diamond geezer
BBC2@60
60years@BBC2
1964 Play School, Horizon, Match Of The Day, Not Only But Also; 1965 Call My Bluff, Man...
8 months ago
60years@BBC2
1964 Play School, Horizon, Match Of The Day, Not Only But Also; 1965 Call My Bluff, Man Alive; 1966 The Money Programme, Chronicle, Cathy Come Home; 1967 The Forsyte Saga, Look and Read, colour televison; 1968 Gardeners' World, The Morecambe & Wise Show; 1969 Q, Pot...
Londonist
Christmas In London 2023: A Guide To Festive Events, Food And Drink In The Capital This Winter
Top tips for spending Christmas in the capital.
a year ago
Top tips for spending Christmas in the capital.
AFAR Media - Travel...
An Insider’s Guide to Wellness Travel in Sweden and Norway
4 months ago
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in June 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in June 2024
1) Whatever 16 members of the public have...
5 months ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in June 2024
1) Whatever 16 members of the public have said, no occurrences of bedbugs have been identified on TfL services over the past two years.
2) London's least busy bus stop is at Dysart Avenue (I blogged about this in some...
Londonist
The Lost Trees Of London
The biggest and best trees that are no more.
a year ago
The biggest and best trees that are no more.
Londonist
10 Times That Fictional London Has Slipped Into Our Universe
Glitches in the matrix.
a year ago
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...
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.
Londonist
"The Tube Is Ripe For Comedy - So I Wrote A Play About It"
Chances are you'll recognise some of the characters in Cockfosters.
a year ago
Chances are you'll recognise some of the characters in Cockfosters.
Londonist
Pollock's Toy Museum Is Reopening... In Croydon
Six month pop-up arrives this January.
11 months ago
Six month pop-up arrives this January.
diamond geezer
St Paul's Cathedral
On Lord Mayor's Show day entrance to St Paul's Cathedral is free.
Today's post comes free with 30...
a year ago
On Lord Mayor's Show day entrance to St Paul's Cathedral is free.
Today's post comes free with 30 photos on Flickr.
n.b. Doors open at 8.30am, so if you get there early you can get minimal people in your photos.
20 things to see inside St Paul's Cathedral
Nave
1) The font...
diamond geezer
Three 15-minute posts
Here are the other three submissions to my "Write A Post in 15 minutes" challenge. They have more of...
4 months ago
Here are the other three submissions to my "Write A Post in 15 minutes" challenge. They have more of an out and about theme. The first is from Peter who lives in south Devon, not actually in Honiton but fairly close. The second is from Lorenzo and was originally laid out with ten...
AFAR Media - Travel...
3 Great California Travel Itineraries to Inspire Anyone
10 months ago
Londonist
Week Of January Tube Strikes Set To Cause Severe Disruption
Happy New Year!
11 months ago
diamond geezer
Havant
Until yesterday I hadn't been to Havant.
Havant is a large town in southeast Hampshire on the way...
4 months ago
Until yesterday I hadn't been to Havant.
Havant is a large town in southeast Hampshire on the way to Portsmouth.
They Havant got many old buildings because most of the town burnt in a fire in 1760. Only the church and a row of cottages survived.
St Faith's and they found...
diamond geezer
Unblogged 1984
31 unblogged things I did in December 1984
They didn't have blogs or the internet forty years ago,...
3 days ago
31 unblogged things I did in December 1984
They didn't have blogs or the internet forty years ago, indeed my Sinclair ZX81 wasn't capable of much, but here are 31 things I didn't digitally publish at the time. To help you get your bearings I was 19 and December featured one week...
diamond geezer
PR bumf round-up
I haven't whinged about unsolicited PR emails for a while because I don't get as many as I used to....
2 weeks ago
I haven't whinged about unsolicited PR emails for a while because I don't get as many as I used to. But they still trickle in, generally from hopeful marketeers with a press release to regurgitate or a plea to amplify some sponsored content. We don't do that here, thanks.
Zarya...
diamond geezer
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
London New Year's Eve Fireworks 2023: Ticket Details Announced
See in 2024 by the Thames in central London.
a year ago
See in 2024 by the Thames in central London.
Herbert Lui
Confidence vs. trusting the process
“This might not work,” Seth Godin writes in his blog post, “Out on a limb.” (It’s one of my...
2 weeks ago
“This might not work,” Seth Godin writes in his blog post, “Out on a limb.” (It’s one of my favorites, alongside “Talker’s Block.” ) It’s fascinating to see this idea make it into a key part of his book The Practice, which I recently picked up and find myself liking a lot. If you...
Londonist
Stratford Market Village To Reopen - Following Shock Closure In January
"We are so glad to be back."
8 months ago
"We are so glad to be back."
diamond geezer
B2024
This is the road of the year, the B2024.
There was once an A2024 heading east out of Chichester,...
11 months ago
This is the road of the year, the B2024.
There was once an A2024 heading east out of Chichester, but a WW2 airfield severed that so the B2024 is now all we have.
It kicks off in the middle of Westerham, a proper Wealden town with a coaching inn, tea rooms and a historic high...
Londonist
London Gets A New Station As Brent Cross West Opens
Handy for Brent Cross shopping centre.
a year ago
Handy for Brent Cross shopping centre.
AFAR Media - Travel...
United To Fly New Nonstop Flights to East Asia This Fall
a year ago
diamond geezer
Unblogged June
30 unblogged things I did in June
Sat 1: Kept bumping into Spanish and German football fans all over...
5 months ago
30 unblogged things I did in June
Sat 1: Kept bumping into Spanish and German football fans all over parts of London nowhere near where the Champions League final would be taking place. It's amazing how far a stadiumful spreads out. Dortmund had by far the better kit, and by far...
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...
Spoon & Tamago
Travelling Through Eizan Railway’s Picturesque ‘Momiji Tunnel’
all photos courtesy Eizan Electric Railway Along Kyoto’s Eizan Electric Railway is a section known...
a year ago
all photos courtesy Eizan Electric Railway Along Kyoto’s Eizan Electric Railway is a section known as “Maple Tree Tunnel” (momiji tunnel, in Japanese) that is lined with hundreds of maple trees. They are, of course, beautiful any time of year. But maple trees are particularly...
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...
Londonist
The Ballot For Wimbledon 2024 Is Now Open
Ace!
a year ago
diamond geezer
Unblogged January
31 unblogged things I did in January
Mon 1: I watched the New Year fireworks from the western edge...
10 months ago
31 unblogged things I did in January
Mon 1: I watched the New Year fireworks from the western edge of Canary Wharf, and they were a bit small and the Shard got in the way but at least I celebrated midnight at the right time, rather than slightly delayed on the telly.
Tue 2:...
Londonist
Check Out This Hand-Drawn Culture Map Of London
ALL the culture. Well, a lot of it.
a year ago
ALL the culture. Well, a lot of it.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 11-17 March 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
9 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
Stratford Sphere Nixed By Mayor: But Where Else Could They Build It?
Where to put a giant glowing sphere?
a year ago
Where to put a giant glowing sphere?
Spoon & Tamago
All 54 Playing Cards Reinterpreted Through Still Life Photography by Yuni Yoshida
Flower petals, leaves, foods and other objects have all been meticulously arranged and then...
a year ago
Flower petals, leaves, foods and other objects have all been meticulously arranged and then photographed to create a set of 54 playing cards, including 2 jokers. It’s the latest work by art director Yuni Yoshida (previously), who’s penchant for analog techniques that shun digital...
diamond geezer
Count 2024
During February 2003 on diamond geezer I kept myself busy by counting things. Ten different counts,...
9 months ago
During February 2003 on diamond geezer I kept myself busy by counting things. Ten different counts, to be precise, in a none-too thrilling daily feature called The Count. My 28-day tally chart may have been deathly dull to the rest of you, but I've continued to count those...
diamond geezer
London's Monopoly streets
New year, new blog series.
I speak of visiting all the streets in Monopoly.
OLD...
11 months ago
New year, new blog series.
I speak of visiting all the streets in Monopoly.
OLD KENT
ROAD
£60
→
MAYFAIR
£400
I'm using the London version of the board, obviously, and the original 1935 streets rather than any of the silly thematic...
Londonist
Lord Mayor's Show 2023: When And Where Is It, And What's Happening?
Spend the day marking an ancient London tradition dating back to 1215.
a year ago
Spend the day marking an ancient London tradition dating back to 1215.
One from Nippon
$450 for a School Bag?!
Every year, around March, a curious social custom occurs in Japanese families.
Parents of kids...
11 months ago
Every year, around March, a curious social custom occurs in Japanese families.
Parents of kids entering elementary school visit the grandparents and gingerly tread the topic of buying the kids a very expensive item: a randoseru.
And gingerly they must tread. The randoseru, a...
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...
a week 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:...
AFAR Media - Travel...
9 Must-Visit Religious UNESCO Sites in Germany
7 months ago
Londonist
London's Fear Of The Number 13
Our triskaidekaphobia city.
a year ago
Our triskaidekaphobia city.
Londonist
Dozens Of Vintage Boats Moor Up In Central London This September
The (free!) Classic Boat Festival is back at St Katharine Docks.
a year ago
The (free!) Classic Boat Festival is back at St Katharine Docks.
Londonist
57 Magnificent Things To Do In London This Month: March 2024
Art fairs, Comic Con, the Boat Races, and other March events.
9 months ago
Art fairs, Comic Con, the Boat Races, and other March events.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to Relax and Eat Seafood in Corpus Christi, TX
5 months ago
Londonist
"Sensationally Naff": The 1995 Plans To Rebrand Tube Stations After Advertisers
Tube sponsorship is nothing new.
9 months ago
Tube sponsorship is nothing new.
Londonist
Martin Luther King Gets A London Blue Plaque
The activist visited Bloomsbury in 1961.
11 months ago
The activist visited Bloomsbury in 1961.
Herbert Lui
Worth the wait
Late is better than never, and it’s never too late. Even if the line is long, and you missed a...
a week ago
Late is better than never, and it’s never too late. Even if the line is long, and you missed a chance to join earlier. If the best time to start was yesterday, the second best time is today. Being patient is much easier than it looks. Some lines don’t need you to be present, so...
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.
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
Bow Roundabout update #5
Four months of major roadworks were supposed to begin at the Bow Roundabout on Monday 30th...
2 months ago
Four months of major roadworks were supposed to begin at the Bow Roundabout on Monday 30th September. This did not happen. But they are now underway and - spoilers - it's bad news for local road users.
Monday 7th October
Tuesday 8th October
10 years ago.
However as a...
Londonist
Behind The Blue Doors Of Brixton's Georgian Almshouse
Free exhibition comes to Lambeth Archives.
8 months ago
Free exhibition comes to Lambeth Archives.
diamond geezer
The last in alphabetical order
The last in alphabetical order
Ocean: PACIFIC
Month: SEPTEMBER
Angel Delight flavour: STRAWBERRY
EU...
a year ago
The last in alphabetical order
Ocean: PACIFIC
Month: SEPTEMBER
Angel Delight flavour: STRAWBERRY
EU member state: SWEDEN
Platonic solid: TETRAHEDRON
Quality Street: TOFFEE PENNY
Shakespeare play: TWELFTH NIGHT
Olympic host city: VANCOUVER
Planet: VENUS
Zodiac sign:...
Spoon & Tamago
Keisuke Oka’s Arimaston Building in Tokyo, Made Entirely by Hand
all photos by @husky_003 | used with permission Almost 15 years ago, on a tiny plot of land in...
a month ago
all photos by @husky_003 | used with permission Almost 15 years ago, on a tiny plot of land in eastern Tokyo, a young architect named Keisuke Oka began to construct a tower of concrete entirely by hand. Located just a short walk from Mita Station, the Arimaston Building (蟻鱒鳶ル) is...
Londonist
TfL Releases Treasure Trove Of Historic Tube Maps, Photos And More
The transport motherlode via Google Arts & Culture.
10 months ago
The transport motherlode via Google Arts & Culture.
Londonist
There Are So Many Swan Lakes Coming To London This Summer
The Year of the Swan.
8 months ago
diamond geezer
London's triple points
There are six points around the Greater London boundary where three counties...
a year ago
There are six points around the Greater London boundary where three counties meet.
London/Kent/Surrey
Specifically: Biggin Hill/Westerham/Tatsfield
Location: Rag Hill
To get here take a walk along the quiet twisty country lane that wends between Tatsfield Green and the...
Londonist
Thanksgiving In London 2023: Celebrate At American Restaurants, Special Meals And Thanksgiving...
Get booking for 23 November.
a year ago
Get booking for 23 November.
diamond geezer
Class 701
A new train has entered service on SouthWestern this week.
class 701 - but as yet there is just one...
11 months ago
A new train has entered service on SouthWestern this week.
class 701 - but as yet there is just one train. There should be 90 trains but their introduction is running way behind schedule, indeed the original intention was for the first 701 to enter service five years ago....
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 14-15 October 2023
A rum festival, a new fashion exhibition, Cocktail Week and more.
a year ago
A rum festival, a new fashion exhibition, Cocktail Week and more.
Londonist
Halloween 2023: Parties, Events And Things To Do In London
Get your spook on.
a year ago
Spoon & Tamago
Tolerance Poster Show Debuts in Japan
The Tolerance traveling poster show is a socially driven initiative that asks prominent designers...
a year ago
The Tolerance traveling poster show is a socially driven initiative that asks prominent designers from around the world to create artworks with the word Tolerance in their language. The exhibition, which leverages art & design to spread its powerful message of respect for...
diamond geezer
dg's TikTok tips
dg's TikTok tips: the iconic phonebox shot
only one has the pixiedust to glam up your socials big...
a week ago
dg's TikTok tips: the iconic phonebox shot
only one has the pixiedust to glam up your socials big time. It's the red phone box in Parliament Square, north side, and if you stand alongside you can combine the holy trinity of a) red phone box b) the actual Big Ben c) your pouting...
diamond geezer
Wyncham Stream
THE UNLOST RIVERS OF LONDON
Wyncham Stream
Chislehurst → Longlands → Blackfen (2½ miles)
Eight...
a year ago
THE UNLOST RIVERS OF LONDON
Wyncham Stream
Chislehurst → Longlands → Blackfen (2½ miles)
Eight years ago when I walked the River Shuttle, a proper unlost river, I apologised that I wouldn't be walking its tributary the Wyncham Stream. It's only a mile long, I said, and only...
Londonist
In Pictures: Vintage London Palladium Programmes
Robert Opie shares his collection with us.
a year ago
Robert Opie shares his collection with us.
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
Election triplepoint
The General Election has seen Labour strengthen its hold over the capital with 59 MPs, while the...
5 months ago
The General Election has seen Labour strengthen its hold over the capital with 59 MPs, while the Liberal Democrats have doubled their total to 6 and the Conservatives slumped to just 9. The electoral map of London is thus almost all red, with a yellow bloc to the southwest and a...
diamond geezer
Some transport news
Some transport news
Overground news
It's only accessible via QR code so it's not that...
4 months ago
Some transport news
Overground news
It's only accessible via QR code so it's not that accessible, but I clicked through and discovered the URL is vin.cloud.gomedia.io/HOXTON so you can check it out too. The homescreen is a list of the next three departures and their expected...
Londonist
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
Senko Hanabi Earrings are the Perfect Summer Accessory
Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without fireworks. The tradition originated over 280 years...
a year ago
Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without fireworks. The tradition originated over 280 years ago as a means of warding off epidemics and today, no matter where you are in Japan, you can be sure to encounter fireworks festivals both large and small. And while the grand...
Londonist
Holy Immersive Pop-Up! You Can Visit The Batcave At This Free Batman Experience
Feat. costumes, props and vehicles from the movies.
a year ago
Feat. costumes, props and vehicles from the movies.
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.
Spoon & Tamago
The New Simose Art Garden Villa: Where Art & Hospitality Meet at the Sea
All images © Simose Art Museum Stretching over an area of 4.6 hectares and situated alongside the...
a year ago
All images © Simose Art Museum Stretching over an area of 4.6 hectares and situated alongside the picturesque Seto Inland Sea in Hiroshima is the Simose Art Garden Villa. Designed by architect Shigeru Ban (previously), the newly opened destination comprises ten villas, a...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Ashley English’s Favorite Things to Do in Asheville
11 months ago
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.
diamond geezer
Living on an airfield
London contains a lot of former airfields.
Hornchurch.
This was formerly RAF Hornchurch, a large...
11 months ago
London contains a lot of former airfields.
Hornchurch.
This was formerly RAF Hornchurch, a large airfield in the Ingrebourne valley which played a vital role in defending the eastern side of the capital from German bombers. It first came into service in 1915 when it was known...
diamond geezer
How deep is Crossrail?
In the last week TfL have refused to answer two freedom of Information requests both asking the same...
11 months ago
In the last week TfL have refused to answer two freedom of Information requests both asking the same thing. How deep are Crossrail stations?
geology student at UCL attempting to complete an air quality project and the other just wanted a data dump.
I am looking for the platform...
Spoon & Tamago
Spoon & Tamago’s Most-Popular Posts of 2023
It’s an annual tradition at casa Spoon & Tamago to reflect on the year that was by taking a look...
12 months ago
It’s an annual tradition at casa Spoon & Tamago to reflect on the year that was by taking a look back at the posts that resonated the most with our readers. In doing so, we try to make sense of the year which, for Japan, was very much a year of homecoming. Japan felt like...
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
Rude Tube: 160 Years Since First Naughty Graffiti On The Underground
What *did* he write?
9 months ago
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in August 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in August 2024
1) In 2023/24 TfL sold 3,143,828 One Day...
3 months ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in August 2024
1) In 2023/24 TfL sold 3,143,828 One Day Travelcards (down 38% on 2018/19). They also sold 3,849,293 Weekly Travelcards (down 65%), 801,367 Monthly Travelcards (down 67%) and only 15,192 Annual Travelcards (down 80%).
2)...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Lamb Inn, Little Milton
Most visitors to the Lamb Inn will approach from the car park and be greeted with the sight pictured...
a month ago
Most visitors to the Lamb Inn will approach from the car park and be greeted with the sight pictured above - an achingly cute thatched countryside pub in whitewashed stone looking like it hadn't changed much in the past few hundred years. And this is, of course, a great way to...
Spoon & Tamago
Breeze Bird Cafe & Bakery in Kamakura is Situated Along the Enoden Train Line
photos by Katsuhiro Aoki courtesy Same Picture Company For all that’s written and said about the...
a year ago
photos by Katsuhiro Aoki courtesy Same Picture Company For all that’s written and said about the difficulty of starting a business in Japan, there is one exception. The country’s lax zoning laws make it particularly easy to convert a section of your home into a cafe or eatery....
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...
diamond geezer
completely screwed at the moment
I was on the Central line the other day and there was a 15 minute gap between trains. You might...
10 months ago
I was on the Central line the other day and there was a 15 minute gap between trains. You might expect this kind of thing at the extremities or late at night, but not at Bethnal Green mid-morning. "Sorry, we're going to be held here for 5 minutes," said the driver. "This is due...
diamond geezer
The Brockley Three Peaks
A Nice Walk: The Brockley Three Peaks (5 miles)
Sometimes you just want to go for a nice walk,...
6 months ago
A Nice Walk: The Brockley Three Peaks (5 miles)
Sometimes you just want to go for a nice walk, triple-summited, great views, waterside stretches, plenty of up and down, easily reached, all-weather surfaces, a bit of history, occasional dead people, refreshment opportunities, two...
Londonist
BBC's Desert Island Discs Announces Live Palladium Shows
Celebrating 80 years of the hit radio programme.
11 months ago
Celebrating 80 years of the hit radio programme.
diamond geezer
Bourneview
London has eight public footpath level crossings, and today I'm going to walk you across another of...
8 months ago
London has eight public footpath level crossings, and today I'm going to walk you across another of them.
Bourneview (CR8 5AD)
Kenley in the London borough of Croydon, a couple of miles southeast of Purley. Two railway lines wend down this dry chalk valley but we want the line...
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
Those Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides Through London Parks Are Back For Winter
The mane event.
a year ago
diamond geezer
An A-Z of London post offices
I wanted to buy a dozen stamps.
For this alphabetical challenge I needed a list of London's post...
a year ago
I wanted to buy a dozen stamps.
For this alphabetical challenge I needed a list of London's post offices, which is awkward because the Post Office's branch finder doesn't do lists, only "closest to"s. Thankfully this is a problem other people also have, and volunteers at...
diamond geezer
Bletchley to Bedford for £1
This is England's best value rail ticket.
£1.
Why? What is going on here? Explain!
Marston Vale...
6 months ago
This is England's best value rail ticket.
£1.
Why? What is going on here? Explain!
Marston Vale line, a minor branch line which has been suffering from an embarrassing lack of rolling stock recently. It was supposed to be operated by three converted District line trains -...
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...
diamond geezer
Tup'penny
#10003 ✅ Analysis
2018 I bagged them up and took them to the bank, earning £13 for my trouble. What...
a year ago
#10003 ✅ Analysis
2018 I bagged them up and took them to the bank, earning £13 for my trouble. What I wondered was what years my remaining 2p coins were minted in and how many years are missing.
1971 1980 1990 1991 1993 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008...
Spoon & Tamago
Kirie Artist Lito Celebrates Tanabata with Handcut Leaves
Today is Tanabata (七夕, meaning “Evening of the seventh”), a Japanese festival celebrating the...
5 months ago
Today is Tanabata (七夕, meaning “Evening of the seventh”), a Japanese festival celebrating the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh...
Spoon & Tamago
An Ethereal Bubble Emerges from a Japanese Townhouse in New Art Installation by MAD Architects
photos by Osamu Nakamura In Niigata prefecture’s Murono Village, a surreal scene has unfolded…or...
5 months ago
photos by Osamu Nakamura In Niigata prefecture’s Murono Village, a surreal scene has unfolded…or should I say, inflated? From the rear of an abandoned townhouse a colossal, semi-transparent bubble has emerged, immediately transforming the quiet village into what could easily be...
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: 19-25 February 2024
7 days of London wrapped up in a neat little package.
10 months ago
7 days of London wrapped up in a neat little package.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Madeira, Portugal Is the Ideal Stopover Destination
a month ago
Spoon & Tamago
Repurposing Japan’s Glut of Empty Homes as Greenhouses
The coronavirus pandemic had a drastic and immediate impact on Yuichiro Shimizu’s taxi business. As...
a year ago
The coronavirus pandemic had a drastic and immediate impact on Yuichiro Shimizu’s taxi business. As early as January 2020, Nichiei Taxi, a local business that has been servicing Saitama prefecture for over 50 years, saw their revenue drop by a staggering 80%. To save the company,...
Spoon & Tamago
The Conran Shop, A New Chapter For Hillside Terrace by Keiji Ashizawa Design
All images courtesy of Keiji Ashizawa Design Since opening its London flagship in 1973, The Conran...
a year ago
All images courtesy of Keiji Ashizawa Design Since opening its London flagship in 1973, The Conran Shop has been a go-to destination for all things contemporary design. And in their latest chapter, the curated shop welcomes you to its new space in Hillside Terrace, a relaxing...
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...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 11-17 September 2023
Doctor Who, a child called Hyde Park, and some ace Ian Nairn quotes.
a year ago
Doctor Who, a child called Hyde Park, and some ace Ian Nairn quotes.
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
Bow Roundabout update #11
Major road works at the Bow Roundabout continue. They might even be halfway through, depending on...
2 weeks ago
Major road works at the Bow Roundabout continue. They might even be halfway through, depending on when you think the start and finish dates are.
new sliproad underneath the flyover is nearing completion. This'll carry westbound traffic from the contraflow lane on Stratford High...
diamond geezer
Banksy's zoo
Over the course of the last nine days, the artist Banksy has been out daily painting animals at...
4 months ago
Over the course of the last nine days, the artist Banksy has been out daily painting animals at various locations across London. As publicity goes it's been a summer season masterstroke.
Some have since been removed, some have been screened off, some have been further...
Cheese and Biscuits
Nessa, Soho
Looking over the confidently international menu at Nessa the other evening, it occurred to me that...
a year ago
Looking over the confidently international menu at Nessa the other evening, it occurred to me that it's been a while since I've had a moan about anywhere being 'inauthentic'. For all the years that we British were insecure about our place in the culinary world, and those years...
Londonist
A Map Of Southwark Place Name Origins
The etymology of the London Borough Southwark.
11 months ago
The etymology of the London Borough Southwark.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Explore the Arctic's Beauty and Wildlife on a Luxury Cruise
3 months ago
diamond geezer
Planned closures
An extraordinary number of Underground lines are closed this morning.
By my calculations that's...
a year ago
An extraordinary number of Underground lines are closed this morning.
By my calculations that's 67 stations with no train service of any kind, or 25% of the entire tube network. What's more only 23 of these are getting a replacement bus service. Residents of Stanmore, Turnham...
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
London Overground Strikes Next Week Cancelled
Normal service now planned.
10 months ago
Normal service now planned.
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
The Secretive Eel Pie Island Is Open To Visitors This Weekend
Explore the usually off-limits oddball artistic enclave.
a year ago
Explore the usually off-limits oddball artistic enclave.
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...
Londonist
The Massive (And Massively Controversial) Stratford Sphere
Is Vegas coming to east London?
a year ago
Is Vegas coming to east London?
Londonist
Frieze Sculpture 2023: Regent's Park Turns Into A Free Outdoor Art Gallery This Autumn
22 playful works of art sprinkled around the English Gardens.
a year ago
22 playful works of art sprinkled around the English Gardens.
Londonist
A Giant Animated Snowman Will Light Up The Shard This Christmas
Spoiler alert: it melts.
a year ago
Londonist
Save The Chewing Gum Art Trail On The Millennium Bridge
Ben Wilson's art is threatened.
a year ago
Ben Wilson's art is threatened.
Londonist
The Vagina Museum Is Reopening In November
"We're absolutely delighted... we love a big opening!"
a year ago
"We're absolutely delighted... we love a big opening!"
diamond geezer
Inconsequential transport news
Inconsequential transport news
The graphic shows a child standing beside an adult, well away...
a year ago
Inconsequential transport news
The graphic shows a child standing beside an adult, well away from the teeth at the edge. But it also breaks the cardinal rule of "standing on the right", indeed if every parent chose to behave this way it'd block walker-uppers and...
Spoon & Tamago
Noma’s New Pop Up by OEO Studio in Kyoto
All images ©Kotaro Tanaka courtesy OEO Studio OEO Studio, a Copenhagen-based design firm, has...
a year ago
All images ©Kotaro Tanaka courtesy OEO Studio OEO Studio, a Copenhagen-based design firm, has recently completed the interiors of Noma Kyoto, a pop-up dining in Japan in collaboration with Ace Hotel. The 250 sqm existing dining space has been transformed under the guidance of...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Upgrading to Lufthansa Allegris’ New Business Class
4 months ago
diamond geezer
18U 55V 51W
On Saturday I proposed that 18U Brondesbury Park NW6 7BT is London's highest lettered house....
a year ago
On Saturday I proposed that 18U Brondesbury Park NW6 7BT is London's highest lettered house. Nothing's going to beat a run of houses that goes 18J, 18K, 18L, 18M, 18N, 18P, 18Q, 18R, 18S, 18T, 18U, I thought.
Not so. There are in fact over 50 properties in the capital that can...
diamond geezer
Weather 2023
the dg weather review of the year
used to do this with big colourful monthly tables but that's too...
11 months ago
the dg weather review of the year
used to do this with big colourful monthly tables but that's too much effort for too little reward so here's a breezier summary. All data is for Hampstead, as per usual.
temperaturerainfallsunshine
Janmild then...
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
Fancy A Crack At The Crystal Maze? This Mind-Blowing Immersive Experience Lets You Do Just That!
Start! The! Fans!
9 months ago
Londonist
Trivia About Other Places Called London Around The World
Including one which is FREAKISHLY similar to our own London.
a year ago
Including one which is FREAKISHLY similar to our own London.
Spoon & Tamago
Myaku-Myaku Footwear, Inspired by the Googly-Eyed Mascot for the Osaka Expo
Myaku-Myaku, the unsettling googly-eyed humanoid that was selected as the 2025 Osaka Expo, has...
8 months ago
Myaku-Myaku, the unsettling googly-eyed humanoid that was selected as the 2025 Osaka Expo, has inspired numerous spinoffs, both official and unofficial. And with exactly 1 year to go before the Expo, we should all expect to see a lot more. The latest iteration comes in the form...
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....
diamond geezer
Route 455
London's next dead bus
455: Wallington to Purley, Old Lodge Lane
Location: outer London,...
10 months ago
London's next dead bus
455: Wallington to Purley, Old Lodge Lane
Location: outer London, south
Length of journey: 13 miles, 85 minutes
The 455, which dies soon, weaves a ridiculously contorted route around the broader outskirts of Croydon. It's particularly wiggly at the...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Alberta’s Best Nature Escapes for Adventurous Travelers
a month ago
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
Apple Day
From: Diamond Geezer Content Producing Minion 17
To: Diamond Geezer Content Coordination...
a year ago
From: Diamond Geezer Content Producing Minion 17
To: Diamond Geezer Content Coordination Tsar
Apple Day.
From: Diamond Geezer Content Coordination Tsar
To: Diamond Geezer Content Producing Minion 17
From: Diamond Geezer Content Producing Minion 17
To: Diamond Geezer ...
Londonist
Crown And Coronation: Regal Light Show To Be Projected Onto Tower Of London
This one will be popular - and tickets are available now!
a year ago
This one will be popular - and tickets are available now!
diamond geezer
Park Lane
PARK
LANE
£350
London's Monopoly Streets
PARK LANE
Colour group: dark blue
Purchase price:...
a week 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...
Londonist
13 Autumnal Day Trips From London: October 2023
Charming events within easy reach of London.
a year ago
Charming events within easy reach of London.
diamond geezer
Anorak Corner (rail edition)
Anorak Corner [National Rail edition]
passenger data from across Britain's railway network, this...
a year ago
Anorak Corner [National Rail edition]
passenger data from across Britain's railway network, this batch covering the period April 2022 to March 2023. After a couple of years of freakish statistics we've finally left the pandemic behind, with its subdued commuting, reduced...
diamond geezer
From eight to nine
Yesterday I undertook the not inconsequential task of buying a new laptop, something I'd been...
3 months ago
Yesterday I undertook the not inconsequential task of buying a new laptop, something I'd been putting off for a long time.
2020 and your collective advice was "if it's still working keep using it" so I did. It's got slower, as you'd expect, but I've worked around that and put up...
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...
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...
Londonist
9 Things To Do In London To Brighten Up The Dark Nights
It's not all doom and gloom.
a year ago
It's not all doom and gloom.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Nature and Hiking Adventures in the Cayman Islands
8 months ago
diamond geezer
Pentonville Road
PENTONVILLE
ROAD
£120
London's Monopoly Streets
PENTONVILLE ROAD
Colour group: light...
9 months ago
PENTONVILLE
ROAD
£120
London's Monopoly Streets
PENTONVILLE ROAD
Colour group: light blue
Purchase price: £120
Rent: £8
Length: ¾ mile
Borough: Islington
Postcode: N1
Euston Road and the Angel Islington. That's because it's another segment of the New Road, London's first...
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
The Crazy-Reasonably Priced Cafe Hidden In A Waterloo Bus Garage
Next stop: a hearty lunch for as little at £4!
11 months ago
Next stop: a hearty lunch for as little at £4!
Londonist
Just How Bad Is The Air Quality On The Tube?
A look at particle levels on tube platforms.
a year ago
A look at particle levels on tube platforms.
diamond geezer
Coventry Street
COVENTRY
STREET
£260
London's Monopoly Streets
COVENTRY STREET
Colour group: yellow
Purchase...
3 months ago
COVENTRY
STREET
£260
London's Monopoly Streets
COVENTRY STREET
Colour group: yellow
Purchase price: £260
Rent: £22
Length: 200m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1/WC2
Coventry Street owes its name to Charles II's secretary of state, Henry Coventry, who'd built a house here...
Londonist
A Free Exhibition Featuring Virtual Rainforests Is Coming To Oxo Tower Wharf
Shrug off the city and immerse yourself in a forest.
a year ago
Shrug off the city and immerse yourself in a forest.
The Forney Flyer
Nineteen Years of Joy, and Counting!
Nineteen years ago today, I married my best friend, Joy.
One year later our first child was...
over a year ago
Nineteen years ago today, I married my best friend, Joy.
One year later our first child was born...
... and well before his first birthday, we were commissioned by our church to head to the mission field. That was 17 years ago, and we've spent the vast majority of our...
Londonist
Conkers In London: Where To Find Them, Where To Play
Our hard-hitting guide.
a year ago
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..."
diamond geezer
The most/least popular journeys between tube stations
What's the most popular journey between tube stations?
an FOI request published yesterday. The...
6 months ago
What's the most popular journey between tube stations?
an FOI request published yesterday. The data is
a) for journeys in the calendar year 2023
We have had similar spreadsheets before, but this is the first
The most popular journey is from Liverpool Street to Tottenham...
Herbert Lui
Some notes on a return visit to Hong Kong
In late 2021, I moved to Hong Kong for six months. My partner and I enjoyed it so much that we ended...
2 weeks ago
In late 2021, I moved to Hong Kong for six months. My partner and I enjoyed it so much that we ended up staying nearly a year and a half. We moved to New York City shortly after that, and I started my job at Figma. I always thought I’d document the trip some other […]
The post...
Londonist
12 Predictions For London In 2024
What can we expect from the next 12 months?
11 months ago
What can we expect from the next 12 months?
Londonist
The Top Exhibitions To See In London In November 2023
David Hockney, Antony Gormley and some strange creatures.
a year ago
David Hockney, Antony Gormley and some strange creatures.
Londonist
Policing Brixton: An Insider's Account
Book reveals what it's like to patrol the streets of Brixton, Clapham and Stockwell.
9 months ago
Book reveals what it's like to patrol the streets of Brixton, Clapham and Stockwell.
Londonist
Inside South London's Pay-What-You-Can Cafe
South Norwood Community Kitchen.
8 months ago
South Norwood Community Kitchen.
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.
Londonist
We Talk To John Rogers, Filmmaker And Author Of Welcome To New London
A true London legend.
a year ago
Londonist
London's Cemetery For Heroic Animals
Rats to racehorses are laid to rest in this remarkable burial ground.
a year ago
Rats to racehorses are laid to rest in this remarkable burial ground.
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 23-24 December 2023
Events in the capital on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Eve Eve.
a year ago
Events in the capital on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Eve Eve.
Londonist
9 Challenge Events In London In 2024 To Sign Up For Right Now
New year, new challenge!
11 months ago
Londonist
These Futuristic Tram-Buses Should Be On London's Streets From Spring 2024
TfL gives new date for ieTram trials.
a year ago
TfL gives new date for ieTram trials.
Londonist
How London Underground Became The Coolest Brand In The World
From the first roundel to moquette trainers.
a year ago
From the first roundel to moquette trainers.
Londonist
Time Travel Back To 17th Century London - With This Royalist Reenactment Along The Mall
Commemorating the execution of Charles I.
11 months ago
Commemorating the execution of Charles I.
Londonist
The Most Festive Christmas Afternoon Teas In London This Year
Scones and cakes with a seasonal twist.
a year ago
Scones and cakes with a seasonal twist.
Londonist
Another Free Quentin Blake Exhibition In April
The master illustrator is back.
9 months ago
The master illustrator is back.
diamond geezer
Unblogged 1984
30 unblogged things I did in April 1984
They didn't have blogs or the internet forty years ago,...
8 months ago
30 unblogged things I did in April 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 Easter...
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
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Ultimate Guide to Budapest’s Historic Thermal Baths and Spas
a year ago
Londonist
The Big Issue Seller Outside St Paul's Who Became An Icon Of The Occupy Protests
A very different Christmas play for you to watch this festive season.
a year ago
A very different Christmas play for you to watch this festive season.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Spring Vacation at This Historic Arizona Hotel
9 months ago
Londonist
Fantastically Creative Themed Afternoon Teas In London
Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Shakespeare.
a year ago
Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Shakespeare.
diamond geezer
Still hanging around
Yesterday was one of this blog's 20 busiest days, not because everyone's really interested in...
a year ago
Yesterday was one of this blog's 20 busiest days, not because everyone's really interested in National Trust properties but because an old post hit an international news aggregator. My post about Crossrail timewasting ended up on hckr news under the headline "25% of the 13 minute...
diamond geezer
Poor predictions
Two years ago today Liz Truss became Prime Minister. That went well.
I took the opportunity to ask...
3 months ago
Two years ago today Liz Truss became Prime Minister. That went well.
I took the opportunity to ask who you thought would win the next General Election. I offered four options and asked you to "pick the outcome you expect, not the outcome you want". 83 of you had a...
diamond geezer
London's most...
Superlative posts
I write a lot of posts about longest/shortest/highest/quickest/closest/first/last...
a year ago
Superlative posts
I write a lot of posts about longest/shortest/highest/quickest/closest/first/last things so I thought I'd try compiling a clickable list. It took a while because I've written over 10000 posts, and it's bound to be incomplete for the same reason. But here it is...
Londonist
The London Marathon 2024: A Complete Guide To Watching And Taking Part
When, where, who and how of London's biggest run.
8 months ago
When, where, who and how of London's biggest run.
Londonist
15 Pictures Of London's Beautiful Shopfronts
From floating Chinese restaurants to everyone's favourite foliage-smothered boozer.
a year ago
From floating Chinese restaurants to everyone's favourite foliage-smothered boozer.
diamond geezer
Why did they say that?
This post is about announcements I’ve heard on TfL services recently.
The announcements split into...
9 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
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.
diamond geezer
Hidden Overground Histories
Hidden Overground Histories
“There are so many fascinating, and often forgotten, stories from our...
10 months ago
Hidden Overground Histories
“There are so many fascinating, and often forgotten, stories from our city that should be told and remembered. Naming the lines will not only help educate visitors about our amazing city and its incredible history but will also make it easier for...
Londonist
What's Open In London On Christmas Day 2023?
Cafes, pubs and tourist attractions open on 25 December.
a year ago
Cafes, pubs and tourist attractions open on 25 December.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 29 January-4 February 2024
The best Londonist articles from the past week.
10 months ago
The best Londonist articles from the past week.
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...
diamond geezer
London's least busy bus stop
Where is London's least busy bus stop?
It is however a very difficult question to answer, much...
6 months ago
Where is London's least busy bus stop?
It is however a very difficult question to answer, much harder than where's the busiest.
last year when TfL released a Weekday Passenger Data spreadsheet providing the number of boarders at all 19,827 of their bus stops during the month...
Spoon & Tamago
Oyane-san Blending Tradition with Modern Technology In Shikokumura
Welcome to Oyane-san, affectionately known as "Honorable Roof," standing proudly at the foot of...
8 months ago
Welcome to Oyane-san, affectionately known as "Honorable Roof," standing proudly at the foot of Mount Yashima on Shikoku Island.
Related posts:
Buddhist Monks are Getting All the Love
Now Open: The New Oita Prefectural Art Museum Designed by Shigeru Ban
SANAA’s New Sublime River...
Londonist
Things To Do In London In Half Term: October 2023
Family-friendly school holiday activities for all budgets.
a year ago
Family-friendly school holiday activities for all budgets.
diamond geezer
Vehicle registration pairs
My latest numberplate-spotting game is trying to spot all the pairs of letters at the start of a...
10 months ago
My latest numberplate-spotting game is trying to spot all the pairs of letters at the start of a vehicle registration plate.
AA AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AJ AK AL AM AN AO AP...
You might expect there to be 26×26 = 676 possible combinations, but the letters I, Q and Z are never...
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
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
Cricket Cornish Pasty Anyone? London's Bug Restaurant Has Just Gone Permanent
Hop to it!
10 months ago
diamond geezer
Doctor Who 60
On Doctor Who's 60th birthday, here's a post about Doctor Who and birthdays.
I checked back...
a year ago
On Doctor Who's 60th birthday, here's a post about Doctor Who and birthdays.
I checked back recently and was amazed to see that my birthday had coincided with a new episode of Doctor Who in four consecutive years. This seemed somewhat improbable.
9th March 1982: Earthshock...
diamond geezer
Crossing the boundary
While I was in Enfield, heading away from the power station, I decided to depart across Sewardstone...
8 months ago
While I was in Enfield, heading away from the power station, I decided to depart across Sewardstone Marsh. Why exit the dull way when you can cross the Lea and walk through a minor Essex village? The riverside path passed nosey ponies and a pumping station and crossed three...
Londonist
The Cosmic House: A Surreal Mansion You Can Visit In Kensington
Warning: article could lead to serious house envy.
a year ago
Warning: article could lead to serious house envy.
diamond geezer
The University Challenge
The University Challenge
My university adventure started with a car journey to destiny, and a...
a year ago
The University Challenge
My university adventure started with a car journey to destiny, and a selection of my worldly belongings packed into the boot. It had looked like a reasonable number of belongings when piled up in my bedroom, a stack of clothes and books and gadgets I...
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.
Londonist
Buck's Fizz: How The Perennially Festive Drink Was Invented In A Mayfair Club
It's over 100 years old.
a year ago
Spoon & Tamago
Japan Quietly Shines at Milan Design Week
Milan Design Week—Coachella, but for furniture—is running this week from April 16-21. All the...
8 months ago
Milan Design Week—Coachella, but for furniture—is running this week from April 16-21. All the biggest names and brands in the design world descend upon the Italian city, which sees its population swell by nearly 25%. Now in its 62nd iteration, the design extravaganza is an...
Spoon & Tamago
Go See 5.3 Million Baby Blue Eye Flowers at Hitachi Seaside Park in Japan
photo by teerayut hiruntaraporn Japan’s cherry blossoms usually get all the attention for their...
a year ago
photo by teerayut hiruntaraporn Japan’s cherry blossoms usually get all the attention for their short-lived beauty. But equally ephemeral are Japan’s Nemophila, or Baby Blue Eyes. And once a year, around late April to Early May, an astounding sea of 5.3 million of these little...
AFAR Media - Travel...
This Luxury Hotel Brand Helps Protect and Preserve the Ocean
a year ago
diamond geezer
Tractor Tax Protest
Thousands of farmers, countryfolk and their supporters were in central London yesterday to protest...
a month ago
Thousands of farmers, countryfolk and their supporters were in central London yesterday to protest against the imposition of inheritance tax on farmland. You could tell something was up by the number of people in Barbour jackets, tweed caps and sensible outerwear milling around...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 22-28 January 2024
The best Londonist articles from the past week.
10 months ago
The best Londonist articles from the past week.
diamond geezer
Anorak Corner - bus edition
Anorak Corner [bus edition] (annual update)
Once again TfL have silently published their annual...
a year ago
Anorak Corner [bus edition] (annual update)
Once again TfL have silently published their annual spreadsheet listing the number of passengers using every London bus route and how many kilometres those buses travelled. Data is for April 2022 - March 2023. Comparisons are with the...
diamond geezer
Cromwell Road Bus Station
Cromwell Road bus station in Kingston has reopened.
There are eight versions of today's post,...
a month ago
Cromwell Road bus station in Kingston has reopened.
There are eight versions of today's post, according to your level of interest.
(click to jump to the right one)
1) I just need the basics
2) I never intend to visit but tell me more
3) I sometimes use this bus station
4) I...
Londonist
Croydon Plans Spectacular Mic Drop For Borough Of Culture Closing Weekend
Light shows, punk marble runs and the world's smallest nightclub.
9 months ago
Light shows, punk marble runs and the world's smallest nightclub.
AFAR Media - Travel...
6 Reasons To Travel by Private Yacht in Croatia
10 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Denmark and Finland Are Must-Visits for Foodies
4 months ago
diamond geezer
Lavenham
Day out: Lavenham
well off the beaten track - roughly west of Ipswich and south of Bury St Edmunds....
a year ago
Day out: Lavenham
well off the beaten track - roughly west of Ipswich and south of Bury St Edmunds. But 500 years ago Lavenham was one of the wealthiest towns in the country thanks to all the money to be made from sheep, specifically the dyeing, spinning and weaving of woollen...
Londonist
Stooky Bill: The Sinister Puppet From Doctor Who Was Real
And where to see him in London.
a year ago
And where to see him in London.
Londonist
TfL Raises Penalty Fare To £100
£130m-£150m lost a year thanks to fare dodgers.
9 months ago
£130m-£150m lost a year thanks to fare dodgers.
Londonist
Another Dazzling Light Show Comes To This Central London Church This Winter
Luxmuralis work their magic at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
a year ago
Luxmuralis work their magic at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
diamond geezer
The Ivers
Today is Buckinghamshire Day, a celebration of all things Northwest Home Counties, or at least it is...
4 months ago
Today is Buckinghamshire Day, a celebration of all things Northwest Home Counties, or at least it is if you're a flagpole fetishist or a features writer with a gap to fill. It might sound historic but was actually conjured up in 2015 for no better reason than that on 29th July...
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.
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...
Londonist
London Hotel Rooms With A Serious View
Penthouse suites, balconies, and the city spread at your feet.
a year ago
Penthouse suites, balconies, and the city spread at your feet.
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
Bow Roundabout update #3
They've confirmed dates for the upcoming major roadworks at the Bow Roundabout.
This is annoying...
3 months ago
They've confirmed dates for the upcoming major roadworks at the Bow Roundabout.
This is annoying for a number of reasons.
It's hard to comprehend why local bus services have been worsened entirely unnecessarily for several weeks and I can only assume that this is because...
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #8
The major roadworks at the Bow Roundabout are now into their second month (or their third month if...
a month ago
The major roadworks at the Bow Roundabout are now into their second month (or their third month if you're the manager who cancels buses).
a curve of concrete block paving that's due to become roadway, so fairly trivial.
Previous updates: #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7
AFAR Media - Travel...
Places to Visit in Asheville that Cater to Dogs
11 months ago
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
The Church Service Held In The Middle Of London Bridge
The Blessing of the River Thames.
11 months ago
The Blessing of the River Thames.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Hotel Review: Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo in Panama City
a year ago
Londonist
East London Could Be Getting This Flashy New Lido
What a beaut.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Mary Place and Joseph Avenue
At this time of year I like to blog about a festively-named London street, however mundane it might...
a year 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...
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.
Londonist
Londonist Speaks To Aunty Donna About Mayors, Theft... And The Word 'Piccadilly'
Comic Aussie surrealists are in town.
a year ago
Comic Aussie surrealists are in town.
Londonist
Visit The Ankerwycke Yew, The "Last Surviving Witness To The Signing Of Magna Carta"
A remarkable tree on the edge of London.
a year ago
A remarkable tree on the edge of London.
Londonist
The Top Exhibitions To See In London: April 2024
From Caravaggio to Antony Gormley.
9 months ago
From Caravaggio to Antony Gormley.
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
Get 2-For-1 Tickets To This Cracker Of A Christmas Fair
Timeless festive cheer, guaranteed.
a year ago
Timeless festive cheer, guaranteed.
diamond geezer
Mayfair
MAYFAIR
£400
London's Monopoly Streets
MAYFAIR
Colour group: dark blue
Purchase price:...
2 days ago
MAYFAIR
£400
London's Monopoly Streets
MAYFAIR
Colour group: dark blue
Purchase price: £400
Rent: £50
Area: 1km²
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1
Mayfair was mostly fields until the late 17th century when Sir Thomas Grosvenor, a Cheshire baronet, made an exceptionally...
The Forney Flyer
MAF Liberia
A few weeks ago I was asked to pop over to Liberia (on the west coast of Africa) to help with their...
over a year ago
A few weeks ago I was asked to pop over to Liberia (on the west coast of Africa) to help with their flying for six weeks. Our Liberia program has been short on pilots and very busy with flying, so of course I was happy to help!
Above is a shot of a bunch of Covid vaccines...
Londonist
The Passion Of Jesus: Free Play Returns To Trafalgar Square On Good Friday 2024
Crowds of 20,000 expected to watch a cast of 100.
9 months ago
Crowds of 20,000 expected to watch a cast of 100.
Londonist
Literary Footprints 2024: Walking Tours Around Literary London
Love books? Love London? Love this.
10 months ago
Love books? Love London? Love this.
Londonist
The Chelsea Flower Show 2024: A Blooming Brief Guide
The world’s greatest flower show returns.
8 months ago
The world’s greatest flower show returns.
Spoon & Tamago
Kirie Artist Carves Playful Narratives Into Tree Leaves
“Aquarium of Leaves” A 37-year old Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito has been living with...
a year ago
“Aquarium of Leaves” A 37-year old Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito has been living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) his entire life. Lito had been searching for an outlet where he could channel his above-normal levels of concentration and...
Londonist
David Hockney Makes A Splash With His Battersea Power Station Christmas Trees
You can see them every night till Christmas Day.
a year ago
You can see them every night till Christmas Day.
Londonist
Fancy Eating Cricket-Topped Hummus At This Bug-Based Restaurant?
Celeb chefs dish up bugs at this pop-up.
a year ago
Celeb chefs dish up bugs at this pop-up.
One from Nippon
A peek into Japan’s Hot Springs
Editor’s Note: Due to the sheer amount of interesting material here we decided to break this into a...
a year ago
Editor’s Note: Due to the sheer amount of interesting material here we decided to break this into a three-part article.
We thank our avid reader “S” who suggested this topic and graciously helped with our research.
Could a nation’s bathing culture be influenced by
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.
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.
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,...
diamond geezer
Westminster 25
Silver Jubilee: Westminster
Westminster's Jubilee line platforms opened 25 years ago today on 22nd...
13 hours ago
Silver Jubilee: Westminster
Westminster's Jubilee line platforms opened 25 years ago today on 22nd December 1999.
Westminster station - a clickable choose-your-own adventure
(it is genuinely clickable - give it a go!)
(1) You have arrived on the westbound Jubilee line...
diamond geezer
Bus of the day 177
Bus Route Of The Day
177: Peckham to Thamesmead
Quadrant: London southeast
Length of journey: 12...
5 months ago
Bus Route Of The Day
177: Peckham to Thamesmead
Quadrant: London southeast
Length of journey: 12 miles, 75 minutes
Because it's 17th July I've been out riding the 177, because that's the Bus Route Of The Day. There are more glamorous ways to travel.
177 is your friend, and...
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...
Londonist
The City Street With FOUR Names
What do you call the road between Millennium Bridge and St Paul's?
a year ago
What do you call the road between Millennium Bridge and St Paul's?
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
DGD at 85
My Dad is 85 years old today, which is damned good going.
Thu 20th October 1938 (0): A first child...
a year ago
My Dad is 85 years old today, which is damned good going.
Thu 20th October 1938 (0): A first child is born to my grandparents. Home is a new-ish semi-detached house backing onto the canal. Born on the same day - long jumper Fred Alsop and singer Kathy Kirby.
Wed 20th October...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Embark on Epic Adventures in the British Virgin Islands
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
In-Depth Review of the Inn at Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos, California
a year ago
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.
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...
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...
One from Nippon
A peek inside Japan's largest Dagashi store
Every morning, 67-year Hideyuki Akiyama drives to his store along the rural roads of Okayama in...
a year ago
Every morning, 67-year Hideyuki Akiyama drives to his store along the rural roads of Okayama in Western Japan. Today is no different. A line of excited customers queuing up before the shutters are open.
“Disneyland isn’t our land of dreams, this is!” says one 20-something woman.
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 3-4 February 2024
New exhibitions, a flower show and a light festival in a church.
10 months ago
New exhibitions, a flower show and a light festival in a church.
Londonist
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.
Londonist
Victorian Society "Very, Very Sad" About Development Around Turkish Bathhouse
City of London Corporation has green-lit Landsec's £500m plan.
a year ago
City of London Corporation has green-lit Landsec's £500m plan.
Spoon & Tamago
Step Into a World of Contemporary Japanese Art at New Exhibition in New York
a series of washi paper prints by artist takayuki. o “Stepping Into A World” is a the 5th in a...
10 months ago
a series of washi paper prints by artist takayuki. o “Stepping Into A World” is a the 5th in a series of juried open call exhibitions aimed at showcasing undiscovered Japanese artists and integrating them into the forefront of the global art scene. The exhibition, which includes...
Londonist
45+ Fantastic Things To Do In London This Month: November 2023
Vintage cars, new exhibitions and the all-important Christmas light switch-ons.
a year ago
Vintage cars, new exhibitions and the all-important Christmas light switch-ons.
Spoon & Tamago
Five Unique Experiences at Harajuku’s Latest Development Harakado
Harakado, opened on April 17, 2024 at the Jingumae intersection along Omotesando Street in central...
7 months ago
Harakado, opened on April 17, 2024 at the Jingumae intersection along Omotesando Street in central Tokyo. The shiny, brand new facility was designed by architect Akihisa Hirata, whose interest in tangled, organic structures, is on full display in his rendering of the facade and...
Cheese and Biscuits
Lima, Shoreditch
I don't usually like to do invited reviews back-to-back, so this was supposed to be a post about a...
a month ago
I don't usually like to do invited reviews back-to-back, so this was supposed to be a post about a lovely Catalonian restaurant called El Molí de L'Escala. El Molí serve a daily-changing menu of exciting and unusual local seafood (they had sea cucumber on the menu last week, and...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 23-24 March 2024
Charity gigs, a glamorous speakeasy, and a boat race on the river.
9 months ago
Charity gigs, a glamorous speakeasy, and a boat race on the river.
Herbert Lui
Serious writing
In Impro, Keith Johnstone describes how his teachers taught him to write, “They wanted me to reject...
2 weeks ago
In Impro, Keith Johnstone describes how his teachers taught him to write, “They wanted me to reject and discriminate, believing that the best artist was the one who made the most elegant choices. They analysed poems to show how difficult ‘real’ writing was, and they taught that I...
Cheese and Biscuits
Dream Xi'an, Tower Hill
There are lots of good Chinese restaurants in the Holborn/Bloomsbury area of London. Most seem to...
8 months ago
There are lots of good Chinese restaurants in the Holborn/Bloomsbury area of London. Most seem to have popped up in the last decade or so, I assume alongside an influx of Chinese students attending the many nearby high-profile universities and colleges, because I'm fairly sure...
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
Carpenters Road
Carpenters Road has reopened again. It has a habit of doing this.
2007 so its rundown automotive...
6 months ago
Carpenters Road has reopened again. It has a habit of doing this.
2007 so its rundown automotive industries could be snuffed out in readiness for the Olympics. It took until 2014 to reopen, freshly sanitised, as a link road round the back of the Olympic Park. It then closed...
Londonist
Hither Green Rail Crash: 1967 Disaster Was One Of London's Worst
"I saw one of the coaches go straight up on its end."
a year ago
"I saw one of the coaches go straight up on its end."
Londonist
Things To Do In The Borough Of Kingston Upon Thames
Or ROYAL Kingston upon Thames, if you insist.
10 months ago
Or ROYAL Kingston upon Thames, if you insist.
Londonist
A Bald Man Chooses His Favourite Bald Spots In London
The O2, the huge Hitchcock head - which is your fave?
9 months ago
The O2, the huge Hitchcock head - which is your fave?
diamond geezer
Merton rebrands
The London borough of Merton is updating its logo.
But it has to die, slowly and gradually...
a year ago
The London borough of Merton is updating its logo.
But it has to die, slowly and gradually from the end of November, and I'll let the council's branding team explain why.
We have been using the same logo as the foundation stone of our corporate identity for the past 30...
diamond geezer
Signs of autumn in Old Malden
I worry sometimes that my content isn't niche enough. Things on hills in Hainault. Ex-country lanes...
a month ago
I worry sometimes that my content isn't niche enough. Things on hills in Hainault. Ex-country lanes in Harrow. Bridges in Norwich. So today I'm going all-out niche in an attempt to dampen interest even further. Welcome to...
Signs of Autumn in Old Malden
Malden, a manorial...
Londonist
Tulips In London: When And Where To See Them In And Around The Capital
Who needs Amsterdam?
9 months ago
Londonist
Where To Eat And Drink In Forest Gate: The Best Restaurants, Cafes, Bars And Pubs
Forest food!
a year ago
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to See Music & Performing Arts in Asheville, NC
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to Ski, Stay, & Explore Outdoors in Alberta's Winter
a month ago
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.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Discover the Best Fall Getaways: 3 American Cities You Must Visit
6 months ago