Welcome to the blog all about London and its amazing – often hidden – history. Look Up London is about spotting little details above your eye line then using them to unravel the secret history of your location. I also write about the quirkier museums and historic things to do across the city.
I’m gradually adding all and blogs and instagram posts onto this map to make it easier to find hidden history in the area you’re curious about! See the progress below;
Eltham Palace is a bit of a mad place, full to bursting with strange juxtapositions and quirky details. Here are some of my favourite discoveries from a recent visit...
Crossing Lambeth Bridge provides an epic panoramic view of the House of Parliament, London Eye and Lambeth Palace. However, a building that doesn’t get as much attention is Norwest House, previously Imperial Chemical House. This post is why it’s worth having a closer look. But......
If you find yourself in the City of London with a bit of spare time, it’s always worthwhile to soak up some history by popping into one of the 50-odd City churches. This week, with some time between private tours, I did just that and......
I’ve come to expect that there’s nearly always an historic reason behind things you spot in London. From street names to sculptures, there’s always a story! Such is the case with this curious brickwork on the Peabody St John’s Hill Estate. On the face of......
In celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, I’m working with Art of London to put together a special ‘Royal Warrants’ tour of historic businesses with Royal connections in the West End. Art of London brings together the UK’s biggest cultural institutions and showcases art in......
In the shadow of Southwark Cathedral there is a curious-shaped memorial stone which remembers a Mohegan Chief who travelled to London in the 18th Century. The Mohegan Tribe The Mohegan Tribe is a sovereign, federally-recognised Indian Nation. It has its own constitution and government and......
Search by theme by clicking on a category below to explore our history blog posts.
Eltham Palace is a bit of a mad place, full to bursting with strange juxtapositions and quirky details. Here are some of my favourite discoveries from a recent visit...
Crossing Lambeth Bridge provides an epic panoramic view of the House of Parliament, London Eye and Lambeth Palace. However, a building that doesn’t get as much attention is Norwest House, previously Imperial Chemical House. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 This post is why it’s worth having a...
If you find yourself in the City of London with a bit of spare time, it's always worthwhile to soak up some history by popping into one of the 50-odd City churches. This week, with some time between private tours, I did just that and think...
I've come to expect that there's nearly always an historic reason behind things you spot in London. From street names to sculptures, there's always a story! Such is the case with this curious brickwork on the Peabody St John's Hill Estate. On the face of it,...
In celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, I’m working with Art of London to put together a special ‘Royal Warrants’ tour of historic businesses with Royal connections in the West End. Art of London brings together the UK’s biggest cultural institutions and showcases art in...
In the shadow of Southwark Cathedral there is a curious-shaped memorial stone which remembers a Mohegan Chief who travelled to London in the 18th Century. The Mohegan Tribe The Mohegan Tribe is a sovereign, federally-recognised Indian Nation. It has its own constitution and government and gained federal...
As you walk along the traffic-packed Byward Street, with All Hallows Barking, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge in the distance, it’s thoroughly understandable that you’d miss a ghost station hiding in plain sight. Abandoned or ‘Ghost’ stations can be seen all over London (I’ve...
Oxford Street has a bad rep from Londoners, but there’s a surprising among of fabulous history if you know where to look. From a hidden little oasis to the more gruesome reminders at Tottenham Court Road and Marble Arch, often you have to look up...
By the Museum of London you can see an amazing little clue to uncover the history of the Bull and Mouth Coaching Inn...
I’m constantly surprised by the wonderful doors that have opened since starting this blog back in 2015. A case in point was that a few weeks ago I wrote about the extraordinary history of Crosby Hall; the Medieval Mansion that was moved 5 miles across...
If you look up along Ranelagh Gardens, atop the railway viaduct for Putney Bridge Tube Station, you can spy a curious WWII Relic; a Pillbox. The view from Ranelagh Gardens, looking up This concrete pillbox was erected in 1940 across Britain, a final line of defence should...
Look up at 22 Endell Street in Covent Garden, and you’ll see the striking facade of a former stained glass studio. Built in 1859 and designed by Robert Jewell Withers, between the multi-coloured decorative brickwork you can make out the proclamation in stone; Lavers and Barraud,...