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Queenhithe Mosaic

Queenhithe Mosaic: Telling The History of The City

Posted on June 30, 2020
in City of London, Hidden Gems, London, Look Up London
6 Comments

On a quiet riverside spot, the story of the City of London unfolds in the most beautiful way. Have you see the Queenhithe Mosaic?...

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
3 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...

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!...

St Paul's Studios

St Paul’s Studios, Talgarth Road

Posted on March 17, 2020
in City of London, London, Look Up London
14 Comments

If you've driven along the A4, maybe on your way to Heathrow, chances are you've admired theses buildings. But what's the story behind them?...

Trinity Green Almshouses

The Story of Trinity Green Almshouses, Whitechapel Road

Posted on March 10, 2020
in City of London, London, Look Up London
2 Comments

Along Whitechapel Road you can spot the most extraordinary slice of London's history; a selection of houses built in 1695!...

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...

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You can’t get always get it right first time. Th You can’t get always get it right first time. That’s certainly what happened with Millennium Bridge… 
It officially opened in June 2000, designed in a collaborative effort between Arup Group, Foster and Partners and Sir Antony Caro. Although it’s a suspension bridge, it doesn’t exactly look like that, the supporting cables running alongside the bridges instead of up high. This means it offers spectacular views of St Paul’s Cathedral! However, it didn’t all go to plan. When the bridge opened to pedestrians it started to sway from side to side, the swaying exacerbated as walkers matched their steps to the vibrations. It had to be shut due to this phenomenon (which has the fantastic name; ‘synchronous lateral excitation’!) Thankfully it reopened in 2002 and so today everyone can enjoy the spectacular views (and fabulous sneaky Street Art placed all along the floor! Watch my Illuminated River tour on IGTV for more info!) #lookuplondon . . . Hi I’m Katie 🙋🏻‍♀️ Blue Badge Tourist Guide and London history blogger. Book fun and immersive virtual tours in my bio @look_uplondon 👈🏼 I also offer private virtual tours, get in touch for details. . . . #millenniumbridge #london #visitlondon #thisislondon #stpauls #londonhistory #londonbylocals #explorelondon #mysecretlondon #becauseimalondoner #mylondon #londonicons #prettycitylondon #londonbylondoners #discoverlondon #londonviewpoints #bluebadgetouristguide #londonguide #londonwalks
Who was Lady Ottoline? This Holborn pub takes its Who was Lady Ottoline? This Holborn pub takes its name from Lady Ottoline Morrell (b.1873), an aristocrat, Bloomsbury resident and patron of the arts. She was famed for her parties and played host to many of the literary and artistic greats at their London home. These included members of the Bloomsbury Group, Jacob Epstein and T.S. Eliot and D.H. Lawrence. There’s a blue plaque to her at 10 Gower Street where she lived from 1927 until her death in 1938. It’s also where she wrote her memoirs which - given her life and many love affairs - sounds like they’d be a good read! Her husband Philip Morrell was descended from the Oxfordshire-based brewing company; Morrell’s which was in business from 1743-1998. I supposed then its fitting that there’s a pub named after her! #lookuplondon . . . Hi I’m Katie 🙋🏻‍♀️ Blue Badge Tourist Guide and London history blogger. Book fun and immersive virtual tours in my bio @look_uplondon 👈🏼 I also offer private virtual tours, get in touch for details. . . . #holborn #becauseiamalondoner #londonpubs #London #visitlondon #ladyottoline #bloomsburygroup #londonhistory #londonbylocals #bloomsbury #mylondon #londonicons #pubsofinstagram #londonguide #thisislondon #victorian #londoncorners #prettycitylondon #londonbylondoners #discoverlondon #explorelondon #mysecretlondon #chasingfacades #pubhistory #inspiremyinstagram #londonstreets @theladyottoline
How often have you looked up along Regent Street? How often have you looked up along Regent Street? As one of London’s shopping hubs, it’s all too easy to only glance to shop level, but if you do, you’re missing out! In the latest blog post I’ve shared some of the amazing history that’s hiding above your eyeline along Regent Street. Tap @look_uplondon 👈🏼 for the link in my bio! #lookuplondon This lovely detail is part of one of London’s largest sculptures. It’s the original facade of Liberty (that’s right, before their iconic faux-Tudor black and white building!) It shows Britannia trading with merchants all over the world. Get a closer look in the post! . . . . #london #regentstreet #lookup #becauseIAmALondoner #londonsculpture #hiddendetails #chasingfacades #lookcloser #londonblogger #londonbluebadgeguide #londonguide #londonhistory #historiclondon #visitlondon #explorelondon #discoverlondon #Londonwalks @regentstreetw1 @libertylondon
Look up in Covent Garden and you’ll spy the Brid Look up in Covent Garden and you’ll spy the Bridge of Aspiration, connecting the Royal Ballet School and the Royal Opera House. Even though it was a miserable day to take a photo, this was the first time I’d managed to capture anyone on the. One day I was lucky enough to see tutu-clad dancers dashing across, but I wasn’t quick enough to take a picture! Design by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, the bridge twists above Floral Street, made of gradually rotated squares - google what it looks like inside, your mind will be blown… #lookuplondon . . . Hi I’m Katie 🙋🏻‍♀️ Blue Badge Tour Guide and London history blogger. Book fun and immersive virtual tours in my bio @look_uplondon 👈🏼 and join me live every Monday at 2pm for short London history walks. I also offer private virtual tours, get in touch for details. . . . #london #lookup #coventgarden #royaloperahouse #royalballetschool #wilkinsoneyre #floralstreet #bridgeofaspiration #architecture #archilovers #explorelondon #visitlondon #londonguide #londonwalks @wilkinsoneyre @royaloperahouse @royalballetschool @coventgardenldn
Look above the doors of these Whitechapel Road fla Look above the doors of these Whitechapel Road flats and you’ll spot the arched words of Mann Crossman & Paulin Ltd. The company started in 1808 under the catchier name of Blake & Mann, it then came to James Mann who enlisted Crossman and Paulin in 1846. The brewery used to employ hundreds of local East Enders right up until 1979, its claim to fame being that it produced Britain’s first bottled brown ale. The George and Dragon relief was their original logo until Watney Combe and Reid took over in 1958. They still run the popular - and historic - boozer next door; The Blind Beggar. #lookuplondon . . . Hi I’m Katie 🙋🏻‍♀️ Blue Badge Tour Guide and London history blogger. Book fun and immersive virtual tours in my bio @look_uplondon 👈🏼 I also offer private tours, get in touch for details. . . . #londonpubs #London #visitlondon #londonhistory #londonbylocals #whitechapel #mylondon #londonicons #pubsofinstagram #londonguide #EastLondon #victorian #thisislondon #prettycitylondon #londonbylondoners #discoverlondon #explorelondon #mysecretlondon #chasingfacades #pubhistory #inspiremyinstagram #londonstreets #fridayfeeling
The Rookery seems a funny choice for such a lovely The Rookery seems a funny choice for such a lovely hotel. It’s a Victorian term for densely-packed, low-quality housing, basically a slum. Parts of Clerkenwell certainly were like this until the end of the 19th century and this particular street; ‘Cowcross’ got its name because it was literally where cows would be walked on their way to and from the livestock market at Smithfield. Today you won’t see any cows but you will find the refurbished Rookery Hotel which opened in 1998 after beautifully converting three Georgian shop-houses (as well as some Victorian buildings on the narrow Peters Lane). Although the shopfronts aren’t original, you certainly feel as though you’re stepping back in time. Thankfully minus the sights and smells of historic London! . . . Hi I’m Katie 🙋🏻‍♀️ Blue Badge Tour Guide and London history blogger. Book fun and immersive virtual tours in my bio @look_uplondon 👈🏼 and join me live every Monday at 2pm for short London history walks. I also offer private virtual tours, get in touch for details. . . . #lookuplondon #london #clerkenwell #rookeryhotel #thisislondon #londonhistory #historiclondon #shopfront #chasingfacades #londonhotels #visitlondon #lovelondon #lookup #londonguide #londonwalks #smithfield #mysecretlondon @therookeryhotel
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