kubrick's movies were filmed. Marking the 20th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick’s death, the exhibition explores his unique command of the whole creative … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition – The Design Museum – Our Review – Is It Worth Going?

Exhibition Alert: Buckingham Palace to Explore the Life of Queen Victoria at Summer Exhibition Opening

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Buckingham Palace only opens for a few weeks in the Summer when the Queen is away in Scotland. To coincide with each summer opening, there's usually a special exhibition on show (though seeing the Palace state rooms themselves is worth the price of admission!). This year, the Royal Collection Trust will be exploring Queen Victoria's life at the Palace. This year's summer … [Read more...] about Exhibition Alert: Buckingham Palace to Explore the Life of Queen Victoria at Summer Exhibition Opening

London Tube: You’ve Got to Watch This Amazing Mesmerizing Animation That Shows the Real Geography of the London Underground

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I found this on Reddit the other day and knew I had to share it. Most first time travelers to London will quickly learn that the London Underground Tube Map is not designed with geographic reality in mind. It has almost no relation to geographic reality in London and you discover these quirks when you try to, for example, connect between lines at Bank. This dates back to when … [Read more...] about London Tube: You’ve Got to Watch This Amazing Mesmerizing Animation That Shows the Real Geography of the London Underground

The London Fiver – Five Atmospheric Subterranean London Bars To Visit

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Today, underground is a word that tends to conjure images of secrecy and exclusivity when it comes to places.  When it comes to London, the underground is synonymous with the city’s subterranean train service.  Of course, there is also the original meaning and applied to bars; it can mean any number of drinking establishments that can be found below the London streets.  The … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Atmospheric Subterranean London Bars To Visit

The Fiver – Five of the Highest Bars in London

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One of the best things to have with a good drink is a view.  Lots of places out there have rooftop bars or observation towers where one can get a cocktail, a pint, or a glass of wine and gaze out over the horizon.  London certainly has its share of high-altitude drinking establishments that rank amongst the highest in the UK and in Europe.  Whatever you’re in the mood for, each … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five of the Highest Bars in London

Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London

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Craft beer is the wave of the future.  So many new breweries have sprung up in the last few years it feels as if they’re reproducing at the same speed as rabbits.  The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) estimates there are 125 craft breweries in the city spread out amongst the boroughs and neighborhoods.  With so many throughout Greater London, it can be hard to determine which ones … [Read more...] about Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London

Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London

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Tea has been an important part of British culture since the 17th Century, and you’d be hard pressed to find a society on this side of the globe that loves it more.  While coffee houses preceded tea rooms in London, the culture quickly flipped when Thomas Twining opened the city’s first tea room in 1707.  Now you can find them in every borough and neighborhood.  While many offer … [Read more...] about Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London

Springtime in London: Top Things to Do in London This Spring

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Spring appears to have sprung early in London this year. With the winter weather finally starting to thaw, spring is upon us, and that means an array of seasonal events in London.  The city is awash with festivals, sporting events, and ceremonies from March through May and there is enough variety to find something anyone will enjoy.  We have identified our top ten favorite … [Read more...] about Springtime in London: Top Things to Do in London This Spring

Top 10 London: Ten Places in London for the Perfect Selfie

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Simultaneously the most hated thing tourists do but also the most popular thing they actually do. Ever since cell phones got cameras, a self-shot (or “selfie”) photo is the norm for most of us.  Whether you want to capture a memory or blow up Instagram while you’re in London, the city certainly has plenty of excellent spots for a selfie.  Of course, there are places not to take … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Ten Places in London for the Perfect Selfie

Laura’s London: Take a First Look at the Beautiful Restored Painted Hall in Greenwich – Re-opening in March!

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Editor's Note: We have a real treat this week - Laura was given an exclusive tour of the newly restored Painted Hall in Greenwich before its re-opening so we're chuffed to bits that she's written up a huge report about it. Please consider subscribing to the Londontopia Magazine as it allows us to commission great articles like this. As reported here recently, The Painted … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Take a First Look at the Beautiful Restored Painted Hall in Greenwich – Re-opening in March!

Top Ten London: Top 10 Most Romantic Places in London

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Love is in the air when February rolls around, and London is a great place to experience it.  Most people might think that Paris would be the best place to spend Valentine’s Day, but the UK capital has a charm to rival its competition across the Channel.  If you’re in London on February 14th, you might want to consider one of the ten places below to spend the holiday with … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Most Romantic Places in London

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