Seconds from Charing Cross Station is a brilliant historical surprise: a small museum, hidden mostly below ground: the oldest museum in the world dedicated to all things optometry including spectacles, lenses, eye tests and more. Unbeknownst to almost everyone bustling in and out of the train station, a stone’s throw away is an extraordinary collection,
A Hidden eye-Opening Museum Near Charing Cross Read More »
Towards the bottom of Broadway in Manhattan, not far from Wall Street, you will find St Paul’s Chapel, the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan. Duck inside and you will discover a rare little corner of calm amongst the frenetic energy of New York City. St Paul’s has a fascinating history, its story inextricably entwined
Why Is There A Bell From East London In Manhattan’s Oldest Church? Read More »
The Lyceum Theatre on Wellington Street is well known today as having been home to Disney’s The Lion King musical since 1999. It does, however, have a history that stretches back much further. It is a tale that involves waxworks, a ‘stupendous ostrich’ , a Victorian star of the stage and a world famous author.
Pulling back The Curtain On The Extraordinary Story Of The Lyceum Theatre Read More »
West Norwood Cemetery is one of the famous ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries in London. Others I have written about previously include Highgate, here and Abney Park here. They are all fascinating, sombre, atmospheric places to wander around, bursting with stories but also spaces of peace, solitude and nature. West Norwood is the resting place for a
From Doulton To Mrs Beeton: Exploring The Amazing West Norwood Cemetery Read More »
Sitting proudly next to the Grand Union Canal, today in its own grassy enclave, you can find the jewel of Paddington: St Mary Magdalene Church. It is a Gothic Revival masterpiece and filled with beautiful details, including a breathtaking treasure in the crypt. For me, it was very much a ‘why have I not been here
A Visit To Paddington’s Jewel: St Mary Magdalene Church Read More »