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...
Londonist
10 Under-Appreciated Buildings On London's South Bank
From Italianate hospitals to bucolic almshouses.
a year ago
From Italianate hospitals to bucolic almshouses.
diamond geezer
Open House (2)
Yesterday's Open House tally was six.
• The dazzling property where the volunteer arrived with a...
a year ago
Yesterday's Open House tally was six.
• The dazzling property where the volunteer arrived with a key one minute before the official opening time and asked if we wouldn't mind going somewhere else for quarter of an hour.
Let's do four of those in more detail (not necessarily...
Londonist
The Petrie Museum: Ancient Egypt Without The British Museum Crowds
The Bloomsbury museum hidden in UCL.
10 months ago
The Bloomsbury museum hidden in UCL.
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
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.
Londonist
Where To Go Pumpkin Picking Near London This Autumn
Oh. My. GOURD.
a year ago
Cheese and Biscuits
The Audley, Mayfair
I ended up in the Audley, newly refurbished and reimagined gastropub in Mayfair, rather by accident...
over a year ago
I ended up in the Audley, newly refurbished and reimagined gastropub in Mayfair, rather by accident on Saturday, and I'm afraid I didn't set out with my usual forensic (ha!) bloggery attitude to proceedings. I wasn't planning on having lunch out at all, but walking down Mount St...
Spoon & Tamago
The Asuke II Cruise Ship is a Floating Museum of Traditional Craftwork
Over 50 pieces of traditional craftwork (dento kogei) are on display on the Asuka II cruise ship for...
6 months ago
Over 50 pieces of traditional craftwork (dento kogei) are on display on the Asuka II cruise ship for a project organized by the Japan Kogei Association, a Tokyo-based group comprising artisans nationwide, and Anchor Ship Partners Co., a shareholder of the company that operates...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Cruise for Best Way to See the Northern Lights in Alaska
8 months ago
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.
diamond geezer
Unblogged October
31 unblogged things I did in October
Tue 1: Two new developments in Barking & Dagenham are...
2 months ago
31 unblogged things I did in October
Tue 1: Two new developments in Barking & Dagenham are over-egging transport links in their roadside marketing. Barking Riverside says 'Perfectly connected' when the reality is a half-hourly boat, a train to Barking or non-express buses....
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #1
Roadworks have yet to start at the Bow Roundabout but buses on route 8 have already been curtailed...
3 months ago
Roadworks have yet to start at the Bow Roundabout but buses on route 8 have already been curtailed so they no longer start at Bus Stop M. Unfortunately nobody's told the passengers yet. They're still standing around waiting for buses that aren't coming, some for ages until the...
AFAR Media - Travel...
United Airlines Credit Cards Increase Sign-Up Bonuses
a year ago
Londonist
Get A Dose Of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum
Small museum that's free to visit.
a year ago
Small museum that's free to visit.
Londonist
Black History Month Events In London 2023
Walks, talks, markets and music legends.
a year ago
Walks, talks, markets and music legends.
diamond geezer
Six 15-minute posts
Here are six brief posts, none of which I spent more than 15 minutes on.
1) The consultation...
5 months ago
Here are six brief posts, none of which I spent more than 15 minutes on.
1) The consultation report for "Extending the DLR from Gallions Reach to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead" has just been published. At this very early stage in the project it focused on asking people...
Londonist
"Displeasing And Absurd": A Hatchet Job Review Of A Christmas Carol From 1843
There's always one.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Almost Oxford Street
A Nice Walk: Almost Oxford Street (1½ miles)
Crowds throng the length of Oxford Street, especially...
a year ago
A Nice Walk: Almost Oxford Street (1½ miles)
Crowds throng the length of Oxford Street, especially at this time of year, in search of gifts and for a gander at the sparkly lights. But sometimes you just want to go for a nicer walk, nothing too busy, a bit of a stroll, lots to...
Londonist
5 London Underground Stations That Totally Ripped Off Other Buildings
From Berlin to Amsterdam to Moscow.
10 months ago
From Berlin to Amsterdam to Moscow.
Londonist
In Pictures: Pollock's Toy Museum Relaunches In Croydon
Whitgift Centre pop-up is utterly delightful.
11 months ago
Whitgift Centre pop-up is utterly delightful.
Londonist
Pubs With Real Fires In London: Cosy Up With A Pint By These Roaring Fireplaces
Updated for winter 2023!
a year ago
diamond geezer
London's highest High Street
London's highest High Street
High Street (Downe) [155m]
High Street should be in Downe.
Downe is...
6 months ago
London's highest High Street
High Street (Downe) [155m]
High Street should be in Downe.
Downe is a proper village surrounded by fields, not far from Biggin Hill airport. It used to be in Kent but is now in the outer orbit of the London borough of Bromley. It has two village...
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
Things To Do In London In The Christmas Holidays With Kids
Theatre shows, exhibitions and Christmas events.
a year ago
Theatre shows, exhibitions and Christmas events.
diamond geezer
Trafalgar 219
To celebrate/commemorate the 219th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, here are 40...
2 months ago
To celebrate/commemorate the 219th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, here are 40 Trafalgar-based lists.
Places called Trafalgar: cape in Spain, hamlet in Cornwall, town in Indiana, community in Nova Scotia, town in Victoria, waterfall in Dominica, village in South Africa,...
Londonist
Things To Do In London On Christmas Day
Guided tours, river trips and Christmas lunch.
a year ago
Guided tours, river trips and Christmas lunch.
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Guide to Mindful Travel in Greater Palm Springs
a month ago
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 20-21 January 2024
Two words: cheese market.
11 months ago
Two words: cheese market.
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...
Londonist
The Must-See London Exhibitions To Look Forward To In 2024
A glance ahead to the capital's upcoming blockbuster exhibitions.
a year ago
A glance ahead to the capital's upcoming blockbuster exhibitions.
diamond geezer
Euston Road
EUSTON
ROAD
£100
London's Monopoly Streets
EUSTON ROAD
Colour group: light blue
Purchase price:...
9 months ago
EUSTON
ROAD
£100
London's Monopoly Streets
EUSTON ROAD
Colour group: light blue
Purchase price: £100
Rent: £6
Length: 1 mile
Borough: Camden
Postcode: NW1
Euston Road is the broadest, busiest, most polluted street on the Monopoly board, so hardly somewhere you'd want to...
diamond geezer
Consequential
Some weeks are consequential.
a) Today is the Budget.
This budget also feels like it's been...
2 months ago
Some weeks are consequential.
a) Today is the Budget.
This budget also feels like it's been coming for ages, the General Election being 17 weeks ago, but it takes time to check the nation's finances, develop a plan and balance strategic gains with individual pain. There has...
diamond geezer
Nazareth Gardens and Bethlehem House
To conclude this year's selection of festive streets, here are both ends of the donkey's...
a year 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...
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.
Londonist
London Overground Strikes Announced For February And March
Plan ahead if you use the Ginger Line.
11 months ago
Plan ahead if you use the Ginger Line.
AFAR Media - Travel...
How to Explore Dallas’ Culturally Diverse Arts Scene
6 months ago
The Forney Flyer
Way Back When
Our flying has been quite slow lately because of the Covid-19 situation. I have, however, recently...
over a year ago
Our flying has been quite slow lately because of the Covid-19 situation. I have, however, recently done several maintenance and test flights from our home airstrip, which as you can see, is about half underwater from the high levels of Lake Victoria. In fact, this is better than...
AFAR Media - Travel...
An Architecture Lover’s Dream Tour Through Germany’s UNESCO Sites and Beyond
7 months ago
Londonist
The Chelsea Flower Show 2024: A Blooming Brief Guide
The world’s greatest flower show returns.
9 months ago
The world’s greatest flower show returns.
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.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 11-17 December 2023
Roundup of Londonist articles from the past week.
a year ago
Roundup of Londonist articles from the past week.
Spoon & Tamago
Fukutake Tres is an Art Space Dedicated to the Fukutake Family, the Visionary Force Behind the...
Over the past three decades, Soichiro Fukutake, the former chairman of Tokyo-based education firm...
6 months ago
Over the past three decades, Soichiro Fukutake, the former chairman of Tokyo-based education firm Benesse Holdings, and his family have spent $250 million of their fortune to transform Naoshima and roughly a dozen neighboring islands in the Seto Inland Sea into a global art...
Herbert Lui
The vessel heuristic
What if, when you made art, you weren’t expressing yourself? What if you were a vessel for something...
3 weeks ago
What if, when you made art, you weren’t expressing yourself? What if you were a vessel for something greater to express themselves through? “The human mind is literally an antenna,” Pharrell says. “It picks up waves and transmissions from the ultimate source, from the ether.”...
Londonist
Astounding Animal Statues By Gillie And Marc Near London Bridge
A Wild Life for Wildlife.
a year ago
A Wild Life for Wildlife.
Londonist
This North American City Is Basically A Big Old Copy-And-Paste Of London
Copy our homework much, folks?
a year ago
Copy our homework much, folks?
Londonist
London New Year's Day Parade 2024: A Guide
Route, timings and where to watch the 1 January shindig.
a year ago
Route, timings and where to watch the 1 January shindig.
diamond geezer
Overground renaming - Severe Delays
One thing that happens when transport deadlines slip is that some things happen anyway, things that...
3 months ago
One thing that happens when transport deadlines slip is that some things happen anyway, things that were supposed to be associated with the launch. The weekend Crossrail was supposed to open but didn't, for example, Adidas inexplicably released a set of purple trainers with a 3D...
Londonist
New 'Eurostar Snow' Service Will Whisk Londoners To Ski Resorts This Winter
News comes after rumours that ski trains would end.
a year ago
News comes after rumours that ski trains would end.
Londonist
Ticket Alert: Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour Film Is Coming To London
Welcome to the Renaissance.
a year ago
Welcome to the Renaissance.
AFAR Media - Travel...
An In-Depth Restaurant Review of HAGS in New York City
a year ago
diamond geezer
Connection issues
I had a nice 2025-related post lined up for you today, but I have issues.
lot of...
3 hours ago
I had a nice 2025-related post lined up for you today, but I have issues.
lot of twiddling.
lightning port.
Yes, I've tried cleaning it but to no effect.
online advice.
There are potential getarounds to get the photos off the phone.
comments if(postComments['91681514525519'] !=...
diamond geezer
London's highest station
What's London's highest station?
Richard).
en-gb.topographic-map.com. This displays the elevation...
a year ago
What's London's highest station?
Richard).
en-gb.topographic-map.com. This displays the elevation of the land using a colourful scale, with blue the lowest and red the highest.
Precisely what colour equals what height varies as you zoom in and out. On this map at this scale...
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
HMV Is Reopening Its Iconic Oxford Street Store... Again
Music store returns for Christmas.
a year ago
Music store returns for Christmas.
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
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.
diamond geezer
Taking the piss
In an ideal world every TfL station would have toilet facilities but the truth is you're more likely...
2 months ago
In an ideal world every TfL station would have toilet facilities but the truth is you're more likely to be caught short.
announce "bold plans to grow and improve toilet provision" because that'd be a very good thing. The press release promised "investment totalling £3m per year...
diamond geezer
Hampton Water Works
The square after Coventry Street on the Monopoly board is the Water Works. London has all kinds of...
3 months ago
The square after Coventry Street on the Monopoly board is the Water Works. London has all kinds of water infrastructure, from sewage treatment works to reservoirs and ring mains, not to mention sewers, pumping stations and the Tideway Tunnel. But I thought I'd visit the largest...
diamond geezer
Building churches on housing estates
When did they stop building churches on housing estates?
Time was when even the smallest village...
6 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
The Curling Club Has Slid Into South Bank For A Winter-Long Après-Ski Party
Unleash your inner Winter Olympian.
a year ago
Unleash your inner Winter Olympian.
Londonist
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
Leap day
Leap day - 29 leap facts for February 29th
1) Leap years occur quadrennially, that's every four...
10 months ago
Leap day - 29 leap facts for February 29th
1) Leap years occur quadrennially, that's every four years. They're required because a solar year is almost exactly 365¼ days long, and over a four year period those four quarter-days add up to make one whole extra day.
2) Today is the...
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.
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...
diamond geezer
Unblogged September
30 unblogged things I did in September
Sun 1: My new laptop is on quite the sightseeing tour....
3 months ago
30 unblogged things I did in September
Sun 1: My new laptop is on quite the sightseeing tour. Yesterday it was in Shanghai, today it's in Köln and tomorrow it'll be in Stanford le Hope.
Mon 2: At Gipsy Hill station I spotted a cat on the Oyster reader, and quite frankly this...
diamond geezer
Overground line factfile
Overground line factfile
(because all the stats have changed)
Windrush line...
a month ago
Overground line factfile
(because all the stats have changed)
Windrush line
Operates: Highbury & Islington to New Cross/Clapham Junction/Crystal Palace/West Croydon
Colour on map: red parallel lines
Joined the Overground: 2010
Length: 24 miles
Zones: 1-5
Number...
Londonist
Things To Do This August Bank Holiday Weekend In London: 26-28 August 2023
Carnival! Concerts! A food festival! Dog shows!
a year ago
Carnival! Concerts! A food festival! Dog shows!
AFAR Media - Travel...
Best Places to Shop and Eat In Los Angeles
10 months ago
diamond geezer
Looking ahead to 2024
Looking ahead to 2024
Jan: Londoners ignore the New Year Parade; the popular blog diamond geezer...
a year ago
Looking ahead to 2024
Jan: Londoners ignore the New Year Parade; the popular blog diamond geezer publishes a New Year quiz but in the afternoon when regular readers aren't expecting it; this year's Apprentice candidates are grating smug muppets
Feb: new London bus routes include...
diamond geezer
The Charterhouse
I hadn't realised you could wander inside The Charterhouse, the historic almshouses on the edge of...
10 months ago
I hadn't realised you could wander inside The Charterhouse, the historic almshouses on the edge of Smithfield, probably because I hadn't been paying sufficient attention. I knew it had been restored a few years ago and I knew they did paid-for tours but I thought that was it, you...
diamond geezer
Renaming the Overground, step by step
The introduction of the six new London Overground names is finally, tangibly, underway. But the...
a month ago
The introduction of the six new London Overground names is finally, tangibly, underway. But the changes are being phased in, as befits a seriously complex operation, with some happening now, some delayed until next month or next year, and some kicked far into the future because...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Hightown Inn, Liverpool
Despite spending the first 20 years of my life about 100m up the road from the Hightown Inn (then...
4 days ago
Despite spending the first 20 years of my life about 100m up the road from the Hightown Inn (then the Hightown Hotel), I never really considered this grand old Victorian building to be much of a "local". I was far more likely to get the train to the Railway in Formby where most...
diamond geezer
One Stop Beyond
But what are the first stations beyond the Greater London boundary?
Herts
Moor Park...
4 months ago
But what are the first stations beyond the Greater London boundary?
Herts
Moor Park z6/7
Carpenders Park z7
Herts
Elstree and
Borehamwood z6
Potters Bar
Herts
Cuffley
Theobalds Grove z7
Waltham Cross z7
Essex
Buckhurst Hill z5
Roding Valley z4
Grange Hill...
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
Flotilla Led By Royal Barge To Carry Atomic Clock Along The Thames This Weekend
Watch time literally travel.
a year ago
Watch time literally travel.
Cheese and Biscuits
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: 16-17 December 2023
Festive pursuits, family events, and a huge horse show.
a year ago
Festive pursuits, family events, and a huge horse show.
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #9
The roadworks at the Bow Roundabout continue, and have a lot more continuing to go.
Bow side of...
a month ago
The roadworks at the Bow Roundabout continue, and have a lot more continuing to go.
Bow side of the flyover, although new kerbstones are now lined up along the new slightly-wider edge of the roundabout.
major roadworks.
For the last month one of these two lanes has been...
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
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
Snowflakes
A lot has been added to the tube map in recent years. Accessibility blobs, walking connections,...
a year ago
A lot has been added to the tube map in recent years. Accessibility blobs, walking connections, cablecars, trams, river piers and most recently Thameslink, all have been shoehorned into an increasingly cluttered diagram. But whatever ridiculous woke nonsense have they added...
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.
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
Khan Announces TfL Fare Freeze - But Is Everything As It Seems?
It does't apply to everyone...
11 months ago
It does't apply to everyone...
diamond geezer
Six free exhibitions in north central London
Six free temporary exhibitions in north central London
(I'll rank these at the end, but the best...
4 weeks ago
Six free temporary exhibitions in north central London
(I'll rank these at the end, but the best one comes first)
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
at: RIBA, Portland Place
from: 10am to 5pm (not Sunday)
until: 29 March
cottage melded into a rocky Leicestershire...
Londonist
A Brief History Of The Central Line
A chronology of the red line.
a year ago
A chronology of the red line.
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 13-14 January 2024
Circus, comedy, drag, live music and more.
12 months ago
Circus, comedy, drag, live music and more.
Spoon & Tamago
Noriko Sugiyama Transforms Old Kimono Into Luxurious Landscapes
all images courtesy Noriko Sugiyama Noriko Sugiyama is a self-taught artist who works with discarded...
11 months ago
all images courtesy Noriko Sugiyama Noriko Sugiyama is a self-taught artist who works with discarded kimono and obi, which she masterfully upcylces to create landscapes brimming with energy and hope. But her path to artistry has been anything but conventional. Now at the age of...
The Forney Flyer
Living up North, Way back When
Here's a shot of the little village where we lived for several years. It was nestled on the banks of...
over a year ago
Here's a shot of the little village where we lived for several years. It was nestled on the banks of the Koyukuk River, just above the Arctic Circle, not too far South of Gates of the Arctic National Park. There were no roads to the village. You could only get there by airplane...
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 29 January-4 February 2024
The best Londonist articles from the past week.
11 months ago
The best Londonist articles from the past week.
AFAR Media - Travel...
NYC-Based Cocktail Bar, Death & Co, Opens D.C. Location
a year ago
Londonist
Brewery Taprooms In London: A List Of Every Single One Of 'Em
Have we got brews for you.
a year ago
Have we got brews for you.
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 25-31 March 2024
Catch up with the best Londonist articles from the past week.
9 months ago
Catch up with the best Londonist articles from the past week.
Spoon & Tamago
Forest Crayons Derived Solely From a Different Species of Tree Native to Japan
Forest Crayons are a set of 10 crayons, each with a color derived solely from a different species of...
5 months ago
Forest Crayons are a set of 10 crayons, each with a color derived solely from a different species of tree native to Japan such as cedar, hazenoki and katsura. Designed by Saki Maruyama and Daniel Coppen of Studio Playfool, the crayons manage to repurpose Japan’s otherwise wasted...
Londonist
Around London In 14 Lions And Lionesses
One to paw over.
a year ago
Spoon & Tamago
Discarded Tatami Mats are Reborn as Contemporary Furniture
Tatami mats are traditional Japanese flooring made from sewn-together igusa grass. But despite their...
a year ago
Tatami mats are traditional Japanese flooring made from sewn-together igusa grass. But despite their lovely aroma and natural resistance to mold, their usage has consistently declined as modern consumers opt for more contemporary living choices. The Tatami ReFab Project is an...
Spoon & Tamago
‘Puddle’ Are a Series of Flower Vessels Inspired by Puddles of Water
Simple and common acts of nature often inspire brilliant design. Such is the case with “Puddle,” a...
8 months ago
Simple and common acts of nature often inspire brilliant design. Such is the case with “Puddle,” a series of flower vessels that mimic a puddle of water. Using properties of transparency and surface tension, these whimsical vessels create the illusion of a single plant growing...
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...
Londonist
Life Drawing With Wolves... In A London Hotel
Anyone can get involved... even kids!
a year ago
Anyone can get involved... even kids!
Londonist
Tate Britain Reveals Grenfell-Inspired Staircase
Chris Ofili's Requiem unveiled.
a year ago
Chris Ofili's Requiem unveiled.
Londonist
The Top Exhibitions To See In London: February 2024
Clocks, consumerism and centurions.
11 months ago
Clocks, consumerism and centurions.
diamond geezer
Anorak corner (rail edition)
Anorak Corner [National Rail edition]
passenger data from across Britain's railway network, this...
a month ago
Anorak Corner [National Rail edition]
passenger data from across Britain's railway network, this batch covering the period April 2023 to March 2024.
The UK's ten busiest National Rail stations (2023/24) (with changes since 2022/23)
1) -- Liverpool Street (95m)
2) -- Paddington...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Places to Visit in Asheville that Cater to Dogs
12 months ago
Cheese and Biscuits
Jeune & Jolie, Carlsbad
To a visitor from lands afar (me) who sees this part of the world in little two-week periods twice a...
a month ago
To a visitor from lands afar (me) who sees this part of the world in little two-week periods twice a year, Jeune & Jolie feels like it did all the work of establishing itself as one of the best restaurants in California in a metaphorical blink of an eye, a few short months...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Urchin, Hove
As soon as the sun comes out on a bank holiday, it feels like half of London heads down to the south...
7 months ago
As soon as the sun comes out on a bank holiday, it feels like half of London heads down to the south coast, and Brighton in particular. And though that town certainly has a lot going for it, not least a thriving restaurant and pub/wine scene that can show you a great time at all...
diamond geezer
Littlehampton → Shoreham
Walking the coast of Britain can be a tortuous meandering slog round umpteen bays and inlets or it...
7 months ago
Walking the coast of Britain can be a tortuous meandering slog round umpteen bays and inlets or it can be a simple stroll along a gentle curving shoreline. The coast of Sussex is mostly the latter which makes it ideal for a good long coastal walk. At the weekend I headed to the...
Londonist
Sing Along To Beyoncé's Greatest Hits - As Played By A Brass Band
Old Dirty Brasstards mix things up.
11 months ago
Old Dirty Brasstards mix things up.
Londonist
A Map Of Westminster Place Names And Where They Come From
From Maida Vale to Covent Garden.
9 months ago
From Maida Vale to Covent Garden.
Londonist
Where To Be Scottish In London
Kilty pleasures
a year ago
diamond geezer
Stratford & Bow election roundup
Stratford & Bow election roundup
my constituency?
Leaflets yes
• Uma Kumaran (Labour) A letter...
6 months ago
Stratford & Bow election roundup
my constituency?
Leaflets yes
• Uma Kumaran (Labour) A letter from Keir with his six pledges, minimal promises. Looks like they sent out millions of these.
• Halima Khan (Workers Party) Roughly-folded and left sticking out of all our...
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.
Cheese and Biscuits
Kachori, Elephant and Castle
There's a lot to be said about the redevelopment/regeneration/whitewashing (delete as applicable) of...
a year ago
There's a lot to be said about the redevelopment/regeneration/whitewashing (delete as applicable) of Elephant and Castle, and I am singularly unqualified to say it. I'm not trying to avoid the issue (honest), but am very aware that having nothing invested in the old place and...
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.
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...
United Becomes First U.S. Airline to Add Braille to Planes
a year ago
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...
10 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
St Paul's Lorrimore Square: London's Magnificent Modernist Church
Now THAT's a roof.
a year ago
Londonist
Belgravia In Bloom 2024: Flower Arches And Sculptures Pop Up In West London
It's all fun and games this year - that's the theme!
9 months ago
It's all fun and games this year - that's the theme!
One from Nippon
A peek into Japan's Convenience Stores
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 two-part article.
All across Japan, one sight remains ubiquitous – the convenience store.
A far, far cry from their American cousins, convenience stores in Japan are without...
Londonist
"My Obsession With London's Modernist Council Estates"
The beauty of the capital's social housing.
9 months ago
The beauty of the capital's social housing.
Londonist
Searching For A Sixth Form? Come And See What City Of London Freemen's School Has To Offer!
There's an open evening on 12 September.
a year ago
There's an open evening on 12 September.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Discover the Best Fall Getaways: 3 American Cities You Must Visit
7 months ago
diamond geezer
Euros final liveblog
Euros final liveblog 🏴🇪🇸
19:00 Only an hour to go.
19:10 I'm having steak and ale...
5 months ago
Euros final liveblog 🏴🇪🇸
19:00 Only an hour to go.
19:10 I'm having steak and ale pie.
20:00 Kick-off. The score is nil nil.
20:48 Off for oranges at half time.
21:05 Back.
21:06 Goal 😢
21:32 Goal 😀
21:46 Goal 😢
21:54 ENGLAND HAVE COME SECOND!
21:55 I'm sure...
Londonist
Where To Eat And Drink In Croydon
Chew your way through CR0.
a year ago
Chew your way through CR0.
Londonist
Skyscraper Bagging: How Many Of London's 20 Tallest Buildings Have You Been Up?
Ticking off the towers.
10 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
The FAA Bill Could Greatly Improve Air Travel—Here's How
a year ago
Londonist
Tips For Australians In London - From An Australian In London
Zoë Coombs Marr advises.
a year ago
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...
Vacation Ideas for Families with Neurodivergent Children
a year 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...
Spoon & Tamago
The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum is Keeping the Spirit of Wooden Architecture Alive
Roughly seventy per cent of Japan is forested and therefore wood has been historically tied to...
a year ago
Roughly seventy per cent of Japan is forested and therefore wood has been historically tied to architecture and design since ancient times. In fact, the world’s oldest surviving wooden structure is the Horyu-ji temple that was built in the early seventh century. From the...
AFAR Media - Travel...
In-Depth Review of AutoCamp Zion in Virgin, Utah
a year ago
Londonist
Secretive Central London Cold War Tunnels Could Open As Visitor Attraction
Kingsway Telephone Exchange is said to have inspired Q Branch.
a year ago
Kingsway Telephone Exchange is said to have inspired Q Branch.
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
Hayling Island
Seaside postcard: Hayling Island
Hayling Island lies just off the south coast near the mouth of the...
4 months ago
Seaside postcard: Hayling Island
Hayling Island lies just off the south coast near the mouth of the Solent, just east of Portsmouth. It's England's 7th largest offshore island and 5th most populous, some way behind Wight and Portsea respectively, both of which are nextdoor. It...
Londonist
29 Things To Do In London On 29 February
Use your extra day of 2024 wisely.
11 months ago
Use your extra day of 2024 wisely.
diamond geezer
Brent Cross West station
For decades the two mile gap between Hendon and Cricklewood stations didn't need a station. The...
a year ago
For decades the two mile gap between Hendon and Cricklewood stations didn't need a station. The surrounding area was mostly retail parks and rundown industrial estates, and the site itself was occupied by Cricklewood traction maintenance depot. But 'rundown industrial estate' is...
Spoon & Tamago
Three Art Festival to Visit in Japan in the 2nd Half of 2024
Japan’s numerous art festivals have proven to be an effective way of luring domestic and...
7 months ago
Japan’s numerous art festivals have proven to be an effective way of luring domestic and international tourists out of popular destinations and into rural parts of Japan they would have otherwise not visited. The poster child is perhaps the Setouchi Triennale, whose combination...
Londonist
Walking With The Snowman: Free Art Trail Comes To Fleet Street This Christmas
We're walking in the aaaiiiiiiir.
a year ago
We're walking in the aaaiiiiiiir.
Londonist
Where To Get Your Fill Of The Best Food And Drink In Islington
Marvellous macarons, superb sushi... and Karen's Diner.
9 months ago
Marvellous macarons, superb sushi... and Karen's Diner.
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.
diamond geezer
Lower Lea Valley Bus Review
HYPERLOCAL BUS NEWS: Lower Lea Valley Bus Review
development papers focused on particular...
5 months ago
HYPERLOCAL BUS NEWS: Lower Lea Valley Bus Review
development papers focused on particular geographical areas. A recent set covers the Lower Lea Valley, an area of "historically relatively low trip-generating industrial land progressively transforming into higher trip-generating...
diamond geezer
Our new coins
The News For Those Who Are No Longer Looking
An increasing number of my acquaintances no longer...
a year ago
The News For Those Who Are No Longer Looking
An increasing number of my acquaintances no longer follow the news in mainstream media, for whatever reason, avoiding all the bad news but simultaneously missing the good. So I thought I'd perform a public service by blogging about...
Londonist
At A Glance: What's Happening With London's Transport In 2024
New trains! New stations! Major closures!
a year ago
New trains! New stations! Major closures!
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 13-19 November 2023
The very best of Londonist from the past week.
a year ago
The very best of Londonist from the past week.
diamond geezer
Let's vote again (Bow East version)
HYPERLOCAL HISTORY MONTH: Let's vote again
Bow East you're about to get another chance to place a...
4 months ago
HYPERLOCAL HISTORY MONTH: Let's vote again
Bow East you're about to get another chance to place a cross on a ballot paper, and all because 15302 voters put their cross on a ballot paper somewhere else.
by-election is being held in Bow East ward for a seat on Tower Hamlets...
diamond geezer
BL1
London's Free Buses
BL1: Bedfont Lakes - Feltham
BL2: Bedfont Lakes - Hatton Cross
Length of...
2 months ago
London's Free Buses
BL1: Bedfont Lakes - Feltham
BL2: Bedfont Lakes - Hatton Cross
Length of journey: 2 miles, 12 minutes
It's a strange place, a 1990s commercial development built across former gravel pits, originally with IBM as the lead tenant. It's a bit like Stockley Park...
diamond geezer
Substacks
For those who like writing online, the blogging platform of choice continues to evolve.
Substack,...
3 weeks ago
For those who like writing online, the blogging platform of choice continues to evolve.
Substack, founded in 2017, which has been picking up more and more top writers of late. I have no intention of jumping ship, let's make that clear at the start, but I thought I'd take a...
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #6
The first full week of roadworks at the Bow Roundabout has seen lengthy queues and a bit more...
2 months ago
The first full week of roadworks at the Bow Roundabout has seen lengthy queues and a bit more drilling. The queues were at their worst on Wednesday when an additional set of roadworks temporarily afflicted Tredegar Road, at one point stretching over three quarters of a mile along...
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.
11 months ago
De-stress among the trees in east London.
Londonist
7 Places To See Gorgeous Autumn Leaves In London
Autumnal walks against a golden backdrop.
a year ago
Autumnal walks against a golden backdrop.
diamond geezer
Brookside Close
London's Soap Streets
Albert Square E15 and Albert Square SW8.
Coronation Street but the capital...
a year ago
London's Soap Streets
Albert Square E15 and Albert Square SW8.
Coronation Street but the capital doesn't have one.
Come with me to the borderlands between South Ruislip and South Harrow...
Brookside Close HA2
namesake cul-de-sac can be found beside the big roundabout on...
Londonist
See The '12 Days Of Christmas' Decorations In Duke Of York Square
"...And a partridge in a pear tree."
a year ago
"...And a partridge in a pear tree."
Londonist
Seek Out 25 Colourful Guide Dog Sculptures In Canary Wharf
We've heard of a glossy coat but this is ridiculous...
9 months ago
We've heard of a glossy coat but this is ridiculous...
diamond geezer
Silver Jubilee
In May 2004 I wrote a month-long series called Silver Jubilee to celebrate the 25th anniversary of...
7 months ago
In May 2004 I wrote a month-long series called Silver Jubilee to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Jubilee line. I believe in playing the long game, so today I'm reviving the feature to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Jubilee line extension.
So here's what I wrote...
diamond geezer
Open House (1)
It's that time of year again when hundreds of London properties open their doors to the public if...
3 months ago
It's that time of year again when hundreds of London properties open their doors to the public if you know where to look. It's also the time of year that I visit lots of places and write about them, so steel yourself. That said I only visited two yesterday, way out in far-flung...
Londonist
10 Tempting New Afternoon Teas To Try In London Right Now: February 2024
Get booking for the newest afternoon tea menus in the capital.
11 months ago
Get booking for the newest afternoon tea menus in the capital.
diamond geezer
You must have a valid ticket before boarding
Last month there were significant closures on the DLR and a replacement bus service ran.
And...
4 months ago
Last month there were significant closures on the DLR and a replacement bus service ran.
And there was one particular sentence that surprised me the most.
"You must have a valid ticket before boarding the replacement bus service."
I've never seen that before, not on a TfL...
diamond geezer
merry = 𝑥 - mas
We have the best signwriters at Bow Road station.
merry = 𝑥-mas
4 weeks ago
We have the best signwriters at Bow Road station.
merry = 𝑥-mas
Spoon & Tamago
Cafe Fang: An Oasis of Books and Coffee in Kyoto
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of touristy Kyoto, head to this newly opened oasis of...
a year ago
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of touristy Kyoto, head to this newly opened oasis of books and coffee. Located slightly north of central Kyoto is the Donkou Kissa Fang, a serene cafe and private book collection built inside immaculately crafted townhouse and garden....
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.
Londonist
Punchdrunk: Immersive Doyens Return In 2024 With "Moonlit Fever Dream"
Tickets for Viola's Room on sale this week.
9 months ago
Tickets for Viola's Room on sale this week.
diamond geezer
Random borough 1
It's exactly 20 years today since I dropped the names of 33 boroughs into an empty honey jar, picked...
9 months ago
It's exactly 20 years today since I dropped the names of 33 boroughs into an empty honey jar, picked one at random and kicked off my Random Borough project. It took eight years to complete.
I've decided to pick one of these 33 boroughs completely at random and then go there for...
Spoon & Tamago
Undercover’s Jun Takahashi Lights up Paris Fashion Week with Glowing Terrarium Dresses
images courtesy Undercover Flora and fauna were abound as designer Jun Takahashi’s fertile...
a year ago
images courtesy Undercover Flora and fauna were abound as designer Jun Takahashi’s fertile creativity was unleashed during Paris Fashion Week 2023. The designer’s iconic brand Undercover, equally revered as a cult name in streetwear and as a fixture on Paris’ haute couture...
diamond geezer
The refillable water bottle tube map
If you were wondering what symbol would be added to the tube map next, how about a refillable water...
4 months ago
If you were wondering what symbol would be added to the tube map next, how about a refillable water bottle?
It's always obvious retrospectively.
Overground network, hence the map is titled "London Overground stations with free drinking water fountains". The new symbol thus...
Londonist
5 Historic Castles To Visit In Essex
Including one that's a fake.
9 months ago
Including one that's a fake.
Londonist
Guess What Our Most-Read Article Of 2023 Was...
You love Christmas and the tube - but what was numero uno?
a year ago
You love Christmas and the tube - but what was numero uno?
AFAR Media - Travel...
Kid-Friendly Historic Sites and Attractions to Visit in Germany
7 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Southern Hospitality: Unveiling 3 Fabulous Hotels in Historic Cities for Your Next Getaway
7 months ago
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...
diamond geezer
Interview with a Bus Rescheduler
An interview with Liam Fennell, TfL Bus Rescheduler
DG: Hi Liam, tell us what you do.
Liam: Hi, I'm...
11 months ago
An interview with Liam Fennell, TfL Bus Rescheduler
DG: Hi Liam, tell us what you do.
Liam: Hi, I'm the guy who slows the buses down.
DG: I've always wondered who that was.
Liam: It's quite a responsibility!
DG: So how does that work?
Liam: You know when you're on a bus, pootling...
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
East London Could Be Getting This Flashy New Lido
What a beaut.
a year ago
Spoon & Tamago
Objects of Nostalgia Recreated in Pixelated Ceramics by Toshiya Masuda
all images courtesy the artist On the spectrum of artistic materials, pixel art and ceramics...
a year ago
all images courtesy the artist On the spectrum of artistic materials, pixel art and ceramics seemingly couldn’t be further apart. On one end you have one of mankind’s oldest forms of expression dating back to the late Paleolithic period. On the other, a digital form of art that...
diamond geezer
Energy shock
It's 2 years today since...
a) all Covid-related legal restrictions were withdrawn
b) Russian...
10 months ago
It's 2 years today since...
a) all Covid-related legal restrictions were withdrawn
b) Russian invaded Ukraine
It's also two years since the start of the energy shock that hoicked our gas and electricity bills to unheard-of levels. On the day of the invasion the annual energy...
Londonist
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
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 24-25 February 2024
A Saltburn ball, a Spider-Man concert, and a mystery movie marathon.
10 months ago
A Saltburn ball, a Spider-Man concert, and a mystery movie marathon.
Londonist
The Best Places To Find Bluebells In And Near London This Spring
You can walk your dog in some of these spots, too.
9 months ago
You can walk your dog in some of these spots, too.
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 New Attractions in California Travelers Should Know About
10 months ago
diamond geezer
Monday transport news
Subscribe now to get a dose of London transport news in your inbox every Monday.
You've Got...
a year ago
Subscribe now to get a dose of London transport news in your inbox every Monday.
You've Got Mail
Here's the roundel mat at Acton Main Line which is located just behind the gateline. It's easiest seen by those exiting the station, although they can only read it upside-down...
Londonist
Where To Watch Dickens' A Christmas Carol On Stage In London, 2023
From traditional retellings to drunk adaptations.
a year ago
From traditional retellings to drunk adaptations.
Londonist
Part Of The Piccadilly Line Is Closing For 5 Days This Month
Heathrow will be off the cards.
11 months ago
Heathrow will be off the cards.
diamond geezer
Strand
STRAND
£220
London's Monopoly Streets
STRAND
Colour group: red
Purchase price: £220
Rent:...
5 months ago
STRAND
£220
London's Monopoly Streets
STRAND
Colour group: red
Purchase price: £220
Rent: £18
Length: 1200m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: WC2
Vine Street was ridiculously short and dull whereas this is long, historic and so packed with points of interest I could easily...
Spoon & Tamago
Mountain Villa in Yamanashi Integrates Landscape and Living Room
photos by Daici Ano courtesy Keiji Ashizawa Architects We have a serious case of real estate envy...
a year ago
photos by Daici Ano courtesy Keiji Ashizawa Architects We have a serious case of real estate envy here. House in Saiko is a holiday home that overlooks Mount Fuji on the shore of Lake Saiko, one of the five Fuji Lakes. Designed by architect Keiji Ashizawa, and completed in 2017,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Myrtle Beach Travel Guide for Travelers with Disabilities
3 months ago
Londonist
Wish You Were (Still) Here: Piccadilly's Egyptian Hall
London's most beautiful pastiche?
10 months ago
London's most beautiful pastiche?
Londonist
Where To Watch The Super Bowl 2024 In London
Screenings and parties across the capital.
11 months ago
Screenings and parties across the capital.
diamond geezer
The news from Barking and Dagenham
Yesterday I went to the Becontree estate to take some photos of its churches. Then I added those...
6 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...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 9-10 December 2023
Drag brunch, wheelchair basketball, life drawing, and a sci-fi film all-nighter.
a year ago
Drag brunch, wheelchair basketball, life drawing, and a sci-fi film all-nighter.
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...
Londonist
Where Is The Heart Of London?
Answer: everywhere.
11 months ago
diamond geezer
Oxford Street
OXFORD
STREET
£300
London's Monopoly Streets
OXFORD STREET
Colour group: green
Purchase price:...
2 months ago
OXFORD
STREET
£300
London's Monopoly Streets
OXFORD STREET
Colour group: green
Purchase price: £300
Rent: £26
Length: 2km
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1
Oxford Street is one of the Roman Empire's most successful roads, at least in terms of retail income. It started out as...
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
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 16-22 October 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Outdoor Adventure Inspiration and Small Businesses in Sheridan, Wyoming
a year ago
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 23-29 October 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Cheese and Biscuits
Little Cellars, Camberwell
Having enjoyed the original Peckham Cellars very much, I eagerly jumped on a very kind invitation to...
a year ago
Having enjoyed the original Peckham Cellars very much, I eagerly jumped on a very kind invitation to their new Camberwell offshoot. Little Cellars is aptly named - there's a couple of high tables for 6 in the middle of the room and 8 lower seats arranged looking out of the two...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 19-20 August 2023
Black Pride, All Points East, a foodie weekend, a cocktail festival and more.
a year ago
Black Pride, All Points East, a foodie weekend, a cocktail festival and more.
Londonist
Sadiq Promises 'Bakerloop' Express Bus Route
Mirroring the proposed Bakerloo line extension.
9 months ago
Mirroring the proposed Bakerloo line extension.
Londonist
Rude Tube: 160 Years Since First Naughty Graffiti On The Underground
What *did* he write?
9 months ago
Londonist
40+ Rather Splendid Things To Do In London This Month: December 2023
From the first day of advent, through to New Year's Eve.
a year ago
From the first day of advent, through to New Year's Eve.
Londonist
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
Review: Fantasy: Realms Of The Imagination At The British Library
The genre finally gets the exhibition it deserves.
a year ago
The genre finally gets the exhibition it deserves.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Aspen Uncovered: How to Explore the City Like a True Local
7 months ago
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.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Discover Nine Ways to be Present in Los Angeles.
10 months ago
diamond geezer
Green Link Walk 4
I've now completed London's newest official walkway, the Green Link Walk, which was launched on 1st...
9 months ago
I've now completed London's newest official walkway, the Green Link Walk, which was launched on 1st March. If you need a map try here, if you need an app try here, if you want 45 pages of walking instructions try here, and if you're reading this several months in the future try...
Spoon & Tamago
Icoma Foldable Electric Bike Inspired by Japanese Transformable Toys
The moment we saw this foldable electric bike, something awakened our inner child. We couldn’t quite...
a year ago
The moment we saw this foldable electric bike, something awakened our inner child. We couldn’t quite put our finger on it bit it was a feeling akin to seeing a brand new toy in a toy shop. It turns out that the origin story of the Icoma Electric Bike is very much a part of...
diamond geezer
with a 9 on the end
Birthdays are often great, but a birthday with a 9 on the end can give cause to ponder as the end of...
10 months ago
Birthdays are often great, but a birthday with a 9 on the end can give cause to ponder as the end of another decade grows uncomfortably close.
So I thought I'd look back at my previous birthdays ending in 9, the moments I found myself on final approach to another decade's end,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Family-Friendly Vacations on Alabama's Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
a year ago
One from Nippon
A peek into Japan's Convenience Stores (Part 2)
Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part article. It will mostly make sense even without...
a year ago
Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part article. It will mostly make sense even without reading Part 1, but you would be missing out on a lot of context!
Before we start, let's take a quick detour to talk about that word in the
Londonist
One Of The First Victorians Born Was Called 'Hyde Park'
Apparently.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Southwark 25
Silver Jubilee: Southwark
Southwark station opened 25 years old today on 20th November 1999.
The...
a month ago
Silver Jubilee: Southwark
Southwark station opened 25 years old today on 20th November 1999.
The platforms are much like many of the others on the Jubilee line extension, but the concourse between them is unique. Step through and you enter a long cylindrical space on two...
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.
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where You Can Explore the World's Rivers And Protect Them
a year 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.
Cheese and Biscuits
Restaurant of the Year 2022 - The Bridge Arms, Canterbury
Since the madness of the Covid Times, you may have noticed that the rate of posting on this blog has...
over a year ago
Since the madness of the Covid Times, you may have noticed that the rate of posting on this blog has slowed down a bit. Where I used to try and do 6 or 7 posts a month, and with that obviously stopping completely while there was nothing open to review, I have since found that 2...
diamond geezer
30s update
This is probably a good day for my annual heatwave update.
Dates on which the temperature at...
4 months ago
This is probably a good day for my annual heatwave update.
Dates on which the temperature at Hampstead reached 30°C
JunJulAugSep
2010279/10
201127
2012 2518
2013 13 15/16/17 221
2014 18
2015 122
2016 18/19/202413
201717/18/19/20/216
2018 5/6/7/8 15 23 25/26/272/3...
Londonist
2024 Serpentine Pavilion Shaped Like A Shooting Star
Mass Studios has designed this year's offering.
11 months ago
Mass Studios has designed this year's offering.
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.
diamond geezer
Britain's Largest Clocks Going Back
Britain's Largest Clocks Going Back
That's largest by diameter.
'List of largest clock faces' (so...
a year ago
Britain's Largest Clocks Going Back
That's largest by diameter.
'List of largest clock faces' (so if that's wrong, this is wrong)
5) Manchester Town Hall
Diameter of clockface: 4.8m
Area of clockface: 18.1m²
Length of hands: 2.4m/1.8m
Number of clockfaces: 4
First operated: New...
Londonist
Big Improvement In London's Roadside Pollution, Says Report
NO2 levels plummet, but more to be done.
9 months ago
NO2 levels plummet, but more to be done.
Londonist
Dozens Of Well-Dressed Dandies Saunter Through Central London In May
What Londoner doesn't like a good flan?
9 months ago
What Londoner doesn't like a good flan?
Londonist
50+ Fantastic Things To Do In London This Month: February 2024
New exhibitions, a flower festival, and a chance to clown around in church.
11 months ago
New exhibitions, a flower festival, and a chance to clown around in church.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do In London This Week: 1-7 April 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
9 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
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...
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
Quobna Ottobah Cugoano: 18th Century Abolitionist Celebrated In Permanent Artworks
Che Lovelace canvasses bring Trinidadian colour to St James's Piccadilly.
a year ago
Che Lovelace canvasses bring Trinidadian colour to St James's Piccadilly.
One from Nippon
From the Ashes of the World's First App Store
Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part article. Read Part 1 here.
Part 1 Summary: Brother...
a year ago
Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part article. Read Part 1 here.
Part 1 Summary: Brother Industries built Takeru, the world's first software vending machine that let users download software from a server. While revolutionary, it wasn't as huge a success as
AFAR Media - Travel...
4 Reasons to Visit Amelia Island, Florida
11 months ago
Londonist
The West London Zoo You've Probably Never Heard Of
Where the art is as impressive as the animals.
a year ago
Where the art is as impressive as the animals.
diamond geezer
Marylebone
MARYLEBONE
STATION
🚂
£200
London's Monopoly Streets
MARYLEBONE STATION
Group: British...
7 months ago
MARYLEBONE
STATION
🚂
£200
London's Monopoly Streets
MARYLEBONE STATION
Group: British Railways
Purchase price: £200
Rent: £25
Annual passengers: 10 million
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: NW1
that question, announcements on the Bakerloo line pronounce it MARR-le-bone.
A...
The Forney Flyer
Congratulations Hannah!
Congratulations Hannah! We are so proud of you!
over a year ago
Congratulations Hannah! We are so proud of you!
The Forney Flyer
Random Shots from the Phone
This post features a few random shots from the iPhone. Some are from my very old iPhone 5s, that...
over a year ago
This post features a few random shots from the iPhone. Some are from my very old iPhone 5s, that recently died. And some are from the refurbished iPhone 8 that replaced it. As a photographer, I don't buy into the concept that phone cameras will ever totally replace 'real'...
diamond geezer
Canary Wharf 25
Today is Canary Wharf station's 25th birthday. Not the DLR station (that's 33) nor the Crossrail...
3 months ago
Today is Canary Wharf station's 25th birthday. Not the DLR station (that's 33) nor the Crossrail station (that's 2) but the Jubilee line station which opened mid-afternoon on Friday 17th September 1999.
The relentless commercialisation of Canary Wharf station
"Twenty banks of...
Spoon & Tamago
Satoshi Odagiri Creates One-of-a-Kind Organic Mobiles from Found Material
Located in the wilderness of of Hanno City (Saitama), about an hour outside of Tokyo, is Saturday...
10 months ago
Located in the wilderness of of Hanno City (Saitama), about an hour outside of Tokyo, is Saturday Factory, a design studio founded by Satoshi Odagiri in 2015. Inspired by the surrounding forests, rivers and wildflowers, Odagiri creates balancing mobiles that incorporate materials...
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...
Londonist
Secrets Of Tower Bridge
A behind the scenes tour of one of London's great icons.
a year ago
A behind the scenes tour of one of London's great icons.
diamond geezer
East Anglia Pylons
More News From Norfolk
110 mile line of pylons all the way from Norwich to the Thames. It's needed...
5 months ago
More News From Norfolk
110 mile line of pylons all the way from Norwich to the Thames. It's needed to help connect an increasing number of wind farms in the North Sea to population centres in London and the southeast, because it's no good having all that cheap energy if you...
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
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.
The Forney Flyer
And Here We Go Trying Yet Again...
There are so many good reasons/excuses I could give you as to why I did just one blog post last...
over a year ago
There are so many good reasons/excuses I could give you as to why I did just one blog post last June, with indications that I would start consistently blogging again, and then I disappeared... again. I could tell you that life has been super crazy busy, and that by...
Londonist
An A-Z Of The London Underground
X was tricky but we think we sorted it.
11 months ago
X was tricky but we think we sorted it.
AFAR Media - Travel...
New Luxury Cruises in the Adriatic and Baltic Seas
3 months ago
diamond geezer
Pudding Mill Lane 10
The DLR's youngest station is ten years old today.
Pudding Mill Lane opened on 28th April 2014...
8 months ago
The DLR's youngest station is ten years old today.
Pudding Mill Lane opened on 28th April 2014 and remains unnecessarily enormous.
Caveat: The station which opened 10 years ago was a rebuild paid for by Crossrail, because the original sat on the precise site where purple...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Your Next Caribbean Vacation to The Cayman Islands
8 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
A Temporary Rooftop Forest Replaces Fukuoka’s Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine During Renovations
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, one of Japan’s most-historically and culturally significant shrines, will...
a year ago
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, one of Japan’s most-historically and culturally significant shrines, will undergo a massive renovation beginning in May of 2023. And for three years the honden main hall will be completely closed off to the roughly 10 million visitors who come to the...
diamond geezer
Sullivanlessness
London's only independent bus operator threw in the towel on Friday, withdrawing their services from...
5 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...
diamond geezer
Mayday Mayday
London has just two streets called Mayday Something. I've been to both.
Mayday Road Thornton Heath...
8 months ago
London has just two streets called Mayday Something. I've been to both.
Mayday Road Thornton Heath CR7
Saints and Sinners pub (which you can tell closed three years ago because it's still advertising a pint for £2.99). Perhaps dodge the ambulances. And here you'll find Mayday...
diamond geezer
Except Islington
Sorry, that was two Tower Hamlets posts in a row.
Harrow
BarnetEnfieldHaringeyWaltham...
a year ago
Sorry, that was two Tower Hamlets posts in a row.
Harrow
BarnetEnfieldHaringeyWaltham ForestRedbridgeHavering
Hillingdon
Ealing
BrentCamdenIslingtonHackneyBarking &
Dagenham
Hounslow
H'smith &
FulhamKensington
&...
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
30 Beautiful Giraffe Sculptures To Discover On This Croydon Art Trail
Done the gorillas? Now do these.
a year ago
Done the gorillas? Now do these.
Londonist
5 Amazing Places To Eat Asian Food In Central London
As chosen by chef Jeff Tan.
10 months ago
As chosen by chef Jeff Tan.
Londonist
Which Tube Station Is Furthest From Its Namesake?
How far is it from Kew Gardens to Kew Gardens?
a year ago
How far is it from Kew Gardens to Kew Gardens?
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
diamond geezer
25 years of hurt
25 years ago today a total solar eclipse could be seen from the UK. How is that ever quarter of a...
4 months ago
25 years ago today a total solar eclipse could be seen from the UK. How is that ever quarter of a century ago?
small part of the UK mainland in south Devon and Cornwall, arriving over Land's End at 11:10am and departing near Salcombe five minutes later. All you had to do to...
diamond geezer
Where's WHS?
I needed to buy something from WHSmith but they didn't have it in the Stratford Westfield branch so...
a year ago
I needed to buy something from WHSmith but they didn't have it in the Stratford Westfield branch so I went to Canary Wharf instead. Except it turned out there isn't a Canary Wharf branch, there hasn't been for years, despite Google telling me it existed and was open. I did some...
Londonist
Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree: Where's It From? What's Its History? When's The Switch-On?
Spruce up on your arboreal knowhow.
a year ago
Spruce up on your arboreal knowhow.
Londonist
5 'New' Pubs Promised For City Of London By 2027
But are any actually new?
a year ago
But are any actually new?
diamond geezer
Climbing Campden Hill
A Nice Walk: Campden Hill (¾ mile)
Campden Hill, a full 42 metres above sea level. Here it is on a...
3 months ago
A Nice Walk: Campden Hill (¾ mile)
Campden Hill, a full 42 metres above sea level. Here it is on a topographic map, a raw bruise to the east of Holland Park, entirely untroubled by public transport. [1872 map] [2024 map]
Campden Hill rises to the south of Notting Hill Gate,...
Londonist
Christmas Dinner In London: Where To Eat In The Capital On Christmas Day
Book soon if you want a seat at these tables on 25 December.
a year ago
Book soon if you want a seat at these tables on 25 December.
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."
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...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Silver Birch, Chiswick
It's a pleasant novelty to, for once, not be opening a post about an excellent neighbourhood...
a year ago
It's a pleasant novelty to, for once, not be opening a post about an excellent neighbourhood restaurant without a resigned grump about the lack of such places in my own particular neighbourhood. Until recently, my fellow SW11 residents had very little to be proud of (and even...
diamond geezer
nonetheless
In January 2020 I wrote a post listing all the places I'd bought a new Pet Shop Boys album. It...
8 months ago
In January 2020 I wrote a post listing all the places I'd bought a new Pet Shop Boys album. It started with me buying Please on cassette from Our Price in Watford High Street on 24th March 1986, and ended as follows.
Hotspot (24th January 2020)
Bought from: Sister Ray, Berwick...
Londonist
The Massive (And Massively Controversial) Stratford Sphere
Is Vegas coming to east London?
a year ago
Is Vegas coming to east London?
diamond geezer
439
In March 2020 TfL published a Croydon Bus Study, a 54 page examination of the local bus network and...
10 months ago
In March 2020 TfL published a Croydon Bus Study, a 54 page examination of the local bus network and how it might need to change in response to proposed development, particularly to the south of Croydon. Essentially it said "if more people are going to live here they'll need...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 30-31 December 2023
The best ways to spend the last weekend of 2023 in the capital.
a year ago
The best ways to spend the last weekend of 2023 in the capital.
diamond geezer
September events diary 2024
It's almost September again but never fear, London's putting on a last flurry of events, activities...
4 months ago
It's almost September again but never fear, London's putting on a last flurry of events, activities and happenings before the nights draw in and we're all invited. Here's my weekend-by-weekend guide to free September delights.
All month
Totally Thames (Sep 1-30): Once again a...
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
Sadiq Stops The Ball Rolling On Controversial Stratford Sphere
Massive Vegas-style venue would be " bulky, unduly dominant and incongruous".
a year ago
Massive Vegas-style venue would be " bulky, unduly dominant and incongruous".
Londonist
Photos Of The London Tube In The 1940s And Ukraine's Metros In The 2020s
Echoes of the Blitz comes to LTM.
10 months ago
Echoes of the Blitz comes to LTM.
diamond geezer
A quiz
Mystery quiz
Suggestions and answers in the comments box please.
one suggestion and one guess each,...
a year ago
Mystery quiz
Suggestions and answers in the comments box please.
one suggestion and one guess each, thanks.
1) aftermaths
2) arrow
3) banter
4) braindamaged
5) cheering
6) commensuration
7) condor
8) dance
9) eely
10) embryo
11) feline
12) genial
13) hamlet
14) hearing
15)...
Spoon & Tamago
Hida Takayama Distillery is Making Whiskey in an Abandoned School, Aging it in a Local Dam
Takane Elementary School and Takane No.2 Dam | images courtesy Hida Takayama A key strategy to...
a year ago
Takane Elementary School and Takane No.2 Dam | images courtesy Hida Takayama A key strategy to reducing our environmental impact involves integrating principles of a circular economy that prioritizes reuse, recovery, and refurbishment of existing infrastructure and resources. The...
diamond geezer
London's most extreme roundabouts
London's most extreme roundabouts
i.e. the largest, smallest, deepest, farthest, earliest,...
4 months ago
London's most extreme roundabouts
i.e. the largest, smallest, deepest, farthest, earliest, weirdest, exitiest... all the extremes.
roundabout anyway, and will also have gaps, omissions and inaccuracies, but thankfully a lot of my readers are inquisitive research-friendly...
diamond geezer
One procession, one march
A procession, a march.
The Lord Mayor's Show
on the telly, now sandwiched inbetween Saturday...
a year ago
A procession, a march.
The Lord Mayor's Show
on the telly, now sandwiched inbetween Saturday Kitchen and Football Focus. But if you want to experience the full historic pageant in all its feathered floaty glory you need to turn up in the City and watch the multitudes go by....