Open House Festival 2023 is 6-17 September and there are hundreds of London's unusual and inspiring buildings to visit (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 I've done the...
In Rotherhithe, you can descend into part of the Thames Tunnel, a ground-breaking slice of engineering history. Here you can step down into the world’s first tunnel dug under a navigable river, built between 1824-1843. Today it’s part of the Brunel Museum and until 15 September 2023...
Vauxhall Park was opened in 1890 by the then Prince of Wales (later, King Edward VII) but its origin story takes us back to a remarkable couple in the mid 1880s. In 1875 Millicent Garret Fawcett and Henry Fawcett rented 51 South Lambeth Road. The terraced...
Last week I was invited to a preview of the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace. As you probably know, it’s the official London residence of the King and typically members of the public can book to see inside the State Rooms each summer. The Diamond Jubilee...
Along Vauxhall Bridge Road, look up and you can admire the lovely former frontage of Frederick E. Gillett Ltd, but what’s the history behind it? Built c.1827 the group of houses was originally called Belvoir Terrace. You can see the new block on the nicely timed 1828...
Once one of the most magnificent Gothic revival churches in London, the Grade I listed St Michael and All Angels in Shoreditch is now set to become office space. It seems quite the juxtaposition, but there’s a lot more to the story… History of St Michael and...
Within Kensington Garden’s Italian Gardens you can find the monumental Queen Anne’s Alcove. Not only was it designed by Christopher Wren but it has a surprising history! The Italian Gardens were laid out around 1860, spearheaded by Prince Albert. They followed a similar plan for gardens he’d...
Look up above the Tescos outside Liverpool Street Statuion and - as ever - there’s history above your eye line! The wide doorways might be the first giveaway, but the elaborately decorated facade tells us this was once Bishopsgate Fire Station. It was built in 1884 for...
On Laurence Pountney Hill, a quiet corner of the City of London, a private house, former church and pretty garden can transport you back through the centuries. The grade II listed 7a Laurence Pountney Hill was built in the late 17th century, around 1670. But amazingly, the...
London is home to an incredible selection of world-class museums but we’re also spoilt for choice with quirkier, small ones too. In no particular order, here is my selection of the 20 best small museums in London. How many have you visited?! 1. The Hunterian Named after...