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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

Harry Potter News: Gringotts Bank Coming to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in April

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The Harry Potter Studio Tour is continually changing and updating to make sure they have a steady stream of repeat visitors. Today, they've announced that they'll be opening up Gringotts Bank to visitors. From the press release: For the first time ever at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, visitors are invited to enter the set of Gringotts … [Read more...] about Harry Potter News: Gringotts Bank Coming to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in April

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

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The London Borough of Bromley is the largest in greater London, covering fifty-nine square miles.  Like many of London’s boroughs, it was formed in 1965 by the London Government Act of 1963 and was created out of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Bromley and Beckenham as well as the Urban Districts of Penge, Orpington, and Chislehurst.  Being the biggest of London’s boroughs, there … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Bromley

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

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Once a rural Middlesex village, Ealing was swallowed up along with much of the surrounding area as London grew into the metropolis it is today.  Ealing was made its own borough in 1901 and became part of Greater London in 1965.  While once a sleepy community, today Ealing is alive as a commercial and event center of West London.  As such, there’s much to do within the borough, … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Ealing

Our Official London Top 10: Our Personal Favourite Things to See and do in London

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Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2018 London Annual. Pre-orders are now open for the 2019 London Annual - your guide to London in 2018. Reserve yours here.  In the 2017 London Annual, we wrote an article about the tourist traps that visitors to London should avoid. We got a good response from the article, but everyone wondered, what were some of the … [Read more...] about Our Official London Top 10: Our Personal Favourite Things to See and do in London

London Alert: Announcing the 2019 London Annual Guide to London in 2019 – Pre-orders Now Open

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It’s that time of year again - time to begin our orders for the London Annual - our guide to what to see and do in London in 2019. This is our third year in producing this special publication and it has become very popular. We're taking advance orders for two weeks! This year’s London Annual will be in the same format as last year’s; it will be 128 full-color pages. It's … [Read more...] about London Alert: Announcing the 2019 London Annual Guide to London in 2019 – Pre-orders Now Open

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

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One-half of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Chelsea is a fairly posh area of London (see:  massive understatement) that’s been an important part of London since the first Synod of Chelsea in 787 AD.  It later became the property of the Crown when King Henry VIII acquired it in 1536.  From that point on, its association with the monarch made it a fashionable area to … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Chelsea

Useful Map Alert: The Wonderful World of Off-Peak – Free Maps of Attractions Along Each Tube Line

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Transport for London has launched a new marketing program to encourage people to travel the Tube network during its off-peak hours. This is so that people can experience the Tube when it's less crowded, but also keep tourists off the Tube during the rush hour crunch. As part of this, they've worked with Time Out magazine to create a series of maps to showcase the most … [Read more...] about Useful Map Alert: The Wonderful World of Off-Peak – Free Maps of Attractions Along Each Tube Line

London’s Autumn Season: Ten Things to Do in London This Coming Autumn

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Autumn is a wonderful time of the year just about anywhere in the world, and no more so than in London.  You can believe that no matter what day it is, there’s going to be something to see and do.  From street festivals to culinary celebrations, pageantry to tradition, and sport to costuming, there is much London has to offer from September through November.  We have outlined … [Read more...] about London’s Autumn Season: Ten Things to Do in London This Coming Autumn

More Secret London – Twenty Hidden Places in London for You to Explore

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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

The Best of Free London: The Best Free Museums in London

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One of the greatest things about London is that most of the museums are free. Government funding and charitable donations ensure that many of London’s best musuems are obligated to keep entry to the general public free (but they can charge extra for special exhibitions). This makes many of the museums more accessible to those who many not be able to afford a trip to the museum. … [Read more...] about The Best of Free London: The Best Free Museums in London

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

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Part of the Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth, Vauxhall came about from one of King John’s loyal servants, Falkes de Breauté, who owned a house in the area that was called Falke’s Hall.  As the industrial revolution took hold in England, the ward became a mixture of industrial and residential.  The area’s industry led to the establishment of Vauxhall Motors, one of England’s top … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Vauxhall

London’s Soho: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Soho

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Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Anglotopia Print Magazine in Summer 2017. Support great long-form writing about British travel, culture, and history by subscribing to the Anglotopia Print Magazine. We had the opportunity to stay in London’s Soho neighborhood on our most recent trip. It was the first time we’ve really stayed in the heart of the West End. … [Read more...] about London’s Soho: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Soho

Fit for a Queen: A Traveler’s Guide to Royal London

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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

Summer in the City: Top Ten Things to Do in London This Summer

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When the sun is out the fun is out in London.  The city has a lot going on normally, but things really kick up a notch once summer temperatures rise.  The summer months tend to be the time when you’ll see the most festivals and outdoor events going on in London including a number of plays, markets, and concerts.  This is also the time of year when many historical buildings open … [Read more...] about Summer in the City: Top Ten Things to Do in London This Summer

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and do in Camden Town

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Giving the Borough of Camden its name, Camden Town derives its name from Camden Place, the estate of the First Earl of Camden.  As London grew to encompass this district, Camden Town has transformed into one of the quaintest tourist spots in the whole city.  You can find just about everything including great treat food, museums, beautiful walks, and some of the best markets in … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and do in Camden Town

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Bethnal Green

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Bethnal Green is perhaps the closest London gets to a respite district.  Away from the hustle and bustle of places like Kensington, Westminster, and the City of London, life moves at a slightly different pace.  There’s fewer things to attract the bulk of tourists in this district, but that does not mean there isn’t anything to do.  Quite the contrary as you’ll find some of the … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Bethnal Green

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Game and Entertainment Centers in London

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Everyone enjoys playing video games, whether it’s old school Pac Man or newer team-based games such as Overwatch.  There are plenty of options for gaming fun in London from those who just want an arcade machine for some single-player action to big-time eSports competitions.  Other gaming opportunities even offer you the chance to fully immerse yourself in another world via … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Game and Entertainment Centers in London

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

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A part of London that is further from the touristy-sections, the London district of Brixton in the Borough of Lambeth is mostly a residential community.  Additionally, it is one of the more diverse parts of the city, with a large Caribbean community that has contributed to Brixton’s culture.  There may not seem to be much to do in Brixton, but you’ll be surprised at how much it … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Brixton

The London Fiver – Five Doctor Who Landmarks To Visit in London

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Doctor Who has been one of the UK’s greatest shows since it premiered in 1963.  Over the course of its history, much of the show’s action has occurred in London, from the first episode up to last season.  Plenty of well-known London landmarks have appeared on Doctor Who as a consequence and at least one place has become famous *because* of the show.  We’ve outlined five of our … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Doctor Who Landmarks To Visit in London

The London Fiver – Five Ancient Ruins in London to Visit That Haven’t Been Swept Away By Time

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London is an ancient city.  Even before the Romans established their settlement of Londonium, people had lived in the area.  However, the Romans were the first to erect permanent structures here, some of which have survived today as ruins, hiding amongst the buildings that succeeded them and today’s skyscrapers.  Of course, not all of these buildings are Roman, and some of … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Ancient Ruins in London to Visit That Haven’t Been Swept Away By Time

Top 10 London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in and Around Trafalgar Square

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Trafalgar Square is one of London’s most important gathering points.  Whether friends meeting up or an important cultural festival, the Square named for Horatio Nelson’s important victory against Napoleon is a place that everyone knows.  It is also surrounded by important places and attractions and can be a starting point for any adventure in the city.  As such, we’ve managed … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in and Around Trafalgar Square

The London Fiver – Five Events to Check out in London This Spring

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Spring has sprung!  From March through May, the warming of London invites more people to come out and participate in events that celebrate the season.  Whether you’re looking for something to do as an adult or a fun activity for your kids, London has plenty to offer children of all ages.  If you want to set a physical goal for yourself or just plan to engage in an East-themed … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Events to Check out in London This Spring

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in the City of London

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At the heart of the sprawling metropolis that is Greater London is the City of London, a section of London about a square mile in size.  While settlements existed here since before recorded time, it was the Romans who established the first permanent community.  Today, its centralized status means many of London’s most important landmarks and historical centers can be found … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in the City of London

New London Attractions for 2018: New Places and Closures for the Coming Year

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Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2018 London Annual and is a fixture of each Annual - the new attractions in London along with the places that have sadly closed. Support great longform writing about London by buying the London Annual - 128 full-color pages about London history, culture and travel. We have less than 50 copies of the 2018 edition left - get … [Read more...] about New London Attractions for 2018: New Places and Closures for the Coming Year

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