Londonist
When Are London's Christmas Lights Switched On For 2023?
Three...two...one... CHRISTMAS!
a year ago
Three...two...one... CHRISTMAS!
AFAR Media - Travel...
Your Next Caribbean Vacation to The Cayman Islands
8 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
10 Best, Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Portugal
a year ago
diamond geezer
Anorak corner (tube edition)
Anorak Corner (the annual update) [tube edition]
Hurrah, it's that time of year again when TfL...
3 months ago
Anorak Corner (the annual update) [tube edition]
Hurrah, it's that time of year again when TfL silently updates its spreadsheet of annual passenger entry/exit totals at every tube station.
To be honest they did this last month, that's how silently the data was updated, but at...
diamond geezer
Basingstoke
Gadabout: BASINGSTOKE
Basingstoke is a large town in north Hampshire, roughly halfway along the M3...
5 months ago
Gadabout: BASINGSTOKE
Basingstoke is a large town in north Hampshire, roughly halfway along the M3 motorway. It's simultaneously ancient and modern, a traditional market town selected by the London County Council for substantial postwar expansion which saw its population increase...
diamond geezer
London's most...
Superlative posts
I write a lot of posts about longest/shortest/highest/quickest/closest/first/last...
a year ago
Superlative posts
I write a lot of posts about longest/shortest/highest/quickest/closest/first/last things so I thought I'd try compiling a clickable list. It took a while because I've written over 10000 posts, and it's bound to be incomplete for the same reason. But here it is...
Londonist
Guess What Our Most-Read Article Of 2023 Was...
You love Christmas and the tube - but what was numero uno?
12 months ago
You love Christmas and the tube - but what was numero uno?
diamond geezer
Midsummer Day
Officially Midsummer Day is 24th June.
And midsummer is also 6th August.
astronomical definition...
5 months ago
Officially Midsummer Day is 24th June.
And midsummer is also 6th August.
astronomical definition of summer is the period between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. Summer is 94 days long so we're looking for the 47th day after the solstice and that's 6th August....
Londonist
Rare Chelsea Books: Memories Of A Bookshop On The King's Road
"We discouraged visitors from bringing in galettes, to prevent sticky fingers."
a year ago
"We discouraged visitors from bringing in galettes, to prevent sticky fingers."
AFAR Media - Travel...
What to Eat, Do, and See, and Where to Stay, in Maine
4 months ago
diamond geezer
Paddington plus
Paddington tube station has another entrance. I know, another one.
It already has a...
2 months ago
Paddington tube station has another entrance. I know, another one.
It already has a District/Circle/Bakerloo entrance on the mainline concourse, a separate District/Circle entrance across the road on Praed Street, a completely separate Circle/Hammersmith & City entrance over...
diamond geezer
Random Grid Square TQ2492
Greater London contains around 2000 National Grid squares, each 1km by 1km in size. What I like to...
4 months ago
Greater London contains around 2000 National Grid squares, each 1km by 1km in size. What I like to do, very occasionally, is pick one at random, visit it and write about what's there.
Which random grid square did I pick? TQ2492
Where is it? Frith Manor in the borough of Barnet,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Family-Friendly Travel Guide to Minneapolis, MN
7 months ago
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do In London This Week: 1-7 April 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
8 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
diamond geezer
Route 59
Route 59: Smithfield to Streatham Hill
Location: London south, inner
Length of bus journey: 6 miles,...
9 months ago
Route 59: Smithfield to Streatham Hill
Location: London south, inner
Length of bus journey: 6 miles, 55 minutes
It's traditional around every birthday that I take a numerically significant bus journey. Seventeen years ago I took the 42 to Dulwich, then subsequently the 43 to...
Londonist
13 Excellent Events Near London: February 2024
Snowdrops, cocktails and a special afternoon tea.
10 months ago
Snowdrops, cocktails and a special afternoon tea.
AFAR Media - Travel...
4 Outdoor Adventures Near Marriott Hotels in Florida
5 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
The Playable Poetry of Zeni Tainaka
The Day I Couldn’t Write a Poem is a short, playable game in which the reader moves a character...
8 months ago
The Day I Couldn’t Write a Poem is a short, playable game in which the reader moves a character through text, interacting with obstacles and making your way through a narrative. It’s the work of Zennyan (Zeni Tainaka), a Japanese pixel artist who has been experimenting with...
Spoon & Tamago
150-Year Old Florist in Yanaka Blossoms with a New Cafe
all photos by Takuya Seki courtesy Maru Architects Founded in 1870, Hanaju is a florist that has...
3 months ago
all photos by Takuya Seki courtesy Maru Architects Founded in 1870, Hanaju is a florist that has served Tokyo’s Yanaka neighborhood for over 150 years. The flower shop is located near the entrance of Yanaka Cemetery and is surrounded by traditional homes and businesses, including...
Spoon & Tamago
Noma’s New Pop Up by OEO Studio in Kyoto
All images ©Kotaro Tanaka courtesy OEO Studio OEO Studio, a Copenhagen-based design firm, has...
a year ago
All images ©Kotaro Tanaka courtesy OEO Studio OEO Studio, a Copenhagen-based design firm, has recently completed the interiors of Noma Kyoto, a pop-up dining in Japan in collaboration with Ace Hotel. The 250 sqm existing dining space has been transformed under the guidance of...
Herbert Lui
A place and its magic
When my partner and I were on our honeymoon in Hawaii earlier this year, a driver told us about how...
2 weeks ago
When my partner and I were on our honeymoon in Hawaii earlier this year, a driver told us about how the island had lost its magic to him. After he spent a couple of years there, he naturally stopped noticing the beauty of the island. He felt wistful about this, and while his...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Five Destinations to Explore Beyond the Ordinary on Your Next Journey
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Cruise for Best Way to See the Northern Lights in Alaska
8 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
Tolerance Poster Show Debuts in Japan
The Tolerance traveling poster show is a socially driven initiative that asks prominent designers...
a year ago
The Tolerance traveling poster show is a socially driven initiative that asks prominent designers from around the world to create artworks with the word Tolerance in their language. The exhibition, which leverages art & design to spread its powerful message of respect for...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Exclusive Beach Club Experiences: Mexico's Riviera Maya & Beyond
a year ago
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 16-17 December 2023
Festive pursuits, family events, and a huge horse show.
a year ago
Festive pursuits, family events, and a huge horse show.
diamond geezer
Your guide to the new Overground line names
Your guide to the new Overground line names
individual names in 2015, mostly geographically-based,...
10 months ago
Your guide to the new Overground line names
individual names in 2015, mostly geographically-based, but Boris Johnson swiftly vetoed the proposal. Then in 2021 Sadiq Khan's manifesto pledged to rename the lines if he got elected.
"TfL’s London Overground network has grown...
AFAR Media - Travel...
You Can See the 2024 Solar Eclipse During This 22-Day Cruise
a year ago
Londonist
You Can Play With This Miniature Tube Train At Hounslow West Underground Station
There's no way you're not pressing that button.
a year ago
There's no way you're not pressing that button.
Londonist
10 Big Shows To Book For 2024
It's a good time to be a Studio Ghibli fan.
a year ago
It's a good time to be a Studio Ghibli fan.
Londonist
Places That Closed Down In London In 2024
Rooftop bars, kids' attractions and a beloved market.
9 months ago
Rooftop bars, kids' attractions and a beloved market.
diamond geezer
Hampton Water Works
The square after Coventry Street on the Monopoly board is the Water Works. London has all kinds of...
2 months ago
The square after Coventry Street on the Monopoly board is the Water Works. London has all kinds of water infrastructure, from sewage treatment works to reservoirs and ring mains, not to mention sewers, pumping stations and the Tideway Tunnel. But I thought I'd visit the largest...
One from Nippon
$450 for a School Bag?!
Every year, around March, a curious social custom occurs in Japanese families.
Parents of kids...
11 months ago
Every year, around March, a curious social custom occurs in Japanese families.
Parents of kids entering elementary school visit the grandparents and gingerly tread the topic of buying the kids a very expensive item: a randoseru.
And gingerly they must tread. The randoseru, a...
Londonist
How To Spend A (Relatively Cheap) Weekend In Florence
We did say relatively.
a year ago
Londonist
The Woods At The End Of The Elizabeth Line Where You Can Take A Sound Bath
De-stress among the trees in east London.
10 months ago
De-stress among the trees in east London.
Londonist
Exciting News For London Art Lovers!
A special offer just in time for the Easter holidays
9 months ago
A special offer just in time for the Easter holidays
Spoon & Tamago
Unwind With Books And Beverages at Iwami Ginzan’s Unique Library Cafe
All images © Iwami Ginzan Library Situated in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture, the Iwami...
a year ago
All images © Iwami Ginzan Library Situated in Omori-cho, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture, the Iwami Ginzan Town Library Cafe and Co-working Space offers a unique fusion of a relaxed library atmosphere and modern amenities. It is housed within a former merchant’s residence on the...
diamond geezer
London votes 2024
Voted for Sadiq; voted for a Labour London Assembly Member
Voted for Sadiq; voted for a...
7 months ago
Voted for Sadiq; voted for a Labour London Assembly Member
Voted for Sadiq; voted for a Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member
Voted for Susan; voted for a Labour London Assembly Member
Voted for Susan; voted for a Conservative London Assembly...
Londonist
20 Pithy Ian Nairn Quotes About Modern London Buildings
"A joke title for a joke of a building."
a year ago
"A joke title for a joke of a building."
Spoon & Tamago
Fruit, Not What it Appears to be in Artfully Arranged Compositions by Yuni Yoshida
I like to eat apples and bananas. Yuni Yoshida, the creative director known for her mind-bending...
a year ago
I like to eat apples and bananas. Yuni Yoshida, the creative director known for her mind-bending visual illusions, likes to alter them, creating visually arresting compositions that make you look, and then look again. Often incorporating food into her work, Yoshida has an ongoing...
diamond geezer
The Royal Mail Experiment
Have you ever wondered whether the Royal Mail are failing to deliver your post on time? I've long...
3 months ago
Have you ever wondered whether the Royal Mail are failing to deliver your post on time? I've long thought it suspicious that I go days without post then a whole batch arrives together, and that bills seem to arrive long after they were posted. But without evidence all this is...
diamond geezer
The news from Barking and Dagenham
Yesterday I went to the Becontree estate to take some photos of its churches. Then I added those...
5 months ago
Yesterday I went to the Becontree estate to take some photos of its churches. Then I added those photos to yesterday's post about churches on estates. I didn't add this photo, even though it was my favourite.
This is St Cedd's in Becontree. It has a lovely postwar copper roof...
diamond geezer
Bow Street
BOW
STREET
£160
London's Monopoly Streets
BOW STREET
Colour group: orange
Purchase price:...
6 months ago
BOW
STREET
£160
London's Monopoly Streets
BOW STREET
Colour group: orange
Purchase price: £180
Rent: £14
Length: 200m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: WC2
n.b. This is Bow Street in Covent Garden which is nowhere near Bow Road in Bow, nor close to the church of St-Mary-le-Bow...
One from Nippon
A peek into the world of Japan's electric rice cookers
It's been a while since our last post - life got in the way. A big thanks to everyone who reached...
a year ago
It's been a while since our last post - life got in the way. A big thanks to everyone who reached out!
We are now restarting our articles, though we might not always write once a week. If we don't think it's interesting, we
Londonist
London To Brighton Veteran Car Run 2023: When Is It? What's The Route? Which Vehicles Will I See?
What a sight!
a year ago
diamond geezer
Lessons learned
40 things I've learnt about sex over the last 40 years
1) Nothing ever prepares you for the first...
6 months ago
40 things I've learnt about sex over the last 40 years
1) Nothing ever prepares you for the first time...
2) ... not even the fact that the biology textbook always falls open at the same page
3) The first time is always a ghastly mistake (I'm extrapolating this from a single...
diamond geezer
Some transport news
Some transport news
Overground news
It's only accessible via QR code so it's not that...
4 months ago
Some transport news
Overground news
It's only accessible via QR code so it's not that accessible, but I clicked through and discovered the URL is vin.cloud.gomedia.io/HOXTON so you can check it out too. The homescreen is a list of the next three departures and their expected...
Londonist
Fundraising Events In London For Medical And Humanitarian Aid In Gaza
Some ways to support emergency response efforts.
a year ago
Some ways to support emergency response efforts.
AFAR Media - Travel...
American Airlines’ Top Credit Card Offers 100K Mile Bonus
a year ago
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 5-11 February 2024
Do cool stuff for under a fiver.
10 months ago
Do cool stuff for under a fiver.
Londonist
Direct Trains From London To Paris Were A Thing In 1936
These trains went over, rather than under, the water.
11 months ago
These trains went over, rather than under, the water.
diamond geezer
Exiting Northwood
I said I wasn't going to make a habit of this, and I'm not, but I've ticked off nine more.
The...
7 months ago
I said I wasn't going to make a habit of this, and I'm not, but I've ticked off nine more.
The black ticks are all the crossings I've crossed and my latest tranche are on the eastern side of the map between Batchworth Heath and Oxhey Woods, i.e. this bit.
this stretch of the...
Londonist
We're Getting Fired Up About This Hot Sauce Festival In Peckham
Enjoy the spicier things in life.
8 months ago
Enjoy the spicier things in life.
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Guide to D.C. for Music Lovers by Local Musician Neffy
7 months ago
Londonist
April And May Tube Strikes Called Off
No tube strike next Monday after all.
8 months ago
No tube strike next Monday after all.
diamond geezer
Draw-Off
For a few weeks every November the water level in the Thames in west London is deliberately...
a month ago
For a few weeks every November the water level in the Thames in west London is deliberately lowered.
Draw-Off and it exposes more of the riverbed than usual.
In order to carry out essential maintenance works on Richmond lock, weirs and sluices, it is necessary to hold up the...
AFAR Media - Travel...
New United Lounge in Newark Airport's Terminal A Now Open
a year ago
diamond geezer
Green Chain 12
It's not often London's Strategic Walk Network is extended. The London Loop has been in existence...
10 months ago
It's not often London's Strategic Walk Network is extended. The London Loop has been in existence since 2001, the Capital Ring completed in 2005, the Green Chain grew an extra leg in 2010 and the Jubilee Greenway emerged in 2012. So I was thrilled to discover that the Green Chain...
Londonist
Where To Eat And Drink In The Foodie Heaven That Is Brick Lane
Kimchi, ribs, clams - or just pork scratchings and a pint.
8 months ago
Kimchi, ribs, clams - or just pork scratchings and a pint.
Londonist
Two 24-Hour Tube Strikes Planned For April And May 2024
Aslef members say they're 'working harder and longer for less'.
9 months ago
Aslef members say they're 'working harder and longer for less'.
diamond geezer
Preparing rail fares for contactless
The cost of travelling by train between London and Southend is changing.
In today's post I'm going...
a year ago
The cost of travelling by train between London and Southend is changing.
In today's post I'm going to focus on fares between Southend Central and Fenchurch Street to keep things simple but similar changes apply to other journeys. Also this kind of model is rolling out on other...
diamond geezer
50 dull lists
50 dull lists
UK cities without a railway station: Armagh, Ripon, St Asaph, St Davids,...
3 months ago
50 dull lists
UK cities without a railway station: Armagh, Ripon, St Asaph, St Davids, Wells
Commemorative stamps 2024: Spice Girls, Weather forecasting, Vikings, Dinosaurs, 100 years of commemorative stamps, Peppa Pig, Dogs, Red Arrows, Dungeons & Dragons, Tower of London,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to Ski, Stay, & Explore Outdoors in Alberta's Winter
a month ago
diamond geezer
The Wombles
April 1974 wasn't all about ABBA, it was also about the Wombles.
Top 5 singles, week ending 27...
8 months ago
April 1974 wasn't all about ABBA, it was also about the Wombles.
Top 5 singles, week ending 27 April 1974
1) Seasons In The Sun (Terry Jacks)
2) Waterloo (Abba)
3) The Cat Crept In (Mud)
4) Remember You're A Womble (Wombles)
5) Angel Face (Glitter Band)
As a nine year-old I was...
Spoon & Tamago
Tamatsukuri Kindergarten’s Renewed Circular Campus Fosters Inquisitive Learning and an Appreciation...
Tamatsukuri Kindergarten is a school for early-learning that is located in a forested region of...
a year ago
Tamatsukuri Kindergarten is a school for early-learning that is located in a forested region of Japan’s Chiba prefecture. For over 40 years the school has dedicated itself to nourishing the souls, minds and bodies of its pupils. In 2022, the school decided to renew its main...
diamond geezer
Open House (3)
Yesterday's Open House tally was seven.
• The repurposed building indelibly associated with a star...
a year ago
Yesterday's Open House tally was seven.
• The repurposed building indelibly associated with a star architect where everyone had to wear a name badge in case the over-excitable staff wanted to make conversation, but there was in fact hardly anything to see and I was out of there...
AFAR Media - Travel...
How Asheville’s Nature Inspires Local Chef, Ashleigh Shanti
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Alberta’s Best Nature Escapes for Adventurous Travelers
a month ago
diamond geezer
Denham Green
As unexpected street names go, this is right up there.
n.b. there are four...
7 months ago
As unexpected street names go, this is right up there.
n.b. there are four Denhams.
Specifically Stanley Kubrick Road is in Denham Green.
Three things to see in Denham Green
1) Denham Film Studios
Alexander Korda opened his film studios just north of Denham in 1935. Some...
Londonist
Secretive Central London Cold War Tunnels Could Open As Visitor Attraction
Kingsway Telephone Exchange is said to have inspired Q Branch.
a year ago
Kingsway Telephone Exchange is said to have inspired Q Branch.
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Architectural Wonders: 5 Cities You Must See
6 months ago
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 19-25 February 2024
Do cool stuff for under a fiver.
10 months ago
Do cool stuff for under a fiver.
diamond geezer
SL5
Route SL5: Bromley North - Croydon Town Centre
Length of journey: 7 miles, 35 minutes
Superloop...
10 months ago
Route SL5: Bromley North - Croydon Town Centre
Length of journey: 7 miles, 35 minutes
Superloop sprang into action yesterday, and it's an oddity. Firstly it's the shortest of the seven circuitous routes. Secondly it doesn't serve any major centres of population other than at its...
Londonist
Can You Set Off Your Own Fireworks In London?
DIY whizzbangs, explained.
a year ago
DIY whizzbangs, explained.
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 18-19 November 2023
Chocolate tasting, a wine festival, Winter Wonderland and more.
a year ago
Chocolate tasting, a wine festival, Winter Wonderland and more.
diamond geezer
Lambeth NEWS
Lambeth North
northernmost point in the borough of Lambeth. Which is here in the middle of Waterloo...
a year ago
Lambeth North
northernmost point in the borough of Lambeth. Which is here in the middle of Waterloo Bridge.
Officially it's quarter of a mile downstream in the middle of the River Thames, but you can't stand there. The furthest north you can go in Lambeth without resorting to...
Londonist
Tips For Australians In London - From An Australian In London
Zoë Coombs Marr advises.
a year ago
Cheese and Biscuits
Pied à Terre, Fitzrovia
Since the closure of Le Gavroche, Pied à Terre is now the London restaurant which has held at least...
6 months ago
Since the closure of Le Gavroche, Pied à Terre is now the London restaurant which has held at least one Michelin star for the longest time. It first won the accolade shortly after it opened back in 1991, a time when fine dining meant French dining, and the term "gastropub" was...
Londonist
BBC's Desert Island Discs Announces Live Palladium Shows
Celebrating 80 years of the hit radio programme.
11 months ago
Celebrating 80 years of the hit radio programme.
diamond geezer
Merton rebrands
The London borough of Merton is updating its logo.
But it has to die, slowly and gradually...
a year ago
The London borough of Merton is updating its logo.
But it has to die, slowly and gradually from the end of November, and I'll let the council's branding team explain why.
We have been using the same logo as the foundation stone of our corporate identity for the past 30...
Londonist
12 (Fairly) Festive Things To Do Near London: December 2023
Charming events within easy reach of London.
a year ago
Charming events within easy reach of London.
diamond geezer
Not very interesting transport news
Friday's not very interesting transport news
The Overground lines still haven't been...
a month ago
Friday's not very interesting transport news
The Overground lines still haven't been renamed
double-sided Mildmay line panel was revealed at one end of platforms 1 and 2 (click to embiggen), while a separate sign directed passengers up to the Mildmay line from the subway. These...
diamond geezer
Crossing the river news
Crossing the river news
Silvertown Tunnel toll news
have been announced. They're not called tolls,...
5 months ago
Crossing the river news
Silvertown Tunnel toll news
have been announced. They're not called tolls, they're called user charges, but we all know what they are. The tolls will also apply to the Blackwall Tunnel from the day the Silvertown Tunnel opens which is expected to be...
diamond geezer
The University Challenge
The University Challenge
My university adventure started with a car journey to destiny, and a...
a year ago
The University Challenge
My university adventure started with a car journey to destiny, and a selection of my worldly belongings packed into the boot. It had looked like a reasonable number of belongings when piled up in my bedroom, a stack of clothes and books and gadgets I...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Kayak, Hike, and Bike in Off-Season Virginia Beach
5 days ago
Spoon & Tamago
Tumi-Isi Wooden Stacking Rocks
Designed by Nara-based design studio A4, tumi-isi (積み石; ‘stacking stones’ in Japanese) are a set of...
a year ago
Designed by Nara-based design studio A4, tumi-isi (積み石; ‘stacking stones’ in Japanese) are a set of 5 blocks individually hand bevelled into asymmetrical shapes by local artisans. No two sets are identical. These tactile objects are meant to nourish your sense of balance and...
diamond geezer
Substacks
For those who like writing online, the blogging platform of choice continues to evolve.
Substack,...
a week ago
For those who like writing online, the blogging platform of choice continues to evolve.
Substack, founded in 2017, which has been picking up more and more top writers of late. I have no intention of jumping ship, let's make that clear at the start, but I thought I'd take a...
diamond geezer
In the shadow of
We often say somewhere is "in the shadow of" something without it necessarily being true.
The sun...
10 months ago
We often say somewhere is "in the shadow of" something without it necessarily being true.
The sun does not cast a shadow from the first location to the second, that's not how daylight works, so these places are not "in the shadow of".
Let's start with something familiar in...
diamond geezer
Doctor Who 60
On Doctor Who's 60th birthday, here's a post about Doctor Who and birthdays.
I checked back...
a year ago
On Doctor Who's 60th birthday, here's a post about Doctor Who and birthdays.
I checked back recently and was amazed to see that my birthday had coincided with a new episode of Doctor Who in four consecutive years. This seemed somewhat improbable.
9th March 1982: Earthshock...
Londonist
Christmas Dinner In London: Where To Eat In The Capital On Christmas Day
Book soon if you want a seat at these tables on 25 December.
a year ago
Book soon if you want a seat at these tables on 25 December.
diamond geezer
One procession, one march
A procession, a march.
The Lord Mayor's Show
on the telly, now sandwiched inbetween Saturday...
a year ago
A procession, a march.
The Lord Mayor's Show
on the telly, now sandwiched inbetween Saturday Kitchen and Football Focus. But if you want to experience the full historic pageant in all its feathered floaty glory you need to turn up in the City and watch the multitudes go by....
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Asheville’s French Broad River is a Must-Visit
11 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Spring Vacation at This Historic Arizona Hotel
9 months ago
Londonist
Behind The Blue Doors Of Brixton's Georgian Almshouse
Free exhibition comes to Lambeth Archives.
8 months ago
Free exhibition comes to Lambeth Archives.
Londonist
London Overground Lines Get New Names And Colours
The Liberty line?
10 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
Hokusai-Inspired Erasers Reveal Mt. Fuji the More They Get Used
Erasers are usually used to delete mistakes. And as they get worn down, they become dirty or harder...
6 months ago
Erasers are usually used to delete mistakes. And as they get worn down, they become dirty or harder to hold. By nature, they are not fun to use. But Japanese stationery fim PLUS is on a mission to reverse that mentality with erasers inspired by the iconic woodblock prints of...
diamond geezer
Crisp packet colours
As you probably know, BBC local radio is currently engaged in rapid strategic contraction in an...
a year ago
As you probably know, BBC local radio is currently engaged in rapid strategic contraction in an attempt to save money. Dozens of much-loved programmes are being withdrawn, especially those broadcast in the evenings and at weekends, in favour of syndicated regional content...
Londonist
How To Spend A Weekend In Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote
And neighbouring Los Pocillos too.
a year ago
And neighbouring Los Pocillos too.
Londonist
RAF Hornchurch: Visit The Fascinating Museum Of This East London Airfield
Zeppelins, Guinea Pigs and the Great Escape.
a year ago
Zeppelins, Guinea Pigs and the Great Escape.
Londonist
London's Cemetery For Heroic Animals
Rats to racehorses are laid to rest in this remarkable burial ground.
a year ago
Rats to racehorses are laid to rest in this remarkable burial ground.
diamond geezer
Replacing Overground signage
The renaming of the Overground lines draws closer, indeed should be taking place next month. The...
3 months ago
The renaming of the Overground lines draws closer, indeed should be taking place next month. The original intention was for the changeover to be in August in conjunction with a new tube map, but that's not happened so technically it's late. That said, an awful lot of signage on...
diamond geezer
Sadiq's third manifesto
Sadiq's manifesto has finally been published so let's take a look (mainly so there's a blogpost to...
8 months ago
Sadiq's manifesto has finally been published so let's take a look (mainly so there's a blogpost to check at the end of his term in 2028).
Title: A fairer, safer, greener London for everyone
Pages: 67
Top 10 pledges
1) Free school meals
2) Freeze TfL fares
3) 40,000 new...
diamond geezer
The greatest sport
Why is football the world's greatest sport?
It might not be your favourite sport but that's not...
5 months ago
Why is football the world's greatest sport?
It might not be your favourite sport but that's not relevant here - on a global stage football dominates all.
One reason is that football's so simple to play. It's just you and a ball and all you have to do is kick it. Most other...
Londonist
Buck's Fizz: How The Perennially Festive Drink Was Invented In A Mayfair Club
It's over 100 years old.
a year ago
diamond geezer
The Overground renaming story
The Overground renaming story
Sep 2006: The Mayor announced yesterday that he's found a cunning way...
3 weeks ago
The Overground renaming story
Sep 2006: The Mayor announced yesterday that he's found a cunning way of extending the tube network without forking out billions on new tunnels. He's taking a couple of existing rail services - namely Silverlink's North London line and TfL's East...
diamond geezer
Sharpenhoe Clappers
Over the weekend I went to Sharpenhoe Clappers.
The Canine Activity paragraph
memorial stone at...
8 months ago
Over the weekend I went to Sharpenhoe Clappers.
The Canine Activity paragraph
memorial stone at Sharpenhoe Clappers because just before I reached it I encountered a group of young people with two dogs. I wasn't at all pleased when the bull terrier looked up and started running...
Spoon & Tamago
Japan’s Jimi ‘Mundane’ Halloween Costumes of 2024
Happy Jimi Halloween to everyone who celebrates. It’s that wonderful time of year when our favorite...
a month ago
Happy Jimi Halloween to everyone who celebrates. It’s that wonderful time of year when our favorite Japanese festival, Jimi Halloween, is on full display. Mundane Halloween, as we coined it back in 2018, is when people dress up in costumes so mundane they have to be explained....
diamond geezer
Pudding Mill Lane 10
The DLR's youngest station is ten years old today.
Pudding Mill Lane opened on 28th April 2014...
7 months ago
The DLR's youngest station is ten years old today.
Pudding Mill Lane opened on 28th April 2014 and remains unnecessarily enormous.
Caveat: The station which opened 10 years ago was a rebuild paid for by Crossrail, because the original sat on the precise site where purple...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 8-14 January 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
11 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
diamond geezer
Renaming the Overground, step by step
The introduction of the six new London Overground names is finally, tangibly, underway. But the...
4 weeks ago
The introduction of the six new London Overground names is finally, tangibly, underway. But the changes are being phased in, as befits a seriously complex operation, with some happening now, some delayed until next month or next year, and some kicked far into the future because...
Londonist
45+ Action-Packed Things To Do In London In April 2024
The best events in London this month.
9 months ago
The best events in London this month.
Spoon & Tamago
Craft Your Own Salt From Over 600 Varieties at this New Salt Specialist in Tokyo
unless otherwise noted, all photos by Takeshi Shinto This summer, a unique store opened in Tokyo....
3 months ago
unless otherwise noted, all photos by Takeshi Shinto This summer, a unique store opened in Tokyo. Located just a few steps away from Tokyo Sky Tree is “Guruguru Shakashaka,” a salt specialty store that lets you explore 600 varieties of salt and then blend your own. Equally unique...
Londonist
Even More Of London's Crappiest Benches
When London's seats fail to bring their A game.
a year ago
When London's seats fail to bring their A game.
diamond geezer
Random borough 2
Twenty years ago today I brought you my very first Random Borough report from the London borough of...
9 months ago
Twenty years ago today I brought you my very first Random Borough report from the London borough of Merton. But it was fairly brief - most of my posts were back then - so two decades on I'm having another go to do Merton justice. Yesterday somewhere sporty and somewhere pretty,...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 15-21 January 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
11 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
diamond geezer
B2024
This is the road of the year, the B2024.
There was once an A2024 heading east out of Chichester,...
11 months ago
This is the road of the year, the B2024.
There was once an A2024 heading east out of Chichester, but a WW2 airfield severed that so the B2024 is now all we have.
It kicks off in the middle of Westerham, a proper Wealden town with a coaching inn, tea rooms and a historic high...
Spoon & Tamago
Experience Japanese Tea Time at Home With Sakuraco
many thanks to Sakuraco for sponsoring Spoon & Tamago this week! Sakuraco is a monthly subscription...
a year ago
many thanks to Sakuraco for sponsoring Spoon & Tamago this week! Sakuraco is a monthly subscription box with an emphasis on Japan’s tradition of tea and wagashi. Each month subscribers receive a specially-curated and seasonally appropriate assortment of authentic snacks. But it’s...
diamond geezer
Victoria vents in Islington
One thing every underground railway needs is ventilation and the Victoria line needs it more than...
a year ago
One thing every underground railway needs is ventilation and the Victoria line needs it more than most. It runs fully underground from end to end and has lengthy distances between stations, so without atmospheric release would soon come unstuck. Engineers therefore had to include...
diamond geezer
Leicester Square
LEICESTER
SQUARE
£260
London's Monopoly Streets
LEICESTER SQUARE
Colour group: yellow
Purchase...
3 months ago
LEICESTER
SQUARE
£260
London's Monopoly Streets
LEICESTER SQUARE
Colour group: yellow
Purchase price: £260
Rent: £22
Area: 2 acres
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: WC2
And so to the yellows, the 'entertainment' corner of the Monopoly board. One theory has it that their ordered...
diamond geezer
Banksy's animals
Over the course of this week, the artist Bansky has been out daily painting an animal at various...
4 months ago
Over the course of this week, the artist Bansky has been out daily painting an animal at various locations across London. The sequence of events generally goes like this.
Overnight: Bansky (or his henchpeople) paint an animal silhouette on a wall somewhere.
Early morning: Local...
Londonist
Artist Will Lie On Tower Bridge's Glass Walkway All Day This Saturday
Thought-provoking work from Anahita Harding.
9 months ago
Thought-provoking work from Anahita Harding.
Londonist
Leadenhall Market Is Wrapped In Giant Purple Tentacles Again
And other Halloweeny fun to be had, too.
a year ago
And other Halloweeny fun to be had, too.
Londonist
The Superloop Loop Completes This Weekend - With The Launch Of SL2
(But yes, we know there's a gap in the loop.)
9 months ago
(But yes, we know there's a gap in the loop.)
diamond geezer
Carpenders Park
One Stop Beyond: Carpenders Park
In this series I'm taking the train one stop beyond the Greater...
a month ago
One Stop Beyond: Carpenders Park
In this series I'm taking the train one stop beyond the Greater London boundary, getting off and seeing what's there. Today that means Carpenders Park, one stop beyond Hatch End on what will next week be the Lioness line. For positioning purposes...
Londonist
The Secretive Eel Pie Island Is Open To Visitors This Weekend
Explore the usually off-limits oddball artistic enclave.
a year ago
Explore the usually off-limits oddball artistic enclave.
diamond geezer
Regent Street
REGENT
STREET
£300
London's Monopoly Streets
REGENT STREET
Colour group: green
Purchase price:...
2 months ago
REGENT
STREET
£300
London's Monopoly Streets
REGENT STREET
Colour group: green
Purchase price: £300
Rent: £26
Length: 1300m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1/SW1
Regent Street is one of the board's younger streets and a rarity for central London in that an architect drew a...
Spoon & Tamago
Discarded Tatami Mats are Reborn as Contemporary Furniture
Tatami mats are traditional Japanese flooring made from sewn-together igusa grass. But despite their...
a year ago
Tatami mats are traditional Japanese flooring made from sewn-together igusa grass. But despite their lovely aroma and natural resistance to mold, their usage has consistently declined as modern consumers opt for more contemporary living choices. The Tatami ReFab Project is an...
diamond geezer
Old Kent Road
OLD KENT
ROAD
£60
London's Monopoly Streets
OLD KENT ROAD
Colour group: brown
Purchase price:...
11 months ago
OLD KENT
ROAD
£60
London's Monopoly Streets
OLD KENT ROAD
Colour group: brown
Purchase price: £60
Rent: £2
Length: 1¾ miles
Boroughs: Southwark and Lewisham
Postcodes: SE1, SE15
Old Kent Road, which is also the only location south of the river. Originally this was Watling...
Cheese and Biscuits
Roti King, Battersea Power Station
Many moons ago I made a short-lived attempt to do some shorter-form reviews of sandwich shops,...
10 months ago
Many moons ago I made a short-lived attempt to do some shorter-form reviews of sandwich shops, street food joints, delis and the like, places that are perhaps noteworthy but for which the usual 1000+ words could be considered overkill. This resolution didn't last long, partly...
Spoon & Tamago
Trains Intersect with Everyday Life in Nostalgic Illustrations by Shinjiro Ogawa
Trains are an integral part of daily life in Japan, supporting commutes, errands and all other forms...
a year ago
Trains are an integral part of daily life in Japan, supporting commutes, errands and all other forms of daily life. And while their existence can be taken for granted, their many forms and colors add to the uniqueness of each neighborhood they traverse. Capturing the scenery of...
Londonist
Part Of The Northern Line Is Closing From Spring 2024
Edgware to Golders Green not running on various dates.
11 months ago
Edgware to Golders Green not running on various dates.
diamond geezer
Push Your Luck
New campaign to make your Tube journey cheaper
The Off Peak Fridays trial ends this Friday, after...
6 months ago
New campaign to make your Tube journey cheaper
The Off Peak Fridays trial ends this Friday, after which pay as you go single fares will return to their original peak values every weekday. But cheaper travel for deserving Londoners remains one of the key mission goals of the...
Londonist
10 Things You Learn From Living In The Tower Of London
William the Conqueror did NOT build those walls with a strong internet connection in mind.
9 months ago
William the Conqueror did NOT build those walls with a strong internet connection in mind.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 11-17 December 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Lufthansa Strives to for More Eco-Friendly Air Travel
2 months ago
Londonist
Fears Over Redevelopment Of Surbiton Station
Public consultation now open.
a year ago
Public consultation now open.
Londonist
London's Smallest Art Gallery Is In A Phone Box Outside The British Museum
You can buy the art, too.
a year ago
You can buy the art, too.
diamond geezer
London's shortest and longest High Streets
Having identified London's longest and shortest High Streets, I thought I'd better visit...
6 months ago
Having identified London's longest and shortest High Streets, I thought I'd better visit them.
London's shortest High Street
High Street (Wembley) [50 metres]
The first thing that strikes you about High Street is it's on a hill, indeed this is likely how the road originally...
Londonist
Sh!t Show: Exhibition Of Toilet Graffiti Comes To London In January
Not your bog standard art outing.
a year ago
Not your bog standard art outing.
Londonist
Bits Of London That Aren't In The Bit Of London They Say They Are In, But In Another Bit Of London
If you see what we mean.
8 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
Fukutake Tres is an Art Space Dedicated to the Fukutake Family, the Visionary Force Behind the...
Over the past three decades, Soichiro Fukutake, the former chairman of Tokyo-based education firm...
6 months ago
Over the past three decades, Soichiro Fukutake, the former chairman of Tokyo-based education firm Benesse Holdings, and his family have spent $250 million of their fortune to transform Naoshima and roughly a dozen neighboring islands in the Seto Inland Sea into a global art...
AFAR Media - Travel...
How to Explore Dallas’ Culturally Diverse Arts Scene
5 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
An Exhibition of Plushie, Small Disappointments
An onigiri smushed at the bottom of your bag. Water splashing off a spoon. Burnt toast. Life is full...
2 months ago
An onigiri smushed at the bottom of your bag. Water splashing off a spoon. Burnt toast. Life is full of small disappointments. But helping us see the humor in it all is Makosun, a Japanese maker of weird plushies—their words, not ours—who renders all these small disappointments...
Londonist
Your London Reading List: The Best Non-Fiction Books
Best books voted for by Londonist readers.
8 months ago
Best books voted for by Londonist readers.
Spoon & Tamago
The Asuke II Cruise Ship is a Floating Museum of Traditional Craftwork
Over 50 pieces of traditional craftwork (dento kogei) are on display on the Asuka II cruise ship for...
6 months ago
Over 50 pieces of traditional craftwork (dento kogei) are on display on the Asuka II cruise ship for a project organized by the Japan Kogei Association, a Tokyo-based group comprising artisans nationwide, and Anchor Ship Partners Co., a shareholder of the company that operates...
diamond geezer
Six free exhibitions in north central London
Six free temporary exhibitions in north central London
(I'll rank these at the end, but the best...
2 weeks ago
Six free temporary exhibitions in north central London
(I'll rank these at the end, but the best one comes first)
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
at: RIBA, Portland Place
from: 10am to 5pm (not Sunday)
until: 29 March
cottage melded into a rocky Leicestershire...
diamond geezer
Horizon 22
These are great times for going up very tall buildings. Last month 8 Bishopsgate opened its rooftop...
a year ago
These are great times for going up very tall buildings. Last month 8 Bishopsgate opened its rooftop viewing platform to the public, free of charge, and on Wednesday 22 Bishopsgate followed suit. Its viewing platform is called Horizon 22, and at 254m above ground level it's two...
Spoon & Tamago
Designed by Kengo Kuma, Kiki’s Museum of Literature to Open in Tokyo
Fans of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” will be delighted to learn that a new museum dedicated to...
a year ago
Fans of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” will be delighted to learn that a new museum dedicated to children’s book author Eiko Kadono will open in Tokyo. Designed by architect Kengo Kumo, the three-story Kiki’s Museum of Literature will be located inside Nagisa Park, which is situated...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Blind Bull, Little Hucklow
A large menu is rarely a good sign, and I have to admit a part of my heart sank when I sat down at...
3 months ago
A large menu is rarely a good sign, and I have to admit a part of my heart sank when I sat down at the Blind Bull and counted 12 items in the starters section, 6 mains, 3 sides and 5 desserts (even if I'm being kind and counting all the ice creams as one) - fully 26 dishes...
diamond geezer
346
Last Saturday one bus route on the edge of east London disappeared and another quadrupled in length....
9 months ago
Last Saturday one bus route on the edge of east London disappeared and another quadrupled in length. I didn't fancy spending my birthday in Upminster so left it a few days before taking a ride on the end result.
• The 346 used to be one of London's shortest bus routes, a brief...
diamond geezer
The December 2024 tube map
The introduction of six Overground line names continues to have unfortunate repercussions.
It's...
a week ago
The introduction of six Overground line names continues to have unfortunate repercussions.
It's unfortunate because the last tube map was only released three weeks ago. Alas it included a typo so the decision was taken to withdraw the entire batch pending a reprint, and here...
Londonist
TfL Moves To A Bigger Lost Property Office
The network's only getting bigger, after all.
a year ago
The network's only getting bigger, after all.
Spoon & Tamago
Minimal and Tranquil Charcoal Drawings by Masahiko Minami
“TRYST” (2021) by Masahiko Minami. Charcoal and mixed-media on wood panel Masahiko Minami works with...
4 months ago
“TRYST” (2021) by Masahiko Minami. Charcoal and mixed-media on wood panel Masahiko Minami works with charcoal and graphite to create minimalist landscapes in dramatic contrast. At once both familiar and foreign, the landscapes present a tension between absence and depth,...
One from Nippon
A peek into Japan’s Hot Springs (Part 2)
Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part post. Part 1 can be found here.
The Hot Spring...
a year ago
Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part post. Part 1 can be found here.
The Hot Spring Act of 1948
Lest you think any old well could be an onsen, the Japanese government has very clear rules on what can be called an onsen.
These are
Londonist
Get Free Entry To The London Dungeon This Monday
To cheer you up on 'Blue Monday'.
11 months ago
To cheer you up on 'Blue Monday'.
Londonist
"Displeasing And Absurd": A Hatchet Job Review Of A Christmas Carol From 1843
There's always one.
a year ago
Londonist
Ticket Alert: The Devil Wears Prada Musical On Sale From Today
Tickets? For the West End? Groundbreaking.
a year ago
Tickets? For the West End? Groundbreaking.
diamond geezer
Kempton Park
One Stop Beyond: Kempton Park
In this series I'm taking the train one stop beyond the Greater...
3 months ago
One Stop Beyond: Kempton Park
In this series I'm taking the train one stop beyond the Greater London boundary, getting off and seeing what's there. Today that means Kempton Park, one stop beyond Hampton on the Shepperton line, a station which exists solely because of the...
Spoon & Tamago
Post-Apocalyptic Illustrations of Tokyo in Ruins
Shinjuku Station – the road has collapsed on the South side of the station, revealing pools of blue...
a year ago
Shinjuku Station – the road has collapsed on the South side of the station, revealing pools of blue water that have formed on the train tracks Stories about the collapse of civilization and order—apocalyptic stories—endlessly seduce us. As terrifying as the real thing would...
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in August 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in August 2024
1) In 2023/24 TfL sold 3,143,828 One Day...
3 months ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in August 2024
1) In 2023/24 TfL sold 3,143,828 One Day Travelcards (down 38% on 2018/19). They also sold 3,849,293 Weekly Travelcards (down 65%), 801,367 Monthly Travelcards (down 67%) and only 15,192 Annual Travelcards (down 80%).
2)...
Spoon & Tamago
Kumu in Kanazawa Connects People and Places
all photos by takumi ota The Japanese word kumu is a verb with many nuances. Depending on the...
11 months ago
all photos by takumi ota The Japanese word kumu is a verb with many nuances. Depending on the context, kumu can mean “to join,” “to draw out,” or “to pour.” In that sense, it was the perfect name for a hotel that embodies connection and hospitality: connecting people with a...
diamond geezer
Poor predictions
Two years ago today Liz Truss became Prime Minister. That went well.
I took the opportunity to ask...
3 months ago
Two years ago today Liz Truss became Prime Minister. That went well.
I took the opportunity to ask who you thought would win the next General Election. I offered four options and asked you to "pick the outcome you expect, not the outcome you want". 83 of you had a...
diamond geezer
Class 701
A new train has entered service on SouthWestern this week.
class 701 - but as yet there is just one...
11 months ago
A new train has entered service on SouthWestern this week.
class 701 - but as yet there is just one train. There should be 90 trains but their introduction is running way behind schedule, indeed the original intention was for the first 701 to enter service five years ago....
diamond geezer
Canary Wharf 25
Today is Canary Wharf station's 25th birthday. Not the DLR station (that's 33) nor the Crossrail...
3 months ago
Today is Canary Wharf station's 25th birthday. Not the DLR station (that's 33) nor the Crossrail station (that's 2) but the Jubilee line station which opened mid-afternoon on Friday 17th September 1999.
The relentless commercialisation of Canary Wharf station
"Twenty banks of...
Londonist
Plunge Into An Icy Brockwell Lido For Charity This Christmas
The Icebreaker challenge is back.
a year ago
The Icebreaker challenge is back.
Cheese and Biscuits
The Rose, Deal
A stroll along the High Street in Deal reveals a town very much at the forefront of the wider...
a year ago
A stroll along the High Street in Deal reveals a town very much at the forefront of the wider Kentish food revolution. There seem to be more than the usual number of artisan butchers and fishmongers for what is otherwise a fairly small (albeit very quaint) seaside town. There's a...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Outdoor Adventure Inspiration and Small Businesses in Sheridan, Wyoming
a year ago
Londonist
Things To Do This Easter Weekend In London: 29 March-1 April 2024
Our bumper events guide for the long weekend.
9 months ago
Our bumper events guide for the long weekend.
diamond geezer
Bus timetables are rubbish
TfL run all their services to timetable, but increasingly hide these from the public on the...
4 months ago
TfL run all their services to timetable, but increasingly hide these from the public on the assumption we don't need to know.
"The timetable redesign follows research that shows people want even more simplistic bus information than already exists. People want larger type and...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Amsterdam Plans to Ban Large Cruise Ships: What to Expect
a year ago
Londonist
Putney Gets New Embankment And Boat Race Marker
First of seven riverside improvements from the supersewer.
a year ago
First of seven riverside improvements from the supersewer.
Londonist
Petition Launched As Stratford's Beloved Market Village Suddenly Closes
It'd been going for over 30 years.
11 months ago
It'd been going for over 30 years.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 18-24 December 2023
A handy roundup of Londonist articles from the past week.
12 months ago
A handy roundup of Londonist articles from the past week.
diamond geezer
#generalelection w/e 23/05/24
10 things that happened this week #generalelection
Data 2019 → 2024
Interest rates: 0.75% →...
7 months ago
10 things that happened this week #generalelection
Data 2019 → 2024
Interest rates: 0.75% → 5.25%
Inflation: 1.3% → 2.3% (via 11.1%)
Energy cap: £1179 → £1690 (via £4059)
Unemployment: 3.8% → 4.3%
Covid deaths: 0 → 230,000
FTSE: 7353 → 8367 (up 14%)
Opinion polls: 11% CON lead →...
Cheese and Biscuits
Toba, St James
It's a strange part of town, is St James. Essentially a lesser-known southern extension of Mayfair,...
a year ago
It's a strange part of town, is St James. Essentially a lesser-known southern extension of Mayfair, it's barely a half mile square and yet contains quite a high density of fancy hotels (Duke's, the Stafford, the Ritz), private members' clubs and the odd royal palace. Whereas some...
Cheese and Biscuits
Med Salleh Viet, Earl's Court
It's a funny old part of town is Earl's Court. Not quite Kensington, not quite Chelsea, not many...
a month ago
It's a funny old part of town is Earl's Court. Not quite Kensington, not quite Chelsea, not many reasons to visit (certainly not since the conference center/arena got pulled down), it's these days little more than a fairly ordinary provincial high street dumped in West London,...
diamond geezer
The Big London Airports Race
Nobody wants to read boring old text any more, the moving image is where it's at.
video and bringing...
8 months ago
Nobody wants to read boring old text any more, the moving image is where it's at.
video and bringing you my first thrilling dynamic transport content.
For those of you without playback capability, I've included a transcript below.
THE BIG LONDON AIRPORTS RACE
Scene - outside...
Londonist
The Crazy-Reasonably Priced Cafe Hidden In A Waterloo Bus Garage
Next stop: a hearty lunch for as little at £4!
11 months ago
Next stop: a hearty lunch for as little at £4!
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 17-18 February 2024
VAULT Festival returns, plus a cheese market and a day of Lego.
10 months ago
VAULT Festival returns, plus a cheese market and a day of Lego.
diamond geezer
The suddenest bank holidays
Had England won the Euros, our new PM said "we should certainly mark the occasion". He stopped short...
5 months ago
Had England won the Euros, our new PM said "we should certainly mark the occasion". He stopped short of confirming there'd be a bank holiday saying he didn't want to "jinx it", but an extra day off work was always a possibility. It didn't happen because Spain scored more goals...
diamond geezer
It's all downhill from here
It's all downhill from here.
This set of freak circumstances is never going to happen again. A...
5 months ago
It's all downhill from here.
This set of freak circumstances is never going to happen again. A Conservative party proven long-term incompetent by a sequence of abysmal Prime Ministers, a last minute intervention by Nigel Farage draining support away from the right, the Lib Dems...
Londonist
Conkers In London: Where To Find Them, Where To Play
Our hard-hitting guide.
a year ago
Londonist
This Free Quentin Blake Exhibition Lands In London At The End Of January
You can even buy the artworks.
11 months ago
You can even buy the artworks.
diamond geezer
Revisiting Northwall Road
Yesterday was one of the ten busiest days ever on this blog. Almost ten thousand people turned...
11 months ago
Yesterday was one of the ten busiest days ever on this blog. Almost ten thousand people turned up.
• When an American website got excited about the location of pylons in London they linked to something I'd written 4 days earlier. That was my 3rd best ever day.
American website...
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 Articles on Adventure and Wellness in the Nordic Countries
4 months ago
Londonist
London Almost Had Another Public Aquarium - In Silvertown Docks
Ever heard of 'Biota!'?
a year ago
Londonist
The Ballot For Wimbledon 2024 Is Now Open
Ace!
a year ago
Londonist
One Of The First Victorians Born Was Called 'Hyde Park'
Apparently.
a year ago
Londonist
Christmas In London 2023: A Guide To Festive Events, Food And Drink In The Capital This Winter
Top tips for spending Christmas in the capital.
a year ago
Top tips for spending Christmas in the capital.
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 Things to Know Before Seeing a Broadway Show in New York City
a year ago
Londonist
At The Smithfield Memorial To Scottish Hero William Wallace
Still receiving flowers over 700 years on.
a year ago
Still receiving flowers over 700 years on.
Londonist
19 Images That Tell The Vivid History Of The South Bank
From Roman temples to futuristic domes.
a year ago
From Roman temples to futuristic domes.
Londonist
Things To Do In The Borough Of Kingston Upon Thames
Or ROYAL Kingston upon Thames, if you insist.
10 months ago
Or ROYAL Kingston upon Thames, if you insist.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 15-21 January 2024
The best articles from the past week.
11 months ago
The best articles from the past week.
Londonist
Photos Of The London Tube In The 1940s And Ukraine's Metros In The 2020s
Echoes of the Blitz comes to LTM.
9 months ago
Echoes of the Blitz comes to LTM.
Londonist
Brewery Taprooms In London: A List Of Every Single One Of 'Em
Have we got brews for you.
a year ago
Have we got brews for you.
Spoon & Tamago
A Glimpse Inside the Whimsical Wooden Miniature Homes of Yukihiro Akama
Artist Yukihiro Akama is set to unveil his largest exhibition to date, ‘Basho no Kankaku – A Sense...
9 months ago
Artist Yukihiro Akama is set to unveil his largest exhibition to date, ‘Basho no Kankaku – A Sense of Place,’ at Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP).
Related posts:
Whimsical Wooden Automata by Kazuaki Harada
A Wooden Cabin Constructed Locally in the Mountains of Japan Using a 3D...
Londonist
A Map Of Camden Place Name Origins
Etymology of the borough's road, parks and pubs.
10 months ago
Etymology of the borough's road, parks and pubs.
Londonist
London In Teeth
A tribute to London's best gnashers.
10 months ago
A tribute to London's best gnashers.
Londonist
Review: Yoko Ono's Music Of The Mind Is Bizarre, Baffling, Laughable, Brilliant
Immersive retrospective lands at Tate.
10 months ago
Immersive retrospective lands at Tate.
diamond geezer
London's largest common
What's London's largest common?
In particular it depends on what common land is. The Open Spaces...
11 months ago
What's London's largest common?
In particular it depends on what common land is. The Open Spaces Society says this.
"Common land is land that has an owner but over which other people have the right to use and take away certain natural produce. These people, known as commoners,...
diamond geezer
Poverest
This is a sponsored post on behalf of the Poverest Tourist Board
Visit Poverest - London's Secret...
3 months ago
This is a sponsored post on behalf of the Poverest Tourist Board
Visit Poverest - London's Secret Leisure Destination
Poverest, the charming outer London suburb handily located on the Chislehurst Road, where a good time is always on offer. [map]
Ask anyone in Poverest where...
Londonist
Warm Your Cockles At London's Best Winter Drinks Pop-Ups And Cosy Bars
Igloos, rooftops, ski lodges and trains.
a year ago
Igloos, rooftops, ski lodges and trains.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Denmark and Finland Are Must-Visits for Foodies
4 months ago
diamond geezer
My review of 2024
It's the time of year for looking back so here are some of the unblogged places I've been in...
11 months ago
It's the time of year for looking back so here are some of the unblogged places I've been in 2024.
Beddington: the view from that bench is truly miserable
Biggin Hill: I powered up Polesteeple Hill for nothing
Blackwall Tunnel: wow, just look at the new one
Bounds Green: every...
diamond geezer
Anorak Corner (rail edition)
Anorak Corner [National Rail edition]
passenger data from across Britain's railway network, this...
a year ago
Anorak Corner [National Rail edition]
passenger data from across Britain's railway network, this batch covering the period April 2022 to March 2023. After a couple of years of freakish statistics we've finally left the pandemic behind, with its subdued commuting, reduced...
Spoon & Tamago
Coworking Space in Kinosaki Onsen Encourages Users to Take Bath Breaks
Photo: Madoka Nishiyama courtesy KIAC This might very well be the coworking space of our dreams. The...
a year ago
Photo: Madoka Nishiyama courtesy KIAC This might very well be the coworking space of our dreams. The Kinosaki International Art Center (KIAC) is a multipurpose community center located in Kinosaki Onsen, a quaint town on the coast of Japan that’s known for their natural hot...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to Learn About Jewish History in Germany
6 months ago
Londonist
An Entire Barbra Streisand Season Is Coming To North London
A star is celebrated.
10 months ago
diamond geezer
The last in alphabetical order
The last in alphabetical order
Ocean: PACIFIC
Month: SEPTEMBER
Angel Delight flavour: STRAWBERRY
EU...
a year ago
The last in alphabetical order
Ocean: PACIFIC
Month: SEPTEMBER
Angel Delight flavour: STRAWBERRY
EU member state: SWEDEN
Platonic solid: TETRAHEDRON
Quality Street: TOFFEE PENNY
Shakespeare play: TWELFTH NIGHT
Olympic host city: VANCOUVER
Planet: VENUS
Zodiac sign:...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Turkish Airlines Launches New Flights to Istanbul From Detroit
a year ago
Londonist
New 'Eurostar Snow' Service Will Whisk Londoners To Ski Resorts This Winter
News comes after rumours that ski trains would end.
a year ago
News comes after rumours that ski trains would end.
Londonist
Charlie Brown's - The Story Of Limehouse's Incredible 'Pub Museum'
An Aladdin's Cave in the East End.
a year ago
An Aladdin's Cave in the East End.
Londonist
High Rocks: Stunning Views, Steam Trains And 18th Century Graffiti
Oh, and a top-notch pub right across the road.
a year ago
Oh, and a top-notch pub right across the road.
diamond geezer
dg's TikTok tips
dg's TikTok tips: the iconic phonebox shot
only one has the pixiedust to glam up your socials big...
a week ago
dg's TikTok tips: the iconic phonebox shot
only one has the pixiedust to glam up your socials big time. It's the red phone box in Parliament Square, north side, and if you stand alongside you can combine the holy trinity of a) red phone box b) the actual Big Ben c) your pouting...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 25-26 November 2023
Festive markets, drag queens, ice hockey and queer lit.
a year ago
Festive markets, drag queens, ice hockey and queer lit.
Londonist
Brentford's Enchanting Musical Museum Is Under Threat - And You Can Help Save It
Uniquely quirky museum could close later this year.
10 months ago
Uniquely quirky museum could close later this year.
diamond geezer
Anorak corner (rail edition)
Anorak Corner [National Rail edition]
passenger data from across Britain's railway network, this...
a month ago
Anorak Corner [National Rail edition]
passenger data from across Britain's railway network, this batch covering the period April 2023 to March 2024.
The UK's ten busiest National Rail stations (2023/24) (with changes since 2022/23)
1) -- Liverpool Street (95m)
2) -- Paddington...
Londonist
A Map Of Westminster Place Names And Where They Come From
From Maida Vale to Covent Garden.
8 months ago
From Maida Vale to Covent Garden.
diamond geezer
Count update
After a week of The Count, i.e. 25%, here's what I said I'd count and some of what you asked me to...
10 months ago
After a week of The Count, i.e. 25%, here's what I said I'd count and some of what you asked me to count.
Sorry, some of your suggestions proved terribly impractical.
Count 1) Number of visits to this blog: 22300
Count 2) Number of comments on this blog: 209
Count 3) Number of...
diamond geezer
BustopMas
Now that December's here the festivity in London is palpable! And as Christmas grows closer our...
a year ago
Now that December's here the festivity in London is palpable! And as Christmas grows closer our appetite for seasonal treats grows ever stronger. It can mean only one thing: winter is upon us and Christmas has officially arrived.
This year's big ticket event is BustopMas, a...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 6-12 November 2023
The very best chunks of Londonist from the past week.
a year ago
The very best chunks of Londonist from the past week.
Londonist
Where To Watch The Six Nations 2024 In London
Watch rugby greats battle it out at these pubs and bars.
11 months ago
Watch rugby greats battle it out at these pubs and bars.
Londonist
Those Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides Through London Parks Are Back For Winter
The mane event.
a year ago
Londonist
20+ Cheery Things To Do In London In January 2024
Events to get you through the dark winter days.
11 months ago
Events to get you through the dark winter days.
Spoon & Tamago
A New Brewery in Yobuko Wants to Revive the Former Whaling Town
Photos by Hiroshi Mizusaki courtesy Case-Real Architects The Town of Yobuko, located at the tip of...
a year ago
Photos by Hiroshi Mizusaki courtesy Case-Real Architects The Town of Yobuko, located at the tip of North-Western Kyushu, is named after the migratory path that whales swam. Beginning in the 1700s, Yobuko prospered as a whaling town, birthing the idiom, a single whale flourishes...
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #11
Major road works at the Bow Roundabout continue. They might even be halfway through, depending on...
2 weeks ago
Major road works at the Bow Roundabout continue. They might even be halfway through, depending on when you think the start and finish dates are.
new sliproad underneath the flyover is nearing completion. This'll carry westbound traffic from the contraflow lane on Stratford High...
Londonist
London Transport Museum Is Throwing A Special Friday Late For Students
London Calling takes place on 6 October.
a year ago
London Calling takes place on 6 October.
diamond geezer
The disappearing Status updates map
The introduction of six Overground line names continues to have unfortunate repercussions.
Status...
a week ago
The introduction of six Overground line names continues to have unfortunate repercussions.
Status updates page on the TfL website where for the last ten years you've been able to see a map of disruptions to the network.
The map was removed three weeks ago when the big...
Londonist
15 Delightful Day Trips From London: November 2023
Charming events within easy reach of London.
a year ago
Charming events within easy reach of London.
Londonist
Tram Strikes And Engineering Works Will Affect Network Heavily In March and April 2024
Disruption double whammy.
9 months ago
Disruption double whammy.
Londonist
Take A Tour Of The Magnificent Palace Of Westminster This Autumn
Ahead of the State Opening in November.
a year ago
Ahead of the State Opening in November.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Discover the Artistic Side of Aspen: A Guide for Culture Lovers
7 months ago
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 16-17 September 2023
Comedy, podcasts, fashion exhibitions, Open House and the Great River Race.
a year ago
Comedy, podcasts, fashion exhibitions, Open House and the Great River Race.
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Outdoor Destinations for Every Kind of Traveler
6 months ago
Londonist
Where To Eat Pancakes In London
Our favourite pancake spots, any day of the year.
11 months ago
Our favourite pancake spots, any day of the year.
diamond geezer
The Angel, Islington
THE ANGEL
ISLINGTON
£100
London's Monopoly Streets
The ANGEL, ISLINGTON
Colour group: light...
10 months ago
THE ANGEL
ISLINGTON
£100
London's Monopoly Streets
The ANGEL, ISLINGTON
Colour group: light blue
Purchase price: £100
Rent: £6
Length: n/a
Borough: Islington
Postcode: N1
The Angel has quite a backstory, indeed if you want a full a proper history you should read the lengthy...
Londonist
10 Rather Shocking Images From A Victorian Tabloid
Bread riots, carriage crashes, and tussling with bears.
11 months ago
Bread riots, carriage crashes, and tussling with bears.
Spoon & Tamago
MUJI Fans Can Now Rent this Countryside MUJI Kominka
MUJI’s new rentable townhouse in Kamogawa MUJI, everyone’s favorite Japanese lifestyle retailer, has...
a year ago
MUJI’s new rentable townhouse in Kamogawa MUJI, everyone’s favorite Japanese lifestyle retailer, has been in the homebuilding business for over 15 years. But in a new initiative they’re calling MUJI Base, the company has begun restorring, renovating and renting countryside...
Londonist
Paul Foot Is Barmy Brilliance In A Boiler Suit
A hilarious, uncynical, remarkable piece of comedy.
10 months ago
A hilarious, uncynical, remarkable piece of comedy.
diamond geezer
Open House (1)
Yesterday's Open House tally was eight.
• The iconic building on the other side of London where it...
a year ago
Yesterday's Open House tally was eight.
• The iconic building on the other side of London where it looked like they were offering walk-up tours including a rooftop visit, so I went out of my way to attend only to find that the tour in fact required booking and was full, plus it...
Londonist
"We're Bringing Migrant Voices To The London Stage"
Foreign Affairs harnesses the power of translation.
a year ago
Foreign Affairs harnesses the power of translation.
Spoon & Tamago
This is the Time of Year Bamboo Shoots Grow, Sometimes Wreaking Havoc
a triptych by Toyokuni Utagawa depicting an excursion to gather bamboo shoots (early 1800s)...
7 months ago
a triptych by Toyokuni Utagawa depicting an excursion to gather bamboo shoots (early 1800s) According to Japan’s ancient calendar of 72 microseasons, right now is microseason 21: the time of year when “Bamboo Shoots Sprout.” Known as takenoko in Japan, these voracious plants have...
Londonist
Where To Recycle Or Dispose Of Your 2023 Christmas Tree In London
Which London boroughs recycle them?
11 months ago
Which London boroughs recycle them?
Londonist
Dad's Army Museum: Go On A Classic Sitcom Pilgrimage On This Day Trip From London
"Now pay attention..."
a year ago
Londonist
Leicester Square And The Big Apple
London could have had a very weird monument to Isaac Newton.
10 months ago
London could have had a very weird monument to Isaac Newton.
Londonist
That Time Someone Rode A Lambretta Down The Thames
Spoiler alert: it later sank.
a year ago
Spoiler alert: it later sank.
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in May 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in May 2024
1) The three Elizabeth line ticket offices...
6 months ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in May 2024
1) The three Elizabeth line ticket offices which sold the fewest tickets in 2023 were Acton Main Line (2736), Hanwell (3375) and Maryland (4037). That's about 10 tickets per day.
2) The installation of new brighter lighting...
diamond geezer
Open House (2)
For Open House Day Two I zipped around the capital and visited seven different and quite varied...
3 months ago
For Open House Day Two I zipped around the capital and visited seven different and quite varied properties. It was a long day. I therefore don't have the time or energy to write about them all, not right now, so instead I've prioritised selecting some good photos and uploading...
Cheese and Biscuits
Kachori, Elephant and Castle
There's a lot to be said about the redevelopment/regeneration/whitewashing (delete as applicable) of...
a year ago
There's a lot to be said about the redevelopment/regeneration/whitewashing (delete as applicable) of Elephant and Castle, and I am singularly unqualified to say it. I'm not trying to avoid the issue (honest), but am very aware that having nothing invested in the old place and...
Cheese and Biscuits
Bouchon Racine, Farringdon
Such is the cyclical nature of these things, trends in food or clothing or plenty of other areas...
a year ago
Such is the cyclical nature of these things, trends in food or clothing or plenty of other areas besides will, given long enough, find themselves fading in and out of favour. There was a time, within living memory, when French cuisine was considered the gold standard of...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Ultimate Friends’ Trip at Pendry Park City Resort, Utah
2 weeks ago
Londonist
London Hotel Rooms With A Serious View
Penthouse suites, balconies, and the city spread at your feet.
a year ago
Penthouse suites, balconies, and the city spread at your feet.
diamond geezer
PR bumf round-up
I haven't whinged about unsolicited PR emails for a while because I don't get as many as I used to....
2 weeks ago
I haven't whinged about unsolicited PR emails for a while because I don't get as many as I used to. But they still trickle in, generally from hopeful marketeers with a press release to regurgitate or a plea to amplify some sponsored content. We don't do that here, thanks.
Zarya...
diamond geezer
geezer's postbag
Thank you for your occasional emails, which I generally try to get round to answering...
11 months ago
Thank you for your occasional emails, which I generally try to get round to answering eventually.
storm names as agreed by the British, Irish and Dutch Met Offices.
Hi,
Agnes got a one word reply, and it wasn't Yes.
adventuregameco.com/things-to-do
I did not allow Babet to...
Londonist
Chelsea In Bloom 2024: Giant Floral Caterpillar To Take Over Sloane Square
Free flower festival returns... with a foodie theme.
10 months ago
Free flower festival returns... with a foodie theme.
Londonist
A Map Of Southwark Place Name Origins
The etymology of the London Borough Southwark.
11 months ago
The etymology of the London Borough Southwark.
diamond geezer
The Count 2024
For twenty-one consecutive Februaries on diamond geezer I've kept myself busy by counting things....
10 months ago
For twenty-one consecutive Februaries on diamond geezer I've kept myself busy by counting things. Ten different counts, to be precise, in a stats-tastic 28-day feature called The Count. You therefore won't be surprised to hear that I intend to do exactly the same again this year....
Londonist
Things To Do In London On New Year's Eve
31 December events and parties in London.
a year ago
31 December events and parties in London.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 4-10 September 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 25-31 December 2023
The best articles from the past week.
11 months ago
The best articles from the past week.
One from Nippon
A peek into Japan’s Hot Springs (Part 3)
Editor’s note: This is the third of a three-part article. Part 1 and Part 2 painted the history of...
a year ago
Editor’s note: This is the third of a three-part article. Part 1 and Part 2 painted the history of onsens and the science behind them. In this article we take a deep-dive into the business of onsens.
Onsen as a Business
Despite all the hype in Part 1
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 11-17 September 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
diamond geezer
An A-Z of London post offices
I wanted to buy a dozen stamps.
For this alphabetical challenge I needed a list of London's post...
a year ago
I wanted to buy a dozen stamps.
For this alphabetical challenge I needed a list of London's post offices, which is awkward because the Post Office's branch finder doesn't do lists, only "closest to"s. Thankfully this is a problem other people also have, and volunteers at...
Londonist
Previously Off-Limits Areas Of Buckingham Palace To Open To The Public
Including the room behind that world-famous balcony.
8 months ago
Including the room behind that world-famous balcony.
Londonist
"£1 For A Return Fare Since 2003": Brockwell Park's Miniature Railway
You can hire it for birthdays, too.
8 months ago
You can hire it for birthdays, too.
diamond geezer
Route 549
London's next dead bus
549: Loughton to South Woodford
Location: outer London/Essex
Length of...
3 months ago
London's next dead bus
549: Loughton to South Woodford
Location: outer London/Essex
Length of journey: 5 miles, 30 minutes
549, which dies tomorrow, is one of London's weirder bus routes. It was transferred to TfL control from Essex in 2003, hence the unusual opening digit. It...
diamond geezer
Waverley
This is Waverley, the world's last seagoing paddle steamer.
She's currently on a two week foray...
2 months ago
This is Waverley, the world's last seagoing paddle steamer.
She's currently on a two week foray up and down the Thames Estuary and adjacent coasts. And if you'd been in Gravesend on Sunday evening you could have enjoyed a two-hour voyage up the estuary to Tower Bridge for just...
Londonist
30 Beautiful Giraffe Sculptures To Discover On This Croydon Art Trail
Done the gorillas? Now do these.
a year ago
Done the gorillas? Now do these.
Londonist
Christmas Carol Concerts In London To Make You Feel All Warm And Fuzzy Inside This December
Including one with dogs. Woof!
a year ago
Including one with dogs. Woof!
Londonist
45+ Fantastic Things To Do In London This Month: November 2023
Vintage cars, new exhibitions and the all-important Christmas light switch-ons.
a year ago
Vintage cars, new exhibitions and the all-important Christmas light switch-ons.
Londonist
The Colony Room: Soho's Infamous Drinking Den is Back From The Dead... Sort Of
Drinks will be at 2008 prices too.
a year ago
Drinks will be at 2008 prices too.
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Ultimate Guide to Budapest’s Historic Thermal Baths and Spas
a year ago
diamond geezer
Unblogged May
31 unblogged things I did in May
Wed 1: The latest exhibition at The Curve gallery at the Barbican...
6 months ago
31 unblogged things I did in May
Wed 1: The latest exhibition at The Curve gallery at the Barbican is dark and almost empty apart from 20 scant full-frontal paintings. I completely missed the subtext ("The exhibition highlights how The Curve’s shape reflects the Arabic letter...
diamond geezer
Open House wrap-up
Let's finish this for another year.
Open House: The Rowe (Aldgate) The Unoccupied One
located...
a year ago
Let's finish this for another year.
Open House: The Rowe (Aldgate) The Unoccupied One
located immediately opposite the Whitechapel Gallery and is a repurposing of the former Cass School of Art and Architecture into a modern office block. The overall idea behind the rebuild was...
Londonist
Greek Things To Do In London: Cuisine, Culture, History And More
As picked by experts.
a year ago
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 3-4 February 2024
New exhibitions, a flower show and a light festival in a church.
10 months ago
New exhibitions, a flower show and a light festival in a church.
Londonist
New Exhibition Explores How William Shakespeare Shaped Britain’s Experience Of War
From the English Civil War to the present day.
a year ago
From the English Civil War to the present day.
Spoon & Tamago
Isometric Drawings of Sento, Kissaten and other Japanese Establishments by Honami Enya
rendering of the Takara-yu sento in Tokyo Japanese illustrator Enya Honami uses a style of...
4 months ago
rendering of the Takara-yu sento in Tokyo Japanese illustrator Enya Honami uses a style of architectural rendering known as isometric drawings to faithfully recreate cross-sections of Japanese public bathhouses, or sento. Honami is a skilled draughtswoman by trade, having...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 23-24 March 2024
Charity gigs, a glamorous speakeasy, and a boat race on the river.
9 months ago
Charity gigs, a glamorous speakeasy, and a boat race on the river.
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