diamond geezer
Bus of the day 187
Bus Route Of The Day
187: West Hampstead to Park Royal
Quadrant: London northwest
Length of journey:...
5 months ago
Bus Route Of The Day
187: West Hampstead to Park Royal
Quadrant: London northwest
Length of journey: 8 miles, 60 minutes
Because it's 18th July I've been out riding the 187, because that's the Bus Route Of The Day. It's no big hitter.
twiddling round backstreets in an...
Spoon & Tamago
Three Art Festival to Visit in Japan in the 2nd Half of 2024
Japan’s numerous art festivals have proven to be an effective way of luring domestic and...
6 months ago
Japan’s numerous art festivals have proven to be an effective way of luring domestic and international tourists out of popular destinations and into rural parts of Japan they would have otherwise not visited. The poster child is perhaps the Setouchi Triennale, whose combination...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Discover Nine Ways to be Present in Los Angeles.
9 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
10 Great All-Inclusive Hyatt Resorts in Mexico & Caribbean
a year ago
diamond geezer
Canteenlessness
I was out in the City at lunchtime, not far from St Paul's, and found myself amid a horde of...
2 months ago
I was out in the City at lunchtime, not far from St Paul's, and found myself amid a horde of businessfolk buying lunch. They were flocking to nearby shops, mainly specialist food outlets, for a calorific haul to tide them over into the afternoon. You could tell it was peak...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Madeira, Portugal Is the Ideal Stopover Destination
a month ago
Cheese and Biscuits
The Union, Rye
Over the last, I don't know, ten or fifteen or so years - certainly since the expansion of the St...
over a year ago
Over the last, I don't know, ten or fifteen or so years - certainly since the expansion of the St John universe but also since places like Lyle's and the Sportsman and the Draper's Arms spread their wings - a kind of consensus has appeared on what constitutes a Modern British...
Londonist
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
This Hammersmith Venue Hosts A Free Community Dinner Every Month
"The simple act of eating together to spark connection."
a year ago
"The simple act of eating together to spark connection."
Londonist
The Notable Benches Of London
64 unusual benches in one graphic (you might want to sit down).
10 months ago
64 unusual benches in one graphic (you might want to sit down).
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #2
Roadworks are supposed to have started at the Bow Roundabout but they haven't yet, indeed it's...
3 months ago
Roadworks are supposed to have started at the Bow Roundabout but they haven't yet, indeed it's possible they've actually been put back by two weeks. This is somewhat peeving given substantial bus mitigation has already taken place - five routes have had their frequency...
diamond geezer
Far From Super Loop
On bus shelters across London TfL are keenly advertising the Superloop. The poster shows a bus, a...
11 months 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...
diamond geezer
My review of 2024
It's the time of year for looking back so here are some of the unblogged places I've been in...
11 months ago
It's the time of year for looking back so here are some of the unblogged places I've been in 2024.
Beddington: the view from that bench is truly miserable
Biggin Hill: I powered up Polesteeple Hill for nothing
Blackwall Tunnel: wow, just look at the new one
Bounds Green: every...
AFAR Media - Travel...
How to Redeem AmEx Membership Rewards Points for Top Value
a year ago
Londonist
London Overground Strikes Next Week Cancelled
Normal service now planned.
10 months ago
Normal service now planned.
Londonist
15 Things You Never Knew About Wembley Park
Steeped in history.
a year ago
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Embark on Epic Adventures in the British Virgin Islands
a year ago
diamond geezer
Waverley
This is Waverley, the world's last seagoing paddle steamer.
She's currently on a two week foray...
2 months ago
This is Waverley, the world's last seagoing paddle steamer.
She's currently on a two week foray up and down the Thames Estuary and adjacent coasts. And if you'd been in Gravesend on Sunday evening you could have enjoyed a two-hour voyage up the estuary to Tower Bridge for just...
One from Nippon
A peek into Japan’s Hot Springs (Part 3)
Editor’s note: This is the third of a three-part article. Part 1 and Part 2 painted the history of...
a year ago
Editor’s note: This is the third of a three-part article. Part 1 and Part 2 painted the history of onsens and the science behind them. In this article we take a deep-dive into the business of onsens.
Onsen as a Business
Despite all the hype in Part 1
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...
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
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...
Londonist
Vintage Football Shirts: The Best And Oddest From Every Big London Club
New book delves deep into the world of vintage collectables.
a year ago
New book delves deep into the world of vintage collectables.
AFAR Media - Travel...
10 Art Destinations in Italy: Itinerary for Art Lovers
6 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
At A Glance: What's Happening With London's Transport In 2024
New trains! New stations! Major closures!
11 months ago
New trains! New stations! Major closures!
AFAR Media - Travel...
Inside the New Delta Sky Club Lounge at NY’s JFK Airport
a year ago
Londonist
The Elysian Arcs: Giant Rainbows And Bubbles Appear Beneath Cheesegrater
Free installation bring colour to City.
9 months ago
Free installation bring colour to City.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 8-14 January 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
11 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
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
How To Spend A Weekend In Dublin
48 hours of pubs, literature and galleries.
12 months ago
48 hours of pubs, literature and galleries.
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...
diamond geezer
Algorithmic non-chronological
I'm delighted to announce that diamond geezer now has a new non-chronological algorithm.
From...
10 months ago
I'm delighted to announce that diamond geezer now has a new non-chronological algorithm.
From today an automated algorithm will determine the order in which posts appear in your feed. This algorithm uses various factors to prioritise content with the goal of showing you the...
diamond geezer
London Heritage Quarter Summer Trail
What is this bolx?
London Heritage Quarter 'Journey Through Time' Summer Trail and it's bolx. It's...
6 months ago
What is this bolx?
London Heritage Quarter 'Journey Through Time' Summer Trail and it's bolx. It's been organised not to inspire and delight but to drive footfall to four commercial districts. It kicked off last week and runs all summer. It's lowest common denominator art. It's...
The Forney Flyer
Flood Relief Flying
You may remember that I mentioned in a previous blog post a few weeks ago, that there had been...
over a year ago
You may remember that I mentioned in a previous blog post a few weeks ago, that there had been severe floods in Western Uganda (and other parts of the country) in early-mid May. Well, several weeks later, we were given special permission by various authorities to fly relief...
diamond geezer
Random Grid Square TQ2492
Greater London contains around 2000 National Grid squares, each 1km by 1km in size. What I like to...
4 months ago
Greater London contains around 2000 National Grid squares, each 1km by 1km in size. What I like to do, very occasionally, is pick one at random, visit it and write about what's there.
Which random grid square did I pick? TQ2492
Where is it? Frith Manor in the borough of Barnet,...
Londonist
Tulips In London: When And Where To See Them In And Around The Capital
Who needs Amsterdam?
9 months ago
Londonist
Ticket Alert: The Devil Wears Prada Musical On Sale From Today
Tickets? For the West End? Groundbreaking.
a year ago
Tickets? For the West End? Groundbreaking.
diamond geezer
Where's Gail's?
The bakery chain Gail's has been busy spreading its sourdough tentacles across London over recent...
4 months ago
The bakery chain Gail's has been busy spreading its sourdough tentacles across London over recent years. It had been doing this successfully and also quietly until it dared to suggest opening a branch in Walthamstow Village whose residents promptly set up a petition to campaign...
diamond geezer
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...
Herbert Lui
Fast & Furious
The Fast & Furious franchise was inspired by an article on street racing culture by Kenneth Li. The...
2 weeks ago
The Fast & Furious franchise was inspired by an article on street racing culture by Kenneth Li. The first three movies in this Fast & Furious franchise—Fast & Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift—maintained its signature by staying true to this...
diamond geezer
My Saturday
My Saturday
diamond geezer
5am I awake early because there's not a moment to be wasted. I'll read...
10 months ago
My Saturday
diamond geezer
5am I awake early because there's not a moment to be wasted. I'll read for a while - the latest by Tess Gerritsen is a proper page turner - then leap purposefully out of bed and find a grapefruit to slice, perhaps a handful of berries. The cafetière...
diamond geezer
Fleet Street
FLEET
STREET
£220
London's Monopoly Streets
FLEET STREET
Colour group: red
Purchase price:...
5 months ago
FLEET
STREET
£220
London's Monopoly Streets
FLEET STREET
Colour group: red
Purchase price: £220
Rent: £18
Length: 500m
Borough: City of London
Postcode: EC4
Fleet Street precisely links the edge of the ancient walled city (at Ludgate) to the edge of the expanded medieval...
diamond geezer
Behind The Red Moon
Big Brother isn't the only cultural phenomenon dividing public opinion annually since the turn of...
a year ago
Big Brother isn't the only cultural phenomenon dividing public opinion annually since the turn of the millennium. There's also the giant artwork in the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern, which over the years has been amazing, tedious, thought-provoking, bland, must-see, involving,...
Londonist
12 Marvellous Day Trips From London: September 2023
Charming events within easy reach of London.
a year ago
Charming events within easy reach of London.
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
This Luxury Hotel Brand Helps Protect and Preserve the Ocean
a year ago
Londonist
Brixton Academy Is Reopening In April
First gigs announced since December 2022.
9 months ago
First gigs announced since December 2022.
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
How (And Why) To Get Tickets To The London Railway Station You've Never Heard Of
London International (CIV).
10 months ago
London International (CIV).
The Forney Flyer
Rain Rain Go Away...
This past year has been by far the wettest year since we've been in Uganda. Last year we had a very...
over a year ago
This past year has been by far the wettest year since we've been in Uganda. Last year we had a very short dry season, and then the rains came again with extra vengeance. The second, shorter, dry season that is supposed to come about half way through the year--well it basically...
diamond geezer
Beddington Farmlands
A Nice Walk: Beddington Farmlands (1 mile)
Sometimes you just want to go for a nice walk, nothing...
a month ago
A Nice Walk: Beddington Farmlands (1 mile)
Sometimes you just want to go for a nice walk, nothing too taxing, a bit of a stroll, wildlife guaranteed, railway-adjacent, mostly dry underfoot, broad pylon vistas, binocular opportunities, possibility of lapwings, won't take long. So...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Vacation to Corpus Christi, TX in the Fall
5 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Ashley English’s Favorite Things to Do in Asheville
11 months ago
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...
diamond geezer
Tower Hamlets Town Hall
Over the years I've been round ten London borough town halls as part of Open House but never my own....
a year ago
Over the years I've been round ten London borough town halls as part of Open House but never my own. That's because Tower Hamlets' was a hired fortress close to the mouth of the Blackwall Tunnel and no great architectural shakes. But the council's just moved into a new base in...
The Forney Flyer
Still Here... Again.
Folks, I'm still alive! I don't just mean that figuratively, I mean it literally. It seem like I've...
over a year ago
Folks, I'm still alive! I don't just mean that figuratively, I mean it literally. It seem like I've made a lot of excuses on this blog over the past year, for the chunks of time where I seem to disappear for a while. Well, this time I really had a good excuse!
Last October I...
AFAR Media - Travel...
What to Eat, Do, and See, and Where to Stay, in Maine
4 months ago
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....
Londonist
Supperclub.Tube: The Tube Carriage Serving A Six-Course Tasting Menu
Definitely the best way to spend three hours on the tube.
a year ago
Definitely the best way to spend three hours on the tube.
diamond geezer
LNER 70min Flex Tickets
Long distance rail travel can be both complicated and expensive.
fare pilot to tackle one of these...
11 months ago
Long distance rail travel can be both complicated and expensive.
fare pilot to tackle one of these issues.
LNER's innovation is 70min Flex, a flexible ticket which allows you to travel within a specific window either side of your booked train. Up to 70 minutes before, up to 70...
Londonist
The London Of Doctor Who, Mapped
All the key locations from Hartnell onwards.
a year ago
All the key locations from Hartnell onwards.
Londonist
London's St Patrick's Day Parade And Festival 2024: When, Where And How To Get Involved
Dust off your shamrock sunglasses and head for Trafalgar Square this March.
10 months ago
Dust off your shamrock sunglasses and head for Trafalgar Square this March.
diamond geezer
The Royal Mail Experiment
Have you ever wondered whether the Royal Mail are failing to deliver your post on time? I've long...
3 months ago
Have you ever wondered whether the Royal Mail are failing to deliver your post on time? I've long thought it suspicious that I go days without post then a whole batch arrives together, and that bills seem to arrive long after they were posted. But without evidence all this is...
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
The Shard Is Lighting Up With The St George's Cross For The Lionesses
Turns out The Shard is an England supporter.
a year ago
Turns out The Shard is an England supporter.
Londonist
Rumble In The Jungle Rematch Arrives In London
Take your place ringside in this limited-run immersive show.
a year ago
Take your place ringside in this limited-run immersive show.
diamond geezer
Open House (3)
Yesterday's Open House tally was seven.
• The repurposed building indelibly associated with a star...
a year ago
Yesterday's Open House tally was seven.
• The repurposed building indelibly associated with a star architect where everyone had to wear a name badge in case the over-excitable staff wanted to make conversation, but there was in fact hardly anything to see and I was out of there...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Hotel Review: Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo in Panama City
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
A skinflint's guide to visiting London's zoos
A skinflint's guide to visiting London's zoos
London Zoo is an acclaimed repository of...
a year ago
A skinflint's guide to visiting London's zoos
London Zoo is an acclaimed repository of globally-sourced animals, as well as a conservation hub and a prestige tourist attraction. But it's a bit pricey with tickets costing £27 on weekdays and £31 at weekends, or even more on the...
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 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
"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
A Brief History Of Tower Bridge
The history behind London's iconic bridge
a year ago
The history behind London's iconic bridge
Londonist
Stunning Light Trails And Illumination Festivals To See Near London This Winter
Absolutely enchanting evenings out in south-east England.
a year ago
Absolutely enchanting evenings out in south-east England.
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...
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...
Londonist
A Map Of Women's History In London
From Boudicca to Rachel Whiteread.
9 months ago
From Boudicca to Rachel Whiteread.
Londonist
Take A Peek Inside The Royal Albert Hall's New Archive Collection
From Queen Victoria to Beyonce, this place has seen them all.
a year ago
From Queen Victoria to Beyonce, this place has seen them all.
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 9-10 March 2024
Live comedy, an artisan market, Disney events and more.
9 months ago
Live comedy, an artisan market, Disney events and more.
diamond geezer
Nazareth Gardens and Bethlehem House
To conclude this year's selection of festive streets, here are both ends of the donkey's...
12 months ago
To conclude this year's selection of festive streets, here are both ends of the donkey's journey.
Nazareth Gardens SE15
Nazareth Gardens. I realised none of this when I turned up.
Round the corner is a large space given over to parking surrounded by old flats and two...
diamond geezer
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
Best Of Londonist: 16-22 October 2023
The best articles from the past week.
a year ago
The best articles from the past week.
The Forney Flyer
From the Flight Line
Here's some random shots from the flight line. First, one of our Cessna 208B Grand Caravans taking...
over a year ago
Here's some random shots from the flight line. First, one of our Cessna 208B Grand Caravans taking off from our home airstrip in Kajjansi, Uganda. This aircraft is now serving in Liberia.
I've always loved watching the sky and the weather. Last week I was out of the city and...
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.
Cheese and Biscuits
The London Shell Co., Highgate
The first time I went to the London Shell Co., I hated it. This was nothing to do with the food, and...
a year ago
The first time I went to the London Shell Co., I hated it. This was nothing to do with the food, and everything to do with my aversion to anything boaty, and being trapped on one for the best part of 2 1/2 hours as it punted around the dark, damp Regent's canal in the middle of...
diamond geezer
Non-London universities in London
London contains a lot of non-London universities.
This building is part of Buckinghamshire New...
11 months ago
London contains a lot of non-London universities.
This building is part of Buckinghamshire New University, which is neither new nor in Buckinghamshire.
wrong side of the river Colne. Admittedly the boundary's less than 200 metres away but this side of the river has always...
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...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 11-17 September 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
diamond geezer
Unofficial tube map news 2
I always keep my eyes peeled for a new tube map, even when one isn't scheduled. So I was surprised...
a year ago
I always keep my eyes peeled for a new tube map, even when one isn't scheduled. So I was surprised to see a cover I'd never seen before in the rack at Bow Road station yesterday morning. It was mostly black, and they don't make tube maps with mostly-black covers so I thought that...
Londonist
The Woods At The End Of The Elizabeth Line Where You Can Take A Sound Bath
De-stress among the trees in east London.
10 months ago
De-stress among the trees in east London.
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...
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...
Londonist
An Entire Barbra Streisand Season Is Coming To North London
A star is celebrated.
10 months ago
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.
Spoon & Tamago
A Weathered Copper Facade Oxidized by Soy Sauce Defines Suetomi’s New Kyoto Cafe
Suetomi, the well-established Japanese Confectionery shop in Kyoto, has started a new venture with a...
a year ago
Suetomi, the well-established Japanese Confectionery shop in Kyoto, has started a new venture with a café business named AoQ
Related posts:
Kaikado’s Tea and Coffee Cafe in Kyoto
Cafe Fang: An Oasis of Books and Coffee in Kyoto
Discover Souvenirs Galore at Kyoto’s Newest Gift...
diamond geezer
Theobalds Grove
One Stop Beyond: Theobalds Grove
In this series I'm taking the train one stop beyond the Greater...
3 months ago
One Stop Beyond: Theobalds Grove
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 Theobalds Grove, one stop beyond Turkey Street on the Southbury Loop, better known these days as the Weaver...
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...
Londonist
Cycle All Day For £3, As Santander Cycles Introduces New Day Pass
We feel a challenge coming on...
11 months ago
We feel a challenge coming on...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 17-18 February 2024
VAULT Festival returns, plus a cheese market and a day of Lego.
10 months ago
VAULT Festival returns, plus a cheese market and a day of Lego.
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.
Londonist
Best Of London 2023: It's The Annual Londonist Awards!
Dust off your tux - it's trophy time!
12 months ago
Dust off your tux - it's trophy time!
Londonist
Revised Skyscraper Plans Could Make It Centimetres Taller Than The Shard
One Undershaft is going up in the world.
a year ago
One Undershaft is going up in the world.
Londonist
A Brief History Of The Northern Line
London's first deep-level tube.
a year ago
London's first deep-level tube.
Spoon & Tamago
Tomona Matsukawa’s Realistic Paintings Reconstruct Fragments of Everyday Life
“Morning will come and my feelings will ease a little” (2024), Oil on linen mounted on panel...
8 months ago
“Morning will come and my feelings will ease a little” (2024), Oil on linen mounted on panel Kyoto-based artist Tomona Matsukawa creates realistic and somewhat dramatic oil paintings that are each inspired by conversations with other women of her generation, often strangers. The...
Londonist
We Talk To John Rogers, Filmmaker And Author Of Welcome To New London
A true London legend.
a year ago
diamond geezer
The London Overground line names post
The phased introduction of six new Overground line names has begun.
Before we get into all that,...
a month ago
The phased introduction of six new Overground line names has begun.
Before we get into all that, let's get the new names out of the way.
we did all that back then.
First important thing: If anyone posts any line name comments on any future post, I will shift them back to...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Myrtle Beach’s Sensory-Friendly Hotels, Spots, Restaurants
3 months ago
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
Atlas of Imagined Cities: Who Lives Where in TV, Books, Games and Movies?
New book maps the worlds of fiction.
a year ago
New book maps the worlds of fiction.
diamond geezer
The village quiz
From: Diamond Geezer Content Producing Minion 4
To: Diamond Geezer Content Coordination Tsar
As a...
a year ago
From: Diamond Geezer Content Producing Minion 4
To: Diamond Geezer Content Coordination Tsar
As a result of my unexpected overnight stay I ended up being pressganged into the village quiz instead. This annual event brings the whole community together as teams of six from the...
diamond geezer
Push Your Luck
New campaign to make your Tube journey cheaper
The Off Peak Fridays trial ends this Friday, after...
6 months ago
New campaign to make your Tube journey cheaper
The Off Peak Fridays trial ends this Friday, after which pay as you go single fares will return to their original peak values every weekday. But cheaper travel for deserving Londoners remains one of the key mission goals of the...
diamond geezer
Bus of the day 197
Bus Route Of The Day
197: Croydon to Peckham
Quadrant: London southeast
Length of journey: 10 miles,...
5 months ago
Bus Route Of The Day
197: Croydon to Peckham
Quadrant: London southeast
Length of journey: 10 miles, 65 minutes
Because it's 19th July I've been out riding the 197, because that's the Bus Route Of The Day. My apologies for the repetition.
Threepenny Bit building, stopping not...
Spoon & Tamago
Take a Ride on the Yagi-Shingu Bus, Japan’s Longest Local Bus Route
all photos by Masamichi Kirihara courtesy Sankei Japanese trains often get all the love, but we’re a...
11 months ago
all photos by Masamichi Kirihara courtesy Sankei Japanese trains often get all the love, but we’re a fan of their buses too. And if you’re keen on living the slow life while also experiencing the Japanese countryside, boy do we have the perfect activity for you. The Yagi-Shingu...
Londonist
Miracle At Henrietta: The Christmassiest Bar In London
It's Kiiiiiiiitschmas!
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
4 Reasons to Visit Amelia Island, Florida
11 months ago
diamond geezer
Stephens House and Gardens
Some of London's best small parks were once a rich man's garden.
It's called Stephens House and...
a year ago
Some of London's best small parks were once a rich man's garden.
It's called Stephens House and Gardens and it covers a dozen acres off East End Road, not far from Finchley central station. If what you need is a kickabout space and somewhere to exercise a big dog it's not for...
Londonist
Explore Love In The Animal Kingdom After-Hours At The Natural History Museum
A special Valentine's Day celebration.
10 months ago
A special Valentine's Day celebration.
diamond geezer
Sullivanlessness
London's only independent bus operator threw in the towel on Friday, withdrawing their services from...
4 months ago
London's only independent bus operator threw in the towel on Friday, withdrawing their services from eleven routes in north London. Sullivan Buses have operated out of South Mimms since 1998 and will continue to run their Herts-based services as usual. But boss Dean Sullivan has...
Londonist
Things To Do In London This Autumn
Your September to November 2023 calendar, sorted.
a year ago
Your September to November 2023 calendar, sorted.
Londonist
Celebrate The Bicentenary Of This Great Gothic Revival Architect
G E Street tours, talks and more.
9 months ago
G E Street tours, talks and more.
AFAR Media - Travel...
In-Depth Review of Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, a hotel in Bali, Indonesia
a year ago
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
On 29 February Do One Of These Things A Londoner Would Never Do
From rickshaws to Angus Steakhouses.
10 months ago
From rickshaws to Angus Steakhouses.
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
Arsenal title-chasing live blog
Arsenal title-chasing live blog
16:00 Could still win it.
16:05 Bugger.
16:23 Sigh.
16:43...
7 months ago
Arsenal title-chasing live blog
16:00 Could still win it.
16:05 Bugger.
16:23 Sigh.
16:43 Aagh.
16:45 Oooh.
17:22 Bugger.
17:53 Ooooooh!
17:54 Sigh.
17:59 Could still win it.
18:00 Didn't.
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?
Londonist
Previously Off-Limits Areas Of Buckingham Palace To Open To The Public
Including the room behind that world-famous balcony.
8 months ago
Including the room behind that world-famous balcony.
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.
Londonist
Just 18 Pictures Of Modernist Tube Stations Looking Dreamy
They don't make 'em like they used to.
a year ago
They don't make 'em like they used to.
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 16-17 September 2023
Comedy, podcasts, fashion exhibitions, Open House and the Great River Race.
a year ago
Comedy, podcasts, fashion exhibitions, Open House and the Great River Race.
diamond geezer
10,000 clicks
Yesterday Google sent me an email.
Congratulations! Your site reached 10K clicks from Google Search...
a year ago
Yesterday Google sent me an email.
Congratulations! Your site reached 10K clicks from Google Search in the past 28 days.
This is because several people still turn up at diamond geezer via search engines rather than visiting deliberately - apparently over 300 people daily. They...
diamond geezer
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
Free And Cheap Things To Do In London This Week: 25-31 March 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
9 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
diamond geezer
Trafalgar Square
TRAFALGAR
SQUARE
£240
London's Monopoly Streets
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Colour group: red
Purchase...
4 months ago
TRAFALGAR
SQUARE
£240
London's Monopoly Streets
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Colour group: red
Purchase price: £240
Rent: £20
Area: 3 acres
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: WC2
four streets on the Monopoly board (all the pinks plus Strand) and is also a property in its own right. I've...
Spoon & Tamago
The Playable Poetry of Zeni Tainaka
The Day I Couldn’t Write a Poem is a short, playable game in which the reader moves a character...
8 months ago
The Day I Couldn’t Write a Poem is a short, playable game in which the reader moves a character through text, interacting with obstacles and making your way through a narrative. It’s the work of Zennyan (Zeni Tainaka), a Japanese pixel artist who has been experimenting with...
diamond geezer
Single life
Single life
Yes, I used to post this every year, but now I only do it every five.
Single: You get...
a month ago
Single life
Yes, I used to post this every year, but now I only do it every five.
Single: You get the whole duvet to yourself.
Coupled: You don't need a hot water bottle.
Single: There's half as much ironing to do.
Coupled: There's twice as much ironing to do but somebody else...
diamond geezer
The great Banksy cover-up
I visited the new Banksy on Hornsey Road on Day 3, which proved the optimal time.
Days 1 and 2 it...
8 months ago
I visited the new Banksy on Hornsey Road on Day 3, which proved the optimal time.
Days 1 and 2 it had been rammed with people crowding round the railings, so getting a decent photo was difficult.
Day 4 someone chucked white paint over part of the artwork closest to the road and...
diamond geezer
Prince Henry's Room
Open House is here again, indeed it kicked off earlier than the first official weekend which is how...
a year ago
Open House is here again, indeed it kicked off earlier than the first official weekend which is how yesterday I managed to visit an unvisitable tourist attraction.
Open House: Prince Henry's Room (17 Fleet Street)
Prince Henry's Room is a first-floor Jacobean chamber...
Londonist
Eurostar Launches Flash Sale - With Tickets From £35
Dépêchez-vous!
9 months ago
Cheese and Biscuits
The Blind Bull, Little Hucklow
A large menu is rarely a good sign, and I have to admit a part of my heart sank when I sat down at...
3 months ago
A large menu is rarely a good sign, and I have to admit a part of my heart sank when I sat down at the Blind Bull and counted 12 items in the starters section, 6 mains, 3 sides and 5 desserts (even if I'm being kind and counting all the ice creams as one) - fully 26 dishes...
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...
diamond geezer
NewsBites From Norfolk
NewsBites From Norfolk
(It's been a busy week)
n.b. one of these didn't actually happen, sorry.
5 months ago
NewsBites From Norfolk
(It's been a busy week)
n.b. one of these didn't actually happen, sorry.
diamond geezer
London's least busy bus stop
Where is London's least busy bus stop?
It is however a very difficult question to answer, much...
6 months ago
Where is London's least busy bus stop?
It is however a very difficult question to answer, much harder than where's the busiest.
last year when TfL released a Weekday Passenger Data spreadsheet providing the number of boarders at all 19,827 of their bus stops during the month...
diamond geezer
The Charterhouse
I hadn't realised you could wander inside The Charterhouse, the historic almshouses on the edge of...
9 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
Tower Bridge Will Be Stuck In The Raised Position, As It Closes Over Bank Holiday
It's supposed to be like that.
a year ago
It's supposed to be like that.
diamond geezer
The news from Barking and Dagenham
Yesterday I went to the Becontree estate to take some photos of its churches. Then I added those...
5 months ago
Yesterday I went to the Becontree estate to take some photos of its churches. Then I added those photos to yesterday's post about churches on estates. I didn't add this photo, even though it was my favourite.
This is St Cedd's in Becontree. It has a lovely postwar copper roof...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023: Best Deals for Travelers
a year ago
diamond geezer
Crisp packet colours
As you probably know, BBC local radio is currently engaged in rapid strategic contraction in an...
a year ago
As you probably know, BBC local radio is currently engaged in rapid strategic contraction in an attempt to save money. Dozens of much-loved programmes are being withdrawn, especially those broadcast in the evenings and at weekends, in favour of syndicated regional content...
diamond geezer
Electric 358
A new bus has started running on route 358 between Crystal Palace and Orpington. They call it the...
a month ago
A new bus has started running on route 358 between Crystal Palace and Orpington. They call it the tram bus.
It's not really a tram, it's "a bus with tram styling" according to the manufacturers, Spanish company Irizar. They make two lengths of vehicle and to be fair the 18m...
Londonist
The Top Exhibitions To See In London: January 2024
Cuteness overload and a light show to kick off a capital year of culture.
a year ago
Cuteness overload and a light show to kick off a capital year of culture.
Londonist
Where To Celebrate Hanukkah 2023 In London
Where to celebrate Chanukah this December.
a year ago
Where to celebrate Chanukah this December.
Londonist
An Airport In Hyde Park? It Could Have Happened
1920s proposal envisaged a VERY central aerodrome.
a year ago
1920s proposal envisaged a VERY central aerodrome.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where You Can Explore the World's Rivers And Protect Them
a year ago
diamond geezer
Bakerloop
An exciting new express bus is on its way if the Mayor is re-elected, which he obviously will be, so...
8 months ago
An exciting new express bus is on its way if the Mayor is re-elected, which he obviously will be, so an exciting new express bus is on its way.
All aboard the Bakerloop!
If I’m re-elected - a new Express bus will help Londoners get between Elephant & Castle, Old Kent Road,...
diamond geezer
Hyperlocal History Month
August is often Local History Month on diamond geezer. I thought this year I might go hyperlocal and...
4 months ago
August is often Local History Month on diamond geezer. I thought this year I might go hyperlocal and bring you historical details of objects and places particularly close to home. We'll see how it goes.
HYPERLOCAL HISTORY MONTH: My fridge
My fridge is four years old, having...
Cheese and Biscuits
Solo, Aughton
When I was first out of university, trying to decide what to do with my life, and with no long term...
9 months ago
When I was first out of university, trying to decide what to do with my life, and with no long term plan other than the fact I knew - eventually - I wanted to move to London and stay there, I got a job as a cashier at Ormskirk Abbey National. Ormskirk is ostensibly a market town,...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 25-26 November 2023
Festive markets, drag queens, ice hockey and queer lit.
a year ago
Festive markets, drag queens, ice hockey and queer lit.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 21-27 August 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
diamond geezer
Open House (3)
For Open House this weekend I visited twelve different and varied properties, ranging from...
3 months ago
For Open House this weekend I visited twelve different and varied properties, ranging from underwhelm to amazeballs. I'll save the wow until later but here are brief reports on the others, hopefully as testament that exploring otherwise inaccessible spaces is an opportunity not...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 26 February-3 March 2024
Our top stories from the last seven days.
9 months ago
Our top stories from the last seven days.
Londonist
London In Teeth
A tribute to London's best gnashers.
10 months ago
A tribute to London's best gnashers.
Cheese and Biscuits
The Bear, Camberwell
Despite Camberwell's increasing reputation for all kinds (and all budgets) of great food, it still...
8 months ago
Despite Camberwell's increasing reputation for all kinds (and all budgets) of great food, it still seemed unlikely that this bare-bones pub, just opposite the Walworth bus depot and furnished, as far as I could tell, with tables and chairs nicked from the local secondary school,...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 5-11 February 2024
The best articles from the past week.
10 months ago
The best articles from the past week.
Londonist
Things To Do In London In The Easter Holidays 2024
Family-friendly events in the capital this spring.
9 months ago
Family-friendly events in the capital this spring.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 5-11 February 2024
Do cool stuff for under a fiver.
10 months ago
Do cool stuff for under a fiver.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 21-27 August 2023
EVERY brewery taproom, a view higher than the Shard, and NFL in London.
a year ago
EVERY brewery taproom, a view higher than the Shard, and NFL in London.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why you should visit Story Parlor in Asheville, NC
11 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
4 Outdoor Adventures Near Marriott Hotels in Florida
5 months ago
Londonist
Martin Luther King Gets A London Blue Plaque
The activist visited Bloomsbury in 1961.
11 months ago
The activist visited Bloomsbury in 1961.
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...
Londonist
Leadenhall Market Is Wrapped In Giant Purple Tentacles Again
And other Halloweeny fun to be had, too.
a year ago
And other Halloweeny fun to be had, too.
Londonist
The Ballot For Wimbledon 2024 Is Now Open
Ace!
a year ago
Londonist
High Rocks: Stunning Views, Steam Trains And 18th Century Graffiti
Oh, and a top-notch pub right across the road.
a year ago
Oh, and a top-notch pub right across the road.
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...
3 weeks 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...
Cheese and Biscuits
Cafe Kitty, Soho
For someone who spends an unhealthy amount of time thinking about and reading about restaurants, I...
5 months ago
For someone who spends an unhealthy amount of time thinking about and reading about restaurants, I consider it a personal failing that I didn't connect Cafe Kitty (Soho) with Kitty Fisher's (Mayfair) until it came up in conversation about halfway through dinner. In my defence,...
Londonist
20+ Cheery Things To Do In London In January 2024
Events to get you through the dark winter days.
11 months ago
Events to get you through the dark winter days.
Spoon & Tamago
City and Forest Living in a Unique Concrete Log House
All images © Ichiro Mishima courtesy IKAWAYA Architects Merging the organic with the inorganic;...
a year ago
All images © Ichiro Mishima courtesy IKAWAYA Architects Merging the organic with the inorganic; walking the fine line between indoors and outdoors, is a predominant theme in contemporary Japanese architecture. One of the latest iterations is from architect Atsushi Ikawaya, who...
diamond geezer
The December 2024 tube map
The introduction of six Overground line names continues to have unfortunate repercussions.
It's...
a week ago
The introduction of six Overground line names continues to have unfortunate repercussions.
It's unfortunate because the last tube map was only released three weeks ago. Alas it included a typo so the decision was taken to withdraw the entire batch pending a reprint, and here...
Spoon & Tamago
Five Things To Look Forward to at the 2025 World Expo Japan Pavilion
The 2025 World Expo in Osaka, slated to take place in Osaka, is just 6 months away. Taking place...
2 months ago
The 2025 World Expo in Osaka, slated to take place in Osaka, is just 6 months away. Taking place from April 13 to October 13, 2025, the expo aims to be a participatory, experiential, solutions-oriented exposition, offering the world an opportunity to come together in one place to...
Londonist
Stunning Images At Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2023
National Maritime Museum shows off the cosmos.
a year ago
National Maritime Museum shows off the cosmos.
Londonist
Things To Eat And Drink In London This Halloween
From pumpkin-spiced crumble to a sinful supper club.
a year ago
From pumpkin-spiced crumble to a sinful supper club.
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
Redbridge Museum reopens
The London borough of Redbridge has boasted a solid mid-table museum since 2000, housed in a bespoke...
3 months ago
The London borough of Redbridge has boasted a solid mid-table museum since 2000, housed in a bespoke corner on the second floor of Ilford's main library. But it's needed a bit of a refresh for a while so they used lockdown as a chance to start updating it with lottery money and...
Cheese and Biscuits
Archway, Battersea Park
Firstly, I have a confession to make. Many years ago I was very kindly treated to lunch at the River...
a year ago
Firstly, I have a confession to make. Many years ago I was very kindly treated to lunch at the River Café in Hammersmith, and I didn't like it. I think I was mainly intimidated - by the well-heeled crowd, the scale and the power of that vast dining room and open kitchen, and yes,...
Londonist
Named: The First Person To Witness The Great Fire Of London
New Museum of London research reveals who first discovered the blaze.
a year ago
New Museum of London research reveals who first discovered the blaze.
Londonist
In Pictures: London's Tube Station Gardens
Which is your fave?
a year ago
diamond geezer
Houlton
Approaching Rugby by train 20 years ago, what you'd have noticed out of the window was a vast array...
10 months ago
Approaching Rugby by train 20 years ago, what you'd have noticed out of the window was a vast array of very tall masts clustered across the fields to one side. They were even more prominent from the A5 on the far side of the site, equally visible from the M1 and perhaps best seen...
diamond geezer
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
346
Last Saturday one bus route on the edge of east London disappeared and another quadrupled in length....
9 months ago
Last Saturday one bus route on the edge of east London disappeared and another quadrupled in length. I didn't fancy spending my birthday in Upminster so left it a few days before taking a ride on the end result.
• The 346 used to be one of London's shortest bus routes, a brief...
diamond geezer
England's 100 largest towns
One reason I went to Redditch is that it's one of England's largest towns and I'm trying to turn...
3 months ago
One reason I went to Redditch is that it's one of England's largest towns and I'm trying to turn this list blue. Admittedly it's only number 98, but every blogpost counts.
England's 100 largest towns and cities by population
1-10: London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol,...
Londonist
The Legendary India Club Is Closing Next Month
Restaurant owners are "heartbroken".
a year ago
Restaurant owners are "heartbroken".
diamond geezer
Denham Green
As unexpected street names go, this is right up there.
n.b. there are four...
7 months ago
As unexpected street names go, this is right up there.
n.b. there are four Denhams.
Specifically Stanley Kubrick Road is in Denham Green.
Three things to see in Denham Green
1) Denham Film Studios
Alexander Korda opened his film studios just north of Denham in 1935. Some...
diamond geezer
CIIIR 75
Today is the King's 75th birthday.
Nationwide to celebrate his 30th, but here we are.
His mother...
a year ago
Today is the King's 75th birthday.
Nationwide to celebrate his 30th, but here we are.
His mother had a hospital, a bridge, an Olympic Park, a reservoir, a conference centre, an airport terminal, a parliamentary tower, a concert hall and a railway line, to mention but a few....
AFAR Media - Travel...
Alaska Airlines Launches Flights From West Coast to Bahamas
a year ago
Londonist
10 Rather Shocking Images From A Victorian Tabloid
Bread riots, carriage crashes, and tussling with bears.
11 months ago
Bread riots, carriage crashes, and tussling with bears.
diamond geezer
Options for improving Stratford station
Stratford station can be a nightmare to get around, having grown over the years to become an...
a year ago
Stratford station can be a nightmare to get around, having grown over the years to become an impenetrable monster of an interchange. It needed a major rebuild in the late 90s before the Jubilee line arrived, fronted by the steel and glass concourse we see today. It needed another...
AFAR Media - Travel...
How to Explore Dallas’ Culturally Diverse Arts Scene
5 months ago
Londonist
15 Delightful Day Trips From London: November 2023
Charming events within easy reach of London.
a year ago
Charming events within easy reach of London.
Londonist
Fundraising Events In London For Medical And Humanitarian Aid In Gaza
Some ways to support emergency response efforts.
a year ago
Some ways to support emergency response efforts.
Londonist
Shoreditch Has A New Secret Garden... On A Viaduct
Get eye-level with Village Underground's tube trains.
a year ago
Get eye-level with Village Underground's tube trains.
Londonist
The Absolute Worst Things You Can Say To A Londoner
"I bought my flat in the early 2000s for 150k."
a year ago
"I bought my flat in the early 2000s for 150k."
Londonist
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
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...
Londonist
This Free Quentin Blake Exhibition Lands In London At The End Of January
You can even buy the artworks.
11 months ago
You can even buy the artworks.
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!
AFAR Media - Travel...
NYC-Based Cocktail Bar, Death & Co, Opens D.C. Location
a year ago
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),...
diamond geezer
St Patrick's Day quizzes
Today I hope to bring you five St Patrick's Day quizzes.
Just one guess in each quiz please.
(but...
9 months ago
Today I hope to bring you five St Patrick's Day quizzes.
Just one guess in each quiz please.
(but that's five guesses over the course of the day)
5) St Patrick quiz
ST PATRICK.
1) bigot
2) channel
3) characteristics
4) coupé
5) deceives
6) designer
7) flatbreads
8)...
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.
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in May 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in May 2024
1) The three Elizabeth line ticket offices...
6 months ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in May 2024
1) The three Elizabeth line ticket offices which sold the fewest tickets in 2023 were Acton Main Line (2736), Hanwell (3375) and Maryland (4037). That's about 10 tickets per day.
2) The installation of new brighter lighting...
diamond geezer
Unblogged December
28 unblogged things I did in December
Fri 1: My monthly electricity bill arrived and it was an...
12 months ago
28 unblogged things I did in December
Fri 1: My monthly electricity bill arrived and it was an estimate, except that after several months of them assuming I'd used 40 kWh they'd suddenly decided I'd used 192 kWh. The bloke on the helpline couldn't explain the massive hike ("no, I...
Londonist
The Boat Races 2024: How, Where And When To Watch Oxford Vs Cambridge
Plenty of riverside pubs to choose from.
9 months ago
Plenty of riverside pubs to choose from.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 26 February-3 March 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
10 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Spoon & Tamago
60-Year-Old Machiya Adapted into Hender Scheme’s New Osaka Flagship
All images © toha courtesy DDAA Hender Scheme’s flagship store in Kansai is an adaptive reuse of a...
a year ago
All images © toha courtesy DDAA Hender Scheme’s flagship store in Kansai is an adaptive reuse of a sixty-plus-year-old one-story wooden house near Umeda Station in Osaka. With a spacious area of around 175m² and impressive high ceilings, the store has been designed to reflect...
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)...
diamond geezer
BustopMas
Now that December's here the festivity in London is palpable! And as Christmas grows closer our...
a year ago
Now that December's here the festivity in London is palpable! And as Christmas grows closer our appetite for seasonal treats grows ever stronger. It can mean only one thing: winter is upon us and Christmas has officially arrived.
This year's big ticket event is BustopMas, a...
Londonist
Pedlar's Acre: The Mysterious Bit Of South Bank Where The London Eye Now Stands
Who was the Pedlar of Lambeth?
9 months ago
Who was the Pedlar of Lambeth?
Londonist
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"
Londonist
Your London Reading List: The Best Non-Fiction Books
Best books voted for by Londonist readers.
8 months ago
Best books voted for by Londonist readers.
Londonist
Dive Into This Astoundingly Detailed Illustration Of Somerset House
Adam Dant is at it again.
9 months ago
Adam Dant is at it again.
Cheese and Biscuits
The Pelican, Notting Hill
While I think the Top 50 Gastropub list is largely great, every year when it's announced there is...
a year ago
While I think the Top 50 Gastropub list is largely great, every year when it's announced there is the same grumbling about how some of the nominated places are best described as 'restaurants that operate out of a pub building' than pubs. I have long argued that to be considered...
Londonist
Dive Into This Free Exhibition About Billingsgate Fish Market
Living the bream.
10 months ago
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...
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
A Rare Chance To Have Afternoon Tea Inside Greenwich's Painted Hall This March
For one day only.
10 months ago
diamond geezer
Not the Metropolitan line extension
Eight years ago the Metropolitan line extension to Watford Junction was cancelled when the incoming...
9 months ago
Eight years ago the Metropolitan line extension to Watford Junction was cancelled when the incoming Mayor chose to ditch the outgoing Mayor's underfunded project. The people of London barely noticed - they had no desperate need to go to west Watford and the money saved went on...
Cheese and Biscuits
Evernight, Battersea
Knowing we would be having dinner at Evernight I thought aperitifs at Homeboy Battersea, just around...
a year ago
Knowing we would be having dinner at Evernight I thought aperitifs at Homeboy Battersea, just around the corner in the same building, would be a nice way to kick off the evening. I was at Homeboy a couple of years ago just after it had opened, was treated to a very decent burger...
Londonist
10 Times That Fictional London Has Slipped Into Our Universe
Glitches in the matrix.
a year ago
Londonist
Where To Celebrate St Patrick's Day 2024 In London
Parties, parades and other craic on and around 17 March.
9 months ago
Parties, parades and other craic on and around 17 March.
Spoon & Tamago
150-Year Old Florist in Yanaka Blossoms with a New Cafe
all photos by Takuya Seki courtesy Maru Architects Founded in 1870, Hanaju is a florist that has...
3 months ago
all photos by Takuya Seki courtesy Maru Architects Founded in 1870, Hanaju is a florist that has served Tokyo’s Yanaka neighborhood for over 150 years. The flower shop is located near the entrance of Yanaka Cemetery and is surrounded by traditional homes and businesses, including...
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
diamond geezer
First steps
As the phoney war before the next election escalates, I'd like to express my disappointment that the...
7 months ago
As the phoney war before the next election escalates, I'd like to express my disappointment that the next government won't be as left wing as it should have been.
These are Comrade Starmer's so-called first steps, a limp selection of depressingly weak promises which reads...
Londonist
Plunge Into An Icy Brockwell Lido For Charity This Christmas
The Icebreaker challenge is back.
a year ago
The Icebreaker challenge is back.
Londonist
The Next London Borough Of Culture Will Be Wandsworth, Followed By...
Next two boroughs announced.
9 months ago
Next two boroughs announced.
Cheese and Biscuits
Manifest, Liverpool
Some restaurants just make it all look so easy. From the moment you walk into the room to the moment...
a year ago
Some restaurants just make it all look so easy. From the moment you walk into the room to the moment you pay up and leave, everything about the experience at Manifest is just so effortlessly polished, professional and enjoyable, and pitched at such reasonable prices, that it's...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Discover Portugal’s Wellness Havens with TAP Air’s Stopover
a month ago
diamond geezer
Crossing the river news
Crossing the river news
Silvertown Tunnel toll news
have been announced. They're not called tolls,...
5 months ago
Crossing the river news
Silvertown Tunnel toll news
have been announced. They're not called tolls, they're called user charges, but we all know what they are. The tolls will also apply to the Blackwall Tunnel from the day the Silvertown Tunnel opens which is expected to be...
diamond geezer
Unblogged November
30 unblogged things I did in November
Wed 1: I went to peripheral Hadley Wood and walked the length...
a year ago
30 unblogged things I did in November
Wed 1: I went to peripheral Hadley Wood and walked the length of peripheral Waggon Road, having climbed the peripheral footpath over the tunnel portal. In the process I spent 30 seconds in Hertfordshire, which it turns out is the last time I...
diamond geezer
Whitehall
WHITEHALL
£140
London's Monopoly Streets
WHITEHALL
Colour group: pink
Purchase price:...
8 months ago
WHITEHALL
£140
London's Monopoly Streets
WHITEHALL
Colour group: pink
Purchase price: £140
Rent: £10
Length: 500m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: SW1
Whitehall is one of the most famous and historic streets in London but has been tucked away on the cheap-to-middling side of...
Londonist
A Farewell To Wilko
"I thought this was the new Woolworths to be honest."
a year ago
"I thought this was the new Woolworths to be honest."
Londonist
The Funniest Things You've Heard Tube Drivers Say - Vol. 4
"Anyone know where the brakes are on this thing?"
a year ago
"Anyone know where the brakes are on this thing?"
Londonist
Londonist: Time Machine Opens Its Archive For Easter
"It's so damned good!"
9 months ago
diamond geezer
Old Kent Road
OLD KENT
ROAD
£60
London's Monopoly Streets
OLD KENT ROAD
Colour group: brown
Purchase price:...
11 months ago
OLD KENT
ROAD
£60
London's Monopoly Streets
OLD KENT ROAD
Colour group: brown
Purchase price: £60
Rent: £2
Length: 1¾ miles
Boroughs: Southwark and Lewisham
Postcodes: SE1, SE15
Old Kent Road, which is also the only location south of the river. Originally this was Watling...
Londonist
Tower Bridge: Rare Behind-The-Scenes Tours Now On Sale
Including a chance to explore the bascule chambers.
a year ago
Including a chance to explore the bascule chambers.
Londonist
A Tim Burton Exhibition Is Coming To The Design Museum In 2024
Illustrator, painter, photographer, author - what doesn't he do?
a year ago
Illustrator, painter, photographer, author - what doesn't he do?
Londonist
Captain Zip's Amazing Film Footage Of London Punks In The 1970s And 80s
They even visit Downing Street.
a year ago
They even visit Downing Street.
diamond geezer
London's highest lettered house
What's London's highest lettered house?
Sorry, that's a bad question. I don't mean the highest...
a year ago
What's London's highest lettered house?
Sorry, that's a bad question. I don't mean the highest above sea level, not like the highest station I blogged about on Thursday. And letters aren't generally higher than other letters, F isn't higher than E, it's more an alphabetical...
Londonist
A Map Of Westminster Place Names And Where They Come From
From Maida Vale to Covent Garden.
8 months ago
From Maida Vale to Covent Garden.
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...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Terrace, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
The Terrace restaurant in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight is situated not just handily near the ferry...
over a year ago
The Terrace restaurant in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight is situated not just handily near the ferry terminal, but literally on top of it, the outside dining area (or Terrace, if you will) regularly enveloped in shade as the giant Lymington ferry pulls alongside. This means that...
diamond geezer
Majority Sweepstake
On polling day, let's have a sweepstake on the size of the Labour majority.
comments...
5 months ago
On polling day, let's have a sweepstake on the size of the Labour majority.
comments if(postComments['51253209151424'] != null){document.write(' (' + postComments['51253209151424'] + ')')}else{document.write(' (0)')};
n.b. If you don't think Labour are going to get a majority, go...
Londonist
Non-Christmassy Things To Do In London In December
Where to avoid Christmas completely in London this year.
a year ago
Where to avoid Christmas completely in London this year.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Asheville Restaurants Refining Appalachian Culinary Traditions
11 months ago
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 2-3 March 2024
Foodie events, live music, and last chance to see a flower festival before it closes.
10 months ago
Foodie events, live music, and last chance to see a flower festival before it closes.
Londonist
The Superloop Loop Completes This Weekend - With The Launch Of SL2
(But yes, we know there's a gap in the loop.)
9 months ago
(But yes, we know there's a gap in the loop.)
Spoon & Tamago
Go on the Tokyo Toilet Tour and Never Worry About Finding a Public Restroom Again
Japan’s public restrooms have in international reputation for being clean and well-maintained, but...
10 months ago
Japan’s public restrooms have in international reputation for being clean and well-maintained, but apparently that still wasn’t good enough. In 2020, the city of Shibuya and Nippon Foundation embarked on an initiative called Tokyo Toilet. They brought together some of the biggest...
Londonist
London's Best Christmas Markets And Festive Fairs For 2023
Christmas shopping events in the capital, for gifts, decorations, festive food and more.
a year ago
Christmas shopping events in the capital, for gifts, decorations, festive food and more.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Upgrading to Lufthansa Allegris’ New Business Class
4 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
All Aboard the Deer Train to Nara
all photos by mareiii04 Nara is known for several things including their gorgeous temples and...
a year ago
all photos by mareiii04 Nara is known for several things including their gorgeous temples and exquisite parks. But the historic Japanese city has another major tourist attraction: their devious deer. If you’re heading to Nara, be sure to try and board Kintetsu Railway’s new Deer...
Londonist
It's Official - London Has Two Of The World's 10 Best Bars
But Barcelona's still the best place to booze.
a year ago
But Barcelona's still the best place to booze.
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...
diamond geezer
The City Wall at Vine Street
Other Vine Streets are available.
The City Wall at Vine Street
Location: Vine Street, EC3N 2HT...
5 months ago
Other Vine Streets are available.
The City Wall at Vine Street
Location: Vine Street, EC3N 2HT [map]
Open: 9am - 6pm (bank holidays excepted)
Admission: free
Seven word summary: a very old wall and some rubbish
Website: citywallvinestreet.org
Time to set aside: half an hour
The...
Londonist
It's Car-Free Day This Weekend - And 100 London Roads Are Closing To Vehicles
To the space hoppers!
a year ago
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...
Londonist
The BT Tower Is Becoming A Hotel
Iconic building sold for £275m.
10 months ago
Iconic building sold for £275m.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Vacation Ideas for Families with Neurodivergent Children
a year ago
diamond geezer
It's this blog's 22nd birthday
It's diamond geezer's 22nd birthday.
It's not an especially notable anniversary, not like 21 or...
3 months ago
It's diamond geezer's 22nd birthday.
It's not an especially notable anniversary, not like 21 or 20, but it's still a big number.
diamond geezer
Polygon Road
As a heads-up, this is the trajectory of today's post.
a) Ooh, a street with an interesting name.
b)...
10 months ago
As a heads-up, this is the trajectory of today's post.
a) Ooh, a street with an interesting name.
b) Hmmm, I suspect it's also an interesting street.
c) Ah, now I've walked it I see it's not interesting after all.
d) But this gives me an idea about similarly-named streets.
e) Ah,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
10 Best, Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Portugal
a year ago
Londonist
12 Spring Day Trips From London: March 2024
Daffodils, dinosaurs and British fashion icons.
9 months ago
Daffodils, dinosaurs and British fashion icons.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Outdoor Adventure Inspiration and Small Businesses in Sheridan, Wyoming
a year ago