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51-54 Gracechurch Street

The Gargoyles on 51-54 Gracechurch Street

Posted on May 26, 2020
in architecture, City of London, London, Look Up London
4 Comments

Glance upwards on 54 Gracechurch Street in the City and you'll spot gouls staring down at you!...

The Monument

A Closer Look at The Monument

Posted on May 3, 2020
in architecture, City of London, London, Look Up London
2 Comments

Often overlooked in favour of more famous rival attractions, but look closer at its carvings and you're rewarded!...

Hidden History Barbican

Hidden History of the Barbican

Posted on April 28, 2020
in architecture, Churches and Graveyards, City of London, London, Look Up London
11 Comments

Love it or hate it, most people know the Barbican simply as a post-war housing estate. But there's actually a lot of hidden history waiting to be found...

223 Bow Road

The 17th Century Shop at 223 Bow Road

Posted on April 19, 2020
in architecture, East London, London, Look Up London
18 Comments

It's easy to overlook this little building, smooshed between two new blocks of flats with four lanes of traffic rumbling past. But it's a rare historic survivor...

Wardrobe Place Fanlights

Wardrobe Place

Posted on April 7, 2020
in architecture, City of London, London, Look Up London
27 Comments

A lovely hidden corner of the City with some unexpected architectural gems...

Seven Noses Soho

The Seven Noses of Soho

Posted on March 31, 2020
in architecture, City of London, London, Look Up London
0 Comments

Find them - they say - and infinite wealth is yours! While I can't guarantee that, I can help you spot them!...

Gibson Hall Bishopsgate

Details on Gibson Hall, Bishopsgate

Posted on March 24, 2020
in architecture, City of London, London, Look Up London
2 Comments

Formerly the National Westminster Bank, you've got to look up past these impressive columns to admire the historic details on Bishopsgate!...

153 Fenchurch Street

Detail of 153 Fenchurch Street | Samuel Tull, Ropemaker

Posted on March 3, 2020
in architecture, City of London, London, Look Up London
6 Comments

While sheltering from the rain, a tiny architectural detail revealed a little bit of London's history...

City Church Towers

Lone City Church Towers: The Churches With No Bodies

Posted on February 11, 2020
in architecture, Churches and Graveyards, City of London, London, Look Up London
0 Comments

What these lone towers lack in stonework they make up for in history...

Behind the Scenes Tower Bridge

Behind the Scenes at Tower Bridge

Posted on January 28, 2020
in architecture, London, Look Up London, Things to do in London, West London
7 Comments

Join me for a look inside the bascule chambers...

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London’s mews offer endless delights and this on London’s mews offer endless delights and this one in Bloomsbury doesn’t disappoint. This is Doughty Mews, just off Doughty Street which is probably most famous as the home of Charles Dickens - his only surviving London residence - which is now a museum. In the 19th Century these were cramped, crowded homes for the servants of nearby larger houses, often with stables for horses on the ground floor. Today they’re desirable boutique homes and office space. At no.6 is @ashsakulaarchitects and I like the idea there’s still design and craft going on here 100+ years on. They’ve also worked on some of the renovated properties in the mews. So, given the choice, what would you prefer? Cosy mews or lavish townhouse?! 🤔 #lookuplondon #londonwalks #londonguide #bloomsbury #hiddenlondon #londonoffthebeatentrack #visitlondon #explorelondon #londonmews #mewshouse #doughtymews
London’s street names never fail to amaze me… London’s street names never fail to amaze me… Throughout the 19th century, London’s population boomed. There was huge demand for housing and in the 1890s Mysore Road was one of many streets of terraced houses laid out for the middle-classes. The homes were designed by Alfred Coomber, including this fanciful corner house with the turret, built c.1896. But back to the street name…

Mysore was a Kingdom in south-west India, today part of Karnataka. Throughout the late 18th century the British East India Company fought a series of wars to attempt to take control of the Kingdom and they finally succeeded in 1799 with the Siege of Srirangapatna. There’s a sketch by Turner in the Tate Britain which commemorates this victory and the death of the ruler; Tipu Sultan, whose nickname was the ‘Tiger of Mysore’. Quite why this street in Clapham has this name remains a mystery to me but just shows what a rabbit hole of history London’s street names can lead to! #lookuplondon #londonhistory #clapham #battersea #mysore #colonialhistory #londonguide #londonstreetnames #claphamhistory #southwestlondon #victorian #londonhomes #londonstreets #londoncorners #londonwalks
Can you spot the blue shield on the gate? My favo Can you spot the blue shield on the gate? My favourite thing about guiding is the opportunity to look a little closer and uncover the tiny historic details. This blue shield is a symbol of the Drapers Company, one of the City’s many trade guilds formed in Medieval times and still going strong today. Standing in Austin Friars, a street in EC2, you can see their symbol on the gate, buildings and even lampposts! The Drapers dealt in cloth and wool and when the trade boomed in the 15th century they were one of the wealthiest of all the City’s Companies. Still today they own property in the City and beyond, including their fabulous hall which is open from time to time for events. These gates actually back onto their garden, behind their hall on Throgmorton Avenue and their shield is part of their ‘blazon’ or coat of arms which shows three fluffy clouds with sun beams bursting through - a reference to the Virgin Mary under whose protection the first community of Drapers was established in the 14th century. 
#lookuplondon #CityofLondon #CitySymbols #Londonsymbols #redphonebox #londonicons #LondonGuide #LondonDetails #LondonTourGuide #LondonWalks #Explorelondon #LondonHistory #CityofLondonHistory
The Tate Winter Commission has yet again surprised The Tate Winter Commission has yet again surprised and delighted Londoners - who remembers the amazing slugs from 2018?! Designed by Chila Kumari Singh Burman (@chilaburman), the work was unveiled to celebrate Diwali - the Festival of Lights - and will be here to admire until 31 January 2021 “Remembering a Brave New World” is packed with symbols of Hindu mythology but also personal memories, like the family ice-cream truck.🍦Born in Liverpool, the neon lights are also a reference to Chila’s childhood visits to Blackpool illuminations. Diwali is a celebration of new beginnings and so I’d challenge anyone to not feel uplifted and hopeful after soaking up this wonderful installation. Have you seen it yet? What did you think? #lookuplondon #tatebritain #wintercommission #londonchristmaslights #tatewintercomission #london #artinlondon #visitlondon #londonreflections @tate
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’ve wr I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’ve written a book! 🥳 Swipe 👉🏼 to see! If you love discovering the stories behind London’s unusual and overlooked buildings then I think you’ll love this! Last year I was approached by @amberbooksltd to provide the accompanying text to hundreds of beautiful images of abandoned London spots. They’ve even included a few of my photos which I’m thrilled about (like this one inside Millennium Mills!) It features images of disused factories and tube stations, derelict pubs, shops and sports arenas from across Greater London and I’ve shared their surprising and interesting back stories! I was hoping it would be available for Christmas, but - alas! - Covid of course caused delays, however it should be available in Spring. 📍Sign up to be the first to hear about it in my bio link! @look_uplondon 👈🏼 #AbandonedLondon #LookUpLondon #LondonBooks #LondonHistory #londonphotography #ExploreLondon #LondonGuide #HistoricLondon
Have you heard of Minnie Lansbury? This clock alon Have you heard of Minnie Lansbury? This clock along Bow Road celebrates an extraordinary woman. Born 1889, Minnie was a teacher, campaigner and an Alderman, serving on Poplar Council from 1919. She was part of the East London Federation of Suffragettes, fighting for votes for women, but was also chairman of the War Pension Committee which helped widows, orphans and wounded veterans from WWI. In 1921 she was one of 30 local councillors sent to prison for refusing to raise the rates - passing on arbitrary higher taxes to their poor, local constituents. After spending six weeks in prison, she contracted pneumonia and died in 1922, only 32 years old. This clock was first erected in the 1930s but restored by Heritage of London Trust in 2008. #lookuplondon #EastLondonHistory #LondonClocks #minnielansbury #historicwomen #herstory #minnielansbury #Suffragettes #BowRoadHistory @holtoflondon
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