John Rabon

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John Rabon

Great London Buildings: BT Tower – The Building That Didn’t Officially Exist

At one point the tallest building in London, British Telecom (or “BT”) Tower was the first building purpose-built to transmit radio waves.  The General Post...
John Rabon

Great Londoners: Samuel Johnson – Author of the Most Important English Dictionary

Dr. Samuel Johnson is one of the most prolific writers in British history.  While his most famous contribution to language and literature was “The Dictionary...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: Windsor Castle – The Queen’s Preferred Weekend Home With a Long Royal History

While Buckingham Palace may be the current preferred residence of Queen Elizabeth, Windsor Castle is the royal residence long associated with the monarchy.  The castle’s...
John Rabon

London on Film: Five of the Top Filming Locations in London Used in Movies

As much as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Prague, London is one of the most popular places in the world to film a motion...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: Alexandra Palace

Otherwise known as the “Ally Pally”, it’s not a palace per se, but a major attraction and exhibition venue in North London.  Following the Great...
John Rabon

The London Fiver: Five Christmas Events in London You Must Experience for a Perfect Christmas in London

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  Christmas is a fantastic holiday no matter where you are, though London is full of festive cheer...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: The Guildhall – The City of London’s Centre of Power

Since Medieval times, the Guildhall in London has been an actual and ceremonial centre for the City of London and its Corporation.  Even before the...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: The Shard – The UK’s Tallest Building

Stabbing the skyline like a piece of jagged glass, the Shard is the newest and tallest skyscraper. The building’s history started in 1998 with a...
John Rabon

10 Modern Londoners Every Londonphile Should Know

London is certainly the most important city in the United Kingdom. It is the seat of power for the nation, the cultural center, and the...
John Rabon

Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about the Barbican in the City of London

One of the largest developments in London, the Barbican is comprised primarily of the residential towers, the City of London School for Girls, the Museum...
John Rabon

Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about London’s City Hall

In 1986, Margaret Thatcher’s government dissolved the Greater London Council and its responsibilities were transferred to the government or to boards comprised of members from...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: Westminster Abbey – Where Monarchs are Crowned

Sitting just across from the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey is every bit as iconic and important to Britain as the Houses of Parliament. Prior...
John Rabon

Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about the City of Westminster

One of the most central boroughs of London is also the center of British government, history, and culture. While the nearby area had been the...
John Rabon

The London Fiver: 5 of the Most Interesting Libraries in London You Can Visit On Your Next Trip

If you’re anything like me, you enjoy books. Not just reading them on your Kindle, mind, but holding a book in your hands, smelling the...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: Southwark Cathedral

  Near the famous London Bridge on the south bank of the Thames is Southwark Cathedral. The origins of the church are something of a...
John Rabon

The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about the Northern Line

A black line on the Underground map marks the Northern Line, it opened in 1890 and is the oldest of the deep-level lines on the...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: The Palace of Westminster – The Houses of Parliament

Unquestionably one of the dominating features of the London skyline, the Palace of Westminster has always been an important centre of government. Going back to...
John Rabon

Fly Away With Me: How London’s Airports Got Their Names

I’ll never forget what it was like to walk through the arrivals gate at Heathrow airport. Whereas other airports I’ve flown into might have an...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: The Royal Albert Hall – Home of the Proms

Named for Prince Albert, a lover of the arts and sciences, the Royal Albert Hall is one of the premiere concert venues in the United...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: Tower Bridge – An Icon of London

Straddling the banks of the Thames, Tower Bridge is one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, standing out easily over the skyline and the city’s gleaming...
John Rabon

The Tube: How the Different Tube Lines Got Their Names

Millions of Londoners and tourists use the London Underground every day. They travel from north to south, east to west, and back again along lines...
John Rabon

10 London Pubs Frequented by Your Favourite British Authors Throughout History

Everybody loves a good pub, especially if you’re an author. Some writers tend to like them a little too much, but sometimes it takes a...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: A Brief History of St. Paul’s Cathedral – Risen from Fire

The towering church that sits on top of Ludgate Hill in the City of London is not the first place of worship to be located...
John Rabon

The First Blitz: London During World War I

Last year celebrated the centennial of the outbreak of World War I. When the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria led to that country...
John Rabon

The Tube: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about the Jubilee Line

The newest line of the London underground isn’t exactly young anymore. Added to the network in 1979, some of the tracks go back as far...
John Rabon

Great London Buildings: Paddington Station – One of the Most Iconic Victorian Train Stations

Editor’s Note: This is the start of a new ongoing series at Londontopia about London’s most iconic buildings. We’ll explore their fascinating histories. Most people...
John Rabon

London History: A Look at The London Underground During World War II

Millions of people travel on the London Underground every day, but few of them have ever taken shelter there or know fully how their everyday...
John Rabon

Down the Pub: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about London Pubs You Might Not Know

People visit London for plenty of reasons. They love the parks, the theatres of the West End, the museums, and the monuments to history. One...
John Rabon

The London Fiver – Five of the Most Interesting Alternatives for Afternoon Tea in London

Afternoon tea, that light meal served between 4 and 6 PM, is a staple of British culture. In addition to enjoying a hot cuppa of...
John Rabon

The New City: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about Canary Wharf

A major financial center of London, it was once one of the busiest docks in the city. The docks’ usage saw a decline from the...