Londonist
Life Drawing With Wolves... In A London Hotel
Anyone can get involved... even kids!
a year ago
Anyone can get involved... even kids!
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.
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.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Discover Nine Ways to be Present in Los Angeles.
9 months ago
diamond geezer
Another tube map typo
Would you like to see another tube map typo?
It's not a spelling mistake it's a missing word, if...
2 weeks ago
Would you like to see another tube map typo?
It's not a spelling mistake it's a missing word, if that helps you spot it. Nobody at TfL spotted it, nor anybody at the printers, or if they did they just thought never mind let's use these duff maps anyway.
I've checked other...
Spoon & Tamago
‘Mirai No Table’ Brings Childcare and Dining Together As One
All images © Atelier Air Flo Nukasawa courtesy of Harema Design Office At the crossroads of...
a year ago
All images © Atelier Air Flo Nukasawa courtesy of Harema Design Office At the crossroads of childcare and dining, ‘Mirai no Table‘ (Table of the Future) is a café conceived from the dual perspectives by Harema Design Office. The café embodies the idea that our food choices shape...
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
An 'Accidentally Wes Anderson' Exhibition Is Coming To West London
So. Much. Pastel.
a year ago
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
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.
diamond geezer
Thursday transport news
Subscribe now to get a dose of London transport news in your inbox every Thursday.
Four stations...
a year ago
Subscribe now to get a dose of London transport news in your inbox every Thursday.
Four stations miss out on 4G
can't ring a friend and have a very loud conversation and they are Paddington, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf and Woolwich. These will be added to the roster next year,...
Londonist
Things To Do In London Over The Bank Holiday Weekend
Ways to fill a long weekend in the capital.
9 months ago
Ways to fill a long weekend in the capital.
Spoon & Tamago
Hida Takayama Distillery is Making Whiskey in an Abandoned School, Aging it in a Local Dam
Takane Elementary School and Takane No.2 Dam | images courtesy Hida Takayama A key strategy to...
a year ago
Takane Elementary School and Takane No.2 Dam | images courtesy Hida Takayama A key strategy to reducing our environmental impact involves integrating principles of a circular economy that prioritizes reuse, recovery, and refurbishment of existing infrastructure and resources. The...
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...
Spoon & Tamago
Shimmering Glass Plates Make You Feel Like You’re Eating Off Water Droplets
It’s said that shutter speeds of around 1/1000th of a second are necessary to really capture the...
a year ago
It’s said that shutter speeds of around 1/1000th of a second are necessary to really capture the detail of moving water in photography. So you can imagine the technical challenge of accurately capturing water as a three-dimensional object. Product designer Masahiko Tanoue has...
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?
Londonist
Pubs With Real Fires In London: Cosy Up With A Pint By These Roaring Fireplaces
Updated for winter 2023!
a year ago
Londonist
Christmas Gift Guide: London Themed Presents To Buy For London Lovers!
Books, booze and unique stocking fillers.
a year ago
Books, booze and unique stocking fillers.
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
New Luxury Cruises in the Adriatic and Baltic Seas
3 months ago
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.
The Forney Flyer
South Sudan Photo Archives
Here's some shots from South Sudan from the archives. These first three shots were taken just a few...
over a year ago
Here's some shots from South Sudan from the archives. These first three shots were taken just a few months ago, when I flew a Caravan load of medicines up to a remote health clinic in South Sudan. This is the only clinic that offers actual medicine and medical treatment in that...
Spoon & Tamago
Japanese Aqarium’s Flowchart Illustrates the Complex Relationships of Their Penguins
the Kyoto Aqarium’s 2020 Penguin Relationship Flowchart Penguins, the way they waddle around and...
a year ago
the Kyoto Aqarium’s 2020 Penguin Relationship Flowchart Penguins, the way they waddle around and protect their eggs, are often thought of as cute, cuddly and romantic. But those who observe them for extended periods know they have a dark side. Two aquariums in Japan, Kyoto...
Londonist
The Absolute Worst Things You Can Say To A Londoner
"I bought my flat in the early 2000s for 150k."
a year ago
"I bought my flat in the early 2000s for 150k."
Londonist
Hello Brain! At The Crick Probes Secrets Of The Mind... With Knitting
See the latest brain research while you wait for a train.
9 months ago
See the latest brain research while you wait for a train.
Spoon & Tamago
Oimachi’s New Shopping Oasis Coexists with the Mountains and Sea
All images © Osamu Morishita Architect and Associates Built on reclaimed land that seamlessly blends...
a year ago
All images © Osamu Morishita Architect and Associates Built on reclaimed land that seamlessly blends the expanse of the sea with the majestic mountains, ‘See-Sea Park‘ is a new commercial complex spanning over an area of 10,800 square meters in Oimachi, Fukui. The structure aims...
diamond geezer
London's least busy bus stop
Where is London's least busy bus stop?
It is however a very difficult question to answer, much...
6 months ago
Where is London's least busy bus stop?
It is however a very difficult question to answer, much harder than where's the busiest.
last year when TfL released a Weekday Passenger Data spreadsheet providing the number of boarders at all 19,827 of their bus stops during the month...
diamond geezer
Unblogged April
30 unblogged things I did in April
Mon 1: Three highlights of a day spent at my Dad's in Norfolk: i)...
7 months ago
30 unblogged things I did in April
Mon 1: Three highlights of a day spent at my Dad's in Norfolk: i) going to the local art exhibition and having tea and cake with a sheep farmer. ii) watching a wren repeatedly bringing nest material into the birdbox beside my bedroom window....
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
Walking on Canada Water
It's now quicker to walk from Canada Water station to the big Tesco. This is because British Land...
a month ago
It's now quicker to walk from Canada Water station to the big Tesco. This is because British Land are trying to sell flats.
swooshy timber boardwalk has just opened and it's red. Very red.
It starts from the dock edge by the library and ends at the far end of what used to be...
Londonist
The Massive (And Massively Controversial) Stratford Sphere
Is Vegas coming to east London?
a year ago
Is Vegas coming to east London?
Londonist
15 Pictures Of London's Beautiful Shopfronts
From floating Chinese restaurants to everyone's favourite foliage-smothered boozer.
a year ago
From floating Chinese restaurants to everyone's favourite foliage-smothered boozer.
diamond geezer
Hyperlocal History Month
August is often Local History Month on diamond geezer. I thought this year I might go hyperlocal and...
4 months ago
August is often Local History Month on diamond geezer. I thought this year I might go hyperlocal and bring you historical details of objects and places particularly close to home. We'll see how it goes.
HYPERLOCAL HISTORY MONTH: My fridge
My fridge is four years old, having...
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
Hither Green Rail Crash: 1967 Disaster Was One Of London's Worst
"I saw one of the coaches go straight up on its end."
a year ago
"I saw one of the coaches go straight up on its end."
Londonist
The London Of Doctor Who, Mapped
All the key locations from Hartnell onwards.
a year ago
All the key locations from Hartnell onwards.
Londonist
Things To Look Forward To In London In 2024
The biggest things happening in the capital over the next 12 months.
12 months ago
The biggest things happening in the capital over the next 12 months.
Londonist
London On Fire: Paintings Of The Blitz By The Firefighters Who Were There
City's darkest hour captured in vivid paint.
a year ago
City's darkest hour captured in vivid paint.
Londonist
Myra DuBois Takes Us On Her Perfect Day Out In London
"Look at St Paul's! An icon in the capital! Much like myself."
a year ago
"Look at St Paul's! An icon in the capital! Much like myself."
Londonist
The 1930s: When London Was Really Put On The Map
Tube map, Monopoly and A-Z were a 1930s supergroup.
a year ago
Tube map, Monopoly and A-Z were a 1930s supergroup.
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Local Baker’s Top Picks to Maine’s Best Winter Adventures
4 months ago
diamond geezer
Transport Freedom
I love my Travelcard because it allows me to take multiple journeys anywhere I like whenever I like....
11 months ago
I love my Travelcard because it allows me to take multiple journeys anywhere I like whenever I like. For a one-off fee I can roam on all TfL modes of transport in my chosen zones. I can go to Woolwich, then West Ealing, then Wood Green if I so choose. I can change my mind mid...
diamond geezer
Stafford
Gadabout: STAFFORD
Stafford is a West Midlands market town at the heart of its own county, located...
9 months ago
Gadabout: STAFFORD
Stafford is a West Midlands market town at the heart of its own county, located halfway between Crewe and Birmingham. It may be the same size as Crewe but it's over a millennium older, has much better shops and boasts a castle and some nice old buildings. It's...
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...
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...
Herbert Lui
On lateness and imperfection
At my first job, I realized that I’d missed a meeting invite and my team had started without me. I...
a week ago
At my first job, I realized that I’d missed a meeting invite and my team had started without me. I was early in my career, and hesitant to join the meeting late in-person. I felt embarrassed and, without knowing it, I started beating myself up. How could I be so inept? If I could...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Ways to Get Outside at Iberostar Hotels, Dominican Republic
a year ago
Londonist
The Dreamlike Tower Bridge From Poor Things Was Almost Real
Yorgos Lanthimos revives Horace Jones' original design.
9 months ago
Yorgos Lanthimos revives Horace Jones' original design.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Embark on island-hopping adventures and explore ancient wineries in Croatia
10 months ago
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'.
The Forney Flyer
Subsistence Living, Way Back When
Well, it's been forever since I've posted and I won't even begin to make excuses. But before I try...
over a year ago
Well, it's been forever since I've posted and I won't even begin to make excuses. But before I try to start posting stuff from East Africa, I figured I'd finish that series I had started over a year ago about Way Back When we used to live just north of the Arctic Circle in...
diamond geezer
Rooms Through TIme
The Museum of the Home in Hoxton has evolved again. It used to be the Geffrye Museum, a linear...
5 months ago
The Museum of the Home in Hoxton has evolved again. It used to be the Geffrye Museum, a linear celebration of historic middle-class interiors. In 1998 it extended beyond the almshouses into a loopy extension with cafe and gift shop. In 2021 they added a thematic basement, shifted...
Londonist
Things To Do This Week In London: 13-19 November 2023
Winter Wonderland, Doctor Who, Elf The Musical and Christmas at Kew.
a year ago
Winter Wonderland, Doctor Who, Elf The Musical and Christmas at Kew.
Spoon & Tamago
Exploring Japanese Hell Through Art from the 12th to 19th Century
As a child, growing up in Japan, there was one book that terrified me. Luckily, I didn’t own it. The...
a year ago
As a child, growing up in Japan, there was one book that terrified me. Luckily, I didn’t own it. The red hardback sat on the bottom shelf in my friend’s room and every time I went over to play I could see it, out of the corner of my eye, staring me in the face. […]
Related...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Tips for Exploring L.A.'s Northern Shopping Districts
2 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
An In-Depth Restaurant Review of HAGS in New York City
a year ago
Londonist
Where To Watch The Rugby World Cup 2023 In London
Pubs and bars screening the action.
a year ago
Pubs and bars screening the action.
diamond geezer
Single life
Single life
Yes, I used to post this every year, but now I only do it every five.
Single: You get...
a month ago
Single life
Yes, I used to post this every year, but now I only do it every five.
Single: You get the whole duvet to yourself.
Coupled: You don't need a hot water bottle.
Single: There's half as much ironing to do.
Coupled: There's twice as much ironing to do but somebody else...
diamond geezer
How deep is Crossrail?
In the last week TfL have refused to answer two freedom of Information requests both asking the same...
11 months ago
In the last week TfL have refused to answer two freedom of Information requests both asking the same thing. How deep are Crossrail stations?
geology student at UCL attempting to complete an air quality project and the other just wanted a data dump.
I am looking for the platform...
diamond geezer
Open House (3)
For Open House this weekend I visited twelve different and varied properties, ranging from...
3 months ago
For Open House this weekend I visited twelve different and varied properties, ranging from underwhelm to amazeballs. I'll save the wow until later but here are brief reports on the others, hopefully as testament that exploring otherwise inaccessible spaces is an opportunity not...
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...
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
SL3
Route SL3: Thamesmead - Bromley North
Length of journey: 14 miles, 75 minutes
SPOD CLUB...
10 months ago
Route SL3: Thamesmead - Bromley North
Length of journey: 14 miles, 75 minutes
SPOD CLUB MEET-UP
Location: Thamesmead Town Centre
Date: Saturday 24th February 2024
Time: 10:30am
Purpose: To ride the SL3!!!!!
In attendance: BusTokker09, Ian, Jings, Markie, Rizzo, Tim
Apologies:...
The Forney Flyer
Way Back When
Our flying has been quite slow lately because of the Covid-19 situation. I have, however, recently...
over a year ago
Our flying has been quite slow lately because of the Covid-19 situation. I have, however, recently done several maintenance and test flights from our home airstrip, which as you can see, is about half underwater from the high levels of Lake Victoria. In fact, this is better than...
Londonist
A Brief History Of The Channel Tunnel
Dig in!
11 months ago
diamond geezer
Tractor Tax Protest
Thousands of farmers, countryfolk and their supporters were in central London yesterday to protest...
a month ago
Thousands of farmers, countryfolk and their supporters were in central London yesterday to protest against the imposition of inheritance tax on farmland. You could tell something was up by the number of people in Barbour jackets, tweed caps and sensible outerwear milling around...
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.
One from Nippon
A peek inside Japan's largest Dagashi store
Every morning, 67-year Hideyuki Akiyama drives to his store along the rural roads of Okayama in...
a year ago
Every morning, 67-year Hideyuki Akiyama drives to his store along the rural roads of Okayama in Western Japan. Today is no different. A line of excited customers queuing up before the shutters are open.
“Disneyland isn’t our land of dreams, this is!” says one 20-something woman.
diamond geezer
Green Link Walk 4
I've now completed London's newest official walkway, the Green Link Walk, which was launched on 1st...
9 months ago
I've now completed London's newest official walkway, the Green Link Walk, which was launched on 1st March. If you need a map try here, if you need an app try here, if you want 45 pages of walking instructions try here, and if you're reading this several months in the future try...
Londonist
Plunge Into An Icy Brockwell Lido For Charity This Christmas
The Icebreaker challenge is back.
a year ago
The Icebreaker challenge is back.
Londonist
Beautiful Paintings Of London Theatres
Not all of them are still with us.
11 months ago
Not all of them are still with us.
The Forney Flyer
Still Here... Again.
Folks, I'm still alive! I don't just mean that figuratively, I mean it literally. It seem like I've...
over a year ago
Folks, I'm still alive! I don't just mean that figuratively, I mean it literally. It seem like I've made a lot of excuses on this blog over the past year, for the chunks of time where I seem to disappear for a while. Well, this time I really had a good excuse!
Last October I...
Cheese and Biscuits
Little Cellars, Camberwell
Having enjoyed the original Peckham Cellars very much, I eagerly jumped on a very kind invitation to...
a year ago
Having enjoyed the original Peckham Cellars very much, I eagerly jumped on a very kind invitation to their new Camberwell offshoot. Little Cellars is aptly named - there's a couple of high tables for 6 in the middle of the room and 8 lower seats arranged looking out of the two...
Londonist
Ice Hockey In London: Who Are The Teams, Where To Watch And When's It On?
Puck up your ideas.
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Embark on Epic Adventures in the British Virgin Islands
a year ago
Cheese and Biscuits
The Victoria, Oxshott
More often than not, any given world-class gastropub is a good journey away from London. There are...
a year ago
More often than not, any given world-class gastropub is a good journey away from London. There are exceptions, of course - the Drapers Arms, the Pelican, and the Baring are all brilliant places to enjoy a pie and a pint within the M25 - but these are rare. Usually, to find that...
diamond geezer
Trafalgar Square
TRAFALGAR
SQUARE
£240
London's Monopoly Streets
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Colour group: red
Purchase...
4 months ago
TRAFALGAR
SQUARE
£240
London's Monopoly Streets
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Colour group: red
Purchase price: £240
Rent: £20
Area: 3 acres
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: WC2
four streets on the Monopoly board (all the pinks plus Strand) and is also a property in its own right. I've...
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.
The Forney Flyer
Nineteen Years of Joy, and Counting!
Nineteen years ago today, I married my best friend, Joy.
One year later our first child was...
over a year ago
Nineteen years ago today, I married my best friend, Joy.
One year later our first child was born...
... and well before his first birthday, we were commissioned by our church to head to the mission field. That was 17 years ago, and we've spent the vast majority of our...
Londonist
Martin Luther King Gets A London Blue Plaque
The activist visited Bloomsbury in 1961.
11 months ago
The activist visited Bloomsbury in 1961.
Londonist
The Curling Club Has Slid Into South Bank For A Winter-Long Après-Ski Party
Unleash your inner Winter Olympian.
a year ago
Unleash your inner Winter Olympian.
Londonist
9 Excellent Events Near London: January 2024
Dogs and beer - what more do you need?
12 months ago
Dogs and beer - what more do you need?
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
I'd never do that
I caught the train from Whitechapel to Stratford, just the one stop, and saw lots of people doings...
4 months ago
I caught the train from Whitechapel to Stratford, just the one stop, and saw lots of people doings things I'd never do.
The woman alongside was eating chips, and I'd never do that. The smell of hot food always permeates, indeed her wafting fried odour proved this, so I prefer...
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.
diamond geezer
Pig Farm Alley
Underwhelming London: Pig Farm Alley, Worcester Park
Pig Farm Alley is a long straight path, off...
3 months ago
Underwhelming London: Pig Farm Alley, Worcester Park
Pig Farm Alley is a long straight path, off limits to traffic, in the London borough of Sutton. It runs from Trafalgar Avenue, off Stonecot Hill, to an edgeland nomansland by the Lower Morden Equestrian Centre. It's about a...
Cheese and Biscuits
Lima, Shoreditch
I don't usually like to do invited reviews back-to-back, so this was supposed to be a post about a...
a month ago
I don't usually like to do invited reviews back-to-back, so this was supposed to be a post about a lovely Catalonian restaurant called El Molí de L'Escala. El Molí serve a daily-changing menu of exciting and unusual local seafood (they had sea cucumber on the menu last week, and...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Here's Your 7-Day Escape to the British Virgin Islands
a year ago
Spoon & Tamago
The Unforgettable Landscapes of Ippan Nakamura’s World of Illustrations
All images courtesy of Nakamura Ippan | used with permission Nakamura Ippan, a non-binary artist...
a year ago
All images courtesy of Nakamura Ippan | used with permission Nakamura Ippan, a non-binary artist known for their web comic series ‘Jimocoro‘ and ‘Minna no Gohan‘, held their first solo exhibition last month in Tokyo. Art enthusiasts had the opportunity to witness Nakamura’s...
Londonist
A Brief History Of The Victoria Line
A short chronology of the light-blue line.
a year ago
A short chronology of the light-blue line.
diamond geezer
Route 24
A New Year means new digits, and new digits mean a series of posts about the number 24. I've chosen...
11 months ago
A New Year means new digits, and new digits mean a series of posts about the number 24. I've chosen to start with London's oldest unchanged bus route, the 24's north/south run from Hampstead down to Pimlico. Rest assured I won't be writing a full travelogue because I did that...
diamond geezer
10 Centuries in 1 Day
One of the capital's best places to go walking is the City of London, and what's more they have the...
7 months ago
One of the capital's best places to go walking is the City of London, and what's more they have the wherewithal to have created all sorts of self-guided walks for you to follow. 21 downloadable walks are listed on their old website (although they're increasingly hard to find...
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
Epping Ongar Lights Express - The Fairy Light-Covered Christmas Steam Train Ride Is Back!
Most festive train EVER.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Opening up the Thames Path
I'm indebted to Ian Visits for alerting me that a new stretch of the Thames Path has just opened up....
3 months ago
I'm indebted to Ian Visits for alerting me that a new stretch of the Thames Path has just opened up. It's alongside Craven Cottage, the home of Fulham FC, where previously you had to divert inland around three sides of the stadium. That's no longer necessary because a new...
Londonist
When A Tube Train Full Of Passengers Was Abandoned In The Tunnel
The stuff of nightmares.
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where Was Game of Thrones Filmed? 11 Locations You Can Visit
a year ago
Londonist
Ticket Alert: Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour Film Is Coming To London
Welcome to the Renaissance.
a year ago
Welcome to the Renaissance.
diamond geezer
Set To Stun
The latest exhibition at Gunnersbury Park Museum is called Set To Stun and is all about designing...
a year ago
The latest exhibition at Gunnersbury Park Museum is called Set To Stun and is all about designing and filming sci-fi in West London. A lot of plastic props and alien beings have been created in the boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow, and slightly wider afield, so this is a chance to...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 7-8 October 2023
Oktoberfest parties, rugby screenings, and an open day at a rather niche museum.
a year ago
Oktoberfest parties, rugby screenings, and an open day at a rather niche museum.
Londonist
A Tim Burton Exhibition Is Coming To The Design Museum In 2024
Illustrator, painter, photographer, author - what doesn't he do?
a year ago
Illustrator, painter, photographer, author - what doesn't he do?
Londonist
David Hockney Makes A Splash With His Battersea Power Station Christmas Trees
You can see them every night till Christmas Day.
a year ago
You can see them every night till Christmas Day.
diamond geezer
Energy shock
It's 2 years today since...
a) all Covid-related legal restrictions were withdrawn
b) Russian...
10 months ago
It's 2 years today since...
a) all Covid-related legal restrictions were withdrawn
b) Russian invaded Ukraine
It's also two years since the start of the energy shock that hoicked our gas and electricity bills to unheard-of levels. On the day of the invasion the annual energy...
Londonist
Alternative London Tube Map Shows Great Engineers
From Bazalgette to modern day pioneers.
a year ago
From Bazalgette to modern day pioneers.
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 March 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
9 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
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...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Bear, Camberwell
Despite Camberwell's increasing reputation for all kinds (and all budgets) of great food, it still...
8 months ago
Despite Camberwell's increasing reputation for all kinds (and all budgets) of great food, it still seemed unlikely that this bare-bones pub, just opposite the Walworth bus depot and furnished, as far as I could tell, with tables and chairs nicked from the local secondary school,...
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...
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...
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...
diamond geezer
339 Rerouting Implementation Assessment Report
Rerouting of bus route 339 on Fish Island
November 2023
rerouted in the Fish Island area of East...
a year ago
Rerouting of bus route 339 on Fish Island
November 2023
rerouted in the Fish Island area of East London to serve emerging residential areas previously remote from the bus network. This report from the Independent E3 Inspectorate analyses the build-up to implementation and...
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.
Spoon & Tamago
Japan Society Presents a Festival of New Japanese Film
this post is sponsored by Japan Society From July 26-Aug 6, Japan Society is presenting the 16th...
a year ago
this post is sponsored by Japan Society From July 26-Aug 6, Japan Society is presenting the 16th annual JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. This year’s festival, which marks the first fully in-person JAPAN CUTS since 2019, features over 25 films from major blockbusters to...
Londonist
London's New Women's Museum Opens This March
Launching on International Women's Day.
9 months ago
Launching on International Women's Day.
Londonist
Ice Cream And Gelato Galore At Covent Garden's Frozen Festival
Feat. a Wes Anderson-inspired pop up.
a year ago
Feat. a Wes Anderson-inspired pop up.
diamond geezer
Free Parking
FREE
🚗
PARKING
As my tour of London's Monopoly board
reaches the halfway...
5 months ago
FREE
🚗
PARKING
As my tour of London's Monopoly board
reaches the halfway point,
halfway through the year,
let's go in hunt of Free Parking.
Parking in central London is difficult, deliberately so, and generally not free. Yellow lines are everywhere, invisible...
AFAR Media - Travel...
6 Reasons To Travel by Private Yacht in Croatia
10 months ago
diamond geezer
perhaps your most incredibly dull post
According to a reader, my investigation of the five smallest parks in Barking and Dagenham was...
2 weeks ago
According to a reader, my investigation of the five smallest parks in Barking and Dagenham was "perhaps your most incredibly dull post".
All the buses in Barking and Dagenham in alphabetical order
What I had for dinner on December 4th for the last 45 years
1980 roast
1981...
Cheese and Biscuits
Zapote, Shoreditch
One of the best things about being in San Diego twice a year (apart from the zoo... and seeing the...
a year ago
One of the best things about being in San Diego twice a year (apart from the zoo... and seeing the family of course) is its proximity to the Mexican border and to Tijuana. Mexico's second largest city is home to a breathtaking variety of restaurants at all price points, from...
Londonist
Where (And When) To See Cherry Blossom In London
The best spots for snapping sakura.
9 months ago
The best spots for snapping sakura.
Londonist
What Is Old Oak Common? A Guide To The Future HS2 And Elizabeth Line Station
A site tour of London's new interchange.
a year ago
A site tour of London's new interchange.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Asheville Restaurants Refining Appalachian Culinary Traditions
11 months ago
Londonist
Around London In 11 Fish
Sculptures, puns and some actual real fish.
11 months ago
Sculptures, puns and some actual real fish.
Londonist
East London Could Be Getting This Flashy New Lido
What a beaut.
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Exclusive Beach Club Experiences: Mexico's Riviera Maya & Beyond
a year ago
diamond geezer
Where's WHS?
I needed to buy something from WHSmith but they didn't have it in the Stratford Westfield branch so...
a year ago
I needed to buy something from WHSmith but they didn't have it in the Stratford Westfield branch so I went to Canary Wharf instead. Except it turned out there isn't a Canary Wharf branch, there hasn't been for years, despite Google telling me it existed and was open. I did some...
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.
Londonist
London's 2023 Christmas Lights Bitchily Reviewed
Throwing shade on the city's illuminations.
a year ago
Throwing shade on the city's illuminations.
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 21-22 October 2023
Exhibitions, tours, live music, and half term fun.
a year ago
Exhibitions, tours, live music, and half term fun.
diamond geezer
20 questions hide and seek
I have no idea if this'll work but let's give it a try.
20 questions hide and seek
I'll be there...
a year ago
I have no idea if this'll work but let's give it a try.
20 questions hide and seek
I'll be there from 10am to 11am.
I shall have Squeezy Pig with me.
Your questions go in this comments box. comments if(postComments['89451144195511'] != null){document.write(' (' +...
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.
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...
Spoon & Tamago
Tomona Matsukawa’s Realistic Paintings Reconstruct Fragments of Everyday Life
“Morning will come and my feelings will ease a little” (2024), Oil on linen mounted on panel...
8 months ago
“Morning will come and my feelings will ease a little” (2024), Oil on linen mounted on panel Kyoto-based artist Tomona Matsukawa creates realistic and somewhat dramatic oil paintings that are each inspired by conversations with other women of her generation, often strangers. The...
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
5 Most Exciting Travel Destinations in the U.S. to Visit
a year ago
diamond geezer
Wordle #13724
WORDLE #13724
ENACT
FIGHT
TOUGH
WIDTH
MIRTH
ABOUT
5 months ago
WORDLE #13724
ENACT
FIGHT
TOUGH
WIDTH
MIRTH
ABOUT
Londonist
Last Chance To See The Horniman Museum Walrus Until 2026
You won't be able to visit it while a refurb project takes place.
11 months ago
You won't be able to visit it while a refurb project takes place.
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Guide to Washington D.C. by Local Band Everyday Everybody
7 months ago
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 28-29 October 2023
London's newest exhibitions, plus Halloween events, rugby screenings and more.
a year ago
London's newest exhibitions, plus Halloween events, rugby screenings and more.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 21-27 August 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
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
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
Where To Eat And Drink In Forest Gate: The Best Restaurants, Cafes, Bars And Pubs
Forest food!
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Lufthansa Strives to for More Eco-Friendly Air Travel
2 months ago
diamond geezer
Planned closures
An extraordinary number of Underground lines are closed this morning.
By my calculations that's...
a year ago
An extraordinary number of Underground lines are closed this morning.
By my calculations that's 67 stations with no train service of any kind, or 25% of the entire tube network. What's more only 23 of these are getting a replacement bus service. Residents of Stanmore, Turnham...
AFAR Media - Travel...
4 Reasons to Plan a Vacation at The Blake Hotel in Taos
a year ago
Londonist
Things To Do In London Between Christmas And New Year
For when you can't take any more festive TV.
a year ago
For when you can't take any more festive TV.
diamond geezer
Wimbledon expands
Last week the Deputy Mayor approved the All England Club's planning application to build 39 new...
2 months ago
Last week the Deputy Mayor approved the All England Club's planning application to build 39 new tennis courts across Wimbledon Park. But was that decision right or was it wrong?
extend across the road with a new show court and dozens of practice courts, and throw in a new...
Londonist
LNER Launches Its Summer Sale
Hundreds of thousands of cheaper tickets available.
8 months ago
Hundreds of thousands of cheaper tickets available.
Londonist
London's Going Snowdrop Crazy This Month - Here's Where To See Them
The flower that's about to take over your Instagram feed.
11 months ago
The flower that's about to take over your Instagram feed.
Londonist
Santa's Grottos 2023: Where To Meet Father Christmas In London This Year
The man in red is popping up all over town.
a year ago
The man in red is popping up all over town.
Londonist
57 Magnificent Things To Do In London This Month: March 2024
Art fairs, Comic Con, the Boat Races, and other March events.
9 months ago
Art fairs, Comic Con, the Boat Races, and other March events.
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
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
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.
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
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...
diamond geezer
Marlborough Street
MARLBOROUGH
STREET
£160
London's Monopoly Streets
MARLBOROUGH STREET
Colour group:...
6 months ago
MARLBOROUGH
STREET
£160
London's Monopoly Streets
MARLBOROUGH STREET
Colour group: orange
Purchase price: £180
Rent: £14
Length: 300m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1
Great Marlborough Street. To understand why, remember that the orange set of properties were originally all...
diamond geezer
On multiple OS maps
This is the town of Purley.
three OS Landranger maps.
Landranger maps, each drawn to a scale of...
4 months ago
This is the town of Purley.
three OS Landranger maps.
Landranger maps, each drawn to a scale of 1:50000, and between them they cover the whole of Great Britain and its islands.
maps tend to align precisely with their neighbours so places appear on one or the other. But...
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
TfL FoI requests in July 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in July 2024
1) TfL will not reveal the maximum speed on...
4 months ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in July 2024
1) TfL will not reveal the maximum speed on each tube line because "disclosure of the information you have requested would be likely to adversely affect the safety and security of TfL employees and members of the general...
Londonist
The Wandering Caryatids Of Southwark Park
They've stood in three different locations.
a year ago
They've stood in three different locations.
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 2-3 March 2024
Foodie events, live music, and last chance to see a flower festival before it closes.
10 months ago
Foodie events, live music, and last chance to see a flower festival before it closes.
diamond geezer
Inner monologue
Hello to all of you who, like me, live by yourself. Not for us the chance of a friendly chat over...
10 months ago
Hello to all of you who, like me, live by yourself. Not for us the chance of a friendly chat over breakfast, nor a natter in the bedroom, nor an entire evening sitting in front of the TV offering a running commentary on everything you watch. Our inner monologue stays private,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why you should visit Story Parlor in Asheville, NC
11 months ago
Londonist
Tower Bridge: Rare Behind-The-Scenes Tours Now On Sale
Including a chance to explore the bascule chambers.
a year ago
Including a chance to explore the bascule chambers.
Londonist
In Pictures: Vintage London Palladium Programmes
Robert Opie shares his collection with us.
a year ago
Robert Opie shares his collection with us.
diamond geezer
Mystery tour
Yesterday I went on a mystery tour round London.
Clues
Notes
pink boxes.
Rules
If you leave a...
9 months ago
Yesterday I went on a mystery tour round London.
Clues
Notes
pink boxes.
Rules
If you leave a comment, please wait 1 hour before leaving another one.
Additional clues
.
.
the Superloop.
blue strips may be revealed later.
Hendon station ...
Londonist
Giant Gorilla In Paternoster Square... And You Can Climb On It
New Gillie and Marc sculptures show endangered wildlife.
11 months ago
New Gillie and Marc sculptures show endangered wildlife.
diamond geezer
Littlehampton
Seaside postcard: Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside town, I hesitate to say resort, midway...
7 months ago
Seaside postcard: Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside town, I hesitate to say resort, midway along the coast of West Sussex. It has a Heatherwick cafe, a sort-of lighthouse, Britain's longest bench and a lot of crabs. I visited yesterday. [Visit Littlehampton] [12...
diamond geezer
Words on shops
Today's post is about the words you see on small convenience stores and how they've...
11 months ago
Today's post is about the words you see on small convenience stores and how they've changed.
Newsagents • Cigarettes • Ice Cream
Newspapers aren't the daily draw they used to be, Cigarettes have been leapfrogged by a selection of fragrant vapes and Ice Cream is no longer an...
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...
Londonist
The Top Exhibitions To See In London In November 2023
David Hockney, Antony Gormley and some strange creatures.
a year ago
David Hockney, Antony Gormley and some strange creatures.
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
World Cup of London Walks
The best thing about the creation of the Green Link Walk is that it brings the number of Walk London...
9 months ago
The best thing about the creation of the Green Link Walk is that it brings the number of Walk London walks to eight.
So let's do it, let's bring on the WORLD CUP OF LONDON WALKS.
Two rivers: Thames Path v Lea Valley Walk
Two greens: Green Chain Walk v Green Link Walk
Two...
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
Election results 2024
Vote2024: Election stats
1a) 2024 election: votes cast
Lab
34%Con
24%Ref
14%LD
12%Gr
7%S
Oth
1b)...
5 months ago
Vote2024: Election stats
1a) 2024 election: votes cast
Lab
34%Con
24%Ref
14%LD
12%Gr
7%S
Oth
1b) 2024 election: seats won
Lab
412Con
121LD
72S
9Oth
22
2) 21st century elections: votes...
AFAR Media - Travel...
United Airlines Credit Cards Increase Sign-Up Bonuses
a year ago
Londonist
Support A Great Cause At The Guildhall's Spectacular Christmas Market!
Festive feasting, fantastic gifts, and medieval grandeur.
a year ago
Festive feasting, fantastic gifts, and medieval grandeur.
Londonist
Flotilla Led By Royal Barge To Carry Atomic Clock Along The Thames This Weekend
Watch time literally travel.
a year ago
Watch time literally travel.
Cheese and Biscuits
Papi, London Fields
"We'll need your table back in an hour and a half, is that OK?"
Still, there's a lot to like...
a year ago
"We'll need your table back in an hour and a half, is that OK?"
Still, there's a lot to like about Papi. It's one of those places where you want to order everything on the menu, and as the menu isn't that huge, if you take a couple of friends along you probably can. We...
diamond geezer
2X 60Y 60Z
In my quest to find London's highest-lettered house I've already found a U, V and some Ws.
18U...
a year ago
In my quest to find London's highest-lettered house I've already found a U, V and some Ws.
18U Brondesbury Park (NW6 7DL)
55V The Bishops Avenue (N2 0BJ)
1W-51W Rosebery Square (EC1R 4PT)
2X Chesterford Gardens (NW3 7DE)
We're in Hampstead amid the leafy avenues on the...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Outdoor Destinations for Every Kind of Traveler
6 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
Shibuya Unveils Graphics Discouraging Halloween Parties in Their Ward
After the tragic and fatal Halloween crowd crush that occured in Seoul last year, Tokyo’s Shibuya...
a year ago
After the tragic and fatal Halloween crowd crush that occured in Seoul last year, Tokyo’s Shibuya ward, which has increasingly become a go-to spot for Halloween parties—often with dangerous consequences—is taking preemptive measures to discourage people from congregating in their...
diamond geezer
Splitting lines
Now that the Overground lines are being separately named, some people are asking whether other TfL...
10 months ago
Now that the Overground lines are being separately named, some people are asking whether other TfL services should follow suit.
n.b. The answer to this question is 'No', but stay with me as we go through the motions.
n.b. These days the Circle line shadows the Hammersmith &...
diamond geezer
Dangleway Week (3)
Danglegeek (6) Final facts
• Did you know that if your Dangleway journey is delayed for 15...
a year ago
Danglegeek (6) Final facts
• Did you know that if your Dangleway journey is delayed for 15 minutes or more by bad weather, customer incidents, engineering works, security alerts or strikes you may be able to get a refund. It says so on the delay repay webpage.
TfL website, one...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Away Just Updated its Classic Suitcases With a New Design
a year 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.
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.
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
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
Bus stops served by the most buses
Sunday was the 5th best day ever on diamond geezer, visitornumberswise, and came within a smidge of...
6 months ago
Sunday was the 5th best day ever on diamond geezer, visitornumberswise, and came within a smidge of being the 4th. As usual it had nothing to do with something I'd just written, just thousands of people piling onto an old post which just happened to answer a question someone had...
Londonist
Christmas Shows In London 2023: Fantastically Festive Theatre, Dance And Comedy
Including a return for Elf The Musical - and a debut for Christmas Actually.
a year ago
Including a return for Elf The Musical - and a debut for Christmas Actually.
Londonist
Diwali Celebrations Fill Trafalgar Square At The End Of October
Dancing, yoga, comedy puppets - and much more!
a year ago
Dancing, yoga, comedy puppets - and much more!
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
Three Big Brother houses
The 20th series of Big Brother kicked off this week, with sixteen fresh housemate wannabes confined...
a year ago
The 20th series of Big Brother kicked off this week, with sixteen fresh housemate wannabes confined inside a brand new Big Brother House.
Where is the new Big Brother House hiding in plain sight in London's best-smelling cul-de-sac?
The first Big Brother house...
One from Nippon
Emoji
Open your phone’s keyboard and go to the emojis.
Scroll past the same five emojis you’ve used for...
a year ago
Open your phone’s keyboard and go to the emojis.
Scroll past the same five emojis you’ve used for years and see what others exist. You will soon see 🍡 🈸 🍙 and other weird-looking pictures.
What the hell are these things, and why are they in
Londonist
New York Had A Crystal Palace And It Also Burned Down
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
11 months ago
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
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
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.
The Forney Flyer
Rain Rain Go Away...
This past year has been by far the wettest year since we've been in Uganda. Last year we had a very...
over a year ago
This past year has been by far the wettest year since we've been in Uganda. Last year we had a very short dry season, and then the rains came again with extra vengeance. The second, shorter, dry season that is supposed to come about half way through the year--well it basically...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Shop the Best Artisan Goods in China, Colombia, and Spain
2 months ago
diamond geezer
Go To Jail
The square after Piccadilly on the Monopoly board is GO TO JAIL. The accompanying picture may show a...
2 months ago
The square after Piccadilly on the Monopoly board is GO TO JAIL. The accompanying picture may show a police officer blowing a whistle but the person who actually sends you to jail is a judge in a court room, so today's post is about criminal courts in London.
Criminal courts in...
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
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
Wish You Were (Still) Here: Piccadilly's Egyptian Hall
London's most beautiful pastiche?
9 months ago
London's most beautiful pastiche?
Spoon & Tamago
Japan’s Tiniest Botanical Garden is in Shibuya
photos by Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office Walk south from Shibuya station and within...
9 months ago
photos by Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office Walk south from Shibuya station and within 10 minutes you’ll stumble upon a glass dome-shaped building sandwiched between several nondescript buildings. Hidden in plain sight is the Shibuya City Botanical Garden, Japan’s...
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.
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
Poohsticks Bridge
In deepest East Sussex, on the edge of Ashdown Forest, is a famous bridge where a six year-old boy...
4 months ago
In deepest East Sussex, on the edge of Ashdown Forest, is a famous bridge where a six year-old boy and a fictional bear invented a waterborne race.
There was a broad track, almost as broad as a road, leading from the Outland to the Forest, but before it could come to the...
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.
Londonist
Where To Watch The Super Bowl 2024 In London
Screenings and parties across the capital.
11 months ago
Screenings and parties across the capital.
Londonist
Where To Go Pumpkin Picking Near London This Autumn
Oh. My. GOURD.
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to Explore Maine’s Outdoors and Dining—a Local's Guide
4 months ago
Londonist
This Hammersmith Venue Hosts A Free Community Dinner Every Month
"The simple act of eating together to spark connection."
a year ago
"The simple act of eating together to spark connection."
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Myrtle Beach, SC
3 months ago
Cheese and Biscuits
Manifest, Liverpool
Some restaurants just make it all look so easy. From the moment you walk into the room to the moment...
a year ago
Some restaurants just make it all look so easy. From the moment you walk into the room to the moment you pay up and leave, everything about the experience at Manifest is just so effortlessly polished, professional and enjoyable, and pitched at such reasonable prices, that it's...
diamond geezer
Advent Way
'Tis the season.
Advent Way N18
A country lane called Angel Road once headed east out of...
3 weeks ago
'Tis the season.
Advent Way N18
A country lane called Angel Road once headed east out of Edmonton following Pymme's Brook, ending at a sylvan bridge across the River Lea where anglers often gathered. Then in the 1920s the North Circular Road was built, the engineers choosing...
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...
diamond geezer
Route 168
London's next dead bus
168: Old Kent Road Tesco to Hampstead Heath
Location: inner London
Length of...
a year ago
London's next dead bus
168: Old Kent Road Tesco to Hampstead Heath
Location: inner London
Length of journey: 7 miles, 65 minutes
The 168 has been chugging up to Hampstead Heath since 1986, initially from Waterloo, then from Elephant & Castle and most recently from the Old Kent...
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.
Spoon & Tamago
Five Things To Look Forward to at the 2025 World Expo Japan Pavilion
The 2025 World Expo in Osaka, slated to take place in Osaka, is just 6 months away. Taking place...
2 months ago
The 2025 World Expo in Osaka, slated to take place in Osaka, is just 6 months away. Taking place from April 13 to October 13, 2025, the expo aims to be a participatory, experiential, solutions-oriented exposition, offering the world an opportunity to come together in one place to...
diamond geezer
25 years of hurt
25 years ago today a total solar eclipse could be seen from the UK. How is that ever quarter of a...
4 months ago
25 years ago today a total solar eclipse could be seen from the UK. How is that ever quarter of a century ago?
small part of the UK mainland in south Devon and Cornwall, arriving over Land's End at 11:10am and departing near Salcombe five minutes later. All you had to do to...
Londonist
Things To Do In London On Christmas Eve 2023
Ice skating, festive films and Christmas carols.
a year ago
Ice skating, festive films and Christmas carols.
Londonist
15 Things You Never Knew About Wembley Park
Steeped in history.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Post Office Tower
When it opened anyone could pay four shillings to take a lift to the top of the Post Office Tower,...
2 months ago
When it opened anyone could pay four shillings to take a lift to the top of the Post Office Tower, and in that first year over a million people took up the offer. But the viewing platforms closed in 1971 following a terrorist explosion and the famous revolving restaurant closed...
diamond geezer
The City Wall at Vine Street
Other Vine Streets are available.
The City Wall at Vine Street
Location: Vine Street, EC3N 2HT...
5 months ago
Other Vine Streets are available.
The City Wall at Vine Street
Location: Vine Street, EC3N 2HT [map]
Open: 9am - 6pm (bank holidays excepted)
Admission: free
Seven word summary: a very old wall and some rubbish
Website: citywallvinestreet.org
Time to set aside: half an hour
The...
Spoon & Tamago
Spoon & Tamago’s Most-Popular Posts of 2023
It’s an annual tradition at casa Spoon & Tamago to reflect on the year that was by taking a look...
12 months ago
It’s an annual tradition at casa Spoon & Tamago to reflect on the year that was by taking a look back at the posts that resonated the most with our readers. In doing so, we try to make sense of the year which, for Japan, was very much a year of homecoming. Japan felt like...
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,...
diamond geezer
Sunday transport news
Some transport news
Central line news
well known in tubular circles that the longest direct...
9 months ago
Some transport news
Central line news
well known in tubular circles that the longest direct journey on the Underground is between Epping and West Ruislip on the Central line. It's 54.9km long (34.1 miles), comfortably ahead of Uxbridge to Cockfosters on the Piccadilly line...
Londonist
Christmas Has Returned To The Royal Albert Hall
From carols to festive films in concert.
a year ago
From carols to festive films in concert.
diamond geezer
Westminster 25
Silver Jubilee: Westminster
Westminster's Jubilee line platforms opened 25 years ago today on 22nd...
13 hours ago
Silver Jubilee: Westminster
Westminster's Jubilee line platforms opened 25 years ago today on 22nd December 1999.
Westminster station - a clickable choose-your-own adventure
(it is genuinely clickable - give it a go!)
(1) You have arrived on the westbound Jubilee line...
diamond geezer
S2
This is the S2, a bus which ran between Clapton and my neck of the woods between 1970 and 2008, back...
9 months ago
This is the S2, a bus which ran between Clapton and my neck of the woods between 1970 and 2008, back when 'S' meant Stratford.
It now means Sutton, there already being an S1, S3 and S4 threading across the borough, but it's taken until 2024 for the gap to be filled with an...
diamond geezer
Vine Street
VINE
STREET
£200
London's Monopoly Streets
VINE STREET
Colour group: orange
Purchase price:...
5 months ago
VINE
STREET
£200
London's Monopoly Streets
VINE STREET
Colour group: orange
Purchase price: £200
Rent: £16
Length: 40m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1
In this year-long feature my aim has been to write just over 1000 words about each of the properties on the Monopoly...
Spoon & Tamago
The New 12 Kanda Co-Working Space Supports Small Businesses
all photos by Toshiyuki Yano Right across the Kanda River from Akihabara Station is 12 Kanda, a new...
2 months ago
all photos by Toshiyuki Yano Right across the Kanda River from Akihabara Station is 12 Kanda, a new co-working space dedicated to supporting small businesses and startups. A visually eye-catching building, it features multiple stories with different forms and functions stacked on...
diamond geezer
Historic Hounslow High Street
Historic Hounslow High Street
Past
bypassed in 1925 reducing the flow of traffic and boosting...
11 months ago
Historic Hounslow High Street
Past
bypassed in 1925 reducing the flow of traffic and boosting the High Street's importance as a shopping centre for the growing suburb. Then in the late 1960s it was part-pedestrianised in readiness for nearby redevelopment (as you can see...
Londonist
Another Dazzling Light Show Comes To This Central London Church This Winter
Luxmuralis work their magic at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
a year ago
Luxmuralis work their magic at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
diamond geezer
Coventry Street
COVENTRY
STREET
£260
London's Monopoly Streets
COVENTRY STREET
Colour group: yellow
Purchase...
3 months ago
COVENTRY
STREET
£260
London's Monopoly Streets
COVENTRY STREET
Colour group: yellow
Purchase price: £260
Rent: £22
Length: 200m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1/WC2
Coventry Street owes its name to Charles II's secretary of state, Henry Coventry, who'd built a house here...
Londonist
A Brief History Of The Hammersmith And City Line
It's London's newest line; or second-oldest.
11 months ago
It's London's newest line; or second-oldest.
diamond geezer
10 things to see on the Liberty line
The introduction of line names on the Overground is sure to bring sightseers to Havering to see what...
3 weeks ago
The introduction of line names on the Overground is sure to bring sightseers to Havering to see what the Liberty line is all about. So here's my tip-top tourist guide to help you find the finest places in the locality, some of which are actually rather fine.
10 things to see on...
Londonist
A Brief History Of The Metropolitan Line
The world's first underground railway.
a year ago
The world's first underground railway.
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
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.
One from Nippon
From the Ashes of the World's First App Store
Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part article. Read Part 1 here.
Part 1 Summary: Brother...
a year ago
Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part article. Read Part 1 here.
Part 1 Summary: Brother Industries built Takeru, the world's first software vending machine that let users download software from a server. While revolutionary, it wasn't as huge a success as
Spoon & Tamago
60-Year-Old Machiya Adapted into Hender Scheme’s New Osaka Flagship
All images © toha courtesy DDAA Hender Scheme’s flagship store in Kansai is an adaptive reuse of a...
a year ago
All images © toha courtesy DDAA Hender Scheme’s flagship store in Kansai is an adaptive reuse of a sixty-plus-year-old one-story wooden house near Umeda Station in Osaka. With a spacious area of around 175m² and impressive high ceilings, the store has been designed to reflect...
Londonist
300 Of Elton John's Photos Go On Display At V&A This Summer
Marilyn Monroe, the AIDS crisis and 9/11 feature.
9 months ago
Marilyn Monroe, the AIDS crisis and 9/11 feature.
Londonist
Lord Mayor Demonstrates Einstein's Time Dilation Effects In The City's Tallest Skyscraper
With a little help from the National Physical Laboratory.
9 months ago
With a little help from the National Physical Laboratory.
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
Walking between Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3
A Nice Walk: Heathrow T2 to T3 (500m)
Sometimes you just want to go for a nice walk, nothing too...
6 months ago
A Nice Walk: Heathrow T2 to T3 (500m)
Sometimes you just want to go for a nice walk, nothing too taxing, a bit of a stroll, world class transport connections, dry in all weathers, popular with tourists, moving walkways, duty free opportunities, entirely step-free, won't take...
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
Greens
Once their leaves come out, trees are green until the autumn. But they're never as brilliantly green...
8 months ago
Once their leaves come out, trees are green until the autumn. But they're never as brilliantly green as they are in early spring when the leaves are still young. The canopy is a beautiful burst of light greens, a mix of subtle tones of jade and emerald. Here's the view from...
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Guide to Guatemalan Food: 11 Essential Dishes to Try in Guatemala
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
How to Redeem AmEx Membership Rewards Points for Top Value
a year ago
Londonist
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2023: A Guide To Visiting London's Huge Christmas Festival
When to go, what to see and how to save money.
a year ago
When to go, what to see and how to save money.
Londonist
TfL Is Closing Five Tube Lines This Weekend
Planning on taking the tube this Saturday? Check before you travel!
a year ago
Planning on taking the tube this Saturday? Check before you travel!
Londonist
Tate Britain Reveals Grenfell-Inspired Staircase
Chris Ofili's Requiem unveiled.
a year ago
Chris Ofili's Requiem unveiled.
AFAR Media - Travel...
How Chai Pani Is Transforming Asheville’s Food Scene
11 months ago
diamond geezer
Exiting Noak Hill
I said I wasn't going to make a habit of this, and I'm not, but I've ticked off two more.
The...
8 months ago
I said I wasn't going to make a habit of this, and I'm not, but I've ticked off two more.
The black ticks are all the crossings I've crossed and the latest two are the pair just northeast of Noak Hill. I walked out of one and back in via the other. In the middle were...
Herbert Lui
Confidence vs. trusting the process
“This might not work,” Seth Godin writes in his blog post, “Out on a limb.” (It’s one of my...
2 weeks ago
“This might not work,” Seth Godin writes in his blog post, “Out on a limb.” (It’s one of my favorites, alongside “Talker’s Block.” ) It’s fascinating to see this idea make it into a key part of his book The Practice, which I recently picked up and find myself liking a lot. If you...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why The Sagamore Pendry Baltimore is The City's Best Hotel
a year ago
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 2-8 October 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Spoon & Tamago
Keisuke Oka’s Arimaston Building in Tokyo, Made Entirely by Hand
all photos by @husky_003 | used with permission Almost 15 years ago, on a tiny plot of land in...
a month ago
all photos by @husky_003 | used with permission Almost 15 years ago, on a tiny plot of land in eastern Tokyo, a young architect named Keisuke Oka began to construct a tower of concrete entirely by hand. Located just a short walk from Mita Station, the Arimaston Building (蟻鱒鳶ル) is...
Londonist
The Best Fancy Dress Shops In London
Hire or buy costumes, wigs and masks for your next party.
a year ago
Hire or buy costumes, wigs and masks for your next party.
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...
Londonist
The Boat Races 2024: How, Where And When To Watch Oxford Vs Cambridge
Plenty of riverside pubs to choose from.
9 months ago
Plenty of riverside pubs to choose from.
diamond geezer
Hayling Island
Seaside postcard: Hayling Island
Hayling Island lies just off the south coast near the mouth of the...
4 months ago
Seaside postcard: Hayling Island
Hayling Island lies just off the south coast near the mouth of the Solent, just east of Portsmouth. It's England's 7th largest offshore island and 5th most populous, some way behind Wight and Portsea respectively, both of which are nextdoor. It...
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
Redbridge Museum reopens
The London borough of Redbridge has boasted a solid mid-table museum since 2000, housed in a bespoke...
3 months ago
The London borough of Redbridge has boasted a solid mid-table museum since 2000, housed in a bespoke corner on the second floor of Ilford's main library. But it's needed a bit of a refresh for a while so they used lockdown as a chance to start updating it with lottery money and...
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...
Londonist
5 London Underground Stations That Totally Ripped Off Other Buildings
From Berlin to Amsterdam to Moscow.
10 months ago
From Berlin to Amsterdam to Moscow.
diamond geezer
Nazareth Gardens and Bethlehem House
To conclude this year's selection of festive streets, here are both ends of the donkey's...
12 months ago
To conclude this year's selection of festive streets, here are both ends of the donkey's journey.
Nazareth Gardens SE15
Nazareth Gardens. I realised none of this when I turned up.
Round the corner is a large space given over to parking surrounded by old flats and two...
diamond geezer
Tickets are being accepted on alternative services
The tube was seriously disrupted in northwest London yesterday morning when a signal failure at...
4 months ago
The tube was seriously disrupted in northwest London yesterday morning when a signal failure at Wembley Park caused line closures and serious delays. And the advice which popped up is the advice which often pops up in such a situation, which is that tickets were being accepted on...
Londonist
The No Trousers Tube Ride Returns To London This Weekend
It's January. Let's get half-naked on public transport.
11 months ago
It's January. Let's get half-naked on public transport.
diamond geezer
Unblogged March (true)
31 unblogged things I did in March (true version)
Fri 1: I can't believe another constituency has...
8 months ago
31 unblogged things I did in March (true version)
Fri 1: I can't believe another constituency has elected George Galloway as its MP (actually I can, mine once did, because politics repeatedly proves you can fool enough of the people some of the time).
Sat 2: Yes I watched the...
Londonist
40+ Rather Splendid Things To Do In London This Month: December 2023
From the first day of advent, through to New Year's Eve.
a year ago
From the first day of advent, through to New Year's Eve.
Londonist
Never Before Seen Images Of The Rolling Stones To Go On Show In Notting Hill
27 rare pics of Mick, Keef and co.
10 months ago
27 rare pics of Mick, Keef and co.
Spoon & Tamago
Takenokuma Cafe is a Water Garden Inspired by the Lush Nature of Kumamoto
In the peaceful town of Minami-Oguni (Kumamoto Prefecture) is Takenokuma, a new cafe inspired by the...
10 months ago
In the peaceful town of Minami-Oguni (Kumamoto Prefecture) is Takenokuma, a new cafe inspired by the many water sources that flow freely from nearby Mt. Aso. These water sources manifest themselves in many ways including rivers, hot springs and channels that flow into the...