AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to Explore Maine’s Outdoors and Dining—a Local's Guide
4 months ago
diamond geezer
Wealdstone and Whetstone
Two London suburbs (and thus two tube stations) are named after lumps of rock at the side of the...
a year ago
Two London suburbs (and thus two tube stations) are named after lumps of rock at the side of the road. Let's visit both.
The Weald Stone, Wealdstone
What? The Weald Stone is a humpy lump of sarsen stone approximately the same length as a sleeping human.
Where? Not in the centre...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Square Peg, Tunbridge Wells
There was an opinion that did the rounds a few years ago, that any restaurant critic needs to have...
a year ago
There was an opinion that did the rounds a few years ago, that any restaurant critic needs to have spent at least some time in a professional kitchen or front of house to be able to pass judgement on anywhere charging the public for dinner. Personally, I think that's rubbish, but...
AFAR Media - Travel...
4 Kessler Collection Hotels with Art in the Southern U.S.
4 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
JetBlue to End American Pact—What This Means for Travelers
a year ago
diamond geezer
Not very interesting transport news
Friday's not very interesting transport news
The Overground lines still haven't been...
a month ago
Friday's not very interesting transport news
The Overground lines still haven't been renamed
double-sided Mildmay line panel was revealed at one end of platforms 1 and 2 (click to embiggen), while a separate sign directed passengers up to the Mildmay line from the subway. These...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Aspen Uncovered: How to Explore the City Like a True Local
7 months ago
Londonist
The Modern Game Of Darts Was Invented In A London Pub In 1926
Although Henry VIII had a set of darts too.
11 months ago
Although Henry VIII had a set of darts too.
diamond geezer
Houlton
Approaching Rugby by train 20 years ago, what you'd have noticed out of the window was a vast array...
10 months ago
Approaching Rugby by train 20 years ago, what you'd have noticed out of the window was a vast array of very tall masts clustered across the fields to one side. They were even more prominent from the A5 on the far side of the site, equally visible from the M1 and perhaps best seen...
diamond geezer
Tube 160 Treasure Hunt
Are you at a loose end tomorrow? Do you like looking at station architecture? Would you like a...
11 months ago
Are you at a loose end tomorrow? Do you like looking at station architecture? Would you like a surprise birthday gift from TfL? If the answer to all these questions is yes then why not take part in the Tube 160 Treasure Hunt? You even get to travel round central London for...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 8-14 January 2024
All our best articles from the past week.
11 months ago
All our best articles from the past week.
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...
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...
diamond geezer
Overground renaming - Severe Delays
One thing that happens when transport deadlines slip is that some things happen anyway, things that...
2 months ago
One thing that happens when transport deadlines slip is that some things happen anyway, things that were supposed to be associated with the launch. The weekend Crossrail was supposed to open but didn't, for example, Adidas inexplicably released a set of purple trainers with a 3D...
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...
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...
The Forney Flyer
Flood Relief Flying
You may remember that I mentioned in a previous blog post a few weeks ago, that there had been...
over a year ago
You may remember that I mentioned in a previous blog post a few weeks ago, that there had been severe floods in Western Uganda (and other parts of the country) in early-mid May. Well, several weeks later, we were given special permission by various authorities to fly relief...
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
A Giant Animated Snowman Will Light Up The Shard This Christmas
Spoiler alert: it melts.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Where's Gail's?
The bakery chain Gail's has been busy spreading its sourdough tentacles across London over recent...
4 months ago
The bakery chain Gail's has been busy spreading its sourdough tentacles across London over recent years. It had been doing this successfully and also quietly until it dared to suggest opening a branch in Walthamstow Village whose residents promptly set up a petition to campaign...
diamond geezer
The Secret Life of the Home
As science evolves, so does the Science Museum.
The Secret Life of the Home.
This much-loved...
7 months ago
As science evolves, so does the Science Museum.
The Secret Life of the Home.
This much-loved corner of the basement, where the life of the domestic appliance is quirkily celebrated, closes forever on Sunday 2nd June. I went for a last look round with a wall-to-wall smile,...
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...
Cheese and Biscuits
OMA, Borough Market
Dave Carter, a big friendly giant of a man with a completely impenetrable Barbadian accent, began...
5 months ago
Dave Carter, a big friendly giant of a man with a completely impenetrable Barbadian accent, began his London restaurant journey at Smokestak, the hugely influential East London BBQ joint. Smokestak, together with a tiny handful of other brave pioneers around the same time...
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...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 18-24 September 2023
A tube map for planes, a street with four names - plus a really silly interview.
a year ago
A tube map for planes, a street with four names - plus a really silly interview.
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
Crewe
Gadabout: CREWE
Crewe is a large town in Cheshire and a key junction on the West Coast Main Line....
9 months ago
Gadabout: CREWE
Crewe is a large town in Cheshire and a key junction on the West Coast Main Line. It's only here because of the railway so has pretty much no history before that arrived, and the railway's only here because the nearby towns of Nantwich and Winsford turned the...
Londonist
Concrete Beauty Of The National Theatre Captured In This Abstract Exhibition
Amelia Lancaster has been photographing it for over 20 years.
11 months ago
Amelia Lancaster has been photographing it for over 20 years.
diamond geezer
The beetle
After I boarded my train home from Surrey on Sunday I noticed that a beetle had hitched a ride on my...
a year ago
After I boarded my train home from Surrey on Sunday I noticed that a beetle had hitched a ride on my rucksack. It could have jumped from a bush I'd brushed against, it could have worked its way up from my boots or it could have crawled on when I put my rucksack down on the...
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
Preparing rail fares for contactless
The cost of travelling by train between London and Southend is changing.
In today's post I'm going...
a year ago
The cost of travelling by train between London and Southend is changing.
In today's post I'm going to focus on fares between Southend Central and Fenchurch Street to keep things simple but similar changes apply to other journeys. Also this kind of model is rolling out on other...
Londonist
See Alan Turing... The Musical!
Riverside Studios celebrates the great genius.
a year ago
Riverside Studios celebrates the great genius.
Londonist
In Pictures: London's Tube Station Gardens
Which is your fave?
a year ago
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...
Londonist
London Then And Now: Aerial Shots Show City Grow Over Past Two Decades
Our city's put on a bit of a growth spurt since the 2000s...
a year ago
Our city's put on a bit of a growth spurt since the 2000s...
Londonist
Searching For A Sixth Form? Come And See What City Of London Freemen's School Has To Offer!
There's an open evening on 12 September.
a year ago
There's an open evening on 12 September.
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...
One from Nippon
A peek into the world of Japan's electric rice cookers
It's been a while since our last post - life got in the way. A big thanks to everyone who reached...
a year ago
It's been a while since our last post - life got in the way. A big thanks to everyone who reached out!
We are now restarting our articles, though we might not always write once a week. If we don't think it's interesting, we
AFAR Media - Travel...
Family-Friendly Vacations on Alabama's Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
a year ago
Londonist
London Overground Lines Get New Names And Colours
The Liberty line?
10 months ago
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
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...
diamond geezer
Extremities of extremities
For today's post I've visited the least extreme points in London's most extreme boroughs.
As...
9 months ago
For today's post I've visited the least extreme points in London's most extreme boroughs.
As posts go it's a lot of effort for scant reward.
Hillingdon East [map]
Borderline with: Ealing
Location: Yeading/Southall
Specifically: bend on Grand Union towpath
Distance from...
AFAR Media - Travel...
These Are the 7 Best Hotels for Watching the Perseid Meteor Shower—and You Can Still Book Them
a year ago
Londonist
Charles Dickens, Dog Lover: Exhibition Explores Animal-Adoring Side Of Author
Less Bleak House, more Beak House.
8 months ago
Less Bleak House, more Beak House.
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...
diamond geezer
Counties visited
Now that my blog is really old, I thought it might be interesting from time to time to go back and...
10 months ago
Now that my blog is really old, I thought it might be interesting from time to time to go back and revisit a post from 20 years ago. Ideally exactly 20 years ago, which in this case would be 8th February 2004. When I asked this.
Sunday, February 08, 2004
I've visited the...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Your Next Caribbean Vacation to The Cayman Islands
8 months ago
diamond geezer
Bus of the day 167
Bus Route Of The Day
167: Ilford to Loughton
Quadrant: London northeast
Length of journey: 8 miles,...
5 months ago
Bus Route Of The Day
167: Ilford to Loughton
Quadrant: London northeast
Length of journey: 8 miles, 50 minutes
Because it's 16th July I've been out riding the 167, because that's the Bus Route Of The Day. Let's hit the Home Counties.
167 extends far enough to properly enter...
diamond geezer
I'll look it up later
Sometimes while out and about I see something intriguing, take a photo and research it when I get...
11 months ago
Sometimes while out and about I see something intriguing, take a photo and research it when I get home. Here are three of this week's serendipitous discoveries.
North: Gilpin's Bell
Where: Fore Street, Edmonton, N18
What I thought: Hmm, what's that lump of concrete in the...
diamond geezer
London's waymarked walks
London's waymarked walks
(i.e. they have signs showing you the way to go)
(n.b. fabulous...
7 months ago
London's waymarked walks
(i.e. they have signs showing you the way to go)
(n.b. fabulous Londonwide map here)
The Premier League
(i.e. important enough to be listed on the TfL website)
Capital Ring: 75 miles, 15 sections [blogged✔]
Full directions courtesy of the Inner...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 30 October-5 November 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
Things To Do In London Over Easter Weekend 2024
Eggs, bunnies and the Passion of Jesus.
9 months ago
Eggs, bunnies and the Passion of Jesus.
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
Bakerloo 40
Happy 40th Birthday to the Bakerloo line.
that's 118, but the current extent of the line with...
6 months ago
Happy 40th Birthday to the Bakerloo line.
that's 118, but the current extent of the line with trains operating between Harrow & Wealdstone and Elephant & Castle. Elephant's been the southern terminus since 1906, despite umpteen attempts at an extension. But the northern terminus...
diamond geezer
Six free exhibitions in north central London
Six free temporary exhibitions in north central London
(I'll rank these at the end, but the best...
2 weeks ago
Six free temporary exhibitions in north central London
(I'll rank these at the end, but the best one comes first)
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
at: RIBA, Portland Place
from: 10am to 5pm (not Sunday)
until: 29 March
cottage melded into a rocky Leicestershire...
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
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...
Spoon & Tamago
Tumi-Isi Wooden Stacking Rocks
Designed by Nara-based design studio A4, tumi-isi (積み石; ‘stacking stones’ in Japanese) are a set of...
a year ago
Designed by Nara-based design studio A4, tumi-isi (積み石; ‘stacking stones’ in Japanese) are a set of 5 blocks individually hand bevelled into asymmetrical shapes by local artisans. No two sets are identical. These tactile objects are meant to nourish your sense of balance and...
Londonist
The Biggest Exhibitions To See In London This Winter
Over 30 excellent exhibitions to choose from
a year ago
Over 30 excellent exhibitions to choose from
Spoon & Tamago
City and Forest Living in a Unique Concrete Log House
All images © Ichiro Mishima courtesy IKAWAYA Architects Merging the organic with the inorganic;...
a year ago
All images © Ichiro Mishima courtesy IKAWAYA Architects Merging the organic with the inorganic; walking the fine line between indoors and outdoors, is a predominant theme in contemporary Japanese architecture. One of the latest iterations is from architect Atsushi Ikawaya, who...
Londonist
Take A Peek Inside The Royal Albert Hall's New Archive Collection
From Queen Victoria to Beyonce, this place has seen them all.
a year ago
From Queen Victoria to Beyonce, this place has seen them all.
Londonist
5 Historic Castles To Visit In Essex
Including one that's a fake.
8 months ago
Including one that's a fake.
Londonist
Where To Volunteer In London At Christmas 2023
Make someone else's Christmas special.
a year ago
Make someone else's Christmas special.
Londonist
A Brief History Of The Jubilee Line
Including why they abandoned the name Fleet line.
a year ago
Including why they abandoned the name Fleet line.
Londonist
London's Best Private Party Venues For Smaller Groups
'Tis almost the season.
a year ago
Londonist
Dazzling Light Festivals To See In London: Winter 2023
Light tunnels, fire gardens and lasers.
a year ago
Light tunnels, fire gardens and lasers.
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...
Londonist
Tate Britain Reveals Grenfell-Inspired Staircase
Chris Ofili's Requiem unveiled.
a year ago
Chris Ofili's Requiem unveiled.
Spoon & Tamago
Fender’s First Ever Flagship Store by Klein-Dytham Architecture
Fender, the iconic guitar brand, has opened its first-ever flagship store in Harajuku, Tokyo, riding...
a year ago
Fender, the iconic guitar brand, has opened its first-ever flagship store in Harajuku, Tokyo, riding on the wave of soaring demand of Guitars during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related posts:
House Tour: Yoyogi Artist Studio (with a hidden bed)
#thatPOWER | Will.i.am’s new music...
Londonist
Review: V&A Shows Tropical Modernism Was So Much More Than An Architectural Movement
Politics, people, environment - all rolled into beautiful buildings.
9 months ago
Politics, people, environment - all rolled into beautiful buildings.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 11-17 December 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
Paws On The Wharf: Free Guide Dogs Sculpture Trail Coming To London
Another free art trail for a fantastic cause.
10 months ago
Another free art trail for a fantastic cause.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Here's Your 7-Day Escape to the British Virgin Islands
a year ago
Londonist
Fears Over Redevelopment Of Surbiton Station
Public consultation now open.
a year ago
Public consultation now open.
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Ways to Experience Minnesota's Scandinavian Heritage
7 months ago
diamond geezer
A nice Starbucks walk
A Nice Walk: Tottenham Court Road (½ mile)
Sometimes you just want to go for a nice walk, nothing...
10 months ago
A Nice Walk: Tottenham Court Road (½ mile)
Sometimes you just want to go for a nice walk, nothing too taxing, a bit of a stroll, lots to see, centrally located, historic buildings, well connected, retail proximity, easy to follow, multiple refreshment opportunities, won't take...
diamond geezer
Piccadilly
PICCADILLY
£280
London's Monopoly Streets
PICCADILLY
Colour group: yellow
Purchase price:...
2 months ago
PICCADILLY
£280
London's Monopoly Streets
PICCADILLY
Colour group: yellow
Purchase price: £280
Rent: £22
Length: 1400m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1/SW1
Piccadilly leads from the West End to the west of town and is one of London's older roads. The eastern half was...
AFAR Media - Travel...
American Airlines’ Top Credit Card Offers 100K Mile Bonus
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Biltmore Arizona: an Iconic Southwest Resort
5 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Myrtle Beach’s Sensory-Friendly Hotels, Spots, Restaurants
3 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
Hyper Realistic Pencil Drawings of Metallic Objects by Kohei Ohmori
Something must have come over me, says Kohei Ohmori, reflecting on the 280 hours or roughly 5 months...
5 months ago
Something must have come over me, says Kohei Ohmori, reflecting on the 280 hours or roughly 5 months spent drawing a hyper realistic composition of a metallic bolt and nut using just pencils. The 30-year old artist, who has publicly discussed his struggles with OCD (obsessive...
diamond geezer
Tower Hamlets Town Hall
Over the years I've been round ten London borough town halls as part of Open House but never my own....
a year ago
Over the years I've been round ten London borough town halls as part of Open House but never my own. That's because Tower Hamlets' was a hired fortress close to the mouth of the Blackwall Tunnel and no great architectural shakes. But the council's just moved into a new base in...
diamond geezer
It's all downhill from here
It's all downhill from here.
This set of freak circumstances is never going to happen again. A...
5 months ago
It's all downhill from here.
This set of freak circumstances is never going to happen again. A Conservative party proven long-term incompetent by a sequence of abysmal Prime Ministers, a last minute intervention by Nigel Farage draining support away from the right, the Lib Dems...
Londonist
Where To Watch Dickens' A Christmas Carol On Stage In London, 2023
From traditional retellings to drunk adaptations.
a year ago
From traditional retellings to drunk adaptations.
Londonist
15 Delightful Day Trips From London: November 2023
Charming events within easy reach of London.
a year ago
Charming events within easy reach of London.
diamond geezer
Dangleway Week (1)
Danglewatch (2) Art on the Dangleway
The Line, a meridian-based public art walk (which doesn't truly...
a year ago
Danglewatch (2) Art on the Dangleway
The Line, a meridian-based public art walk (which doesn't truly follow the meridian but it makes for a good name). Squatting on a small pontoon beside the northern terminal is the quirky sculpture Bird Boy by Laura Ford, a figure of a lost...
diamond geezer
Loo symbols
This is one of the toughest decisions I've faced recently.
This is the entrance to the public...
10 months ago
This is one of the toughest decisions I've faced recently.
This is the entrance to the public conveniences under the Fulham Broadway Retail Centre.
I should point out that I'm not in the habit of photographing public conveniences. But the toilets at Fulham were very quiet,...
The Forney Flyer
Heading North, Way Back When...
As promised, I'm continuing from my previous post about way back when...
After I graduated from...
over a year ago
As promised, I'm continuing from my previous post about way back when...
After I graduated from University and flight school, we briefly moved to Oregon as we prepared for future, cross-cultural work/ministry. That fall I had the opportunity to go on a short vision trip to a...
Cheese and Biscuits
Restaurant of the Year 2022 - The Bridge Arms, Canterbury
Since the madness of the Covid Times, you may have noticed that the rate of posting on this blog has...
a year ago
Since the madness of the Covid Times, you may have noticed that the rate of posting on this blog has slowed down a bit. Where I used to try and do 6 or 7 posts a month, and with that obviously stopping completely while there was nothing open to review, I have since found that 2...
diamond geezer
Electric 358
A new bus has started running on route 358 between Crystal Palace and Orpington. They call it the...
a month ago
A new bus has started running on route 358 between Crystal Palace and Orpington. They call it the tram bus.
It's not really a tram, it's "a bus with tram styling" according to the manufacturers, Spanish company Irizar. They make two lengths of vehicle and to be fair the 18m...
Londonist
Bold New Look For Old City Hall
Plans teased for a more open, green look.
a year ago
Plans teased for a more open, green look.
Londonist
Two 24-Hour Tube Strikes Planned For April And May 2024
Aslef members say they're 'working harder and longer for less'.
9 months ago
Aslef members say they're 'working harder and longer for less'.
diamond geezer
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Park City, Utah's Top Winter Activities for Families
2 weeks ago
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
Londonist
"Every Year We Do A Free Christmas Day Dinner At Our Wimbledon Pub, For People On Their Own"
Almost 200 people come to the Alex on 25 Dec.
a year ago
Almost 200 people come to the Alex on 25 Dec.
Londonist
Things To Do In London In The Christmas Holidays With Kids
Theatre shows, exhibitions and Christmas events.
a year ago
Theatre shows, exhibitions and Christmas events.
Londonist
In Pictures: The East End Pubs Of London
Bars stools, sticky carpets, cash only - bliss.
a year ago
Bars stools, sticky carpets, cash only - bliss.
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.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Denmark and Finland Are Must-Visits for Foodies
4 months ago
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.
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Ultimate Friends’ Trip at Pendry Park City Resort, Utah
2 weeks ago
Londonist
London Almost Had Another Public Aquarium - In Silvertown Docks
Ever heard of 'Biota!'?
a year ago
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
Miracle At Henrietta: The Christmassiest Bar In London
It's Kiiiiiiiitschmas!
a year ago
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #2
Roadworks are supposed to have started at the Bow Roundabout but they haven't yet, indeed it's...
3 months ago
Roadworks are supposed to have started at the Bow Roundabout but they haven't yet, indeed it's possible they've actually been put back by two weeks. This is somewhat peeving given substantial bus mitigation has already taken place - five routes have had their frequency...
Londonist
Around London In 14 Lions And Lionesses
One to paw over.
a year ago
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
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...
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
How Many Underground Stations Are Overground, And How Many Overground Stations Are Underground?
If you see what we mean...
11 months ago
If you see what we mean...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 6-7 January 2024
Last-chance exhibitions, comedy, ice hockey, and bottomless fondue.
11 months ago
Last-chance exhibitions, comedy, ice hockey, and bottomless fondue.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Nature and Hiking Adventures in the Cayman Islands
8 months ago
Londonist
BFI Flare: Huge LGBTQIA+ Film Festival Lands In London This March
Feat. Layla, Close To You and All Of Us Strangers.
10 months ago
Feat. Layla, Close To You and All Of Us Strangers.
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in October 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in October 2024
1) The five road junctions with the most...
a month ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in October 2024
1) The five road junctions with the most casualties and collisions over the last three years (specifically the greatest 'casualty harm') are the Redbridge Roundabout, Seven Sisters, Elephant & Castle, the foot of Ilford...
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...
Londonist
Things You Might Not Know About The Borough Of Harrow
Even Boudicca decided it was worth a visit.
a year ago
Even Boudicca decided it was worth a visit.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Ashley English’s Favorite Things to Do in Asheville
11 months ago
Londonist
Get A First Look At The New King Charles Banknotes At This New Exhibition
Find out what the future of money will be.
11 months ago
Find out what the future of money will be.
Londonist
This Glowing Garden Of 25,000 Illuminated Roses Has Returned
The Ever After Garden returns.
a year ago
The Ever After Garden returns.
Londonist
Things To Eat And Drink In London This Halloween
From pumpkin-spiced crumble to a sinful supper club.
a year ago
From pumpkin-spiced crumble to a sinful supper club.
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 New Attractions in California Travelers Should Know About
10 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
How Washington, D.C. is Leading the Way in Accessible Travel
a year ago
diamond geezer
The Vyne
NATIONAL TRUST: The Vyne
Location: Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, RG24 9HL [map]
Open: 10am-5pm...
5 months ago
NATIONAL TRUST: The Vyne
Location: Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, RG24 9HL [map]
Open: 10am-5pm (House open 11am-3pm)
Admission: £15.00
Website: nationaltrust.org.uk/hampshire/the-vyne
Four word summary: slimmed-down Tudor pile
Time to allow: a couple of hours
The Vyne to show...
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
The 2024 Toyama Kei-Truck Gardening Contest
The 2024 Kei-Truck Gardening Contest took place over the weekend. In what is perhaps the...
7 months ago
The 2024 Kei-Truck Gardening Contest took place over the weekend. In what is perhaps the most-Japanese contest, professional gardeners and landscapers compete to create a beautiful, seasonal, and unique landscape , all within the bed of their kei-trucks. This contest originated...
Londonist
HOW MUCH Sewage Did Thames Water Pump Into The Thames?
We do the math.
a year ago
Londonist
The New DLR Trains Could Have Toy Steering Wheels Installed
Best. News. Ever.
11 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
How Asheville’s Nature Inspires Local Chef, Ashleigh Shanti
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Weekend Guide to Skiing and Dining in Park City, Utah
a week ago
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
Looking ahead to 2024
Looking ahead to 2024
Jan: Londoners ignore the New Year Parade; the popular blog diamond geezer...
11 months ago
Looking ahead to 2024
Jan: Londoners ignore the New Year Parade; the popular blog diamond geezer publishes a New Year quiz but in the afternoon when regular readers aren't expecting it; this year's Apprentice candidates are grating smug muppets
Feb: new London bus routes include...
Londonist
The Funniest Things You've Heard Tube Drivers Say - Vol. 4
"Anyone know where the brakes are on this thing?"
a year ago
"Anyone know where the brakes are on this thing?"
AFAR Media - Travel...
Spring Vacation at This Historic Arizona Hotel
9 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Myrtle Beach, SC
3 months ago
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
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
Burns Night 2024 In London: Parties, Suppers And Ceilidhs To Celebrate This Year
Kilt up and raise a dram to Robert Burns on 25 January.
11 months ago
Kilt up and raise a dram to Robert Burns on 25 January.
AFAR Media - Travel...
How to Explore Innsbruck, the Capital of the Alps
6 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
The 2023 Spoon & Tamago Gift Guide
2023 felt like a turning point for Japan. After several years of covid-induced seclusion, tourism...
a year ago
2023 felt like a turning point for Japan. After several years of covid-induced seclusion, tourism rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. And although just anecdotal, so many people we spoke to who previously had no connection to Japan, were planning trips and honeymoons that it truly...
diamond geezer
Southwark 25
Silver Jubilee: Southwark
Southwark station opened 25 years old today on 20th November 1999.
The...
a month ago
Silver Jubilee: Southwark
Southwark station opened 25 years old today on 20th November 1999.
The platforms are much like many of the others on the Jubilee line extension, but the concourse between them is unique. Step through and you enter a long cylindrical space on two...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Kayak, Hike, and Bike in Off-Season Virginia Beach
5 days ago
Spoon & Tamago
New Tadao Ando-Designed Museum to Open on Naoshima in 2025
A new museum will open on the art island of Naoshima in 2025. Although the official name has yet to...
a year ago
A new museum will open on the art island of Naoshima in 2025. Although the official name has yet to be announced, the structure will be designed by architect Tadao Ando and will mark his 10th museum on the island. The ‘new museum’ will consist of 3 floors—2 underground and 1...
Londonist
"There's A Mullet For Everyone" - How The Marmite Hairstyle Conquered Queer, Creative London
What gave rise to the mullet in London's hippest circles?
10 months ago
What gave rise to the mullet in London's hippest circles?
Londonist
In Pictures: Notting Hill Carnival 2023
Relive the magic, or see what you missed out on.
a year ago
Relive the magic, or see what you missed out on.
Londonist
An Entire Barbra Streisand Season Is Coming To North London
A star is celebrated.
10 months ago
Londonist
The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Drives Into London This Week
Merry fizz-mas!
a year ago
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...
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
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...
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
Tom Scott: 10 Of The Vlogger's Best London Videos
From protected sightlines to buried coins.
11 months ago
From protected sightlines to buried coins.
Londonist
London Overground Strikes Next Week Cancelled
Normal service now planned.
10 months ago
Normal service now planned.
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...
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #4
Four months of major roadworks were supposed to begin at the Bow Roundabout on Monday. So how's that...
2 months ago
Four months of major roadworks were supposed to begin at the Bow Roundabout on Monday. So how's that going?
Monday 30th September
Tuesday 1st October
I popped up to Old Ford to see what's happened with route 8 terminating one stop early. A temporary stand has been created...
Spoon & Tamago
Icoma Foldable Electric Bike Inspired by Japanese Transformable Toys
The moment we saw this foldable electric bike, something awakened our inner child. We couldn’t quite...
a year ago
The moment we saw this foldable electric bike, something awakened our inner child. We couldn’t quite put our finger on it bit it was a feeling akin to seeing a brand new toy in a toy shop. It turns out that the origin story of the Icoma Electric Bike is very much a part of...
Spoon & Tamago
Tamiya’s New Plamodel Factory in Tokyo is a Model Maker’s Paradise
Photos by Daici Ano and Tomoyuki Kusunose, courtesy Torafu Architects Tamiya, perhaps the most...
5 months ago
Photos by Daici Ano and Tomoyuki Kusunose, courtesy Torafu Architects Tamiya, perhaps the most recognized brand name in the modeling industry, recently opened a new flagship facility in the Shimbashi Toranomon area of Tokyo. Dubbed the Tamiya Plamodel Factory, the shiny new...
Londonist
Street Art Hopscotch Appears In London, With A Potent Anti-War Message
“Stop talking about the politics of war and think more about the children suffering from conflict."
a year ago
“Stop talking about the politics of war and think more about the children suffering from conflict."
Londonist
Stunning Light Trails And Illumination Festivals To See Near London This Winter
Absolutely enchanting evenings out in south-east England.
a year ago
Absolutely enchanting evenings out in south-east England.
Londonist
Metro Memory: The Addictive Tube Game You're Going To Be Playing All Week
"Just five more minutes..."
a year ago
"Just five more minutes..."
Londonist
5 'New' Pubs Promised For City Of London By 2027
But are any actually new?
a year ago
But are any actually new?
AFAR Media - Travel...
5 Trip Ideas Around the World for Adventurous Travelers
a year ago
Londonist
The Notable Benches Of London
64 unusual benches in one graphic (you might want to sit down).
10 months ago
64 unusual benches in one graphic (you might want to sit down).
Londonist
HS2: What's Going On? Is Is Still Going To Euston? Is It Too 'Londoncentric'?
This could just be the fattest, whitest elephant ever to lumber across Britain.
a year ago
This could just be the fattest, whitest elephant ever to lumber across Britain.
Spoon & Tamago
New Rent-Free Apartments Aspire to Support Budding Manga Artists
a rendering of Manga Apartment VUY, for which occupancy will begin in March 2025 For many years, a...
4 months ago
a rendering of Manga Apartment VUY, for which occupancy will begin in March 2025 For many years, a model has existed in Japan in which subsidized housing supports manga artists who are early in their career and have not yet established an audience. One of the earliest was the...
diamond geezer
Eden Dock
You know how when you come out of Canary Wharf tube station, main entrance, there's always been a...
2 months ago
You know how when you come out of Canary Wharf tube station, main entrance, there's always been a big empty dock in front of you? Well, not any more.
yesterday and is really very impressive. So long as you don't read anything about it.
island. Unsurprisingly it's already...
Londonist
Is This The Oldest Surviving Poster On The Tube Network?
The Otrivine gnome is not to be sniffed at.
10 months ago
The Otrivine gnome is not to be sniffed at.
diamond geezer
Paddington plus
Paddington tube station has another entrance. I know, another one.
It already has a...
2 months ago
Paddington tube station has another entrance. I know, another one.
It already has a District/Circle/Bakerloo entrance on the mainline concourse, a separate District/Circle entrance across the road on Praed Street, a completely separate Circle/Hammersmith & City entrance over...
diamond geezer
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...
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...
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...
diamond geezer
Rejigging the Bow Roundabout
(this is the first post written on my new laptop)
(Windows 11 remains very unfamiliar - a lot's...
3 months ago
(this is the first post written on my new laptop)
(Windows 11 remains very unfamiliar - a lot's changed since 7!)
I'm still trying to work out what's going on with the imminent roadworks at the Bow Roundabout. I keep checking the Causeway one.network map where everything's...
diamond geezer
Push Your Luck
New campaign to make your Tube journey cheaper
The Off Peak Fridays trial ends this Friday, after...
6 months ago
New campaign to make your Tube journey cheaper
The Off Peak Fridays trial ends this Friday, after which pay as you go single fares will return to their original peak values every weekday. But cheaper travel for deserving Londoners remains one of the key mission goals of the...
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
50+ Excellent Things To Do In London This Month: October 2023
Black History Month, live music, Comic Con and more.
a year ago
Black History Month, live music, Comic Con and more.
diamond geezer
The Hayes diagram
TfL are proposing a small change to bus route 350 in Hayes, diverting it to terminate alongside new...
6 months ago
TfL are proposing a small change to bus route 350 in Hayes, diverting it to terminate alongside new flats on Nestles Avenue rather than outside Asda. It's not a particularly controversial consultation, nor indeed terribly interesting unless you live very locally.
this map titled...
Londonist
The Docklands Gym Where Muslim Women Are Toughening Up And Feeling Empowered
"I used to be a couch potato, but now I love coming here"
a year ago
"I used to be a couch potato, but now I love coming here"
diamond geezer
Open House (2)
Yesterday's Open House tally was six.
• The dazzling property where the volunteer arrived with a...
a year ago
Yesterday's Open House tally was six.
• The dazzling property where the volunteer arrived with a key one minute before the official opening time and asked if we wouldn't mind going somewhere else for quarter of an hour.
Let's do four of those in more detail (not necessarily...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to See Music & Performing Arts in Asheville, NC
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Northern Lights Could Appear in the Lower 48 This Week
a year ago
Londonist
Pubs With Real Fires In London: Cosy Up With A Pint By These Roaring Fireplaces
Updated for winter 2023!
a year ago
Londonist
Support Great Ormond Street Hospital - By Climbing The Walkie Talkie!
Up for a challenge?
11 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Discover the Artistic Side of Aspen: A Guide for Culture Lovers
7 months ago
Londonist
Things To Do In London On New Year's Eve
31 December events and parties in London.
a year ago
31 December events and parties in London.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Grand Hotel Timeo Launches Pop-Up Treehouse Suites by Dior
a year ago
Londonist
Welsh Things To Do In London
Daffodils, beer and male voice choirs.
9 months ago
Daffodils, beer and male voice choirs.
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...
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...
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
"My Obsession With London's Modernist Council Estates"
The beauty of the capital's social housing.
9 months ago
The beauty of the capital's social housing.
diamond geezer
2024 fares
TfL's annual fare rise was announced last yesterday. And it's no fare rise at all.
"The Mayor of...
11 months ago
TfL's annual fare rise was announced last yesterday. And it's no fare rise at all.
"The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced bold action to freeze TfL fares this year, to support Londoners struggling with the cost of living and London’s recovery from the pandemic....
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where You Can Explore the World's Rivers And Protect Them
a year ago
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...
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
Delightful Literary Days Out Near London That All Book Lovers Should Do
Immerse yourself in the worlds of famous authors, from Charles Dickens to AA Milne.
a year ago
Immerse yourself in the worlds of famous authors, from Charles Dickens to AA Milne.
Londonist
London's Cosiest Hotels
Because baby it's cold outside.
a year ago
Because baby it's cold outside.
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.
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #7
The second full week of roadworks at the Bow Roundabout has seen drilling continue on the Stratford...
a month ago
The second full week of roadworks at the Bow Roundabout has seen drilling continue on the Stratford side, both under and beside the flyover. A third lane is already substantially carved out at the end of Stratford High Street. Below we see a broad curve where grey concrete block...
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
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...
diamond geezer
The village quiz
From: Diamond Geezer Content Producing Minion 4
To: Diamond Geezer Content Coordination Tsar
As a...
a year ago
From: Diamond Geezer Content Producing Minion 4
To: Diamond Geezer Content Coordination Tsar
As a result of my unexpected overnight stay I ended up being pressganged into the village quiz instead. This annual event brings the whole community together as teams of six from the...
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Travel Itinerary Exploring the Roman Empire in Germany
6 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Vacation to Corpus Christi, TX in the Fall
5 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...
Londonist
Ticket Alert: Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour Film Is Coming To London
Welcome to the Renaissance.
a year ago
Welcome to the Renaissance.
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.
diamond geezer
Decorations up
It was St Nicholas Day yesterday so I put my Christmas decorations up.
It's not a date-related...
a year ago
It was St Nicholas Day yesterday so I put my Christmas decorations up.
It's not a date-related tradition or anything, certainly not my tradition, but this year the day I spotted the box of decorations was 6th December so out they came and up they went. It would've been more...
Londonist
Pick Your Own Christmas Tree At These Festive Farms In And Around London
Christmas jumpers optional. Wellies recommended.
a year ago
Christmas jumpers optional. Wellies recommended.
Londonist
The Grant Museum Of Zoology Is Reopening Very Soon
And yes, the jar of moles will still be there.
10 months ago
And yes, the jar of moles will still be there.
diamond geezer
Substacks
For those who like writing online, the blogging platform of choice continues to evolve.
Substack,...
a week ago
For those who like writing online, the blogging platform of choice continues to evolve.
Substack, founded in 2017, which has been picking up more and more top writers of late. I have no intention of jumping ship, let's make that clear at the start, but I thought I'd take a...
diamond geezer
London votes 2024
Voted for Sadiq; voted for a Labour London Assembly Member
Voted for Sadiq; voted for a...
7 months ago
Voted for Sadiq; voted for a Labour London Assembly Member
Voted for Sadiq; voted for a Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member
Voted for Susan; voted for a Labour London Assembly Member
Voted for Susan; voted for a Conservative London Assembly...
Londonist
A Farewell To Wilko
"I thought this was the new Woolworths to be honest."
a year ago
"I thought this was the new Woolworths to be honest."
Spoon & Tamago
Tachinomi Ura is a Standing Eatery in Kurashiki Carrying on Local Sake and Cuisine Culture
unless otherwise noted, all photos by Go Itami courtesy Schemata Architects Located steps from...
10 months ago
unless otherwise noted, all photos by Go Itami courtesy Schemata Architects Located steps from Kurashiki Station in Okayama is Tachinomi Ura, a new standing eatery that opened late last year. Ura emphasizes local ingredients and seafood sourced from the Setouchi region, stylishly...
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...
diamond geezer
The Bridge To Somewhere
In the middle of Burgess Park is an old and seemingly pointless bridge. It's red, it crosses nothing...
a year ago
In the middle of Burgess Park is an old and seemingly pointless bridge. It's red, it crosses nothing worse than a footpath and you can walk/scoot/cycle past at ground level alongside its entire length. It need not be here and yet it is, and what's more it's just been repaired,...
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.
diamond geezer
Majority Sweepstake
On polling day, let's have a sweepstake on the size of the Labour majority.
comments...
5 months ago
On polling day, let's have a sweepstake on the size of the Labour majority.
comments if(postComments['51253209151424'] != null){document.write(' (' + postComments['51253209151424'] + ')')}else{document.write(' (0)')};
n.b. If you don't think Labour are going to get a majority, go...
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.
diamond geezer
London Countries - Afghanistan
London Countries (an A-Z)
1. Afghanistan 🇦🇫
In this new series I'll be visiting all the...
7 months ago
London Countries (an A-Z)
1. Afghanistan 🇦🇫
In this new series I'll be visiting all the countries in the world but without leaving London. Their people, their geography, their history, their culture, their cuisine, that kind of thing. I'm kicking off with Afghanistan because...
diamond geezer
London's longest countdowns
Works to remodel the Old Street roundabout are nearing completion, above ground at least. It was...
8 months ago
Works to remodel the Old Street roundabout are nearing completion, above ground at least. It was still possible to drive round it five years ago, then massive sequential roadworks intervened and the northwest arm was slowly pedestrianised. Cars now have to negotiate a very...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 25-31 December 2023
The best articles from the past week.
11 months ago
The best articles from the past week.
diamond geezer
Route 310
Route 310: Golders Green - Stamford Hill
Length of journey: 7 miles, 45 minutes
promised during the...
3 months ago
Route 310: Golders Green - Stamford Hill
Length of journey: 7 miles, 45 minutes
promised during the Mayoral election. It shadows two existing bus routes. It's being delivered on a twelve-month trial basis. It runs every day but not all of the day. It tackles one very specific...
diamond geezer
Another Islington post
Thanks for your suggestions for another Islington-based post.
Allow me to sort-of tackle what some...
a year ago
Thanks for your suggestions for another Islington-based post.
Allow me to sort-of tackle what some of you asked.
How about a walk around the gardens and squares of Islington?
Please can you explore Thornhill Square? I've walked around it a few times, and wondered what it would...
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...
Londonist
Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree: Where's It From? What's Its History? When's The Switch-On?
Spruce up on your arboreal knowhow.
a year ago
Spruce up on your arboreal knowhow.
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...
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
10 times TV crews came to Croxley Green
10 times that TV crews came to Croxley Green
1) Metro-land (1973): In this iconic one-off...
6 months ago
10 times that TV crews came to Croxley Green
1) Metro-land (1973): In this iconic one-off documentary Sir John Betjeman came to observe the Croxley Revels, "a tradition that stretches back to 1952". Actually if you watch carefully he's never in shot, he merely provided a...
Spoon & Tamago
Go on the Tokyo Toilet Tour and Never Worry About Finding a Public Restroom Again
Japan’s public restrooms have in international reputation for being clean and well-maintained, but...
10 months ago
Japan’s public restrooms have in international reputation for being clean and well-maintained, but apparently that still wasn’t good enough. In 2020, the city of Shibuya and Nippon Foundation embarked on an initiative called Tokyo Toilet. They brought together some of the biggest...
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
Bus of the day 197
Bus Route Of The Day
197: Croydon to Peckham
Quadrant: London southeast
Length of journey: 10 miles,...
5 months ago
Bus Route Of The Day
197: Croydon to Peckham
Quadrant: London southeast
Length of journey: 10 miles, 65 minutes
Because it's 19th July I've been out riding the 197, because that's the Bus Route Of The Day. My apologies for the repetition.
Threepenny Bit building, stopping not...
AFAR Media - Travel...
U.S. Launches Passport Fairs to Help Speed Up Applications
a year ago
Cheese and Biscuits
The Union, Rye
Over the last, I don't know, ten or fifteen or so years - certainly since the expansion of the St...
over a year ago
Over the last, I don't know, ten or fifteen or so years - certainly since the expansion of the St John universe but also since places like Lyle's and the Sportsman and the Draper's Arms spread their wings - a kind of consensus has appeared on what constitutes a Modern British...
Londonist
The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Drives Into London This Week
Merry fizz-mas!
a year ago
Londonist
2024 Serpentine Pavilion Shaped Like A Shooting Star
Mass Studios has designed this year's offering.
11 months ago
Mass Studios has designed this year's offering.
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...
Londonist
We Talk To John Rogers, Filmmaker And Author Of Welcome To New London
A true London legend.
a year ago
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.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Vacation Ideas for Families with Neurodivergent Children
a year ago
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.
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...
Londonist
See London's Biggest Pie Chart
LSE's giant, mathematical mural.
a year ago
LSE's giant, mathematical mural.
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
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...
Spoon & Tamago
The Asuke II Cruise Ship is a Floating Museum of Traditional Craftwork
Over 50 pieces of traditional craftwork (dento kogei) are on display on the Asuka II cruise ship for...
6 months ago
Over 50 pieces of traditional craftwork (dento kogei) are on display on the Asuka II cruise ship for a project organized by the Japan Kogei Association, a Tokyo-based group comprising artisans nationwide, and Anchor Ship Partners Co., a shareholder of the company that operates...
Spoon & Tamago
Tan Yamanouchi’s New House Speaks to His Cats’ Desires
Ever wondered what your home might look like if it were custom-designed to cater to the tastes of...
a year ago
Ever wondered what your home might look like if it were custom-designed to cater to the tastes of your beloved feline companions? Well, the architect Tan Yamanouchi of AWGL has designed a purr-fect home, prioritizing his two cats over himself and his partner.
Related posts:
a...
Londonist
Ice Hockey In London: Who Are The Teams, Where To Watch And When's It On?
Puck up your ideas.
a year ago
Spoon & Tamago
Hokusai-Inspired Erasers Reveal Mt. Fuji the More They Get Used
Erasers are usually used to delete mistakes. And as they get worn down, they become dirty or harder...
6 months ago
Erasers are usually used to delete mistakes. And as they get worn down, they become dirty or harder to hold. By nature, they are not fun to use. But Japanese stationery fim PLUS is on a mission to reverse that mentality with erasers inspired by the iconic woodblock prints of...
Londonist
The Gravy Fondue: Will You Be Dipping Into London's Winter Food Trend?
Chuck out the cheese - it's all about the brown stuff.
11 months ago
Chuck out the cheese - it's all about the brown stuff.
Spoon & Tamago
Yoko Tada Began Painting in her 80s. At 100 She’s Publishing Her First Book
“natsu no prelude” (prelude of the summer) by Yoko Tada won honorable mention last year from the...
a year ago
“natsu no prelude” (prelude of the summer) by Yoko Tada won honorable mention last year from the Japan Watercolor Association The painter Yoko Tada is having what some would call “a moment.” Last year her work was recognized by the Japan Watercolor Association, an organization...
Londonist
Dive Into This Astoundingly Detailed Illustration Of Somerset House
Adam Dant is at it again.
9 months ago
Adam Dant is at it again.
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...
diamond geezer
Pudding Mill Lane 10
The DLR's youngest station is ten years old today.
Pudding Mill Lane opened on 28th April 2014...
7 months ago
The DLR's youngest station is ten years old today.
Pudding Mill Lane opened on 28th April 2014 and remains unnecessarily enormous.
Caveat: The station which opened 10 years ago was a rebuild paid for by Crossrail, because the original sat on the precise site where purple...
Londonist
Artist Will Lie On Tower Bridge's Glass Walkway All Day This Saturday
Thought-provoking work from Anahita Harding.
9 months ago
Thought-provoking work from Anahita Harding.
Londonist
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!
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Ultimate Guide to Budapest’s Historic Thermal Baths and Spas
a year ago
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.
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
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
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.
Londonist
The World's Rarest Stamp Is On Display In London This September
It's also the most expensive.
a year ago
It's also the most expensive.
Londonist
Things To Do This August Bank Holiday Weekend In London: 26-28 August 2023
Carnival! Concerts! A food festival! Dog shows!
a year ago
Carnival! Concerts! A food festival! Dog shows!
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 18-19 November 2023
Chocolate tasting, a wine festival, Winter Wonderland and more.
a year ago
Chocolate tasting, a wine festival, Winter Wonderland and more.
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
Bits Of London That Aren't In The Bit Of London They Say They Are In, But In Another Bit Of London
If you see what we mean.
8 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
The British Virgin Islands Is Your Ultimate Vacation Destination
a year ago
Spoon & Tamago
Take a Ride on the Yagi-Shingu Bus, Japan’s Longest Local Bus Route
all photos by Masamichi Kirihara courtesy Sankei Japanese trains often get all the love, but we’re a...
11 months ago
all photos by Masamichi Kirihara courtesy Sankei Japanese trains often get all the love, but we’re a fan of their buses too. And if you’re keen on living the slow life while also experiencing the Japanese countryside, boy do we have the perfect activity for you. The Yagi-Shingu...
diamond geezer
Doors
Doors (by Christian Marclay)
White Cube, Masons Yard
6-30 September 2023
10am-6pm, closed Sunday and...
a year ago
Doors (by Christian Marclay)
White Cube, Masons Yard
6-30 September 2023
10am-6pm, closed Sunday and Monday
Christian Marclay is always a treat, if what you enjoy is an exemplarily-crafted audio-visual montage. He's best known for The Clock, a 24 hour compilation of clips from...
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.
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...
Londonist
Miracle At Henrietta: The Christmassiest Bar In London
It's Kiiiiiiiitschmas!
a year ago
diamond geezer
Superloop 2
Yesterday's big reveal from would-be Mayor-to-be Sadiq was a major extension to the Superloop...
8 months ago
Yesterday's big reveal from would-be Mayor-to-be Sadiq was a major extension to the Superloop express bus network. Phase 1 has ten routes and the plan is to add another ten and call it Superloop 2. There's a map and everything.
The most important thing on the map is the box in...
diamond geezer
First steps
As the phoney war before the next election escalates, I'd like to express my disappointment that the...
7 months ago
As the phoney war before the next election escalates, I'd like to express my disappointment that the next government won't be as left wing as it should have been.
These are Comrade Starmer's so-called first steps, a limp selection of depressingly weak promises which reads...
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.
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
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
Sing With Dogs In Church At Battersea's Barking Mad 2023 Carol Concert
An un-fur-gettable Christmas event in London.
a year ago
An un-fur-gettable Christmas event in London.
diamond geezer
346
Last Saturday one bus route on the edge of east London disappeared and another quadrupled in length....
9 months ago
Last Saturday one bus route on the edge of east London disappeared and another quadrupled in length. I didn't fancy spending my birthday in Upminster so left it a few days before taking a ride on the end result.
• The 346 used to be one of London's shortest bus routes, a brief...
diamond geezer
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...
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