On Paternoster Square by St Paul’s Cathedral you will find an ornate stone gateway. It is called Temple Bar and is, in fact, the only surviving gateway into the City of London. It has not, however, always sat serenely next to St Paul’s and has a rather gory element to its past. Temple Bar The
The Tumultuous and Gruesome History Of The Temple Bar Gate Read More »
On Piccadilly you will find a shop that has been plying its trade for over 200 years. Hatchards is London’s and, according to their website, the UK’s oldest bookshop. It was described by former MP Sir Alan Herbert as “like an Enchanted Island in the sea of noise”. Read on to have a look inside
A Trip To London’s Oldest Bookshop Read More »
The world-famous Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are one of London’s quirkiest and most fascinating historical sights. The striking Victorian models were the first ever full scale statues of extinct animals and are invaluable both historically and scientifically, but also for the entertainment value they have provided over the last 150 years. Let’s get into the story
Seven Secrets Of The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs Read More »
At the corner of Fenchurch Street and Leadenhall Street you will find a brilliant historical survivor from London’s more grisly past. This is the story of the Aldgate Pump. You can, by the way, download a Google map of all the historic locations I highlight on my blog and Instagram page (for less than the
The Story of The East End’s Aldgate Pump Read More »
Usually reserved for the Queen’s annual garden party guests, the Summer of 2021 saw Buckingham Palace throw open the doors to its extensive gardens to the public for the first time. The History of the Palace Buckingham House, as it was originally called, was built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. It was then
A Sneak Peak At The Gardens Of Buckingham Palace Read More »