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Kings Observatory

London’s Other Royal Observatory

Posted on June 11, 2019
in London, Quirky Museums, Things to do in London, West London
4 Comments

You've probably heard of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, but there's also the King's Observatory in Richmond. Join me for a look around...

London Clown Museum

London’s Clown Museum | Trinity Church, Dalston

Posted on January 24, 2019
in Hidden Gems, London, Quirky Museums
2 Comments

Dalston is host to one of the strangest – and smallest – collections; The Clown Museum in Trinity Church. If you're a coulrophobe, look away now...

Strand Lane Roman Bath

The Real History of the Strand Lane ‘Roman’ Bath

Posted on May 26, 2018
in City of London, Hidden Gems, London, Look Up London, Quirky Museums
1 Comment

There's a National Trust Sign, but don't be fooled. The Strand Roman Bath isn't quite what it appears to be....

Roman Temple

London Mithraeum: Visit a Roman Temple Under London

Posted on May 4, 2018
in City of London, Hidden Gems, London, Look Up London, Quirky Museums
4 Comments

First discovered in 1954, as part of the new Bloomberg HQ, London's Mithraeum been restored so Londoners can step back 1,800 years, inside a Roman Temple!...

Dorich House: The Home, Studio & Gallery of Dora Gordine

Posted on April 17, 2018
in London, Look Up London, Quirky Museums, West London
2 Comments

Tucked away in leafy Kingston is the home, studio and gallery of Dora Gardine, Estonian sculptor, 1895-1991 . Have a look around Dorich House, a true London gem....

Turner's House

A Tour of Turner’s House in Twickenham

Posted on April 15, 2018
in Interiors, London, Look Up London, Quirky Museums, West London
1 Comment

Newly restored and open to the public, I discovered a fresh view of JMW Turner at his House in Twickenham....

Spirit Collection

Inside the Natural History Museum Spirit Collection

Posted on April 10, 2018
in London, Look Up London, Quirky Museums, Things to do in London, West London
0 Comments

South Kensington's Natural History Museum has far more on offer than dinosaurs, join me for a look inside The Spirit Collection; full of monstrous and surprising specimens not usually on display! ...

Parliamentary Archives

Parliamentary Archives: Inside The Victoria Tower

Posted on March 6, 2018
in London, Look Up London, Quirky Museums, Things to do in London, West London
2 Comments

See what's going on inside Westminster's Victoria Tower; it houses the Parliamentary Archives – millions of records with historical, constitutional and political significance. Join me on a tour inside…...

London's Weirdest Museum

London’s Weirdest Museum: The Last Tuesday Society

Posted on December 12, 2017
in East London, London, Look Up London, Quirky Museums
2 Comments

A bizarre collection in Hackney with everything from shrunken heads to terrifying taxidermy. Proceed with caution...

Best Open House London 2017 Highlights

The Best of Open House London – 2017 Highlights

Posted on September 26, 2017
in architecture, Churches and Graveyards, East London, Interiors, London, Look Up London, Quirky Museums, Things to do in London
0 Comments

Over 800 buildings are open for the public – for free – to snoop around and last weekend I did the usual rushing across the city to try and see as much as possible! These were my favourite Open House discoveries this year....

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Katie | Look Up London Walks
This extraordinary building is right by Streatham This extraordinary building is right by Streatham Common Station. It hasn’t been open to the public for 12 years but for Open House London I managed to get a look inside. ➡️ swipe for a peek! It’s a water pumping station, built in 1890s and amazingly still a key part of Thames Water’s supply for London today. 📍 Read more in my blog post, tap @look_uplondon 👈🏼 for the link in my bio! #openhouselondon #lookuplondon #streatham #streathamcommon #londonhistory #london #unusuallondon #mysecretlondon #streathampumpingstation #explorelondon #londonhistoryblog #londonarchitecture #archilovers #Victorian #engineering #prettycitylondon @officialthameswater @opencitylondon
The song goes that “a nightingale sang in Berkel The song goes that “a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square” but if you’re walking through Mayfair today you’ll hear a rainforest sound track and see a parrots bursting from the foliage. Annabel’s is known for its eclectic facades but this might just be my favourite yet. What do you think? Berkeley Square was laid out in 1696 when Lord Berkeley sold his home here to the Duke of Devonshire but made him sign an agreement that he wouldn’t build on this patch of greenery. When speculative development started springing up in the 1730s and 40s this London square was kept and today it has some of the oldest plane trees in London. So while this display might be fake and temporary, thankfully you can always enjoy the green space of Berkeley Square! #lookuplondon #annabelsmayfair #mysecretlondon #BerkeleySquare #Mayfair #LondonHistory #MayfairHistory #LondonWalks #London #ThisisLondon #Timeoutlondon #explorelondon #londonscenes #londonguide
Well isn’t this delightful? Back in 1671 John D Well isn’t this delightful? Back in 1671 John Dwight established a pottery here in Fulham. Dwight was onto a winner with his new technique that was hitherto unseen in England. An Oxford Univeristy graduate, he’d been experimenting with techniques to create porcelain and Dutch stoneware, mimicking the products seen and exported from China and Holland. Sadly for Dwight his epic quest to create the perfect product meant that he never made a huge amount of profit. His daughter continued the family business from 1703 but by 1743 the owners had declared bankruptcy. Fast forward to the building we see today and this is a Grade II listed 19th century bottle kiln. It was in use throughout the 1800s and 1900s and new companies working here actually found some of Dwights pots and ale-jugs during excavations! Today, sadly, the building isn’t currently in use. #LookUpLondon #LondonHistory #FulhamHistory #FulhamPottery #ThisISLondon #OffTheBeatenTrackLondon #LondonWalks #LondonTourGuide #BlueBadgeGuide #LondonArchitecture #UnsualLondon #MySecretLondon #SWLondon
📣 Open House London Recommendations! 📣 Prob 📣 Open House London Recommendations! 📣 Probably a London history fan’s favourite weekend of the year, for 2021 Open House is running from 4-12 September and there’s PLENTY to see, for free (and with no need to pre-book!) From secret Chelsea burial grounds, glittering livery halls, stunning Victorian churches and historic homes, it’s a veritable feast! I’ve written a blog post with my top 24 recommendations for amazing historic venues and buildings to visit, all of which you just turn up (so no worries if you haven’t planned anything yet!) 📍Tap @look_uplondon for the link in my bio for the blog post! Where are you going this year? PICTURED HERE: • Drapers Hall, City of London • The Junction, St Mary Magdalene Paddington • Charlton House, Greenwich • Benjamin Franklin House, Charing Cross • St Augustine Tower, Hackney • Temple Church, City of London • Moravian Burial Ground, Chelsea @opencitylondon #OpenHouseLondon #OHLondon21 #OpenHouseLondon2021 #London #LetsDoLondon #VisitLondon #MySecretLondon #LookUpLondon #LondonBlogs #ThingstodoinLondon #LondonGuide #LondonTrips #PostcardPlaces #LondonInteriors #LondonHistory
Lovely to stumble upon the new @akajimmyc piece in Lovely to stumble upon the new @akajimmyc piece in Clerkenwell while planning a walking tour! It’s called Spring and is based on lots of different drawings in Victoria Park. In typical Jimmy C style it’s a collection of bright, sprayed on, dots which come together in an explosion of colour and lovely little details. Swipe ➡️ for an idea of what I mean! I thought it’s was a perfect little bit of joyfulness to brighten up a street. Have you seen his work around London? 📍Find it for yourself at 65 Banner Street, corner of Whitecross Street in Clerkenwell #london #londonstreetart #streetart #lookuplondon #streetarteverywhere #londonart #jimmyc #letsdolondon #explorelondon #londonwalks #discoverlondon #londontours #londonguide
There’s an oasis to be found on the edge of the There’s an oasis to be found on the edge of the City… The Charterhouse began as a monastery in the 14th century, later becoming a Tudor Palace then an almshouse and school. Today it’s still home to over 40 ‘brothers’ (men and women) who get to live in his peaceful haven in EC1. But the good news is, you can visit! They run tours of the history, buildings and have recently opened up the private gardens! (Which - as you can see - are absolutely delightful) 📍Tap the link in my bio @look_uplondon 👈🏼 for the blog about Charterhouse Gardens and for more history! #lookuplondon #londonhiddengems #discoverlondon #explorelondon #charterhouse @charterhouselondon #londonhistory #londonmuseums #london #letsdolondon
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