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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...

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...

London Unusual Stained Glass

London’s Unusual Stained Glass Windows

Posted on December 9, 2019
in Churches and Graveyards, London, Look Up London
6 Comments

From contemporary artistic creations to characters you wouldn't expect to find!...

London’s 9 Strangest Church Steeples

Posted on May 7, 2019
in architecture, Churches and Graveyards, London, Look Up London
10 Comments

Today they might be dwarfed by skyscrapers, but that doesn't mean they're less impressive (or eye-catching!)...

Neasden Temple

Neasden Temple: A Tour of Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

Posted on February 8, 2019
in architecture, Churches and Graveyards, London, North London
2 Comments

Be transported to India with a visit to one of London's most astonishing creations....

Southwark Cathedral Tower

Climbing Southwark Cathedral’s Tower

Posted on January 25, 2019
in architecture, Churches and Graveyards, London, South London
1 Comment

On a special tour of Southwark Cathedral I got to ascend the tower. The views - you'll be happy to know - did not disappoint! Join me on the climb...

Fitzrovia Chapel

Fitzrovia Chapel | London’s Prettiest Interior?

Posted on December 30, 2018
in architecture, Churches and Graveyards, London, Look Up London, Things to do in London, West London
0 Comments

Designed as a small hospital chapel. The Fitzrovia Chapel is an absolute jewel of a church, only a 5 minute walk from Oxford Street....

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

Exploring Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

Posted on August 16, 2018
in Churches and Graveyards, East London, London, Look Up London, Things to do in London
0 Comments

Perhaps not famous or studded with celebrity graves, Tower Hamlets is so worth a visit, here are the fascinating human stories I found...

5 Unmissable Objects at the Imperial War Museum

Posted on July 31, 2018
in Churches and Graveyards, London, Look Up London, Things to do in London
1 Comment

It's tough curating a museum of death and destruction. Here are my highlights from an introductory tour...

Clapham South Station

Tour of Clapham South Station: The Hidden Shelter For 10,000 Londoners

Posted on June 19, 2018
in Churches and Graveyards, London, London Underground, Look Up London, Things to do in London
2 Comments

There's more to Clapham South Station than meets the eye and I joined a Hidden London tour to uncover its fascinating secret history...

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• Virtual London walking tours every Monday, 2pm from 25th May
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As you emerge out of Piccadilly Station, Regent St As you emerge out of Piccadilly Station, Regent Street’s sweeping curve is a delight. But why is it so bendy? It was built in 1819 as London’s original shopping street and designed as a direct route for the Prince Regent (later King George IV) to travel between Carlton House at St James’s Park and a planned palace at Regent’s Park. Sadly for our Prince, his architect John Nash ran into good old English land dispute troubles, having to outrageously build around properties that already existed. Don’t you hate it when people just wont move out of you way?! 🤣 Another theory is that the curve leans West to be closer to well-to-do Mayfair, rather than swinging Soho. Today none of the building are actually by Nash, most being rebuilt between 1904 and 1925, however they are all listed. #lookuplondon . . . Hi I’m Katie 🙋🏻‍♀️ Blue Badge Tour Guide and London history blogger. Although I’m currently not running public walks, I’m continuing to share London’s history with virtual walks live every Monday. If you enjoy my posts and stories and want to contribute to my business you can donate in my bio link @look_uplondon 👈🏼 or get in touch for private virtual tours! . . . #regentstreet #london #lookup #nash #londonarchitecture #thisislondon #visitlondon #mysecretlondon #archilovers #londonhistory #insiderlondon #explorelondon #londonicons #piccadilly #prettycitylondon #prettylittlelondon #londondetails #londonwalks #chasingfacades @regentstreetw1 @visitlondon
Designed by Giles Gilbert Scott in the 1920s, I wo Designed by Giles Gilbert Scott in the 1920s, I wonder what Scott would make of this new use for his telephone box? As phone boxes have become redundant with the rise of mobiles, these eye-catching bits of street furniture have been changed into artworks, miniature coffeeshops and even life-saving defibrillator machines! The Lewisham Micro Library, as it’s now known, has been open since 2013 when Seb Handley bought the box from BT for £1 and converted it. But it’s not unique by a long way, hundreds of phone boxes have been converted into libraries across the UK! #lookuplondon . . . Hi I’m Katie 🙋🏻‍♀️ Blue Badge Tour Guide and London history blogger. Although I’m currently not running public walks, I’m continuing to share London’s history with virtual London walking tours which you can watch on my IGTV. If you enjoy my posts and stories and want to contribute to my business you can donate in my bio link @look_uplondon 👈🏼 or get in touch for private virtual tours! . . . #london #thisislondon #visitlondon #mysecretlondon #londonhistory #insiderlondon #explorelondon #lewisham #southlondon #booklover #library #librariesofinstagram #shelfie #londondetails #londonwalks
Are gasholders strangely beautiful or downright ug Are gasholders strangely beautiful or downright ugly? When I posed this question on my stories I was surprised that 90% voted for beautiful! I’ll admit I do find their hulking metal forms intriguing, so I was delighted to discover recently that there’s far more to the former 19th century Bow Gas Works than meets the eye. Over on the blog I’ve shared a post about a secret garden, hiding in the middle of an industrial estate! For an idea of quite how bizarre this was, swipe right to see part of this strange secret garden. 📍Tap @look_uplondon 👈🏼 for the link in bio! #lookuplondon . . . . #londonhistory #bromleybybow #gasholders #victorian #secrethistory #londonbloggger #londonblog #gasometers #historyblog #london #lookup #mysecretlondon #riverlea #dailywalks #londonwalks #EastLondon #Bow #Thisislondon #hiddenlondon #explorelondon #londontourguide #londonguide #bluebadgeguide #industrial
They may look serene, but these lovely ladies in S They may look serene, but these lovely ladies in Southwark Park were previously damsels in distress… They were carved by Henry Poole in the 1890s and used to be part of Rotherhithe’s Town Hall, erected in 1897 but badly damaged during WWII and later demolished. The caryatids (fancy term for ladies as columns) were then moved to Elephant and Castle’s newly constructed Heygate Estate in 1974 but then that was scheduled for demolition from 2011. They arrived in this lovely spot in the same year and hopefully they can now enjoy a bit of peace and quiet! #lookuplondon . . . Hi I’m Katie 🙋🏻‍♀️ Blue Badge Tour Guide and London history blogger. Although I’m currently not running public walks, I’m continuing to share London’s history with virtual London walking tours which you can watch on my IGTV. If you enjoy my posts and stories and want to contribute to my business you can donate in my bio link @look_uplondon 👈🏼 . . . #london #londonhistory #londonsculpture #southwarkpark #rotherhithe #SouthLondon #Classical #localhistory #londonwalks #mysecretlondon #londonparks #londondetails #victorian #visitlondon #thisislondon #sculpture #lookup #caryatids #greenspace #greenlondon #bluebadgetouristguide
The sun-drenched Old Ship in Limehouse, an indepen The sun-drenched Old Ship in Limehouse, an independent East End favourite. While walking past recently a little detail caught my eye. Swipe right and you’ll see the carving of a crowned woman peering down at you. This is a Mercer’s Maiden and a little historic clue. Built in 1825, York Square was a development funded by the Mercer’s Company, a City of London trade guild established back in the 12th century. The Mercer’s are ranked top out of the 110 companies and today have shifted focus to more charitable activities. This plot of land was bought by the Greater London Council in 1973 but their property mark can still be seen. Have you spotted any more around London? #lookuplondon . . . Hi I’m Katie 🙋🏻‍♀️ Blue Badge Tour Guide and London history blogger. Although I’m currently not running public walks, I’m continuing to share London’s history with virtual London walking tours which you can watch on my IGTV. If you enjoy my posts and stories and want to contribute to my business you can donate in my bio link @look_uplondon 👈🏼 . . . #pubsofinstagram #pubhistory #limehouse #london #londonhistory #fridayfeeling #londonpubs #localhistory #londonwalks #explorelondon #londonguide #londondetails #victorian #visitlondon #thisislondon #mysecretlondon #lookup #londonstreets #chasingfacades #londoncorners #mercersmaidens #bluebadgetouristguide
Have you given The Monument a proper look? A whil Have you given The Monument a proper look? A while back, with some time to spare, I decided to have a really good admire of the incredible sculptural frieze and there are some amazing details (swipe right for a taste!) Built after the 1666 Great Fire of London, it’s a fantastic bit of storytelling with a great dollop of propaganda! 📍 Over on the blog I’ve written about the symbols, details and history, to have a read, tap @look_uplondon 👈🏼 for the link in bio! Also, have you climbed its 311 steps? I think it’s one of the most underrated viewing platforms in London, so worth to leg pain! . . . . #lookuplondon #london #londonblog #monument #themonument #history #londonhistory #londonblogger #bluebadgetouristguide #cityoflondon #greatfireoflondon #lookup #londondetails #lookcloser #londonarchitecture #londonsculpture #thisislondon #londonicons @visitthemonument
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