diamond geezer
Substacks
For those who like writing online, the blogging platform of choice continues to evolve.
Substack,...
3 weeks 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
Stratford & Bow election roundup
Stratford & Bow election roundup
my constituency?
Leaflets yes
• Uma Kumaran (Labour) A letter...
6 months ago
Stratford & Bow election roundup
my constituency?
Leaflets yes
• Uma Kumaran (Labour) A letter from Keir with his six pledges, minimal promises. Looks like they sent out millions of these.
• Halima Khan (Workers Party) Roughly-folded and left sticking out of all our...
diamond geezer
Brent Cross West, West and East
The new Brent Cross West station serves two very different communities either side of the tracks....
a year ago
The new Brent Cross West station serves two very different communities either side of the tracks. You could call them Brent Cross West West and Brent Cross West East. Neither is buzzing with potential passengers.
Brent Cross West West is commercial and car-dominated, as befits...
Londonist
120 Teens Are Walking The Entirety Of The Tube This Sunday
(Not through the tunnels, though.)
10 months ago
(Not through the tunnels, though.)
Londonist
A Map Of Women's History In London
From Boudicca to Rachel Whiteread.
10 months ago
From Boudicca to Rachel Whiteread.
Londonist
London In Teeth
A tribute to London's best gnashers.
10 months ago
A tribute to London's best gnashers.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 27 November-3 December 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
The Killer 1962 Smog Of London
And no, we don't mean 1952.
a year ago
And no, we don't mean 1952.
Spoon & Tamago
A New Brewery in Yobuko Wants to Revive the Former Whaling Town
Photos by Hiroshi Mizusaki courtesy Case-Real Architects The Town of Yobuko, located at the tip of...
a year ago
Photos by Hiroshi Mizusaki courtesy Case-Real Architects The Town of Yobuko, located at the tip of North-Western Kyushu, is named after the migratory path that whales swam. Beginning in the 1700s, Yobuko prospered as a whaling town, birthing the idiom, a single whale flourishes...
Londonist
Buy London-Themed Stocking Fillers, Secret Santa Pressies And More In Londonist's Online Shop!
Truly unique gifts designed by yours truly.
a year ago
Truly unique gifts designed by yours truly.
Cheese and Biscuits
Tuétano Taqueria, San Diego
On the shortest day of the year, in the middle of the gloomiest and wettest of England's gloom and...
a week ago
On the shortest day of the year, in the middle of the gloomiest and wettest of England's gloom and wet, I thought it might be fun to review a taco shop in southern California, because it's days like this you need to remind yourself that there are places in the world where the sun...
Londonist
10 London Buildings Added To Heritage At Risk Register
Historic England's annual list gains 10 more entries.
a year ago
Historic England's annual list gains 10 more entries.
Londonist
13 Of The Best Irish Pubs In London
Guinness, rugby, oysters and craic.
10 months ago
Guinness, rugby, oysters and craic.
diamond geezer
Not very interesting transport news
Friday's not very interesting transport news
The Overground lines still haven't been...
2 months ago
Friday's not very interesting transport news
The Overground lines still haven't been renamed
double-sided Mildmay line panel was revealed at one end of platforms 1 and 2 (click to embiggen), while a separate sign directed passengers up to the Mildmay line from the subway. These...
diamond geezer
Bow Road
Anyone can visit Bow Road for free.
20 things to see on Bow Road
n.b. The following are all things...
a year ago
Anyone can visit Bow Road for free.
20 things to see on Bow Road
n.b. The following are all things I haven't blogged about before.
Odds
1) Autumn is a particularly good season to see Bow Road because many of our trees do the pretty yellow thing before the leaves fall...
Londonist
Brewery Taprooms In London: A List Of Every Single One Of 'Em
Have we got brews for you.
a year ago
Have we got brews for you.
Londonist
Battersea Power Station And Nine Elms Tube Stations Just Got Mark Wallinger Labyrinths
Great news for Labyrinth hunters!
a year ago
Great news for Labyrinth hunters!
diamond geezer
The 'Inside The Circle Line' Tube Challenge
Let's celebrate the cancellation of today's tube strike by tackling a really pointless...
a year ago
Let's celebrate the cancellation of today's tube strike by tackling a really pointless challenge.
The 'Inside The Circle Line' Tube Challenge
No station can be visited more than once.
So, for example, you might ride one stop from Queensway to Lancaster Gate, then get out...
diamond geezer
Why are hire bikes dumped everywhere?
♦ geezr/london 6h
George43Penge
Why are hire bikes dumped everywhere? it makes me so mad
⬆423 ...
5 months ago
♦ geezr/london 6h
George43Penge
Why are hire bikes dumped everywhere? it makes me so mad
⬆423 💬25
✨ penryjan 6h
⭐ obmit 5h
⌚ monkeytennis 4h
⌛ Bimbles 3h
☔ McSpatula 42m
♋ zxcvbnm12 5h
⛽ Greggers 4h
☕ wingnutz 4h
⛲ Ecosoldier 4h
⛔ clarxon 2h
❌ ProudMick 1h
⛵...
Cheese and Biscuits
Med Salleh Viet, Earl's Court
It's a funny old part of town is Earl's Court. Not quite Kensington, not quite Chelsea, not many...
2 months ago
It's a funny old part of town is Earl's Court. Not quite Kensington, not quite Chelsea, not many reasons to visit (certainly not since the conference center/arena got pulled down), it's these days little more than a fairly ordinary provincial high street dumped in West London,...
Londonist
London Almost Had Another Public Aquarium - In Silvertown Docks
Ever heard of 'Biota!'?
a year ago
Spoon & Tamago
Exploring Tokyo’s Hidden Shrines
According to statistics, Tokyo is home to over 1800 Shinto shrines. You have your major shrines like...
a year ago
According to statistics, Tokyo is home to over 1800 Shinto shrines. You have your major shrines like Meiji-Jingu and Hie Shrine but there are many other tiny shrines, often unstaffed and nestled in the depths of back streets and behind buildings. Tearing down a shrine would be...
Londonist
Tram Strikes And Engineering Works Will Affect Network Heavily In March and April 2024
Disruption double whammy.
9 months ago
Disruption double whammy.
Londonist
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.
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...
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.
diamond geezer
Cheam Charter Fair
Every year on May 15th the people of Cheam hold a charter fair.
Also much of the above may not be...
7 months ago
Every year on May 15th the people of Cheam hold a charter fair.
Also much of the above may not be true.
Firstly there is no evidence that Henry III granted a charter to Cheam in 1259 or in any other year. Tradition says he did but no historical records exist to confirm this,...
Londonist
Ever Been To This Free London Yew Maze?
A tree-ific day out, right alongside the Elizabeth line.
a year ago
A tree-ific day out, right alongside the Elizabeth line.
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.
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
Join The Race To Help Beat Childhood Cancer On A Family-Friendly Fun Run
RBC Race for the Kids returns.
a year ago
RBC Race for the Kids returns.
Cheese and Biscuits
Hainan House, Angel
Hainan is an island off the south coast of China about the size of Vancouver Island - that makes it...
3 months ago
Hainan is an island off the south coast of China about the size of Vancouver Island - that makes it bigger than Sicily and Sardinia and twice the size of Hawaii, with a population of over 10 million people (more than London). And yet inevitably until last week I'd never heard of...
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.
diamond geezer
W12W13W14
Over the weekend TfL withdrew bus route 549, extended route W13 and substantially restructured...
3 months ago
Over the weekend TfL withdrew bus route 549, extended route W13 and substantially restructured routes W12 and W14. I wrote about the changes last week, and how TfL's information strategy relied substantially on a very complicated map. I went back yesterday to see how the...
Londonist
HOW MUCH Sewage Did Thames Water Pump Into The Thames?
We do the math.
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Asheville Restaurants Refining Appalachian Culinary Traditions
a year ago
diamond geezer
The Charterhouse
I hadn't realised you could wander inside The Charterhouse, the historic almshouses on the edge of...
10 months ago
I hadn't realised you could wander inside The Charterhouse, the historic almshouses on the edge of Smithfield, probably because I hadn't been paying sufficient attention. I knew it had been restored a few years ago and I knew they did paid-for tours but I thought that was it, you...
Londonist
Part Of The Northern Line Is Closing From Spring 2024
Edgware to Golders Green not running on various dates.
11 months ago
Edgware to Golders Green not running on various dates.
diamond geezer
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
Where (And When) To See Cherry Blossom In London
The best spots for snapping sakura.
10 months ago
The best spots for snapping sakura.
Londonist
10 Things You Learn From Living In The Tower Of London
William the Conqueror did NOT build those walls with a strong internet connection in mind.
9 months ago
William the Conqueror did NOT build those walls with a strong internet connection in mind.
diamond geezer
Rugby
Gadabout: RUGBY
Rugby is the easternmost town in Warwickshire, not far from Coventry, and the site...
10 months ago
Gadabout: RUGBY
Rugby is the easternmost town in Warwickshire, not far from Coventry, and the site of an important railway junction. It's big in cement, was big in electronics and has been a market town since medieval times. But it's best known worldwide for its school and the...
AFAR Media - Travel...
You Can See the 2024 Solar Eclipse During This 22-Day Cruise
a year ago
diamond geezer
50 posts I won't be writing
50 posts I won't be writing
• January's fried chicken launches
(except that's actually 51, so I...
11 months ago
50 posts I won't be writing
• January's fried chicken launches
(except that's actually 51, so I will be writing one of them... here later)
Retracing Terry and June
Happy Ever After evolved into Terry and June in 1979, for copyright reasons. Both featured Terry Scott and June...
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...
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...
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
Strand
STRAND
£220
London's Monopoly Streets
STRAND
Colour group: red
Purchase price: £220
Rent:...
5 months ago
STRAND
£220
London's Monopoly Streets
STRAND
Colour group: red
Purchase price: £220
Rent: £18
Length: 1200m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: WC2
Vine Street was ridiculously short and dull whereas this is long, historic and so packed with points of interest I could easily...
Cheese and Biscuits
Crispin at Studio Voltaire, Clapham Common
Although my useless photos hardly do it justice (let's just get that out of the way from the start),...
2 weeks ago
Although my useless photos hardly do it justice (let's just get that out of the way from the start), Crispin at Studio Voltaire is a lovely space to eat in. The candles on each table aren't the only source of light, but provide a romantic accessory to the tealights dangling above...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 24-25 February 2024
A Saltburn ball, a Spider-Man concert, and a mystery movie marathon.
10 months ago
A Saltburn ball, a Spider-Man concert, and a mystery movie marathon.
diamond geezer
2024 index
dg 2024 index
Beyond London
Rugby: The Midlands town that inspired a ball game, and what happened to...
5 days ago
dg 2024 index
Beyond London
Rugby: The Midlands town that inspired a ball game, and what happened to its radio masts [photos]
Crewe: The delights of the railway town were worth half a day... [photos]
Stafford: ...whereas this historic market town could have sustained me for...
Londonist
Paul Foot Is Barmy Brilliance In A Boiler Suit
A hilarious, uncynical, remarkable piece of comedy.
10 months ago
A hilarious, uncynical, remarkable piece of comedy.
diamond geezer
Counties visited
Now that my blog is really old, I thought it might be interesting from time to time to go back and...
11 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...
Londonist
A Map Of Westminster Place Names And Where They Come From
From Maida Vale to Covent Garden.
9 months ago
From Maida Vale to Covent Garden.
Londonist
Miracle At Henrietta: The Christmassiest Bar In London
It's Kiiiiiiiitschmas!
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
6 Reasons To Travel by Private Yacht in Croatia
10 months ago
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.
diamond geezer
with a 9 on the end
Birthdays are often great, but a birthday with a 9 on the end can give cause to ponder as the end of...
10 months ago
Birthdays are often great, but a birthday with a 9 on the end can give cause to ponder as the end of another decade grows uncomfortably close.
So I thought I'd look back at my previous birthdays ending in 9, the moments I found myself on final approach to another decade's end,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Explore the Arctic's Beauty and Wildlife on a Luxury Cruise
3 months ago
diamond geezer
Stratford station has a new entrance
Stratford station has a new entrance.
Gibbins Road entrance and for most passengers it's of no use...
5 months ago
Stratford station has a new entrance.
Gibbins Road entrance and for most passengers it's of no use whatsoever.
Stratford station has a new entrance.
by the end of March but it didn't. It was due to open in May but it didn't. It's looked finished for ages but it clearly wasn't...
Londonist
The Modern Game Of Darts Was Invented In A London Pub In 1926
Although Henry VIII had a set of darts too.
12 months ago
Although Henry VIII had a set of darts too.
AFAR Media - Travel...
How to Explore Dallas’ Culturally Diverse Arts Scene
6 months ago
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...
Londonist
LNER Launches Its Summer Sale
Hundreds of thousands of cheaper tickets available.
9 months ago
Hundreds of thousands of cheaper tickets available.
Londonist
Play On The Guitar Of Your Dreams At This Gibson Showroom
Live out your Nigel Tufnel fantasy.
10 months ago
Live out your Nigel Tufnel fantasy.
Londonist
London's Working Class History Celebrated With 8 Exciting New Projects
Historic England announces new funding.
10 months ago
Historic England announces new funding.
diamond geezer
Pall Mall
PALL MALL
£140
London's Monopoly Streets
PALL MALL
Colour group: pink
Purchase price:...
9 months ago
PALL MALL
£140
London's Monopoly Streets
PALL MALL
Colour group: pink
Purchase price: £140
Rent: £10
Length: 500m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: SW1
Pall Mall is the first of the pinks, all of which lead off Trafalgar Square, and a classically posh street to boot. At less...
Londonist
25 Cheap Ways For Young People To See Culture In London
All the best discounts.
9 months ago
Londonist
A Chance To Visit The 'Roman' Bath In Strand Lane
One of London's most lied-about attractions.
a year ago
One of London's most lied-about attractions.
Londonist
Things To Do This Week In London: 6-12 November 2023
Diwali celebrations, new karting and curling venues, and the Lord Mayor's Show.
a year ago
Diwali celebrations, new karting and curling venues, and the Lord Mayor's Show.
Londonist
Things To Do This Easter Weekend In London: 29 March-1 April 2024
Our bumper events guide for the long weekend.
9 months ago
Our bumper events guide for the long weekend.
Londonist
We Talk To John Rogers, Filmmaker And Author Of Welcome To New London
A true London legend.
a year ago
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...
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
Behind The Blue Doors Of Brixton's Georgian Almshouse
Free exhibition comes to Lambeth Archives.
9 months ago
Free exhibition comes to Lambeth Archives.
Londonist
Goodbye Glory, Hello Divine - East London's New-Not-New LGBTQ+ Club
"One New Year's Eve lock-in with Keira Knightley and Chelsea Clinton got a bit wild..."
11 months ago
"One New Year's Eve lock-in with Keira Knightley and Chelsea Clinton got a bit wild..."
diamond geezer
Thames Water
"Sorry, we might go bust next year," is not what you want to hear from your water company. Ideally...
a year ago
"Sorry, we might go bust next year," is not what you want to hear from your water company. Ideally we wouldn't have water companies at all, we'd have one competent publicly owned authority, but we are where we are and this is the shitshow we've ended up with. So I wondered, how...
diamond geezer
merry = 𝑥 - mas
We have the best signwriters at Bow Road station.
merry = 𝑥-mas
4 weeks ago
We have the best signwriters at Bow Road station.
merry = 𝑥-mas
Londonist
Chelsea In Bloom 2024: Giant Floral Caterpillar To Take Over Sloane Square
Free flower festival returns... with a foodie theme.
10 months ago
Free flower festival returns... with a foodie theme.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 18-24 December 2023
A handy roundup of Londonist articles from the past week.
a year ago
A handy roundup of Londonist articles from the past week.
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,...
Spoon & Tamago
Death Fes in Shibuya Asks Visitor to Embrace Their End
images courtesy Death Fes April 14th is the unofficial “day of good death” in Japan. The date 4-1-4...
8 months ago
images courtesy Death Fes April 14th is the unofficial “day of good death” in Japan. The date 4-1-4 can be pronounced yo-i-shi, or good death, making today the perfect day to kick-off the Death Fes, an event aimed at encouraging people to think and talk about their inevitable...
diamond geezer
Walking With The Snowman
"Have you done the snowman sculpture trail yet?" my brother asked. He does like a good thematic...
a year ago
"Have you done the snowman sculpture trail yet?" my brother asked. He does like a good thematic painted fibreglass orienteering gadabout.
Walking With The Snowman and is spread across part of the City between Chancery Lane and St Paul's. There are a dozen snowmen altogether, and...
One from Nippon
A peek into Japan’s Hot Springs (Part 2)
Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part post. Part 1 can be found here.
The Hot Spring...
a year ago
Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part post. Part 1 can be found here.
The Hot Spring Act of 1948
Lest you think any old well could be an onsen, the Japanese government has very clear rules on what can be called an onsen.
These are
diamond geezer
Unblogged August
31 unblogged things I did in August
Thu 1: A new coffee shop has opened just inside the gateline at...
4 months ago
31 unblogged things I did in August
Thu 1: A new coffee shop has opened just inside the gateline at Whitechapel station (or at least I assumed it was new because it didn't have a name displayed anywhere, whereas apparently it opened in June). It turns out they're called Yellow...
diamond geezer
Birmingham stations quiz
Birmingham stations quiz
Birmingham.
1) Cider Pub
2) Fresh Road
3) Valets Path
4) Jump...
3 months ago
Birmingham stations quiz
Birmingham.
1) Cider Pub
2) Fresh Road
3) Valets Path
4) Jump Street
5) Upland Road
6) Student Hub
7) Tree Quartet
8) Stony Mound
9) Wintry Mount
10) Little Common
11) Half Half Ring
12) Perfume Forest
13) Dark Chocolate
14) Pork Substitute
15)...
Londonist
DLR Extension To Thamesmead: Public Consultation Opens
Have your say before 18 March.
11 months ago
Have your say before 18 March.
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...
a year 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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
3 Great California Travel Itineraries to Inspire Anyone
10 months ago
diamond geezer
Consequential
Some weeks are consequential.
a) Today is the Budget.
This budget also feels like it's been...
2 months ago
Some weeks are consequential.
a) Today is the Budget.
This budget also feels like it's been coming for ages, the General Election being 17 weeks ago, but it takes time to check the nation's finances, develop a plan and balance strategic gains with individual pain. There has...
diamond geezer
Borough visitor websites
Some London boroughs like to have a web presence that draws tourists in, should anyone be...
2 months ago
Some London boroughs like to have a web presence that draws tourists in, should anyone be interested, or highlights places of interest for the benefit of local residents. These websites attempt to reinforce the idea that a borough has history, or culture, or some sort of life,...
Spoon & Tamago
Keep Cool This Summer With the Komorebi Uchiwa
Komorebi (木漏れ日) is one of those uniquely untranslatable Japanese words. It means “sunlight filtering...
6 months ago
Komorebi (木漏れ日) is one of those uniquely untranslatable Japanese words. It means “sunlight filtering through the tree leaves” and embodies a poetic appreciation for nature and its changing seasons. Capturing that aesthetic, and embedding it into a beautiful handheld fan (uchiwa),...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 4-10 March 2024
Do cool stuff for under a fiver.
10 months ago
Do cool stuff for under a fiver.
Londonist
When A Tube Train Full Of Passengers Was Abandoned In The Tunnel
The stuff of nightmares.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Notes from the SL1
Notes from the SL1
Route SL1: North Finchley - Walthamstow Central
Length of journey: 10 miles, 50...
a year ago
Notes from the SL1
Route SL1: North Finchley - Walthamstow Central
Length of journey: 10 miles, 50 minutes
• The SL1 is the second new Superloop route, as opposed to a rebrand. It's also the first, numerically speaking, although nobody has ever satisfactorily explained why...
diamond geezer
Unblogged December
31 unblogged things I did in December
Sun 1: You'd think after all these years I'd be an expert in...
4 days ago
31 unblogged things I did in December
Sun 1: You'd think after all these years I'd be an expert in getting the temperature of my bath just right, but today's was only borderline warm enough when I got in and swiftly cooled to aggravatingly tepid so I had to get out early. I...
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.
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!
diamond geezer
The temperature post
The temperature post
19.6°C at Kinlochewe.
Kinlochewe is a village in NW Scotland, about halfway...
11 months ago
The temperature post
19.6°C at Kinlochewe.
Kinlochewe is a village in NW Scotland, about halfway between Skye and Inverness. It sits at the head of a loch and is also surrounded on three sides by mountains, so is precisely the sort of place where the Föhn effect might boost...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 16-22 October 2023
The best articles from the past week.
a year ago
The best articles from the past week.
Londonist
How To Spend A (Relatively Cheap) Weekend In Florence
We did say relatively.
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Outdoor Destinations for Every Kind of Traveler
6 months ago
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.
Londonist
These Are The London Boroughs With The Most Public CCTV Cameras
And they're not the ones you might think.
a year ago
And they're not the ones you might think.
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..."
AFAR Media - Travel...
Travel to Costal Germany's Historical UNESCO Sites
7 months ago
diamond geezer
Eversleigh Road
At this time of year I like to blog about a festively-named London street, however mundane it might...
a week ago
At this time of year I like to blog about a festively-named London street, however mundane it might be. In the past I've taken you to Noel Street, Noel Square, three Noel Roads, Noel Park Road, Turkey Street, Christmas Street, Yuletide Close, Shepherds Hill, Angel Road, Stables...
diamond geezer
You must have a valid ticket before boarding
Last month there were significant closures on the DLR and a replacement bus service ran.
And...
4 months ago
Last month there were significant closures on the DLR and a replacement bus service ran.
And there was one particular sentence that surprised me the most.
"You must have a valid ticket before boarding the replacement bus service."
I've never seen that before, not on a TfL...
Spoon & Tamago
Japanese Designer New Year’s Cards of 2024
It’s been a rough start to the new year for Japan as one disaster begets another. We are of course...
a year ago
It’s been a rough start to the new year for Japan as one disaster begets another. We are of course talking about the evolving situation at Haneda airport, as well as the Noto Peninsula. Our hearts go out to everyone affected but we also want to highlight the many heroes of the...
Londonist
Christmas Music Shows In London 2023 - Get Festive With Everything From Crooners To Massaoke
Carols not your thing? There's still a sleigh-load of festive music to lap up.
a year ago
Carols not your thing? There's still a sleigh-load of festive music to lap up.
Londonist
Where To Celebrate Lunar New Year And Chinese New Year 2024 In London
Events and celebrations to welcome 2024's Year of the Dragon.
11 months ago
Events and celebrations to welcome 2024's Year of the Dragon.
diamond geezer
The News From Norfolk
I'm in Norfolk all this week, so expect a mild dose of
The News From Norfolk
Norfolk has more...
5 months ago
I'm in Norfolk all this week, so expect a mild dose of
The News From Norfolk
Norfolk has more Labour MPs than Conservative MPs. That's very unusual in what's normally true blue territory, indeed it hasn't happened since 1945. What's even more unusual is that Norfolk now has MPs...
Londonist
The Archives With 100 Kilometres Of Historic London Documents
LMA is a dream for lovers of London.
10 months ago
LMA is a dream for lovers of London.
The Forney Flyer
Recent Stuff
A few weeks ago we (fellow MAF pilot Andrew and I) landed at Amudat airstrip for the first time in a...
over a year ago
A few weeks ago we (fellow MAF pilot Andrew and I) landed at Amudat airstrip for the first time in a very long time (below).
Over the past year and a half quite a few of the upcountry airstrips in Uganda (especially in Karamoja) deteriorated so badly that we had to stop using...
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...
diamond geezer
The Vyne
NATIONAL TRUST: The Vyne
Location: Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, RG24 9HL [map]
Open: 10am-5pm...
6 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...
Londonist
9 Challenge Events In London In 2024 To Sign Up For Right Now
New year, new challenge!
a year ago
Londonist
Trooping The Colour 2024: When Is It? What's It About? And Other Questions Answered
Pomp and ceremony cranked up to 11.
9 months ago
Pomp and ceremony cranked up to 11.
diamond geezer
November 2024 in summary
I'd like to apologise to readers who don't like trains and railways because all of this week's posts...
a month ago
I'd like to apologise to readers who don't like trains and railways because all of this week's posts have been about trains and railways. I'm aware that many people do like trains and railways, including The Men Who Leave Comments When I Write About Trains And Railways, and their...
Londonist
Visit These 15 Beautiful Castles In Kent
Clifftop fortresses to grand country piles.
9 months ago
Clifftop fortresses to grand country piles.
Londonist
Origin Of The Faeces: Massive Animal Poo Collection Drops In Kingston
This show's going to make a splash.
a year ago
This show's going to make a splash.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 11-17 March 2024
Our best articles from the past week.
9 months ago
Our best articles from the past week.
Londonist
Free Things To Do In London At Christmas
Budget-friendly Christmas events in the capital.
a year ago
Budget-friendly Christmas events in the capital.
Londonist
See Alan Turing... The Musical!
Riverside Studios celebrates the great genius.
a year ago
Riverside Studios celebrates the great genius.
Cheese and Biscuits
Jeune & Jolie, Carlsbad
To a visitor from lands afar (me) who sees this part of the world in little two-week periods twice a...
a month ago
To a visitor from lands afar (me) who sees this part of the world in little two-week periods twice a year, Jeune & Jolie feels like it did all the work of establishing itself as one of the best restaurants in California in a metaphorical blink of an eye, a few short months...
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
Best Of Londonist: 2-8 October 2023
The best articles from the past week.
a year ago
The best articles from the past week.
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.
Londonist
Horizon 22: London's Got A Free New Viewing Gallery - And It's The Tallest In Western Europe
Booking opens 20 September.
a year ago
Booking opens 20 September.
diamond geezer
London's longest countdowns
Works to remodel the Old Street roundabout are nearing completion, above ground at least. It was...
9 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
10 Tempting New Afternoon Teas To Try In London Right Now: February 2024
Get booking for the newest afternoon tea menus in the capital.
11 months ago
Get booking for the newest afternoon tea menus in the capital.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 1-7 January 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
diamond geezer
Unblogged November
30 unblogged things I did in November
Fri 1: I bought some Edding 55 pens online yesterday because...
a month ago
30 unblogged things I did in November
Fri 1: I bought some Edding 55 pens online yesterday because I can't find them in the shops any more, and they were due to arrive today. Before they arrived I got three emails saying "Please note, your driver is unable to leave this item...
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 Articles on Adventure and Wellness in the Nordic Countries
4 months ago
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 13-19 November 2023
The very best of Londonist from the past week.
a year ago
The very best of Londonist from the past week.
Londonist
"As Long As 13 London Buses": The Curious, Spurious Comparisons We Find In The Media
What as tall as six Nelson's Columns?
9 months ago
What as tall as six Nelson's Columns?
Londonist
Walking With The Snowman: Free Art Trail Comes To Fleet Street This Christmas
We're walking in the aaaiiiiiiir.
a year ago
We're walking in the aaaiiiiiiir.
Londonist
Inside South London's Pay-What-You-Can Cafe
South Norwood Community Kitchen.
9 months ago
South Norwood Community Kitchen.
diamond geezer
National Gallery 200
The National Gallery first threw open its doors 200 years ago today. It wasn't in Trafalgar Square...
7 months ago
The National Gallery first threw open its doors 200 years ago today. It wasn't in Trafalgar Square at the time, that hadn't been built yet, but at 100 Pall Mall in a dead banker's townhouse. Here John Julius Angerstein's small collection of Old Masters was displayed, slowly...
diamond geezer
Old Bexley & Sidcup
I've not been especially balanced in my recent reporting of the capital.
• Yesterday I went to...
7 months ago
I've not been especially balanced in my recent reporting of the capital.
• Yesterday I went to Carpenters Road in the constituency of Stratford & Bow where Labour's Uma Kumaran is going to walk it.
• The day before I went to Ham in the constituency of Richmond Park where Liberal...
Londonist
An 'Accidentally Wes Anderson' Exhibition Is Coming To West London
So. Much. Pastel.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Lessons learned
40 things I've learnt about sex over the last 40 years
1) Nothing ever prepares you for the first...
7 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...
Londonist
19 Facts About London That Sound Made-Up But Are True
A drunken Karl Marx and a tube line to the coast.
a year ago
A drunken Karl Marx and a tube line to the coast.
Londonist
20 Pithy Ian Nairn Quotes About Modern London Buildings
"A joke title for a joke of a building."
a year ago
"A joke title for a joke of a building."
Londonist
Things To Look Forward To In London In 2024
The biggest things happening in the capital over the next 12 months.
a year ago
The biggest things happening in the capital over the next 12 months.
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
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.
Cheese and Biscuits
Kolae, Borough Market
Everywhere you look the cost of living crisis bites, and few areas is that more evident than the...
11 months ago
Everywhere you look the cost of living crisis bites, and few areas is that more evident than the restaurant industry. If you're a regular anywhere you will have noticed your favourite dishes and tipples creeping up 10%-20% every few months, seemingly in an existential race with...
diamond geezer
Far From Super Loop
On bus shelters across London TfL are keenly advertising the Superloop. The poster shows a bus, a...
a year ago
On bus shelters across London TfL are keenly advertising the Superloop. The poster shows a bus, a rainbow burst of pastel colours and the legend The Superloop Is Coming. The given date is Spring 2024 and it's described as a commitment by the Mayor to improve public transport in...
Londonist
Another Free Quentin Blake Exhibition In April
The master illustrator is back.
9 months ago
The master illustrator is back.
Londonist
Things To Do In London In The Easter Holidays 2024
Family-friendly events in the capital this spring.
10 months ago
Family-friendly events in the capital this spring.
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
QEOP after dark
The Olympic Park is pretty after dark.
This is Pudding Mill Lane, a massively-overengineered DLR...
a year ago
The Olympic Park is pretty after dark.
This is Pudding Mill Lane, a massively-overengineered DLR station whose time only came when ABBA unexpectedly turned up.
After dark it acts as a beacon of light amid a still-undeveloped Olympic neighbourhood. The word being reflected in...
Londonist
Where To Eat And Drink In Forest Gate: The Best Restaurants, Cafes, Bars And Pubs
Forest food!
a year ago
Cheese and Biscuits
Toba, St James
It's a strange part of town, is St James. Essentially a lesser-known southern extension of Mayfair,...
a year ago
It's a strange part of town, is St James. Essentially a lesser-known southern extension of Mayfair, it's barely a half mile square and yet contains quite a high density of fancy hotels (Duke's, the Stafford, the Ritz), private members' clubs and the odd royal palace. Whereas some...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 1-7 April 2024
Our top stories from the last seven days.
9 months ago
Our top stories from the last seven days.
Londonist
The Open House London 2023 Programme Has Been Announced - Including BT Tower Tours
Plus tube station tours, and other landmark buildings.
a year ago
Plus tube station tours, and other landmark buildings.
Spoon & Tamago
Fruit, Not What it Appears to be in Artfully Arranged Compositions by Yuni Yoshida
I like to eat apples and bananas. Yuni Yoshida, the creative director known for her mind-bending...
a year ago
I like to eat apples and bananas. Yuni Yoshida, the creative director known for her mind-bending visual illusions, likes to alter them, creating visually arresting compositions that make you look, and then look again. Often incorporating food into her work, Yoshida has an ongoing...
Londonist
Santa Steam Express: Meet Father Christmas On A Vintage Train In London
The kids will be chuffed.
a year ago
The kids will be chuffed.
Cheese and Biscuits
AngloThai at Outcrop, the Strand
Part of the vast, shiny new 180 Strand development, AngloThai at Outcrop is an entirely outside -...
a year ago
Part of the vast, shiny new 180 Strand development, AngloThai at Outcrop is an entirely outside - albeit thankfully mainly covered - restaurant designed to make the most of the summer months. Unfortunately on Friday the weather was a bit more traditionally Anglo than Thai,...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 4-10 December 2023
Our best articles from the past week.
a year ago
Our best articles from the past week.
diamond geezer
perhaps your most incredibly dull post
According to a reader, my investigation of the five smallest parks in Barking and Dagenham was...
a month 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...
Londonist
David Attenborough Waxwork Comes To Madame Tussauds
It's the second time he's been honoured here.
a year ago
It's the second time he's been honoured here.
Londonist
Smithfield Market Christmas Meat Auction 2023: A Guide
Get your Xmas turkey on the cheap!
a year ago
Get your Xmas turkey on the cheap!
AFAR Media - Travel...
How Washington, D.C. is Leading the Way in Accessible Travel
a year ago
Londonist
Alternative London Tube Map Shows Great Engineers
From Bazalgette to modern day pioneers.
a year ago
From Bazalgette to modern day pioneers.
Londonist
A White Knuckle Guide To High Adrenaline Activities In London
Feel the fear and do it anyway.
11 months ago
Feel the fear and do it anyway.
Londonist
London's Christmas Lights 2023: Where, When And How To See Them This Year
A complete guide to London's glittering festive displays.
a year ago
A complete guide to London's glittering festive displays.
diamond geezer
Hog Hill and Dog Kennel Hill
Things on Hills: Hog Hill and Dog Kennel Hill
Where the heck are we? The far side of Redbridge,...
2 months ago
Things on Hills: Hog Hill and Dog Kennel Hill
Where the heck are we? The far side of Redbridge, almost in Havering
Be more precise: On the southern edge of Hainault Country Park
Nearest tube station: Fairlop, but 1½ miles away so hardly near
Nearest bus routes: both the 247 and...
Spoon & Tamago
Three Art Festival to Visit in Japan in the 2nd Half of 2024
Japan’s numerous art festivals have proven to be an effective way of luring domestic and...
7 months ago
Japan’s numerous art festivals have proven to be an effective way of luring domestic and international tourists out of popular destinations and into rural parts of Japan they would have otherwise not visited. The poster child is perhaps the Setouchi Triennale, whose combination...
diamond geezer
Watch
AcquaintanceWatch #28July
Wochabinupto?
Blog visitors: 0
Blog comments: 0
Blog content:
Hours out:...
5 months ago
AcquaintanceWatch #28July
Wochabinupto?
Blog visitors: 0
Blog comments: 0
Blog content:
Hours out: 0
Nights out: 0
Alcohol intake: 0 Becks
Tea intake: 0
Trains used: 0
Steps walked: 0
Mystery count: 0
comments if(postComments['231203823120386'] != null){document.write(' (' +...
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...
diamond geezer
Sadiq's third manifesto
Sadiq's manifesto has finally been published so let's take a look (mainly so there's a blogpost to...
8 months ago
Sadiq's manifesto has finally been published so let's take a look (mainly so there's a blogpost to check at the end of his term in 2028).
Title: A fairer, safer, greener London for everyone
Pages: 67
Top 10 pledges
1) Free school meals
2) Freeze TfL fares
3) 40,000 new...
Londonist
London To Brighton Veteran Car Run 2023: When Is It? What's The Route? Which Vehicles Will I See?
What a sight!
a year ago
Londonist
London's New Women's Museum Opens This March
Launching on International Women's Day.
10 months ago
Launching on International Women's Day.
diamond geezer
Kempton Park
One Stop Beyond: Kempton Park
In this series I'm taking the train one stop beyond the Greater...
3 months ago
One Stop Beyond: Kempton Park
In this series I'm taking the train one stop beyond the Greater London boundary, getting off and seeing what's there. Today that means Kempton Park, one stop beyond Hampton on the Shepperton line, a station which exists solely because of the...
diamond geezer
It's official
Journalists working at various media portals are under increasing pressure to churn out more and...
2 months ago
Journalists working at various media portals are under increasing pressure to churn out more and more stories because the more they write the more page views they get. Clickbait isn't going away any time soon. But a trope that's sadly gathering more prominence lately is a...
Londonist
What's Happening With London Housing, Rent And Development? November 2023
Our quickfire summary of bricks and mortar, steel and glass.
a year ago
Our quickfire summary of bricks and mortar, steel and glass.
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...
8 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
Tate Britain Reveals Grenfell-Inspired Staircase
Chris Ofili's Requiem unveiled.
a year ago
Chris Ofili's Requiem unveiled.
Spoon & Tamago
You’ll Soon Be Able to Stay in One of Japan’s Most Beautifully Designed Prisons
photos by Masashi Mizowaki and Takaharu Yagi Spending the night in jail is usually not a good thing....
a year ago
photos by Masashi Mizowaki and Takaharu Yagi Spending the night in jail is usually not a good thing. Unless of course you’re staying in Japan’s Nara Prison, a historic red-brick structure built in 1908 with western archways and onion domes that lend an air of castle more than...
Spoon & Tamago
Artists Summon Mythical Creatures of the Echigo Region for the 2024 Wara Art Festival
photos courtesy Wara Art Festival Autumn is officially upon us. It’s the season of shorter days,...
3 months ago
photos courtesy Wara Art Festival Autumn is officially upon us. It’s the season of shorter days, brighter moons and bountiful harvests. Niigata prefecture, in Northern Japan, is known for its rice paddies and rice production. Around this time of year the rice harvest becomes a...
diamond geezer
I wish it could be every day
I wish it could be Christmas Eve every day
• Shopping would always be madness.
• No more Countdown...
a year ago
I wish it could be Christmas Eve every day
• Shopping would always be madness.
• No more Countdown on C4, just endless reruns of The Snowman.
• You'd forever be wrapping presents but not opening them.
• You'd soon run out of sellotape.
• Christmas jumpers would no longer be a...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to Relax and Eat Seafood in Corpus Christi, TX
6 months ago
diamond geezer
Unblogged 1984
30 unblogged things I did in September 1984
They didn't have blogs or the internet forty years ago,...
3 months ago
30 unblogged things I did in September 1984
They didn't have blogs or the internet forty years ago, indeed my Sinclair ZX81 wasn't capable of much, but here are 30 things I didn't digitally publish at the time. To help you get your bearings I was 19 and most of this is the end...
Spoon & Tamago
Japan’s Jimi ‘Mundane’ Halloween Costumes of 2023
Ah, it’s Halloween weekend. And that means it’s time for our favorite Japanese festival Jimi...
a year ago
Ah, it’s Halloween weekend. And that means it’s time for our favorite Japanese festival Jimi Halloween, where people dress up in costumes so mundane they have to be explained. The tradition was started in 2014 by a group of adults at Daily Portal Z who “kind of wanted to...
diamond geezer
Farewell Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, first published in 1827, went to press for the last time on...
3 months ago
The Evening Standard, first published in 1827, went to press for the last time on Thursday.
<insert anecdotes here, including how it used to have competition, and how it used to be good, and how it used to cost money but you'd still buy it, and how it was never the same after...
The Forney Flyer
Northern Scenery, Way Back When...
Today I'm returning to the "Way Back When..." series, highlighting some of the surreal beauty we...
over a year ago
Today I'm returning to the "Way Back When..." series, highlighting some of the surreal beauty we enjoyed in the boreal forests of the far north.
Obviously most of these photos feature frigid beauty. That's because it was cold and snowy/icy much of the year. Also, there were...
diamond geezer
London's waymarked walks
London's waymarked walks
(i.e. they have signs showing you the way to go)
(n.b. fabulous...
8 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
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 23-24 September 2023
Exhibitions, festivals, workshops, talks, cabaret, comedy... phew!
a year ago
Exhibitions, festivals, workshops, talks, cabaret, comedy... phew!
diamond geezer
The Wrythe
Today we're off to the only south London suburb that starts with The, namely The Wrythe which is a...
7 months ago
Today we're off to the only south London suburb that starts with The, namely The Wrythe which is a significant part of Sutton. Essentially it's North Carshalton but has had a separate identity since medieval times, actual residents since Victorian times and today forms a...
Spoon & Tamago
Designed by Kengo Kuma, Kiki’s Museum of Literature to Open in Tokyo
Fans of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” will be delighted to learn that a new museum dedicated to...
a year ago
Fans of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” will be delighted to learn that a new museum dedicated to children’s book author Eiko Kadono will open in Tokyo. Designed by architect Kengo Kumo, the three-story Kiki’s Museum of Literature will be located inside Nagisa Park, which is situated...
Spoon & Tamago
Tenohira Hanabi Let’s You Enjoy Sparklers in the Palm of Your Hand
Senko hanabi, literally meaning ‘incense fireworks,’ are small and subtle sparklers that are packed...
5 months ago
Senko hanabi, literally meaning ‘incense fireworks,’ are small and subtle sparklers that are packed with about 10 seconds of delicate pyrotechnics. Typically sold alongside other handheld fireworks, the unspoken rule is that senko hanabi are reserved for the grand finale....
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 20-26 November 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
One from Nippon
A peek into Japan's Convenience Stores (Part 2)
Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part article. It will mostly make sense even without...
a year ago
Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part article. It will mostly make sense even without reading Part 1, but you would be missing out on a lot of context!
Before we start, let's take a quick detour to talk about that word in the
Londonist
Even More Of London's Crappiest Benches
When London's seats fail to bring their A game.
a year ago
When London's seats fail to bring their A game.
diamond geezer
Changing bus routes
Every bus route serving bus stop M has changed over the last 20 years.
8 used to go to Victoria,...
a year ago
Every bus route serving bus stop M has changed over the last 20 years.
8 used to go to Victoria, then was cut back to Oxford Circus in 2009, then to Tottenham Court Road in 2013.
25 originally came from Oxford Circus but was cut back to Holborn Viaduct in 2018.
108 never used...
Londonist
Festival of Railway Modelling Returns To Alexandra Palace
Hundreds of mini trains steam into town.
10 months ago
Hundreds of mini trains steam into town.
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 Things to Know Before Seeing a Broadway Show in New York City
a year ago
diamond geezer
Why did they say that?
This post is about announcements I’ve heard on TfL services recently.
The announcements split into...
10 months ago
This post is about announcements I’ve heard on TfL services recently.
The announcements split into two groups.
a) Why did they say that?
b) Why did they say that now?
Why did they say that?
"Customers using the escalators are advised to carry pets at all times"
[Whitechapel...
Londonist
The Iconic Harry Beck Map But Make It Aeroplanes
But is everything as it seems?
a year ago
But is everything as it seems?
Londonist
Can You Set Off Your Own Fireworks In London?
DIY whizzbangs, explained.
a year ago
DIY whizzbangs, explained.
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Outdoor Locations in Toronto, Canada
7 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Travel by Sea With Luxury, Sustainability, and Adventure
3 months ago
diamond geezer
Looking ahead to 2024
Looking ahead to 2024
Jan: Londoners ignore the New Year Parade; the popular blog diamond geezer...
a year 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
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.
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...
Londonist
"£1 For A Return Fare Since 2003": Brockwell Park's Miniature Railway
You can hire it for birthdays, too.
9 months ago
You can hire it for birthdays, too.
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...
diamond geezer
Everyman Stratford International
Stratford has a new cinema.
Everyman and can be found in the highrise nomansland that separates...
2 weeks ago
Stratford has a new cinema.
Everyman and can be found in the highrise nomansland that separates Westfield from the Olympic Park, now officially known as Stratford Cross. It's housed in a brushed metal box tucked beneath 20 floors of Grade A office space. It has three screens,...
Londonist
TfL Poppy Roundels: Here Are The Underground And Overground Stations Where You'll Find Them
London's trains and buses are 'wearing' poppies too.
a year ago
London's trains and buses are 'wearing' poppies too.
Londonist
The Age-Old Ritual Of Chair Lifting On Easter Monday
Blackheath Morris Men in Greenwich again this Easter.
9 months ago
Blackheath Morris Men in Greenwich again this Easter.
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.
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...
6 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...
Londonist
Where To Celebrate Diwali 2023 In London
Including the huge, free Diwali Festival.
a year ago
Including the huge, free Diwali Festival.
diamond geezer
Transport Freedom
I love my Travelcard because it allows me to take multiple journeys anywhere I like whenever I like....
12 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...
Herbert Lui
Stories as psychological moonshots
In 1969, commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo 11 on the...
a week ago
In 1969, commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo 11 on the moon. It was the first step to send people into space and discover literal galaxies of new possibilities. This project became the archetypal one for ambitious, exploratory, work; we...
Cheese and Biscuits
64 Goodge Street, Fitzrovia
The first thing we were given to eat at 64 Goodge Street was a little plate of truffle-cream...
5 months ago
The first thing we were given to eat at 64 Goodge Street was a little plate of truffle-cream gougères topped with shaved Comté. These turned out to be important for two reasons - firstly, they weren't on the menu and as unannounced bonus extra dishes go you could hardly do more...
Spoon & Tamago
Trains Intersect with Everyday Life in Nostalgic Illustrations by Shinjiro Ogawa
Trains are an integral part of daily life in Japan, supporting commutes, errands and all other forms...
a year ago
Trains are an integral part of daily life in Japan, supporting commutes, errands and all other forms of daily life. And while their existence can be taken for granted, their many forms and colors add to the uniqueness of each neighborhood they traverse. Capturing the scenery of...
diamond geezer
Untangling Hackney
We're not due another tube map until August when the Overground lines get their own names. There's...
8 months ago
We're not due another tube map until August when the Overground lines get their own names. There's no point replacing paper maps and posters on platforms until then. But the online map on the TfL website is another matter and is often updated between print runs to reflect the...
diamond geezer
Dull Saturday
Dull Saturday
07:30 Crumpet
08:00 Paper shop
5 months ago
Dull Saturday
07:30 Crumpet
08:00 Paper shop
diamond geezer
Clandon and Hatchlands
Yesterday I took the train to Surrey to tick off two more National Trust properties.
Cost of...
a year ago
Yesterday I took the train to Surrey to tick off two more National Trust properties.
Cost of off-peak return from Waterloo to Clandon: £14.50
Cost of off-peak return from Wimbledon to Clandon: £8.00 (so maybe do that)
You alight the train a couple of stops before Guildford and...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 1-7 January 2024
All our best articles from the past week.
12 months ago
All our best articles from the past week.
Herbert Lui
Just do the real thing (again)
If you want to get good at something, just start by doing it. Today. Sam Altman writes an important...
3 weeks ago
If you want to get good at something, just start by doing it. Today. Sam Altman writes an important reminder on this: don’t outsmart yourself and spend precious time and energy working on fake prerequisites. Here’s an example, from my life, that I write about in Creative Doing:...
Spoon & Tamago
Local Noto Businesses that You Can Support
Roughly 6000 people remain in temporary evacuation shelters ever since the Noto Earthquake on...
11 months ago
Roughly 6000 people remain in temporary evacuation shelters ever since the Noto Earthquake on January 1st upended life for so many. And while the recovery is long and arduous, many are doing what they can to return to normal and that includes the many local businesses in the Noto...
Londonist
Short Courses At UAL: Learn Life-Changing Creative Skills How (And When) You Want
Over 1,000 short courses to choose from.
a year ago
Over 1,000 short courses to choose from.
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...
9 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...
Herbert Lui
Turner’s practice
When you look at one of Joseph Mallord William Turner’s paintings, you might notice his work with...
a week ago
When you look at one of Joseph Mallord William Turner’s paintings, you might notice his work with color. Yes—while it is a landscape painting, and landscapes were seen as a relatively low form of art at the time, that Turner took on any way for better commercial prospects—it’s...
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in June 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in June 2024
1) Whatever 16 members of the public have...
6 months ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in June 2024
1) Whatever 16 members of the public have said, no occurrences of bedbugs have been identified on TfL services over the past two years.
2) London's least busy bus stop is at Dysart Avenue (I blogged about this in some...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Hotel Review: Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, New York City
a year ago
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.
12 months ago
Kilt up and raise a dram to Robert Burns on 25 January.
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...
4 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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Soon, TSA Security Screenings Will Be Self-Service
a year ago
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 25 September-1 October 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
"Sensationally Naff": The 1995 Plans To Rebrand Tube Stations After Advertisers
Tube sponsorship is nothing new.
10 months ago
Tube sponsorship is nothing new.
Spoon & Tamago
Show Your Japan Prefectural Love With These Enamel Pins
This series of enamel pins, with each representing one of Japan’s 47 prefectures, are the perfect...
10 months ago
This series of enamel pins, with each representing one of Japan’s 47 prefectures, are the perfect way to show love for your hometown, or simply keep as mementos from your travels. Not only do they accurately capture the shape of each prefecture but the colors were also carefully...
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...
11 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
Redditch
Gadabout: REDDITCH
Redditch is an old market town a dozen miles south of Birmingham and marginally...
3 months ago
Gadabout: REDDITCH
Redditch is an old market town a dozen miles south of Birmingham and marginally in Worcestershire. It's also a new town, one of the second wave designated in the mid 1960s, and expanded considerably to create a car-friendly constellation of residential nuclei....
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Lisbon's Culinary Scene Rivals Europe's Best Food Cities
a month ago
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
Ticket Alert: Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour Film Is Coming To London
Welcome to the Renaissance.
a year ago
Welcome to the Renaissance.
Spoon & Tamago
Japan Society Presents Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux
this post is sponsored by Japan Society Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan and Japan...
11 months ago
this post is sponsored by Japan Society Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan and Japan Society are proud to announce the eighth installment of the ACA Cinema Project film series, Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux. The series examines the shifting dynamics and...
Londonist
Exciting News For London Art Lovers!
A special offer just in time for the Easter holidays
10 months ago
A special offer just in time for the Easter holidays
Spoon & Tamago
Detailed Survey Drawings of Tokyo Hotel Rooms by Kei Endo
Kei Endo is an accomplished architect and draughtswoman. And she also enjoys staying at hotels,...
a year ago
Kei Endo is an accomplished architect and draughtswoman. And she also enjoys staying at hotels, which was the beginning of a wonderful side-hustle that brought together the best of both her worlds, and resulted in a new book deal. Endo reports on the hotels she stays in through...
diamond geezer
Park Lane
PARK
LANE
£350
London's Monopoly Streets
PARK LANE
Colour group: dark blue
Purchase price:...
3 weeks ago
PARK
LANE
£350
London's Monopoly Streets
PARK LANE
Colour group: dark blue
Purchase price: £350
Rent: £35
Length: 1200m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1
Park Lane, a seething dual carriageway that somehow retains a luxury cachet. One side is a wall of superior hideaways and...
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
September events diary 2024
It's almost September again but never fear, London's putting on a last flurry of events, activities...
4 months ago
It's almost September again but never fear, London's putting on a last flurry of events, activities and happenings before the nights draw in and we're all invited. Here's my weekend-by-weekend guide to free September delights.
All month
Totally Thames (Sep 1-30): Once again a...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Vacation Ideas for Families with Neurodivergent Children
a year ago
Londonist
International Women's Day And Women's History Month 2024 Events In London
Guided walks, talks, exhibitions and more - all celebrating women.
10 months ago
Guided walks, talks, exhibitions and more - all celebrating women.
Londonist
Martin Luther King Gets A London Blue Plaque
The activist visited Bloomsbury in 1961.
11 months ago
The activist visited Bloomsbury in 1961.
The Forney Flyer
Rib Day - 2 Year Anniversary Celebration!
Two years ago, on October 17th, this happened...
Long story short, I got knocked off my...
over a year ago
Two years ago, on October 17th, this happened...
Long story short, I got knocked off my motorcycle by a drunk driver, and then a different vehicle, a large Toyota Landcruiser (SUV) promptly drove over me, right across my torso. I should have died right then and there, and...
Londonist
Astounding Animal Statues By Gillie And Marc Near London Bridge
A Wild Life for Wildlife.
a year ago
A Wild Life for Wildlife.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 4-10 September 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
This Oxford Circus Building Is The Mini Me Of An Iconic Manhattan Skyscraper
Palladium House is a tribute to the American Radiator Building.
10 months ago
Palladium House is a tribute to the American Radiator Building.
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...
diamond geezer
How deep is Crossrail?
In the last week TfL have refused to answer two freedom of Information requests both asking the same...
12 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...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 25 September-1 October 2023
The best articles from the past week.
a year ago
The best articles from the past week.
Londonist
You Can Play With This Miniature Tube Train At Hounslow West Underground Station
There's no way you're not pressing that button.
a year ago
There's no way you're not pressing that button.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 22-28 January 2024
The best Londonist articles from the past week.
11 months ago
The best Londonist articles from the past week.
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...
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.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do In London This Week: 1-7 April 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
9 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
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
Gaps between Easters
You've probably noticed that Easter Day moves around a lot. Yes, it can fall on any date between...
9 months ago
You've probably noticed that Easter Day moves around a lot. Yes, it can fall on any date between 22nd March and 25th April, but it never seems to end up on the same weekend it did last year. And indeed it never can.
Let's take a look at how the date jumps around during the...
One from Nippon
The shoe that became a sock. And then a shoe again.
Stockholm, 1912
At 35° C it was an unusually hot day for Stockholm. Shizo Kanakuri stood at the...
a year ago
Stockholm, 1912
At 35° C it was an unusually hot day for Stockholm. Shizo Kanakuri stood at the start line of the marathon in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. Shizo was carrying the hopes, dreams, and pride of Japan, a country attempting to become a “modern” nation.
There
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
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.
9 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Vacation to Corpus Christi, TX in the Fall
6 months ago
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.
Spoon & Tamago
‘Ye Bakers’ is a New Bakery Nestled Inside an Aichi Home
In a residential neighborhood, a small bakery is designed to integrate seamlessly with its...
a year ago
In a residential neighborhood, a small bakery is designed to integrate seamlessly with its surroundings while maintaining its commercial purpose.
Related posts:
Noma’s New Pop Up by OEO Studio in Kyoto
Interior Designer Shigeru Uchida: 1943 – 2016
House Tour: Yoyogi Artist...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 29 January-4 February 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
11 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 11-17 December 2023
Roundup of Londonist articles from the past week.
a year ago
Roundup of Londonist articles from the past week.
Londonist
9 Excellent Events Near London: January 2024
Dogs and beer - what more do you need?
a year ago
Dogs and beer - what more do you need?
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 18-24 September 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
There Are So Many Swan Lakes Coming To London This Summer
The Year of the Swan.
9 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
5 Excursions With Afar and Atlas Ocean Voyages
6 months ago
diamond geezer
London's most extreme roundabouts
London's most extreme roundabouts
i.e. the largest, smallest, deepest, farthest, earliest,...
4 months ago
London's most extreme roundabouts
i.e. the largest, smallest, deepest, farthest, earliest, weirdest, exitiest... all the extremes.
roundabout anyway, and will also have gaps, omissions and inaccuracies, but thankfully a lot of my readers are inquisitive research-friendly...
Londonist
An A-Z Of The London Underground
X was tricky but we think we sorted it.
11 months ago
X was tricky but we think we sorted it.
Londonist
Ayyy! The Fonz Is Coming To London In June
Happy days.
10 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 Must-Try Winter Activities in Park City, Utah
2 weeks ago
diamond geezer
Over 30
A heatwave in September is unusual but not unprecedented.
Dates on which the temperature at...
a year ago
A heatwave in September is unusual but not unprecedented.
Dates on which the temperature at Hampstead reached 30°C
JunJulAugSep
2010279/10
201127
2012 2518
2013 13 15/16/17 221
2014 18
2015 122
2016 18/19/202413
201717/18/19/20/216
2018 5/6/7/8 15 23 25/26/272/3...
Londonist
A Brief History Of Tower Bridge
The history behind London's iconic bridge
a year ago
The history behind London's iconic bridge
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...
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