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John Rabon
Posts
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...