I’ve written quite a few blogs about the history hiding above shop level on Oxford Street. From grim reminders to a theatrical hotspot, there’s plenty to spot if you cast your eyes up along this famous thoroughfare. But our focus today is 219 Oxford Street. It’s a...
If there’s one certainty in the City of London, it's change. Historic fires and bombs coupled with modern development means the Square Mile is in a constant state of flux. But often this means that older history is revealed anew, like this chunk of Roman...
While planning my recommendations for the 2022 Open House Festival, one listing quite literally made me hop on the next train to Mortlake. It's a surviving Air Raid shelter in St Leonard's Court. St Leonard's Court was built 1934-38 by Mr FG Fox, a local builder...
Open House Festival 2022 runs until 21 September this year so there's even more time to visit London's unusual and inspiring buildings (some of which are only open to the public for Open House). As ever, there's so much to choose from and sift through so...
Just off Bishopsgate, the busy thoroughfare with towering new skyscrapers behind, glance down Spital Yard and you seem to have stumbled back in time. Given a closer look, this Georgian townhouse isn’t quite as authentic as it might appear. However it still has plenty of interesting...
Having visited most of them, I thought it would be a fun long-term project to write about every City Church. There are 43 within the Square Mile (give or take a couple, depending on which you include) and in this post we're visiting the only...
Recently I’ve been spending a bit of time researching private walks in Kensington and Chelsea. As such, one of the wonderful little historic gems I’ve stumbled across is the hidden Jewish Cemetery on Fulham Road. While taking a picture of Sokol Books (more on that later)...
In Sutton you can find an amazing historic gem, a surviving house - built c.1500 - that's now a brilliant local history museum. Here’s why you should visit Whitehall Historic House...
While planning a bespoke private tour in the back streets of Kensington I noticed an odd marking on google maps; “The Hole in the Wall”. When I saw it in person it’s rather more substantial than a hole and a little plaque gives a hint...
Have you ever noticed the Eastcheap camels on Peek House? Looking up along Eastcheap provides plenty of interesting things to spot. From the juxtaposition of old (St Margaret Patterns) and the new Walkie Talkie, to one of London’s most intriguing (and tiny!) sculptures But the camels deserve...