Londonist
Enchanting Chocolate Shops In London, For When You Need A Cocoa Fix
Top-notch chocolatiers across town.
10 months ago
Top-notch chocolatiers across town.
Londonist
The Must-See London Exhibitions To Look Forward To In 2024
A glance ahead to the capital's upcoming blockbuster exhibitions.
a year ago
A glance ahead to the capital's upcoming blockbuster exhibitions.
Cheese and Biscuits
The Garden Museum Café, Lambeth
Beautiful 15th century Lambeth Palace is a strange London landmark - widely recognisable, with a...
10 months ago
Beautiful 15th century Lambeth Palace is a strange London landmark - widely recognisable, with a stately position Thames-side and passed by a number of busy bus routes, it is nevertheless very rarely visited, most of the main structures off-limits as the Archbishop of...
Londonist
The Top Exhibitions To See In London In September 2023
A crystal dinner and chic couture in this month's top shows to see in London.
a year ago
A crystal dinner and chic couture in this month's top shows to see in London.
diamond geezer
The great Banksy cover-up
I visited the new Banksy on Hornsey Road on Day 3, which proved the optimal time.
Days 1 and 2 it...
8 months ago
I visited the new Banksy on Hornsey Road on Day 3, which proved the optimal time.
Days 1 and 2 it had been rammed with people crowding round the railings, so getting a decent photo was difficult.
Day 4 someone chucked white paint over part of the artwork closest to the road and...
Londonist
That Kiosk Outside The National Portrait Gallery Is About To Reopen As A Cafe
From Victorian toilet block, to ticket booth... and now a bougie cafe!
a year ago
From Victorian toilet block, to ticket booth... and now a bougie cafe!
Londonist
Inside South London's Pay-What-You-Can Cafe
South Norwood Community Kitchen.
8 months ago
South Norwood Community Kitchen.
diamond geezer
Slowing the Bow Roundabout
(this is the last post written on my old laptop)
temporary timetables on bus routes 25, 205, 276,...
3 months ago
(this is the last post written on my old laptop)
temporary timetables on bus routes 25, 205, 276, 277 and 425 "to help with reliability during roadworks at the Bow Roundabout and displacement of traffic onto local roads". For example buses on route 25 usually run every 7-8...
diamond geezer
Unblogged October
31 unblogged things I did in October
Tue 1: Two new developments in Barking & Dagenham are...
a month ago
31 unblogged things I did in October
Tue 1: Two new developments in Barking & Dagenham are over-egging transport links in their roadside marketing. Barking Riverside says 'Perfectly connected' when the reality is a half-hourly boat, a train to Barking or non-express buses....
Londonist
A Free Exhibition Featuring Virtual Rainforests Is Coming To Oxo Tower Wharf
Shrug off the city and immerse yourself in a forest.
a year ago
Shrug off the city and immerse yourself in a forest.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Hyatt's Zilara Riviera Maya Resort Is The Best Vacation Destination
a year ago
Londonist
Part Of The Piccadilly Line Is Closing For 5 Days This Month
Heathrow will be off the cards.
10 months ago
Heathrow will be off the cards.
Spoon & Tamago
Kirie Artist Carves Playful Narratives Into Tree Leaves
“Aquarium of Leaves” A 37-year old Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito has been living with...
a year ago
“Aquarium of Leaves” A 37-year old Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito has been living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) his entire life. Lito had been searching for an outlet where he could channel his above-normal levels of concentration and...
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....
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...
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.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Soon, TSA Security Screenings Will Be Self-Service
a year ago
diamond geezer
Election triplepoint
The General Election has seen Labour strengthen its hold over the capital with 59 MPs, while the...
5 months ago
The General Election has seen Labour strengthen its hold over the capital with 59 MPs, while the Liberal Democrats have doubled their total to 6 and the Conservatives slumped to just 9. The electoral map of London is thus almost all red, with a yellow bloc to the southwest and a...
Londonist
Festive Theatre Shows To Enchant The Whole Family This Christmas
Disney, Peppa Pig and The Snowman, live on stage.
a year ago
Disney, Peppa Pig and The Snowman, live on stage.
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Places for Art, Music, and Theater in Asheville
a year ago
Londonist
Khan Announces TfL Fare Freeze - But Is Everything As It Seems?
It does't apply to everyone...
11 months ago
It does't apply to everyone...
diamond geezer
Bus of the day 187
Bus Route Of The Day
187: West Hampstead to Park Royal
Quadrant: London northwest
Length of journey:...
5 months ago
Bus Route Of The Day
187: West Hampstead to Park Royal
Quadrant: London northwest
Length of journey: 8 miles, 60 minutes
Because it's 18th July I've been out riding the 187, because that's the Bus Route Of The Day. It's no big hitter.
twiddling round backstreets in an...
Londonist
East London Could Be Getting This Flashy New Lido
What a beaut.
a year ago
diamond geezer
The exclaves of Sutton
This is Saffron Close, one of the exclaves* of Sutton.
exclave, noun (plural exclaves)
A portion...
4 months ago
This is Saffron Close, one of the exclaves* of Sutton.
exclave, noun (plural exclaves)
A portion of a country's territory not connected to the main part.
It's a very ordinary late 20th century cul-de-sac, not far from the tram stop at Therapia Lane in the vicinity of Mitcham...
diamond geezer
Cromwell Road Bus Station
Cromwell Road bus station in Kingston has reopened.
There are eight versions of today's post,...
a month ago
Cromwell Road bus station in Kingston has reopened.
There are eight versions of today's post, according to your level of interest.
(click to jump to the right one)
1) I just need the basics
2) I never intend to visit but tell me more
3) I sometimes use this bus station
4) I...
Londonist
The Shard Is Lighting Up With The St George's Cross For The Lionesses
Turns out The Shard is an England supporter.
a year ago
Turns out The Shard is an England supporter.
Londonist
Frieze Sculpture 2023: Regent's Park Turns Into A Free Outdoor Art Gallery This Autumn
22 playful works of art sprinkled around the English Gardens.
a year ago
22 playful works of art sprinkled around the English Gardens.
Londonist
Peckham Festival: Free 3-Day Party Comes To SE15 London This September
Music, workshops, crafts, food - you name it.
a year ago
Music, workshops, crafts, food - you name it.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to See Music & Performing Arts in Asheville, NC
a year ago
Londonist
Events For Book Lovers In London This Winter
Christmas book fairs, winter book swaps and an exhibition on fantasy.
a year ago
Christmas book fairs, winter book swaps and an exhibition on fantasy.
Londonist
Literary Footprints 2024: Walking Tours Around Literary London
Love books? Love London? Love this.
10 months ago
Love books? Love London? Love this.
Londonist
5 Historic Castles To Visit In Essex
Including one that's a fake.
8 months ago
Including one that's a fake.
Londonist
A Free Bowie Exhibition In London's Golden Fitzrovia Chapel
A London Day lands in March.
10 months ago
A London Day lands in March.
Londonist
Dreaming Of Owning A Home In France? You Need To Know About This Event!
The French Property Exhibition returns to London this month.
11 months ago
The French Property Exhibition returns to London this month.
diamond geezer
Emails from 2004
Today I thought I'd dig into my inbox archive and bring you ten emails I was sent in October 2004....
a month ago
Today I thought I'd dig into my inbox archive and bring you ten emails I was sent in October 2004. Twenty years ago was a different time.
From londonmobs (1/10/04)
(and that was it, no further London flashmobs were organised)
cc-ed from my work address (5/10/04)
The...
diamond geezer
Unblogged February
29 unblogged things I did in February
Thu 1: While I was in Trafalgar Square today I stood in the...
9 months ago
29 unblogged things I did in February
Thu 1: While I was in Trafalgar Square today I stood in the shadow of Nelson's Column and took a photo of it stretching towards the National Gallery. It's much better than the photo I used last week in my post about the shadow of Nelson's...
Londonist
Where To Celebrate Diwali 2023 In London
Including the huge, free Diwali Festival.
a year ago
Including the huge, free Diwali Festival.
Cheese and Biscuits
The Barn at Moor Hall, Ormskirk
In restaurants that offer both an A La Carte and parallel set menu I often play a bit of a thought...
4 months ago
In restaurants that offer both an A La Carte and parallel set menu I often play a bit of a thought experiment. If there was no such separation of options, and if all the dishes available were priced evenly on the same list, which would I end up going for?
Set menus (usually,...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 16-22 October 2023
The best articles from the past week.
a year ago
The best articles from the past week.
Londonist
Named: The First Person To Witness The Great Fire Of London
New Museum of London research reveals who first discovered the blaze.
a year ago
New Museum of London research reveals who first discovered the blaze.
diamond geezer
Bus of the day - 146
Bus Route Of The Day
146: Bromley North to Downe
Location: Outer London south
Length of journey: 6...
6 months ago
Bus Route Of The Day
146: Bromley North to Downe
Location: Outer London south
Length of journey: 6 miles, 25 minutes
Because it's 14th June I've been out riding the 146, because that's the Bus Route Of The Day.
The 146 is one of TfL's handful of hourly buses, and by far the...
diamond geezer
The London Overground line names post
The phased introduction of six new Overground line names has begun.
Before we get into all that,...
a month ago
The phased introduction of six new Overground line names has begun.
Before we get into all that, let's get the new names out of the way.
we did all that back then.
First important thing: If anyone posts any line name comments on any future post, I will shift them back to...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Architectural Wonders: 5 Cities You Must See
6 months ago
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...
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in April 2024
20 things we learned from TfL FoI requests in April 2024
1) The annual operating cost for the...
7 months ago
20 things we learned from TfL FoI requests in April 2024
1) The annual operating cost for the Woolwich Ferry is £8.9 million.
2) In 2021 there were 305km of bus lanes in London, up from 293km in 2011.
3) Tfl spent £282,945.43 advertising this year's Fares Freeze on posters, in...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Discover the Artistic Side of Aspen: A Guide for Culture Lovers
7 months ago
Londonist
Miracle At Henrietta: The Christmassiest Bar In London
It's Kiiiiiiiitschmas!
a year ago
Cheese and Biscuits
Camille, Borough Market
Some restaurants just make it look so easy, don't they? The menu at Camille is so enticing, with...
2 months ago
Some restaurants just make it look so easy, don't they? The menu at Camille is so enticing, with unusual eye-catching ingredients prepared in exciting and distinctive ways, that it's almost enough to spoil any other dining experience by default, and it makes you wonder if they...
AFAR Media - Travel...
9 Greek Travel Experiences for a Luxurious Escape
a month ago
Londonist
The Lost Trees Of London
The biggest and best trees that are no more.
a year ago
The biggest and best trees that are no more.
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...
Londonist
Happisburgh: Where People Lived On The Thames A Million Years Ago
The Thames had history 40,000 generations before the Romans.
a year ago
The Thames had history 40,000 generations before the Romans.
Londonist
Get A Dose Of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum
Small museum that's free to visit.
a year ago
Small museum that's free to visit.
diamond geezer
It's this blog's 21st birthday
It's diamond geezer's 21st birthday.
I hope we get through the day without entering a period of...
a year ago
It's diamond geezer's 21st birthday.
I hope we get through the day without entering a period of national mourning because that really put a damper on last year's celebrations.
comments if(postComments['2129182084125'] != null){document.write(' (' + postComments['2129182084125']...
Londonist
Ramadan And Eid Events In London 2024
Illuminations, shopping festivals and Eid celebrations.
10 months ago
Illuminations, shopping festivals and Eid celebrations.
diamond geezer
Brent Cross West station
For decades the two mile gap between Hendon and Cricklewood stations didn't need a station. The...
a year ago
For decades the two mile gap between Hendon and Cricklewood stations didn't need a station. The surrounding area was mostly retail parks and rundown industrial estates, and the site itself was occupied by Cricklewood traction maintenance depot. But 'rundown industrial estate' is...
Londonist
5 Amazing Places To Eat Asian Food In Central London
As chosen by chef Jeff Tan.
10 months ago
As chosen by chef Jeff Tan.
One from Nippon
The Surprising Roots of Japan's Indian Curry
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
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Highlights of New York Winter Jazzfest, January, 2025
a week ago
Cheese and Biscuits
The London Shell Co., Highgate
The first time I went to the London Shell Co., I hated it. This was nothing to do with the food, and...
a year ago
The first time I went to the London Shell Co., I hated it. This was nothing to do with the food, and everything to do with my aversion to anything boaty, and being trapped on one for the best part of 2 1/2 hours as it punted around the dark, damp Regent's canal in the middle of...
Londonist
Why Is There A Huge Mural Of Rembrandt On Mare Street, Hackney?
It's the return of the London Mural Festival.
a year ago
It's the return of the London Mural Festival.
diamond geezer
I've been to see some art
I've been to see some art.
Art West: Serpentine Gallery
Many's the time I've traipsed to the...
6 months ago
I've been to see some art.
Art West: Serpentine Gallery
Many's the time I've traipsed to the middle of Kensington Gardens only to be underwhelmed. Thankfully this time it was well worth the effort.
Yinka Shonibare CBE: Suspended States (until 1 September)
Yinka did the...
Londonist
At A Glance: What's Happening With London's Transport In 2024
New trains! New stations! Major closures!
11 months ago
New trains! New stations! Major closures!
Londonist
London's Working Class History Celebrated With 8 Exciting New Projects
Historic England announces new funding.
10 months ago
Historic England announces new funding.
Cheese and Biscuits
Nessa, Soho
Looking over the confidently international menu at Nessa the other evening, it occurred to me that...
a year ago
Looking over the confidently international menu at Nessa the other evening, it occurred to me that it's been a while since I've had a moan about anywhere being 'inauthentic'. For all the years that we British were insecure about our place in the culinary world, and those years...
Cheese and Biscuits
64 Goodge Street, Fitzrovia
The first thing we were given to eat at 64 Goodge Street was a little plate of truffle-cream...
5 months ago
The first thing we were given to eat at 64 Goodge Street was a little plate of truffle-cream gougères topped with shaved Comté. These turned out to be important for two reasons - firstly, they weren't on the menu and as unannounced bonus extra dishes go you could hardly do more...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Amsterdam Plans to Ban Large Cruise Ships: What to Expect
a year ago
diamond geezer
The temperature post
The temperature post
19.6°C at Kinlochewe.
Kinlochewe is a village in NW Scotland, about halfway...
10 months ago
The temperature post
19.6°C at Kinlochewe.
Kinlochewe is a village in NW Scotland, about halfway between Skye and Inverness. It sits at the head of a loch and is also surrounded on three sides by mountains, so is precisely the sort of place where the Föhn effect might boost...
Spoon & Tamago
A Relic of the Past, Shibuya Green Tea is Leafing Out Once Again
Umeharaen, a green tea seller that once stood at the corner of Shibuya Crossing Shibuya typically...
11 months ago
Umeharaen, a green tea seller that once stood at the corner of Shibuya Crossing Shibuya typically conjures images of tall skyscrapers, neon lights, and the world’s busiest pedestrian crossings. Not tranquil tea plantations. But 150 years ago in the early Meiji era, Shibuya, as...
diamond geezer
Unblogged September
30 unblogged things I did in September
Sun 1: My new laptop is on quite the sightseeing tour....
2 months ago
30 unblogged things I did in September
Sun 1: My new laptop is on quite the sightseeing tour. Yesterday it was in Shanghai, today it's in Köln and tomorrow it'll be in Stanford le Hope.
Mon 2: At Gipsy Hill station I spotted a cat on the Oyster reader, and quite frankly this...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 13-14 January 2024
Circus, comedy, drag, live music and more.
11 months ago
Circus, comedy, drag, live music and more.
diamond geezer
Stephens House and Gardens
Some of London's best small parks were once a rich man's garden.
It's called Stephens House and...
a year ago
Some of London's best small parks were once a rich man's garden.
It's called Stephens House and Gardens and it covers a dozen acres off East End Road, not far from Finchley central station. If what you need is a kickabout space and somewhere to exercise a big dog it's not for...
Londonist
Pedlar's Acre: The Mysterious Bit Of South Bank Where The London Eye Now Stands
Who was the Pedlar of Lambeth?
9 months ago
Who was the Pedlar of Lambeth?
Londonist
David Attenborough Waxwork Comes To Madame Tussauds
It's the second time he's been honoured here.
a year ago
It's the second time he's been honoured here.
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...
diamond geezer
10,000 clicks
Yesterday Google sent me an email.
Congratulations! Your site reached 10K clicks from Google Search...
a year ago
Yesterday Google sent me an email.
Congratulations! Your site reached 10K clicks from Google Search in the past 28 days.
This is because several people still turn up at diamond geezer via search engines rather than visiting deliberately - apparently over 300 people daily. They...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Terrace, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
The Terrace restaurant in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight is situated not just handily near the ferry...
over a year ago
The Terrace restaurant in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight is situated not just handily near the ferry terminal, but literally on top of it, the outside dining area (or Terrace, if you will) regularly enveloped in shade as the giant Lymington ferry pulls alongside. This means that...
Londonist
Walking With The Snowman: Free Art Trail Comes To Fleet Street This Christmas
We're walking in the aaaiiiiiiir.
a year ago
We're walking in the aaaiiiiiiir.
diamond geezer
The zone 1 challenge
It's time once again to go on a pointlessly challenging train journey.
How many zone 1 stations can...
2 months ago
It's time once again to go on a pointlessly challenging train journey.
How many zone 1 stations can you travel through without repeating any?
And there are 72 zone 1 stations altogether, so it's going to be a long journey.
It's perhaps best to think of the question as...
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
Five years of new stations
Today it's five years since the day Crossrail was supposed to open but didn't.
three and a half...
a year ago
Today it's five years since the day Crossrail was supposed to open but didn't.
three and a half years to run the first train. People in high places must have been lying their socks off.
• Battersea Power Station, Nine Elms and the Northern line extension
Brent Cross...
Londonist
Review: Blockbuster Disney Exhibition Digs Deep To Deliver The Magic
Fans will love this centenary show.
a year ago
Fans will love this centenary show.
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Myrtle Beach Travel Guide for Travelers with Disabilities
3 months ago
Londonist
The Top Exhibitions To See In London In October 2023
Beauty, Manga, miniatures and a whole load of art fairs.
a year ago
Beauty, Manga, miniatures and a whole load of art fairs.
Londonist
Alternative London Tube Map Shows Great Engineers
From Bazalgette to modern day pioneers.
a year ago
From Bazalgette to modern day pioneers.
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.
diamond geezer
Almost Oxford Street
A Nice Walk: Almost Oxford Street (1½ miles)
Crowds throng the length of Oxford Street, especially...
a year ago
A Nice Walk: Almost Oxford Street (1½ miles)
Crowds throng the length of Oxford Street, especially at this time of year, in search of gifts and for a gander at the sparkly lights. But sometimes you just want to go for a nicer walk, nothing too busy, a bit of a stroll, lots to...
diamond geezer
The centre of London
The centre of London is generally taken to be the statue of Charles I on the south side of Trafalgar...
8 months ago
The centre of London is generally taken to be the statue of Charles I on the south side of Trafalgar Square. It sits on the site of the original Charing Cross and is also the point from which mileages are measured, as a plaque at its foot attests.
1) The centroid
centroid is...
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.
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
Spotted These Circular Tube Maps Doing The Rounds?
At last! The Circle line makes sense.
10 months ago
At last! The Circle line makes sense.
Londonist
Ian McKellen Is Back Doing Shakespeare On The London Stage In 2024
Player Kings launches in the spring.
a year ago
Player Kings launches in the spring.
Londonist
West End Tickets From £15 - London Theatre Week Has Launched
Slashed price seats available till 3 March.
10 months ago
Slashed price seats available till 3 March.
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)...
Londonist
Miracle At Henrietta: The Christmassiest Bar In London
It's Kiiiiiiiitschmas!
a year ago
Londonist
London In Teeth
A tribute to London's best gnashers.
10 months ago
A tribute to London's best gnashers.
Londonist
Explore Notre-Dame Cathedral... From Westminster Abbey
Hit augmented reality experience comes to London.
11 months ago
Hit augmented reality experience comes to London.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Ways to Get Outside at Iberostar Hotels, Dominican Republic
a year ago
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...
How Chai Pani Is Transforming Asheville’s Food Scene
11 months ago
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 19-25 February 2024
7 days of London wrapped up in a neat little package.
10 months ago
7 days of London wrapped up in a neat little package.
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.
diamond geezer
24 things to see in SE24
Only one London postcode area reaches the heady heights of 24 (because N tops out at N22). Come with...
11 months ago
Only one London postcode area reaches the heady heights of 24 (because N tops out at N22). Come with me to Herne Hill SE24.
24 things to see in SE24
1) Visit Brockwell Park
finest parks perfectly plonked on a small hill with commanding views across much of central London. It...
Londonist
Rumble In The Jungle Rematch Arrives In London
Take your place ringside in this limited-run immersive show.
a year ago
Take your place ringside in this limited-run immersive show.
Londonist
Visit These 15 Beautiful Castles In Kent
Clifftop fortresses to grand country piles.
9 months ago
Clifftop fortresses to grand country piles.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 2-8 October 2023
The best articles from the past week.
a year ago
The best articles from the past week.
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...
diamond geezer
The circular tube map
Is there no limit to the number of tube map variants?
It prioritises the Circle line whose...
10 months ago
Is there no limit to the number of tube map variants?
It prioritises the Circle line whose traditional loop has been manipulated into a perfect circle, but it distorts the hell out of all the other tube lines. Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus are on opposite sides of the...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Madeira, Portugal Is the Ideal Stopover Destination
a month ago
Londonist
'Stand Against Suella' Protest Takes Place In Central London On Sunday
LGBTQ groups rally against dehumanising rhetoric.
a year ago
LGBTQ groups rally against dehumanising rhetoric.
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.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 25 September-1 October 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Outdoor Destinations for Every Kind of Traveler
6 months ago
diamond geezer
Good / Not Good
GOOD
NOT GOOD
8 months ago
Londonist
V&A East - Brand New Museum Opening In 2025 Announces Its First Exhibition
The Music Is Black: A British Story will get the ball rolling.
a year ago
The Music Is Black: A British Story will get the ball rolling.
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...
Cheese and Biscuits
Black Salt, Sheen
For most restaurants, no matter how lofty their ambitions or discerning the clientele, sheer...
over a year ago
For most restaurants, no matter how lofty their ambitions or discerning the clientele, sheer practical market forces will be the driving force behind at least one or two dishes, whether it's the chic Northern gastropub reluctantly offering fish and chips and a burger alongside...
Spoon & Tamago
Senko Hanabi Earrings are the Perfect Summer Accessory
Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without fireworks. The tradition originated over 280 years...
a year ago
Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without fireworks. The tradition originated over 280 years ago as a means of warding off epidemics and today, no matter where you are in Japan, you can be sure to encounter fireworks festivals both large and small. And while the grand...
Londonist
16 Spring Day Trips From London: April 2024
Steam trains, flower festivals and a mysterious grotto.
9 months ago
Steam trains, flower festivals and a mysterious grotto.
Londonist
Quirky Christmas Eats To Sink Your Teeth Into Around London
From mince pie doughnuts to spiced Aperol spritzes.
a year ago
From mince pie doughnuts to spiced Aperol spritzes.
Londonist
A Brief History Of The Waterloo & City Line
A very peculiar line.
a year ago
diamond geezer
QEOP 10
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is 10 years old this weekend. A chunk of the North Park opened more...
8 months ago
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is 10 years old this weekend. A chunk of the North Park opened more quickly in the summer after the Games but the rest was only fully revealed on 5th April 2014, including all the good stuff round the Stadium. This was the moment that created a...
diamond geezer
2023 index
dg 2023 index
Beyond London
Nottingham: Not just Robin Hood and cricket, but also caves, Boots and a...
11 months ago
dg 2023 index
Beyond London
Nottingham: Not just Robin Hood and cricket, but also caves, Boots and a complete traverse of the tram network [photos]
West Midlands Metro: A day of faffing about on the trams, especially the latest extensions
Cheltenham and Gloucester: Spas, racing...
Londonist
The Ballot For Wimbledon 2024 Is Now Open
Ace!
a year ago
Londonist
Fitzrovia Chapel - Gloriously Golden Church Is Now Open 3 Days A Week
What. A. Ceiling.
10 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
4 Outdoor Adventures Near Marriott Hotels in Florida
5 months ago
diamond geezer
Random Remembrance
Every London borough hosts a Remembrance event, maybe several.
The parade lines up outside the...
a month ago
Every London borough hosts a Remembrance event, maybe several.
The parade lines up outside the museum and awaits the signal. Everyone important's here, all the civic dignitaries apart from those who've been delegated to officiate at the borough's three other memorials. The...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 23-24 December 2023
Events in the capital on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Eve Eve.
a year ago
Events in the capital on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Eve Eve.
Herbert Lui
Greatness means avoiding stupid mistakes consistently
Shane Parrish writes at Brain Food, “Moments don’t make legends. Consistency does. And the hardest...
a week ago
Shane Parrish writes at Brain Food, “Moments don’t make legends. Consistency does. And the hardest consistency isn’t in doing brilliant things but avoiding stupid ones. Every mistake puts you in hard mode, forcing you to make up lost ground.” In some lines of work, a person must...
Spoon & Tamago
Kirie Artist Lito Celebrates Tanabata with Handcut Leaves
Today is Tanabata (七夕, meaning “Evening of the seventh”), a Japanese festival celebrating the...
5 months ago
Today is Tanabata (七夕, meaning “Evening of the seventh”), a Japanese festival celebrating the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh...
diamond geezer
London's triple points
There are six points around the Greater London boundary where three counties...
a year ago
There are six points around the Greater London boundary where three counties meet.
London/Kent/Surrey
Specifically: Biggin Hill/Westerham/Tatsfield
Location: Rag Hill
To get here take a walk along the quiet twisty country lane that wends between Tatsfield Green and the...
Spoon & Tamago
Cafe Fang: An Oasis of Books and Coffee in Kyoto
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of touristy Kyoto, head to this newly opened oasis of...
a year ago
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of touristy Kyoto, head to this newly opened oasis of books and coffee. Located slightly north of central Kyoto is the Donkou Kissa Fang, a serene cafe and private book collection built inside immaculately crafted townhouse and garden....
AFAR Media - Travel...
New Resy Promo Will Give You $99 Off at These Restaurants
a year ago
diamond geezer
DGD at 85
My Dad is 85 years old today, which is damned good going.
Thu 20th October 1938 (0): A first child...
a year ago
My Dad is 85 years old today, which is damned good going.
Thu 20th October 1938 (0): A first child is born to my grandparents. Home is a new-ish semi-detached house backing onto the canal. Born on the same day - long jumper Fred Alsop and singer Kathy Kirby.
Wed 20th October...
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...
diamond geezer
Green Link Walk 1
For those of us who like walking, yesterday was a red letter day. A new official London walkway was...
9 months ago
For those of us who like walking, yesterday was a red letter day. A new official London walkway was launched, the first in over a decade - the first of six potential new Greenways proposed by the London Ramblers in 2021. It's been a while because waymarking and accessibility take...
Londonist
Valentine's Day 2024 In London: Events For Dates, Mates And Flying Solo
Romance-themed things to do on and around 14 February.
10 months ago
Romance-themed things to do on and around 14 February.
Londonist
Tiddles - The Fat Cat Of Paddington Station
He even had his own fridge.
10 months ago
He even had his own fridge.
diamond geezer
Why are people wrong?
Why are people wrong?
There's no need to be wrong these days, all the facts are there. All you...
4 months ago
Why are people wrong?
There's no need to be wrong these days, all the facts are there. All you need to do is look.
It's not clear where all this wrongness comes from. Nobody's born with wrong opinions but many accrue them later in life. Could be nature, could be nurture,...
diamond geezer
Anorak corner - bus edition
Anorak Corner [bus edition] (annual update)
Once again TfL have silently published their annual...
a month ago
Anorak Corner [bus edition] (annual update)
Once again TfL have silently published their annual spreadsheet listing the number of passengers using every London bus route and how many kilometres those buses travelled. Data is for April 2023 - March 2024. Comparisons are with the...
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in June 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in June 2024
1) Whatever 16 members of the public have...
5 months ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in June 2024
1) Whatever 16 members of the public have said, no occurrences of bedbugs have been identified on TfL services over the past two years.
2) London's least busy bus stop is at Dysart Avenue (I blogged about this in some...
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
London Overground Lines Get New Names And Colours
The Liberty line?
10 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
In-Depth Review of Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, a hotel in Bali, Indonesia
a year ago
diamond geezer
The 10,000th post
Over at Spitalfields Life, The Gentle Author kicked off his excellent blog with the following...
a year ago
Over at Spitalfields Life, The Gentle Author kicked off his excellent blog with the following promise...
"Over the coming days, weeks, months and years, I am going to write every day and tell you about life here in Spitalfields at the heart of London. How can I ever describe the...
Londonist
50+ Fantastic Things To Do In London This Month: February 2024
New exhibitions, a flower festival, and a chance to clown around in church.
11 months ago
New exhibitions, a flower festival, and a chance to clown around in church.
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...
The Forney Flyer
I'm Still Here
Wow, it's been nothing but crickets chirping here on my blog for quite a while, but I'm still here!...
over a year ago
Wow, it's been nothing but crickets chirping here on my blog for quite a while, but I'm still here! Those long periods of silence on my blog are indicative of how super busy it's been here. The summer was a blur, and it hasn't slowed down since.
diamond geezer
The fares post
The fares post
announcement yesterday about trialling off-peak fares on Fridays.
Here's the...
10 months ago
The fares post
announcement yesterday about trialling off-peak fares on Fridays.
Here's the start of the press release.
• Off-peak journeys on Fridays could transform the morning commute for Londoners and provide a welcome further boost to London’s economy
The plan is to...
Cheese and Biscuits
Ploussard, Battersea
As much as I complained on these pages that all the exciting new restaurants were opening up not...
a year ago
As much as I complained on these pages that all the exciting new restaurants were opening up not handily close to where I live in SW11, but in far-flung places like Dalston or Shoreditch or Highgate, part of me still hoped that something would eventually come along to prove me...
Londonist
Sadiq Promises 'Bakerloop' Express Bus Route
Mirroring the proposed Bakerloo line extension.
8 months ago
Mirroring the proposed Bakerloo line extension.
diamond geezer
Asda Express Bow Petrol
Most days I walk past the Co-op on Bow Road - Bow Road's Co-op. I don't shop there, it's only a...
10 months ago
Most days I walk past the Co-op on Bow Road - Bow Road's Co-op. I don't shop there, it's only a garage forecourt store, nothing large or special. But it's well stocked - plenty of chiller choice, all the cereals, lots of booze.
Co-op had suddenly metamorphosed into an Asda...
Spoon & Tamago
Close-up Photographs of Sumo Wrestlers Evoke Mountain Ranges Shrouded in Fog
Last month, the 107th High School Kanazawa City Sumo Tournament was held. The event has been held...
a year ago
Last month, the 107th High School Kanazawa City Sumo Tournament was held. The event has been held annually for over 100 years and attracts spectators locally but also from across Japan. But for the past 3 years, because of covid restrictions, the event had been held without...
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...
Londonist
A Brief History Of The Metropolitan Line
The world's first underground railway.
a year ago
The world's first underground railway.
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.
Londonist
Brixton Tube Station Gets A New Artwork From Jem Perucchini
Rebirth of a Nation adds a bright touch to station entrance.
a year ago
Rebirth of a Nation adds a bright touch to station entrance.
Herbert Lui
The new direction
When you’re exploring a new direction in your career, you are bound to experience confusion. It is a...
a week ago
When you’re exploring a new direction in your career, you are bound to experience confusion. It is a particularly painful, vulnerable, emotion. You may experience an emotional instinct to reach out and fall back into the familiar. All of a sudden, the old, familiar, well-trodden...
diamond geezer
Lower Lea Valley Bus Review
HYPERLOCAL BUS NEWS: Lower Lea Valley Bus Review
development papers focused on particular...
4 months ago
HYPERLOCAL BUS NEWS: Lower Lea Valley Bus Review
development papers focused on particular geographical areas. A recent set covers the Lower Lea Valley, an area of "historically relatively low trip-generating industrial land progressively transforming into higher trip-generating...
diamond geezer
Unlocking QEOP
Ten years ago, when Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park fully opened, I showed you this graphic showing all...
8 months ago
Ten years ago, when Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park fully opened, I showed you this graphic showing all the pedestrian entrances into the park. It wasn't an official list, simply those I'd spotted, numbered in an anti-clockwise direction starting from Westfield.
greens were...
Londonist
'Eatalong' With Kevin Mac Allister At These Special Home Alone Screenings
Including a dish called a 'Filthy Animals'.
a year ago
Including a dish called a 'Filthy Animals'.
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
How Washington, D.C. is Leading the Way in Accessible Travel
a year ago
Londonist
Inside London's New Women's Museum
Head east for London's latest cultural offering.
9 months ago
Head east for London's latest cultural offering.
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...
Londonist
Around London In 11 Fish
Sculptures, puns and some actual real fish.
11 months ago
Sculptures, puns and some actual real fish.
Londonist
The Barbi-Ken Line? The Ickeypoo Line? What If All Tubes Were Named Like Bakerloo?
Waterloo to Bank presents some options.
a year ago
Waterloo to Bank presents some options.
diamond geezer
London's most terminussy bus terminus
I won't keep you long today.
Let's answer a dull question.
Which London bus terminus has the most...
7 months ago
I won't keep you long today.
Let's answer a dull question.
Which London bus terminus has the most terminating routes?
See, half of you can head off already.
This is a surprisingly difficult question to answer.
It used to be easy when TfL made bus maps.
I made myself a list...
diamond geezer
London's highest station
What's London's highest station?
Richard).
en-gb.topographic-map.com. This displays the elevation...
a year ago
What's London's highest station?
Richard).
en-gb.topographic-map.com. This displays the elevation of the land using a colourful scale, with blue the lowest and red the highest.
Precisely what colour equals what height varies as you zoom in and out. On this map at this scale...
Cheese and Biscuits
Baudry Greene, Covent Garden
There are few things more important in the success of a restaurant than pedigree. If you are able to...
7 months ago
There are few things more important in the success of a restaurant than pedigree. If you are able to launch one good restaurant, you're more than likely to be able to make a good go of a second. And then a third, and so on. Well, up to a point. You don't want to spread yourself...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Amazing Things to Do in Puerto Rico, According to Locals
a year ago
Londonist
Belgravia In Bloom 2024: Flower Arches And Sculptures Pop Up In West London
It's all fun and games this year - that's the theme!
8 months ago
It's all fun and games this year - that's the theme!
Spoon & Tamago
Satoshi Odagiri Creates One-of-a-Kind Organic Mobiles from Found Material
Located in the wilderness of of Hanno City (Saitama), about an hour outside of Tokyo, is Saturday...
9 months ago
Located in the wilderness of of Hanno City (Saitama), about an hour outside of Tokyo, is Saturday Factory, a design studio founded by Satoshi Odagiri in 2015. Inspired by the surrounding forests, rivers and wildflowers, Odagiri creates balancing mobiles that incorporate materials...
diamond geezer
2025 fares
-->TfL's annual fare rise was announced yesterday. It's good news for buses and bad news for...
a week ago
-->TfL's annual fare rise was announced yesterday. It's good news for buses and bad news for trains.
GOOD: "The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that he will freeze bus and tram fares for an historic sixth time next year, meaning Londoners continue to pay the...
Londonist
London New Year's Day Parade 2024: A Guide
Route, timings and where to watch the 1 January shindig.
a year ago
Route, timings and where to watch the 1 January shindig.
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 Articles on Adventure and Wellness in the Nordic Countries
4 months ago
Londonist
20 Remarkable Photos Of London In 1992
Concorde, IRA bombs and the Chippendales.
a year ago
Concorde, IRA bombs and the Chippendales.
Londonist
Wish You Were (Still) Here: Piccadilly's Egyptian Hall
London's most beautiful pastiche?
9 months ago
London's most beautiful pastiche?
Londonist
A Rare Chance To Have Afternoon Tea Inside Greenwich's Painted Hall This March
For one day only.
10 months ago
diamond geezer
RM70
Every 10 years the Routemaster Association likes to take over Finsbury Park with a mass line-up of...
5 months ago
Every 10 years the Routemaster Association likes to take over Finsbury Park with a mass line-up of London's favourite heritage vehicle, the RM bus. Unfortunately this year Haringey council made things difficult so the 70th anniversary bash, RM70, had to find a different home....
Londonist
Stooky Bill: The Sinister Puppet From Doctor Who Was Real
And where to see him in London.
a year ago
And where to see him in London.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why you should visit Story Parlor in Asheville, NC
11 months ago
diamond geezer
Numberplate games and how to play them
Numberplate games and how to play them
A 123 BCD
CNPS, in which you have to spot all the numbers...
5 months ago
Numberplate games and how to play them
A 123 BCD
CNPS, in which you have to spot all the numbers from 1 to 999 in order. First you spot a 1, then a 2, all the way up to 999. It just takes a very long time to complete. I played it once and it took nearly four years, eventually...
Londonist
Fourth Plinth Winning Artworks For 2026 And 2028 Announced
Say hello to Trafalgar Square's latest additions.
9 months ago
Say hello to Trafalgar Square's latest additions.
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."
Londonist
A Map Of London Nicknames: From The Gherkin To The Silicon Roundabout
What would you add to the map?
a year ago
What would you add to the map?
Spoon & Tamago
Tsuchiya Kaban Creates Leather Randoseru For Dogs
Tsuchiya Kaban, the 58-year old Japanese leather bagmaker known for their highly-specific bags, has...
a year ago
Tsuchiya Kaban, the 58-year old Japanese leather bagmaker known for their highly-specific bags, has released their very first line-up of pet products. And their doggy randoseru is absolutely adorable. For those who aren’t familiar, randoseru are backpacks for kids. Typically made...
Spoon & Tamago
Osaka Celebrates Star Festival with River of 40,000 LED Lights Evoking the Milky Way
The Okawa River, which runs through central Osaka, was lit up on Friday with 40,000 LED lights...
a year ago
The Okawa River, which runs through central Osaka, was lit up on Friday with 40,000 LED lights floating down the river as they evoked the celestial milky way. The surreal scene was part of a celebration of Tanabata, or the Star Festival, which is a major summer festival in Japan...
Herbert Lui
Invest in your stories
My friend Peter started posting at LinkedIn a couple of years ago. He noticed that while people who...
2 weeks ago
My friend Peter started posting at LinkedIn a couple of years ago. He noticed that while people who followed him appreciated his advice, what they remembered most were his stories—about how he met his co-founder and started an agency, how they spun out new companies, and his move...
Londonist
How To Spend A Weekend In Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote
And neighbouring Los Pocillos too.
a year ago
And neighbouring Los Pocillos too.
Herbert Lui
Worth the wait
Late is better than never, and it’s never too late. Even if the line is long, and you missed a...
a week ago
Late is better than never, and it’s never too late. Even if the line is long, and you missed a chance to join earlier. If the best time to start was yesterday, the second best time is today. Being patient is much easier than it looks. Some lines don’t need you to be present, so...
Spoon & Tamago
Three Art Festival to Visit in Japan in the 2nd Half of 2024
Japan’s numerous art festivals have proven to be an effective way of luring domestic and...
6 months ago
Japan’s numerous art festivals have proven to be an effective way of luring domestic and international tourists out of popular destinations and into rural parts of Japan they would have otherwise not visited. The poster child is perhaps the Setouchi Triennale, whose combination...
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...
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
Unblogged first week of May
7 unblogged things I did in the first week of May
Wed 1: While I was touring City churches I came...
7 months ago
7 unblogged things I did in the first week of May
Wed 1: While I was touring City churches I came across this, the Lost London Churches Project. They've printed a little colour card for every church in the City of London - current and former - and the idea is to collect them all...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 11-17 March 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
9 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
Where To Be Scottish In London
Kilty pleasures
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.
Londonist
A Chance To Visit The 'Roman' Bath In Strand Lane
One of London's most lied-about attractions.
a year ago
One of London's most lied-about attractions.
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....
Spoon & Tamago
Tomohiro Inaba Invites Viewers to Complete the Story of His Sculptures
“To the promised land” (2024) | installation view at YukikoMizutani Tomohiro Inaba is an artist who...
4 months ago
“To the promised land” (2024) | installation view at YukikoMizutani Tomohiro Inaba is an artist who creates sculptures that engage the viewer through their own imagination. Depending on your point of view, Inaba’s works look like they’re either disintegrating into mid-air or or...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 18-24 December 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
When A Tube Train Full Of Passengers Was Abandoned In The Tunnel
The stuff of nightmares.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Over 30
A heatwave in September is unusual but not unprecedented.
Dates on which the temperature at...
a year ago
A heatwave in September is unusual but not unprecedented.
Dates on which the temperature at Hampstead reached 30°C
JunJulAugSep
2010279/10
201127
2012 2518
2013 13 15/16/17 221
2014 18
2015 122
2016 18/19/202413
201717/18/19/20/216
2018 5/6/7/8 15 23 25/26/272/3...
Spoon & Tamago
Kawazu Cherry Blossoms in Shizuoka Now in Full Bloom
The Kawazu-Zakura cherry blossoms If you’re sick of winter and ready for spring, head to Shizuoka’s...
10 months ago
The Kawazu-Zakura cherry blossoms If you’re sick of winter and ready for spring, head to Shizuoka’s Kawazu City, the host of one of Japan’s earliest cherry blossom festivals. The Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms are known for blossoming early and some trees are already beginning to...
Spoon & Tamago
Forest Crayons Derived Solely From a Different Species of Tree Native to Japan
Forest Crayons are a set of 10 crayons, each with a color derived solely from a different species of...
5 months ago
Forest Crayons are a set of 10 crayons, each with a color derived solely from a different species of tree native to Japan such as cedar, hazenoki and katsura. Designed by Saki Maruyama and Daniel Coppen of Studio Playfool, the crayons manage to repurpose Japan’s otherwise wasted...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 28 August-3 September 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
diamond geezer
Wood End
Do you ever look at the front of a bus and think "where the hell is that?"?
actual place in actual...
2 months ago
Do you ever look at the front of a bus and think "where the hell is that?"?
actual place in actual London. It even has a library, or rather it did but we'll get to that. You'll find it west of Sudbury, north of Greenford, east of Northolt and south of South Harrow, if that...
diamond geezer
Random borough 3
Twenty years ago, on my first Random Borough trip, my jamjar took me to Merton and I only gave it a...
9 months ago
Twenty years ago, on my first Random Borough trip, my jamjar took me to Merton and I only gave it a one-day write-up. Two decades later I'm doing Merton justice by giving it three days, of which this is the last, so buckle down to learn about fertiliser, philanthropy and phone...
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...
diamond geezer
Unwritten
Seven posts that I considered writing today but they were going nowhere so I didn't finish...
a year ago
Seven posts that I considered writing today but they were going nowhere so I didn't finish them
What's the lowest numbered A road you've never driven on?
Wow didn't it just get cold?
the temperature in my living room for three years. I note the indoor temperature first thing...
diamond geezer
Mildmay Weaver Windrush
We're still a couple of weeks away from the renaming of the Overground lines.
On the left is the...
3 months ago
We're still a couple of weeks away from the renaming of the Overground lines.
On the left is the list of Overground line closures displayed at every station this week...
It may look unfamiliar, and the line names may not mean much to you yet.
But I'd hope we can agree it's...
Londonist
The Top Exhibitions To See In London: January 2024
Cuteness overload and a light show to kick off a capital year of culture.
a year ago
Cuteness overload and a light show to kick off a capital year of culture.
diamond geezer
SL2
Route SL2: Walthamstow Central - North Woolwich Ferry
Length of journey: 12 miles, 60...
9 months ago
Route SL2: Walthamstow Central - North Woolwich Ferry
Length of journey: 12 miles, 60 minutes
Headline: The new express route that completes the loop.
Subtext: This time last year the Superloop hadn't even been announced. It now circles outer London.
Caveat: It's not a loop, the...
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.
Cheese and Biscuits
Solo, Aughton
When I was first out of university, trying to decide what to do with my life, and with no long term...
9 months ago
When I was first out of university, trying to decide what to do with my life, and with no long term plan other than the fact I knew - eventually - I wanted to move to London and stay there, I got a job as a cashier at Ormskirk Abbey National. Ormskirk is ostensibly a market town,...
Londonist
Shoreditch Has A New Secret Garden... On A Viaduct
Get eye-level with Village Underground's tube trains.
a year ago
Get eye-level with Village Underground's tube trains.
Londonist
Things To Do In London On Boxing Day 2023
There's more to Twixtmas than Monopoly and mulled wine.
a year ago
There's more to Twixtmas than Monopoly and mulled wine.
diamond geezer
Langley Vale WW1 Centenary Wood
Yesterday a 12 mile walk from Redhill to Epsom morphed abruptly into a 13 mile walk from Redhill to...
11 months ago
Yesterday a 12 mile walk from Redhill to Epsom morphed abruptly into a 13 mile walk from Redhill to Leatherhead. And so I found myself blundering unexpectedly through Langley Vale, England's WW1 Centenary Wood.
a mile to the south of Epsom racecourse. It's one of four Centenary...
Cheese and Biscuits
Xi Home Dumplings Bay,
I often like to look up the situation of restaurants I'm heading out to on Google Streetview, just...
2 months ago
I often like to look up the situation of restaurants I'm heading out to on Google Streetview, just so I know what to expect when I get off the bus and lessen (though not completely mitigate) the chance I might head off in completely the wrong direction. I wouldn't recommend doing...
Londonist
The Massive (And Massively Controversial) Stratford Sphere
Is Vegas coming to east London?
a year ago
Is Vegas coming to east London?
Cheese and Biscuits
Peckham Cellars, Peckham
Though it's always flattering to be invited to try the latest and greatest of London restaurants,...
over a year ago
Though it's always flattering to be invited to try the latest and greatest of London restaurants, and more often than not I'm happy to play a part in the tricky first few weeks of a new operation to help get it off the ground, or to refocus attention on an established place...
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.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Asheville’s French Broad River is a Must-Visit
11 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:...
diamond geezer
The Ballot Box
Pub of the Day: the Ballot Box UB6 7QL
Ballot Box, it's on Horsenden Lane between Perivale and...
5 months ago
Pub of the Day: the Ballot Box UB6 7QL
Ballot Box, it's on Horsenden Lane between Perivale and North Greenford. Nothing big drives this way thanks to a width restriction at the old bridge over the Grand Union, but the Capital Ring passes by just after its detour up Horsenden...
Londonist
You Can Take A Dip In This Rooftop Pool Overlooking Battersea Power Station
art'otel announces series of aerobics classes.
11 months ago
art'otel announces series of aerobics classes.
diamond geezer
Gridmaps
London in 1
Charing
Cross
London in 2
Westminster
City
London in...
a year ago
London in 1
Charing
Cross
London in 2
Westminster
City
London in 3
Westfield
Oxford
StreetWestfield
London in 4
Harefield
Harold
Hill
HeathrowOrpington
London in 6
M1
A10A12
M4
A3A2
London in...
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...
diamond geezer
Washside postcards
Washside postcards: Hunstanton → King's Lynn
✉ Head south from Hunstanton and the first village you...
5 months ago
Washside postcards: Hunstanton → King's Lynn
✉ Head south from Hunstanton and the first village you graze is Heacham, home of Norfolk Lavender. It describes itself as "England's premier lavender farm (est. 1932) with nearly 100 acres of lavender" so we had high hopes, but it was...
diamond geezer
Unblogged March
31 unblogged things I did in March
Fri 1: I always have to reset my ancient Casio digital watch...
8 months ago
31 unblogged things I did in March
Fri 1: I always have to reset my ancient Casio digital watch after a leap day because it thinks today is the 2nd, but this year the already-somewhat-dodgy button jammed through over-use and I fear I'm going to be stuck with the wrong date...
Londonist
Secrets Of 19th Century Workhouse Uncovered At St Pancras Dig
Fireplaces, vibrant walls and hot water bottles revealed.
a year ago
Fireplaces, vibrant walls and hot water bottles revealed.
diamond geezer
Lavenham
Day out: Lavenham
well off the beaten track - roughly west of Ipswich and south of Bury St Edmunds....
a year ago
Day out: Lavenham
well off the beaten track - roughly west of Ipswich and south of Bury St Edmunds. But 500 years ago Lavenham was one of the wealthiest towns in the country thanks to all the money to be made from sheep, specifically the dyeing, spinning and weaving of woollen...
Londonist
Easter 2024 Transport In London: Which Train And Tubes Are Running, And Which Stations Are Closed?
Got an egg hunt to go to? Read this first
9 months ago
Got an egg hunt to go to? Read this first
diamond geezer
Mayfair
MAYFAIR
£400
London's Monopoly Streets
MAYFAIR
Colour group: dark blue
Purchase price:...
2 days ago
MAYFAIR
£400
London's Monopoly Streets
MAYFAIR
Colour group: dark blue
Purchase price: £400
Rent: £50
Area: 1km²
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1
Mayfair was mostly fields until the late 17th century when Sir Thomas Grosvenor, a Cheshire baronet, made an exceptionally...
Londonist
The Elysian Arcs: Giant Rainbows And Bubbles Appear Beneath Cheesegrater
Free installation bring colour to City.
9 months ago
Free installation bring colour to City.
diamond geezer
The Putney Sculpture Trail
A Nice Walk: Putney Sculpture Trail (1½ miles)
Sometimes you just want to go for a nice walk,...
a year ago
A Nice Walk: Putney Sculpture Trail (1½ miles)
Sometimes you just want to go for a nice walk, nothing too taxing, a bit of a stroll, lots to see, pretty views, tidal waterside, pockets of history, nine bronzes, multiple refreshment opportunities, entirely step-free, won't take...
Cheese and Biscuits
Lulu's, Herne Hill
Thank the lord for the lengthening days, for lifting the spirits and lightening the mood and - most...
a year ago
Thank the lord for the lengthening days, for lifting the spirits and lightening the mood and - most importantly from my point of view - dramatically improving the quality of food photography on this blog. I'm sure Lulu's would be a lovely, cozy little spot even in the depths of...
Londonist
When A Plague Of Millions Of Rats Gnawed Its Way Through Central London
They even ate the window frames...
a year ago
They even ate the window frames...
Londonist
Just How Bad Is The Air Quality On The Tube?
A look at particle levels on tube platforms.
a year ago
A look at particle levels on tube platforms.
diamond geezer
Zoë's Mayoral transport policies
As the Mayoral election approaches, all sorts of parties are announcing all sorts of policies on all...
8 months ago
As the Mayoral election approaches, all sorts of parties are announcing all sorts of policies on all sorts of things.
manifesto to be released, that of Green Party candidate Zoë Garbett, a 134-page monster which was launched yesterday. And because transport is one of the areas...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 1-7 January 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
11 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
AFAR Media - Travel...
An Architecture Lover’s Dream Tour Through Germany’s UNESCO Sites and Beyond
6 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.
Londonist
How To Spend A Weekend In Dublin
48 hours of pubs, literature and galleries.
12 months ago
48 hours of pubs, literature and galleries.
Londonist
Where Is The Heart Of London?
Answer: everywhere.
10 months ago
Londonist
The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Drives Into London This Week
Merry fizz-mas!
a year ago
diamond geezer
Overground line factfile
Overground line factfile
(because all the stats have changed)
Windrush line...
3 weeks ago
Overground line factfile
(because all the stats have changed)
Windrush line
Operates: Highbury & Islington to New Cross/Clapham Junction/Crystal Palace/West Croydon
Colour on map: red parallel lines
Joined the Overground: 2010
Length: 24 miles
Zones: 1-5
Number...
Londonist
Where To Get Your Fill Of The Best Food And Drink In Islington
Marvellous macarons, superb sushi... and Karen's Diner.
9 months ago
Marvellous macarons, superb sushi... and Karen's Diner.
Spoon & Tamago
Noriko Sugiyama Transforms Old Kimono Into Luxurious Landscapes
all images courtesy Noriko Sugiyama Noriko Sugiyama is a self-taught artist who works with discarded...
10 months ago
all images courtesy Noriko Sugiyama Noriko Sugiyama is a self-taught artist who works with discarded kimono and obi, which she masterfully upcylces to create landscapes brimming with energy and hope. But her path to artistry has been anything but conventional. Now at the age of...
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
See London's Biggest Pie Chart
LSE's giant, mathematical mural.
a year ago
LSE's giant, mathematical mural.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to Eat, Drink, and Unwind in Virginia Beach
5 days ago
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
diamond geezer
The Lookout
The City of London looks favourably upon planning applications for very tall buildings which come...
a year ago
The City of London looks favourably upon planning applications for very tall buildings which come with a free viewing gallery. Get the public into the Square Mile and they'll spend money here is their very reasonable premise, even if it sometimes results in even-more-towering...
diamond geezer
Building churches on housing estates
When did they stop building churches on housing estates?
Time was when even the smallest village...
5 months ago
When did they stop building churches on housing estates?
Time was when even the smallest village had a church, such was the domination of religion in our society. As towns and suburbs grew they too were always built with churches, often of multiple denominations, these an...
Londonist
Where To Celebrate St Patrick's Day 2024 In London
Parties, parades and other craic on and around 17 March.
9 months ago
Parties, parades and other craic on and around 17 March.
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.
diamond geezer
You must have a valid ticket before boarding
Last month there were significant closures on the DLR and a replacement bus service ran.
And...
4 months ago
Last month there were significant closures on the DLR and a replacement bus service ran.
And there was one particular sentence that surprised me the most.
"You must have a valid ticket before boarding the replacement bus service."
I've never seen that before, not on a TfL...
diamond geezer
The refillable water bottle tube map
If you were wondering what symbol would be added to the tube map next, how about a refillable water...
4 months ago
If you were wondering what symbol would be added to the tube map next, how about a refillable water bottle?
It's always obvious retrospectively.
Overground network, hence the map is titled "London Overground stations with free drinking water fountains". The new symbol thus...
Londonist
A White Knuckle Guide To High Adrenaline Activities In London
Feel the fear and do it anyway.
11 months ago
Feel the fear and do it anyway.
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...
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in September 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in September 2024
1) The average e-scooter hire trip...
2 months ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in September 2024
1) The average e-scooter hire trip lasts 16 minutes, is 1½ miles long and is undertaken at 6½ mph.
2) TfL plan to replace the Lodge Avenue flyover on the A13 with a like-for-like replacement, with construction starting...
Londonist
Non ULEZ Compliant Car? TfL Wants You To Give It To Ukraine
Help Ukraine, the environment - and get paid!
9 months ago
Help Ukraine, the environment - and get paid!
diamond geezer
High Streets
My High Streets post got a lot of attention over the weekend.
How many High Streets are there in...
6 months ago
My High Streets post got a lot of attention over the weekend.
How many High Streets are there in London?
Twitter and got 20 more comments.
Hacker News, the behemoth American syndicator, and got 80 more comments.
diamond geezer.
a) not realising the significance of capital...
Londonist
Origin Of The Faeces: Massive Animal Poo Collection Drops In Kingston
This show's going to make a splash.
a year ago
This show's going to make a splash.
diamond geezer
The 20 year-old 2016 tube map
20 years ago this week TfL published a map of what their transport network might look like in...
5 months ago
20 years ago this week TfL published a map of what their transport network might look like in 2016.
(technically it was 20 years ago last week, but the actual anniversary was election day and we were all otherwise occupied)
The map has obviously disappeared from the TfL...
Spoon & Tamago
The Watermelon Kimono is the Perfect Summer Outfit
Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without festivals and watermelon. So if you’re looking to...
6 months ago
Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without festivals and watermelon. So if you’re looking to refresh your wardrobe with some playful pieces that celebrate the season, as well as festival-appropriate outfits, look no further than the watermelon kimono – a juicy take on a...
diamond geezer
Euros final liveblog
Euros final liveblog 🏴🇪🇸
19:00 Only an hour to go.
19:10 I'm having steak and ale...
5 months ago
Euros final liveblog 🏴🇪🇸
19:00 Only an hour to go.
19:10 I'm having steak and ale pie.
20:00 Kick-off. The score is nil nil.
20:48 Off for oranges at half time.
21:05 Back.
21:06 Goal 😢
21:32 Goal 😀
21:46 Goal 😢
21:54 ENGLAND HAVE COME SECOND!
21:55 I'm sure...
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
29 Things To Do In London On 29 February
Use your extra day of 2024 wisely.
10 months ago
Use your extra day of 2024 wisely.
Londonist
London History Mapped To The Stars
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
a year ago
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
Londonist
We Talk To John Rogers, Filmmaker And Author Of Welcome To New London
A true London legend.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Carpenters Road
Carpenters Road has reopened again. It has a habit of doing this.
2007 so its rundown automotive...
6 months ago
Carpenters Road has reopened again. It has a habit of doing this.
2007 so its rundown automotive industries could be snuffed out in readiness for the Olympics. It took until 2014 to reopen, freshly sanitised, as a link road round the back of the Olympic Park. It then closed...
Londonist
Earth Hour 2024: London To Be Plunged Into Darkness Again
Switch the lights off for an hour, for the good of the planet.
9 months ago
Switch the lights off for an hour, for the good of the planet.
Londonist
London's Best Christmas Markets And Festive Fairs For 2023
Christmas shopping events in the capital, for gifts, decorations, festive food and more.
a year ago
Christmas shopping events in the capital, for gifts, decorations, festive food and more.
Londonist
The Top Exhibitions To See In London: March 2024
Photography, portraits and protest.
10 months ago
Photography, portraits and protest.
diamond geezer
Open House (1)
It's that time of year again when hundreds of London properties open their doors to the public if...
3 months ago
It's that time of year again when hundreds of London properties open their doors to the public if you know where to look. It's also the time of year that I visit lots of places and write about them, so steel yourself. That said I only visited two yesterday, way out in far-flung...
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.
Londonist
70+ Spectacular Things To Do In London This Month: September 2023
Open House London! Plus a new music festival, fashion exhibitions, pole dancing, and sheep on the...
a year ago
Open House London! Plus a new music festival, fashion exhibitions, pole dancing, and sheep on the loose.
Londonist
A Brief History Of Tower Bridge
The history behind London's iconic bridge
a year ago
The history behind London's iconic bridge