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...
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)...
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...
Londonist
Week Of January Tube Strikes Set To Cause Severe Disruption
Happy New Year!
11 months ago
Londonist
Things To Do In London Between Christmas And New Year
For when you can't take any more festive TV.
a year ago
For when you can't take any more festive TV.
Spoon & Tamago
Tenohira Hanabi Let’s You Enjoy Sparklers in the Palm of Your Hand
Senko hanabi, literally meaning ‘incense fireworks,’ are small and subtle sparklers that are packed...
5 months ago
Senko hanabi, literally meaning ‘incense fireworks,’ are small and subtle sparklers that are packed with about 10 seconds of delicate pyrotechnics. Typically sold alongside other handheld fireworks, the unspoken rule is that senko hanabi are reserved for the grand finale....
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 1-7 April 2024
Our top stories from the last seven days.
8 months ago
Our top stories from the last seven days.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Ways to Experience Minnesota's Scandinavian Heritage
7 months ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
How to Explore Innsbruck, the Capital of the Alps
6 months ago
Londonist
Smithfield Market Christmas Meat Auction 2023: A Guide
Get your Xmas turkey on the cheap!
a year ago
Get your Xmas turkey on the cheap!
Londonist
13 Autumnal Day Trips From London: October 2023
Charming events within easy reach of London.
a year ago
Charming events within easy reach of London.
Londonist
Bits Of London That Aren't In The Bit Of London They Say They Are In, But In Another Bit Of London
If you see what we mean.
8 months ago
diamond geezer
London's most terminussy bus terminus
I won't keep you long today.
Let's answer a dull question.
Which London bus terminus has the most...
7 months ago
I won't keep you long today.
Let's answer a dull question.
Which London bus terminus has the most terminating routes?
See, half of you can head off already.
This is a surprisingly difficult question to answer.
It used to be easy when TfL made bus maps.
I made myself a list...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 22-28 January 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
11 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Hotel Review: Penny Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York
a year ago
diamond geezer
Blogged September
30 blogged things I did in September
Fri 1: I've now been publishing my 'unblogged' posts for 5...
a year ago
30 blogged things I did in September
Fri 1: I've now been publishing my 'unblogged' posts for 5 years, i.e. I've done 60 of them, so to still be getting 50 comments on the latest one is quite something, thanks.
Sat 2: I broke the news that tube platform tickets were being...
Londonist
The Unique London Spot Where A Railway, A Road And A Canal All Cross Each Other
But which came first?
a year ago
Londonist
Miracle At Henrietta: The Christmassiest Bar In London
It's Kiiiiiiiitschmas!
a year ago
diamond geezer
W12W13W14
Over the weekend TfL withdrew bus route 549, extended route W13 and substantially restructured...
3 months ago
Over the weekend TfL withdrew bus route 549, extended route W13 and substantially restructured routes W12 and W14. I wrote about the changes last week, and how TfL's information strategy relied substantially on a very complicated map. I went back yesterday to see how the...
Londonist
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
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.
Spoon & Tamago
‘Mirai No Table’ Brings Childcare and Dining Together As One
All images © Atelier Air Flo Nukasawa courtesy of Harema Design Office At the crossroads of...
a year ago
All images © Atelier Air Flo Nukasawa courtesy of Harema Design Office At the crossroads of childcare and dining, ‘Mirai no Table‘ (Table of the Future) is a café conceived from the dual perspectives by Harema Design Office. The café embodies the idea that our food choices shape...
Spoon & Tamago
Past, Present and Future of Tokyo on Full Display in World’s Largest Architectural...
From the deep forests of Okutama and the vibrant coral reefs of Ogasawara, to the sleepless neon...
10 months ago
From the deep forests of Okutama and the vibrant coral reefs of Ogasawara, to the sleepless neon lights of Shinjuku, Tokyo truly is one of the most diverse cities. And while one could argue that it has enough night lights, a new nightly projection mapping display will light up...
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?
diamond geezer
Tube 160 Treasure Hunt
Are you at a loose end tomorrow? Do you like looking at station architecture? Would you like a...
11 months ago
Are you at a loose end tomorrow? Do you like looking at station architecture? Would you like a surprise birthday gift from TfL? If the answer to all these questions is yes then why not take part in the Tube 160 Treasure Hunt? You even get to travel round central London for...
Londonist
15 Things You Never Knew About Wembley Park
Steeped in history.
a year ago
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...
Londonist
A Brief History Of The Metropolitan Line
The world's first underground railway.
a year ago
The world's first underground railway.
Londonist
Cricket Cornish Pasty Anyone? London's Bug Restaurant Has Just Gone Permanent
Hop to it!
10 months ago
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 25-31 December 2023
The best articles from the past week.
11 months ago
The best articles from the past week.
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.
Londonist
Things You Might Not Know About The Borough Of Harrow
Even Boudicca decided it was worth a visit.
a year ago
Even Boudicca decided it was worth a visit.
diamond geezer
Basingstoke
Gadabout: BASINGSTOKE
Basingstoke is a large town in north Hampshire, roughly halfway along the M3...
5 months ago
Gadabout: BASINGSTOKE
Basingstoke is a large town in north Hampshire, roughly halfway along the M3 motorway. It's simultaneously ancient and modern, a traditional market town selected by the London County Council for substantial postwar expansion which saw its population increase...
diamond geezer
Bakerloo 40
Happy 40th Birthday to the Bakerloo line.
that's 118, but the current extent of the line with...
6 months ago
Happy 40th Birthday to the Bakerloo line.
that's 118, but the current extent of the line with trains operating between Harrow & Wealdstone and Elephant & Castle. Elephant's been the southern terminus since 1906, despite umpteen attempts at an extension. But the northern terminus...
Londonist
Life Drawing With Wolves... In A London Hotel
Anyone can get involved... even kids!
a year ago
Anyone can get involved... even kids!
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,...
diamond geezer
Decorations up
It was St Nicholas Day yesterday so I put my Christmas decorations up.
It's not a date-related...
a year ago
It was St Nicholas Day yesterday so I put my Christmas decorations up.
It's not a date-related tradition or anything, certainly not my tradition, but this year the day I spotted the box of decorations was 6th December so out they came and up they went. It would've been more...
Londonist
Martin Luther King Gets A London Blue Plaque
The activist visited Bloomsbury in 1961.
11 months ago
The activist visited Bloomsbury in 1961.
Spoon & Tamago
A Glimpse Inside the Whimsical Wooden Miniature Homes of Yukihiro Akama
Artist Yukihiro Akama is set to unveil his largest exhibition to date, ‘Basho no Kankaku – A Sense...
9 months ago
Artist Yukihiro Akama is set to unveil his largest exhibition to date, ‘Basho no Kankaku – A Sense of Place,’ at Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP).
Related posts:
Whimsical Wooden Automata by Kazuaki Harada
A Wooden Cabin Constructed Locally in the Mountains of Japan Using a 3D...
diamond geezer
Going unitary
Local government organisation in England is complicated, always has been, which is why the...
5 days ago
Local government organisation in England is complicated, always has been, which is why the government are keen to reorganise it.
There are 317 councils in England:
(upper-tier)
(lower-tier)
(unitary)
(unitary)
(unitary)
(unitary)
Logically it makes no sense that some shire...
Londonist
Buy A Toy For One Of The 5,000 Poorest London Kids In London This Christmas
Winter Toy Appeal back for 10th year.
a year ago
Winter Toy Appeal back for 10th year.
Londonist
Warm Your Cockles At London's Best Winter Drinks Pop-Ups And Cosy Bars
Igloos, rooftops, ski lodges and trains.
a year ago
Igloos, rooftops, ski lodges and trains.
Londonist
April And May Tube Strikes Called Off
No tube strike next Monday after all.
8 months ago
No tube strike next Monday after all.
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Weekend Guide to Skiing and Dining in Park City, Utah
a week ago
Spoon & Tamago
The New 12 Kanda Co-Working Space Supports Small Businesses
all photos by Toshiyuki Yano Right across the Kanda River from Akihabara Station is 12 Kanda, a new...
2 months ago
all photos by Toshiyuki Yano Right across the Kanda River from Akihabara Station is 12 Kanda, a new co-working space dedicated to supporting small businesses and startups. A visually eye-catching building, it features multiple stories with different forms and functions stacked on...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Park City, Utah's Top Winter Activities for Families
2 weeks ago
Londonist
A White Knuckle Guide To High Adrenaline Activities In London
Feel the fear and do it anyway.
11 months ago
Feel the fear and do it anyway.
diamond geezer
It's official
Journalists working at various media portals are under increasing pressure to churn out more and...
2 months ago
Journalists working at various media portals are under increasing pressure to churn out more and more stories because the more they write the more page views they get. Clickbait isn't going away any time soon. But a trope that's sadly gathering more prominence lately is a...
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...
Londonist
Crown And Coronation: Regal Light Show To Be Projected Onto Tower Of London
This one will be popular - and tickets are available now!
a year ago
This one will be popular - and tickets are available now!
Spoon & Tamago
Not a Hotel: A Unique Timeshare Concept Redefining Luxury Travel
All images © Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office “Buy a vacation home that doubles as a...
a year ago
All images © Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office “Buy a vacation home that doubles as a hotel.” That’s the tagline for ‘Not A Hotel,’ a real estate start-up founded by Shinji Hamazu. The company challenges the traditional hotel model by treating it as a timeshare and...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Outdoor Locations in Toronto, Canada
7 months ago
Londonist
The Archives With 100 Kilometres Of Historic London Documents
LMA is a dream for lovers of London.
9 months ago
LMA is a dream for lovers of London.
Spoon & Tamago
Senko Hanabi Earrings are the Perfect Summer Accessory
Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without fireworks. The tradition originated over 280 years...
a year ago
Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without fireworks. The tradition originated over 280 years ago as a means of warding off epidemics and today, no matter where you are in Japan, you can be sure to encounter fireworks festivals both large and small. And while the grand...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Denmark and Finland Are Must-Visits for Foodies
4 months ago
Londonist
That Time Someone Rode A Lambretta Down The Thames
Spoiler alert: it later sank.
a year ago
Spoiler alert: it later sank.
diamond geezer
Rugby
Gadabout: RUGBY
Rugby is the easternmost town in Warwickshire, not far from Coventry, and the site...
10 months ago
Gadabout: RUGBY
Rugby is the easternmost town in Warwickshire, not far from Coventry, and the site of an important railway junction. It's big in cement, was big in electronics and has been a market town since medieval times. But it's best known worldwide for its school and the...
diamond geezer
PR bumf roundup
I haven't whinged about unsolicited PR emails for a while because I don't get as many as I used to....
a year ago
I haven't whinged about unsolicited PR emails for a while because I don't get as many as I used to. But they still come, generally from hopeful marketeers with a press release to regurgitate or a plea to amplify some sponsored content. We don't do that here, thanks.
Emily got...
Londonist
Expect To Hear Lots More Buskers In Tube Stations Over The Next 2 Weeks
It's the X Factor of the London Underground.
9 months ago
It's the X Factor of the London Underground.
Londonist
An Entire Barbra Streisand Season Is Coming To North London
A star is celebrated.
10 months 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
Tickets are being accepted on alternative services
The tube was seriously disrupted in northwest London yesterday morning when a signal failure at...
4 months ago
The tube was seriously disrupted in northwest London yesterday morning when a signal failure at Wembley Park caused line closures and serious delays. And the advice which popped up is the advice which often pops up in such a situation, which is that tickets were being accepted on...
diamond geezer
Some transport news
Some transport news
Overground news
It's only accessible via QR code so it's not that...
4 months ago
Some transport news
Overground news
It's only accessible via QR code so it's not that accessible, but I clicked through and discovered the URL is vin.cloud.gomedia.io/HOXTON so you can check it out too. The homescreen is a list of the next three departures and their expected...
Londonist
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...
The Best Places for Art, Music, and Theater in Asheville
a year ago
diamond geezer
PR bumf round-up
I haven't whinged about unsolicited PR emails for a while because I don't get as many as I used to....
2 weeks ago
I haven't whinged about unsolicited PR emails for a while because I don't get as many as I used to. But they still trickle in, generally from hopeful marketeers with a press release to regurgitate or a plea to amplify some sponsored content. We don't do that here, thanks.
Zarya...
Londonist
5 Historic Castles To Visit In Essex
Including one that's a fake.
8 months ago
Including one that's a fake.
diamond geezer
Bow Road
Anyone can visit Bow Road for free.
20 things to see on Bow Road
n.b. The following are all things...
a year ago
Anyone can visit Bow Road for free.
20 things to see on Bow Road
n.b. The following are all things I haven't blogged about before.
Odds
1) Autumn is a particularly good season to see Bow Road because many of our trees do the pretty yellow thing before the leaves fall...
diamond geezer
It's this blog's 21st birthday
It's diamond geezer's 21st birthday.
I hope we get through the day without entering a period of...
a year ago
It's diamond geezer's 21st birthday.
I hope we get through the day without entering a period of national mourning because that really put a damper on last year's celebrations.
comments if(postComments['2129182084125'] != null){document.write(' (' + postComments['2129182084125']...
Londonist
Crystal Palace Park Dinosaurs Getting A Glow-Up - As Part Of Huge Park Revamp
Italian Terraces will also be restored and replanted with wildflowers.
9 months ago
Italian Terraces will also be restored and replanted with wildflowers.
diamond geezer
Doors
Doors (by Christian Marclay)
White Cube, Masons Yard
6-30 September 2023
10am-6pm, closed Sunday and...
a year ago
Doors (by Christian Marclay)
White Cube, Masons Yard
6-30 September 2023
10am-6pm, closed Sunday and Monday
Christian Marclay is always a treat, if what you enjoy is an exemplarily-crafted audio-visual montage. He's best known for The Clock, a 24 hour compilation of clips from...
diamond geezer
Empty dangling
Big news about the Dangleway!
Opening hours cutback proposed🚡
On weekdays that means an 8am...
a month ago
Big news about the Dangleway!
Opening hours cutback proposed🚡
On weekdays that means an 8am start rather than 7am.
🚡 🚡 🚡NowFrom Decembercut
Mon-Thu 07:00 to 22:00 08:00 to 22:001 hour
Friday 07:00 to 22:00 09:00 to 22:00 2 hours
Saturday08:00 to 22:0009:00 to 22:001...
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.
diamond geezer
Ten apologies
I'd like to apologise for the ten posts I could have brought you today but haven't written.
1)...
a month ago
I'd like to apologise for the ten posts I could have brought you today but haven't written.
1) Visit London have opened a temporary Ticket Shop in Covent Garden
flogging stuff, mainly tickets to attractions and shows, and it looks hugely superfluous but it's not aimed at...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Grand Hotel Timeo Launches Pop-Up Treehouse Suites by Dior
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
New Luxury Cruises in the Adriatic and Baltic Seas
3 months 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.
Spoon & Tamago
The 2023 Spoon & Tamago Gift Guide
2023 felt like a turning point for Japan. After several years of covid-induced seclusion, tourism...
a year ago
2023 felt like a turning point for Japan. After several years of covid-induced seclusion, tourism rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. And although just anecdotal, so many people we spoke to who previously had no connection to Japan, were planning trips and honeymoons that it truly...
diamond geezer
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...
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
Skyscraper Bagging: How Many Of London's 20 Tallest Buildings Have You Been Up?
Ticking off the towers.
10 months ago
Londonist
Pick Your Own Christmas Tree At These Festive Farms In And Around London
Christmas jumpers optional. Wellies recommended.
a year ago
Christmas jumpers optional. Wellies recommended.
Cheese and Biscuits
The Ropemaker, Emsworth
As I have surely said on this blog plenty of times over the years, I will never go to any holiday or...
2 months ago
As I have surely said on this blog plenty of times over the years, I will never go to any holiday or short trip without at least one meal booked that stands a better than average chance of being decent. This is partly just for the sheer joy of eating out (how sad must your life...
Londonist
50+ Excellent Things To Do In London This Month: October 2023
Black History Month, live music, Comic Con and more.
a year ago
Black History Month, live music, Comic Con and more.
diamond geezer
Carpenders Park
One Stop Beyond: Carpenders Park
In this series I'm taking the train one stop beyond the Greater...
a month ago
One Stop Beyond: Carpenders Park
In this series I'm taking the train one stop beyond the Greater London boundary, getting off and seeing what's there. Today that means Carpenders Park, one stop beyond Hatch End on what will next week be the Lioness line. For positioning purposes...
Londonist
Multicultural Soho Shines In This AI-Enhanced Video From The 1950s
Super-sharp footage of 50s Soho.
9 months ago
Super-sharp footage of 50s Soho.
diamond geezer
London's cheapest visitor attraction
Visiting attractions in Greenwich keeps getting inexorably more expensive. And not just because...
8 months ago
Visiting attractions in Greenwich keeps getting inexorably more expensive. And not just because admission prices have increased but because buildings that used to be free to enter started charging money.
Royal Greenwich Observatory had free admission between 2001 and 2011, then...
Londonist
Art Of The Brick: New LEGO Show Comes To London In March
90 sculptures, one million bricks.
10 months ago
90 sculptures, one million bricks.
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
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....
Londonist
The Golden Age Of Transatlantic Travel Hides In Plain Sight By Trafalgar Square
Cockspur Street was a cornucopia of cruise line companies.
a year ago
Cockspur Street was a cornucopia of cruise line companies.
diamond geezer
Unblogged September
30 unblogged things I did in September
Sun 1: My new laptop is on quite the sightseeing tour....
2 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
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...
Londonist
When A Plague Of Millions Of Rats Gnawed Its Way Through Central London
They even ate the window frames...
a year ago
They even ate the window frames...
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 New Attractions in California Travelers Should Know About
10 months ago
diamond geezer
Unblogged October
31 unblogged things I did in October
Tue 1: Two new developments in Barking & Dagenham are...
a month 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....
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.
10 months ago
Get booking for the newest afternoon tea menus in the capital.
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.
diamond geezer
Dangleway Week (2)
Danglewatch (4) Dangleway dining
North
Heroica Pizza Bus is emblazoned with murals and...
a year ago
Danglewatch (4) Dangleway dining
North
Heroica Pizza Bus is emblazoned with murals and 'hilarious' signs ("Unattended Children Will Be Given an Espresso And A Free Puppy"), so could hardly scream 'tourists welcome' any louder.
cafe of the decent but dull variety, but it's...
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
Superloop: SL3 Route Between Thamesmead And Bromley Launches This Weekend
Just SL5 and SL4 to go now...
10 months ago
Just SL5 and SL4 to go now...
Londonist
Can You Set Off Your Own Fireworks In London?
DIY whizzbangs, explained.
a year ago
DIY whizzbangs, explained.
Londonist
Take A Tour Of The Magnificent Palace Of Westminster This Autumn
Ahead of the State Opening in November.
a year ago
Ahead of the State Opening in November.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Aspen Uncovered: How to Explore the City Like a True Local
7 months ago
diamond geezer
10 Centuries in 1 Day
One of the capital's best places to go walking is the City of London, and what's more they have the...
7 months ago
One of the capital's best places to go walking is the City of London, and what's more they have the wherewithal to have created all sorts of self-guided walks for you to follow. 21 downloadable walks are listed on their old website (although they're increasingly hard to find...
Londonist
Short Courses At UAL: Learn Life-Changing Creative Skills How (And When) You Want
Over 1,000 short courses to choose from.
a year ago
Over 1,000 short courses to choose from.
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...
Londonist
A Map Of Camden Place Name Origins
Etymology of the borough's road, parks and pubs.
10 months ago
Etymology of the borough's road, parks and pubs.
diamond geezer
Why are people wrong?
Why are people wrong?
There's no need to be wrong these days, all the facts are there. All you...
4 months ago
Why are people wrong?
There's no need to be wrong these days, all the facts are there. All you need to do is look.
It's not clear where all this wrongness comes from. Nobody's born with wrong opinions but many accrue them later in life. Could be nature, could be nurture,...
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
What Is Old Oak Common? A Guide To The Future HS2 And Elizabeth Line Station
A site tour of London's new interchange.
a year ago
A site tour of London's new interchange.
Cheese and Biscuits
The Barn at Moor Hall, Ormskirk
In restaurants that offer both an A La Carte and parallel set menu I often play a bit of a thought...
4 months ago
In restaurants that offer both an A La Carte and parallel set menu I often play a bit of a thought experiment. If there was no such separation of options, and if all the dishes available were priced evenly on the same list, which would I end up going for?
Set menus (usually,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 Articles on Adventure and Wellness in the Nordic Countries
4 months ago
Spoon & Tamago
Japan’s Stationery Award Offers a Return to the Primitive
Early civilizations had it all figured out. At least according to the Kokuyo Design Awards, arguably...
8 months ago
Early civilizations had it all figured out. At least according to the Kokuyo Design Awards, arguably Japan’s most-influential stationery design award, which this year asked designers to look to the past. “If we return to the idea of ‘primitive’ in order to create the future,”...
Spoon & Tamago
MUJI Fans Can Now Rent this Countryside MUJI Kominka
MUJI’s new rentable townhouse in Kamogawa MUJI, everyone’s favorite Japanese lifestyle retailer, has...
a year ago
MUJI’s new rentable townhouse in Kamogawa MUJI, everyone’s favorite Japanese lifestyle retailer, has been in the homebuilding business for over 15 years. But in a new initiative they’re calling MUJI Base, the company has begun restorring, renovating and renting countryside...
AFAR Media - Travel...
An Insider’s Guide to Wellness Travel in Sweden and Norway
4 months ago
Londonist
The Crazy-Reasonably Priced Cafe Hidden In A Waterloo Bus Garage
Next stop: a hearty lunch for as little at £4!
11 months ago
Next stop: a hearty lunch for as little at £4!
Londonist
The Church Service Held In The Middle Of London Bridge
The Blessing of the River Thames.
11 months ago
The Blessing of the River Thames.
Londonist
'Stand Against Suella' Protest Takes Place In Central London On Sunday
LGBTQ groups rally against dehumanising rhetoric.
a year ago
LGBTQ groups rally against dehumanising rhetoric.
Londonist
Easter 2024 Transport In London: Which Train And Tubes Are Running, And Which Stations Are Closed?
Got an egg hunt to go to? Read this first
9 months ago
Got an egg hunt to go to? Read this first
Londonist
Review: Kate Berlant's Masterful Show Will Have You Crying With Laughter
Believe the hype.
a year ago
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #4
Four months of major roadworks were supposed to begin at the Bow Roundabout on Monday. So how's that...
2 months ago
Four months of major roadworks were supposed to begin at the Bow Roundabout on Monday. So how's that going?
Monday 30th September
Tuesday 1st October
I popped up to Old Ford to see what's happened with route 8 terminating one stop early. A temporary stand has been created...
Spoon & Tamago
Photographer Meticulously Recreates Images of Chickens Painted by Edo-Era Artist Ito Jakuchu
Edo-era painter Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800) excelled at capturing the flora and fauna of the natural...
6 months ago
Edo-era painter Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800) excelled at capturing the flora and fauna of the natural world, a skill that extended to remarkable depictions of birds. In particular, chickens were a common theme for the artist and it was said that Jakuchu owned many of them, and allowed...
Londonist
SWANA Clubs In London, And How They Give Me A Sense Of Cultural Identity
Finding yourself in the rhythmic pulse of Arabian music.
10 months ago
Finding yourself in the rhythmic pulse of Arabian music.
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
Fitzrovia Chapel - Gloriously Golden Church Is Now Open 3 Days A Week
What. A. Ceiling.
10 months ago
The Forney Flyer
Heading North, Way Back When...
As promised, I'm continuing from my previous post about way back when...
After I graduated from...
over a year ago
As promised, I'm continuing from my previous post about way back when...
After I graduated from University and flight school, we briefly moved to Oregon as we prepared for future, cross-cultural work/ministry. That fall I had the opportunity to go on a short vision trip to a...
Londonist
Fantastic Firework Displays And Buzzing Bonfire Nights Near London
Whizzbangs worth leaving London for.
a year ago
Whizzbangs worth leaving London for.
Londonist
BFI Flare: Huge LGBTQIA+ Film Festival Lands In London This March
Feat. Layla, Close To You and All Of Us Strangers.
10 months ago
Feat. Layla, Close To You and All Of Us Strangers.
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 1-7 January 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
11 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
300 Of Elton John's Photos Go On Display At V&A This Summer
Marilyn Monroe, the AIDS crisis and 9/11 feature.
9 months ago
Marilyn Monroe, the AIDS crisis and 9/11 feature.
AFAR Media - Travel...
10 Best, Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Portugal
a year ago
diamond geezer
Bond Street
BOND
STREET
£320
London's Monopoly Streets
BOND STREET
Colour group: green
Purchase price:...
a month ago
BOND
STREET
£320
London's Monopoly Streets
BOND STREET
Colour group: green
Purchase price: £320
Rent: £28
Length: 800m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1
penultimate street on the Monopoly board famously doesn't exist, even though it has a station named after it. It's also...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where Was Game of Thrones Filmed? 11 Locations You Can Visit
a year ago
diamond geezer
Unblogged 1984
31 unblogged things I did in December 1984
They didn't have blogs or the internet forty years ago,...
3 days ago
31 unblogged things I did in December 1984
They didn't have blogs or the internet forty years ago, indeed my Sinclair ZX81 wasn't capable of much, but here are 31 things I didn't digitally publish at the time. To help you get your bearings I was 19 and December featured one week...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The British Virgin Islands Is Your Ultimate Vacation Destination
a year ago
diamond geezer
Pointless push-button crossings
There are seven pedestrian crossings at the Bow Roundabout.
This one's worthwhile.
However this...
7 months ago
There are seven pedestrian crossings at the Bow Roundabout.
This one's worthwhile.
However this one's useless.
This one's useless too.
And what's interesting is that people generally don't realise this and press the buttons anyway. Parents heading to the shops press the...
AFAR Media - Travel...
New United Lounge in Newark Airport's Terminal A Now Open
a year ago
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 25-31 March 2024
Catch up with the best Londonist articles from the past week.
8 months ago
Catch up with the best Londonist articles from the past week.
Londonist
Eid In Trafalgar Square: Muslim Celebrations Return This April
End of Ramadan marked in style.
9 months ago
End of Ramadan marked in style.
Cheese and Biscuits
Papi, London Fields
"We'll need your table back in an hour and a half, is that OK?"
Still, there's a lot to like...
a year ago
"We'll need your table back in an hour and a half, is that OK?"
Still, there's a lot to like about Papi. It's one of those places where you want to order everything on the menu, and as the menu isn't that huge, if you take a couple of friends along you probably can. We...
Londonist
Concrete Beauty Of The National Theatre Captured In This Abstract Exhibition
Amelia Lancaster has been photographing it for over 20 years.
11 months ago
Amelia Lancaster has been photographing it for over 20 years.
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
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.
AFAR Media - Travel...
How Are Airplane Blankets, Seats, and Bathrooms Cleaned?
a year ago
Herbert Lui
The new direction
When you’re exploring a new direction in your career, you are bound to experience confusion. It is a...
a week ago
When you’re exploring a new direction in your career, you are bound to experience confusion. It is a particularly painful, vulnerable, emotion. You may experience an emotional instinct to reach out and fall back into the familiar. All of a sudden, the old, familiar, well-trodden...
Spoon & Tamago
Tamatsukuri Kindergarten’s Renewed Circular Campus Fosters Inquisitive Learning and an Appreciation...
Tamatsukuri Kindergarten is a school for early-learning that is located in a forested region of...
a year ago
Tamatsukuri Kindergarten is a school for early-learning that is located in a forested region of Japan’s Chiba prefecture. For over 40 years the school has dedicated itself to nourishing the souls, minds and bodies of its pupils. In 2022, the school decided to renew its main...
Cheese and Biscuits
Pied à Terre, Fitzrovia
Since the closure of Le Gavroche, Pied à Terre is now the London restaurant which has held at least...
6 months ago
Since the closure of Le Gavroche, Pied à Terre is now the London restaurant which has held at least one Michelin star for the longest time. It first won the accolade shortly after it opened back in 1991, a time when fine dining meant French dining, and the term "gastropub" was...
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
Cheam Charter Fair
Every year on May 15th the people of Cheam hold a charter fair.
Also much of the above may not be...
7 months ago
Every year on May 15th the people of Cheam hold a charter fair.
Also much of the above may not be true.
Firstly there is no evidence that Henry III granted a charter to Cheam in 1259 or in any other year. Tradition says he did but no historical records exist to confirm this,...
diamond geezer
The University Challenge
The University Challenge
My university adventure started with a car journey to destiny, and a...
a year ago
The University Challenge
My university adventure started with a car journey to destiny, and a selection of my worldly belongings packed into the boot. It had looked like a reasonable number of belongings when piled up in my bedroom, a stack of clothes and books and gadgets I...
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in October 2024
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in October 2024
1) The five road junctions with the most...
a month ago
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in October 2024
1) The five road junctions with the most casualties and collisions over the last three years (specifically the greatest 'casualty harm') are the Redbridge Roundabout, Seven Sisters, Elephant & Castle, the foot of Ilford...
Herbert Lui
Itoya and the charm of stationary
While corporations such as Staples or Office Depot may sell supplies, a retailer like Itoya sells...
a week ago
While corporations such as Staples or Office Depot may sell supplies, a retailer like Itoya sells stationary. The difference is stationary comes with a charm just as essential as the equipment—creativity, possibilities, and consideration. If you visit Itoya’s 18-floor flagship...
Londonist
Halloween 2023: Parties, Events And Things To Do In London
Get your spook on.
a year ago
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Hyatt's Zilara Riviera Maya Resort Is The Best Vacation Destination
a year ago
diamond geezer
London's longest countdowns
Works to remodel the Old Street roundabout are nearing completion, above ground at least. It was...
8 months ago
Works to remodel the Old Street roundabout are nearing completion, above ground at least. It was still possible to drive round it five years ago, then massive sequential roadworks intervened and the northwest arm was slowly pedestrianised. Cars now have to negotiate a very...
Spoon & Tamago
The Conran Shop, A New Chapter For Hillside Terrace by Keiji Ashizawa Design
All images courtesy of Keiji Ashizawa Design Since opening its London flagship in 1973, The Conran...
a year ago
All images courtesy of Keiji Ashizawa Design Since opening its London flagship in 1973, The Conran Shop has been a go-to destination for all things contemporary design. And in their latest chapter, the curated shop welcomes you to its new space in Hillside Terrace, a relaxing...
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 Music-Themed Museums to Visit in Washington D.C.
7 months ago
Londonist
London Hat Walk: Scores Of Fashionable Folk Will Parade Around Town This Weekend
Hat's the way uh-huh, uh-huh...
8 months ago
Hat's the way uh-huh, uh-huh...
Londonist
Dozens Of Vintage Boats Moor Up In Central London This September
The (free!) Classic Boat Festival is back at St Katharine Docks.
a year ago
The (free!) Classic Boat Festival is back at St Katharine Docks.
Londonist
The Glass Heart: A Smashing Exhibition At Two Temple Place
Intriguing artwork in a stunning building.
10 months ago
Intriguing artwork in a stunning building.
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.
Londonist
The West End's Atmospheric Alleys: A Self-Guided Tour
10 of London's most characterful alleys.
a year ago
10 of London's most characterful alleys.
diamond geezer
On multiple OS maps
This is the town of Purley.
three OS Landranger maps.
Landranger maps, each drawn to a scale of...
4 months ago
This is the town of Purley.
three OS Landranger maps.
Landranger maps, each drawn to a scale of 1:50000, and between them they cover the whole of Great Britain and its islands.
maps tend to align precisely with their neighbours so places appear on one or the other. But...
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.
Spoon & Tamago
Noma’s New Pop Up by OEO Studio in Kyoto
All images ©Kotaro Tanaka courtesy OEO Studio OEO Studio, a Copenhagen-based design firm, has...
a year ago
All images ©Kotaro Tanaka courtesy OEO Studio OEO Studio, a Copenhagen-based design firm, has recently completed the interiors of Noma Kyoto, a pop-up dining in Japan in collaboration with Ace Hotel. The 250 sqm existing dining space has been transformed under the guidance of...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 13-19 November 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
a year ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Cheese and Biscuits
Baudry Greene, Covent Garden
There are few things more important in the success of a restaurant than pedigree. If you are able to...
7 months ago
There are few things more important in the success of a restaurant than pedigree. If you are able to launch one good restaurant, you're more than likely to be able to make a good go of a second. And then a third, and so on. Well, up to a point. You don't want to spread yourself...
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
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
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.
diamond geezer
Bus timetables are rubbish
TfL run all their services to timetable, but increasingly hide these from the public on the...
4 months ago
TfL run all their services to timetable, but increasingly hide these from the public on the assumption we don't need to know.
"The timetable redesign follows research that shows people want even more simplistic bus information than already exists. People want larger type and...
Londonist
Londonist: Time Machine Opens Its Archive For Easter
"It's so damned good!"
9 months ago
diamond geezer
Mary Place and Joseph Avenue
At this time of year I like to blog about a festively-named London street, however mundane it might...
a year ago
At this time of year I like to blog about a festively-named London street, however mundane it might be. In the past I've taken you to Noel Street, Noel Square, three Noel Roads, Noel Park Road, Turkey Street, Christmas Street, Yuletide Close, Shepherds Hill, Angel Road, Stables...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 30-31 December 2023
The best ways to spend the last weekend of 2023 in the capital.
12 months ago
The best ways to spend the last weekend of 2023 in the capital.
diamond geezer
Crossing the boundary
While I was in Enfield, heading away from the power station, I decided to depart across Sewardstone...
8 months ago
While I was in Enfield, heading away from the power station, I decided to depart across Sewardstone Marsh. Why exit the dull way when you can cross the Lea and walk through a minor Essex village? The riverside path passed nosey ponies and a pumping station and crossed three...
diamond geezer
Substacks
For those who like writing online, the blogging platform of choice continues to evolve.
Substack,...
a week ago
For those who like writing online, the blogging platform of choice continues to evolve.
Substack, founded in 2017, which has been picking up more and more top writers of late. I have no intention of jumping ship, let's make that clear at the start, but I thought I'd take a...
Londonist
13 Of The Best Irish Pubs In London
Guinness, rugby, oysters and craic.
10 months ago
Guinness, rugby, oysters and craic.
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.
diamond geezer
Stratford station has a new entrance
Stratford station has a new entrance.
Gibbins Road entrance and for most passengers it's of no use...
5 months ago
Stratford station has a new entrance.
Gibbins Road entrance and for most passengers it's of no use whatsoever.
Stratford station has a new entrance.
by the end of March but it didn't. It was due to open in May but it didn't. It's looked finished for ages but it clearly wasn't...
Londonist
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.
diamond geezer
Lessons learned
40 things I've learnt about sex over the last 40 years
1) Nothing ever prepares you for the first...
6 months ago
40 things I've learnt about sex over the last 40 years
1) Nothing ever prepares you for the first time...
2) ... not even the fact that the biology textbook always falls open at the same page
3) The first time is always a ghastly mistake (I'm extrapolating this from a single...
diamond geezer
completely screwed at the moment
I was on the Central line the other day and there was a 15 minute gap between trains. You might...
10 months ago
I was on the Central line the other day and there was a 15 minute gap between trains. You might expect this kind of thing at the extremities or late at night, but not at Bethnal Green mid-morning. "Sorry, we're going to be held here for 5 minutes," said the driver. "This is due...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Northern Lights Could Appear in the Lower 48 This Week
a year ago
Londonist
How London Underground Became The Coolest Brand In The World
From the first roundel to moquette trainers.
a year ago
From the first roundel to moquette trainers.
Londonist
Secrets Of 19th Century Workhouse Uncovered At St Pancras Dig
Fireplaces, vibrant walls and hot water bottles revealed.
a year ago
Fireplaces, vibrant walls and hot water bottles revealed.
Cheese and Biscuits
The Devonshire, Soho
There's no avoiding the fact, and there's no point dancing around it. There's no need for lengthy,...
a year ago
There's no avoiding the fact, and there's no point dancing around it. There's no need for lengthy, thoughtful or measured arguments; no sense in analysing the details. There needs to be no slow and steady building of a case, culminating in a grand and weighty conclusion. The...
diamond geezer
Route 549
London's next dead bus
549: Loughton to South Woodford
Location: outer London/Essex
Length of...
3 months ago
London's next dead bus
549: Loughton to South Woodford
Location: outer London/Essex
Length of journey: 5 miles, 30 minutes
549, which dies tomorrow, is one of London's weirder bus routes. It was transferred to TfL control from Essex in 2003, hence the unusual opening digit. It...
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
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
Best Of Londonist: 4-10 December 2023
Our best articles from the past week.
a year ago
Our best articles from the past week.
diamond geezer
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...
Spoon & Tamago
The Watermelon Kimono is the Perfect Summer Outfit
Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without festivals and watermelon. So if you’re looking to...
6 months ago
Summer in Japan is not summer in Japan without festivals and watermelon. So if you’re looking to refresh your wardrobe with some playful pieces that celebrate the season, as well as festival-appropriate outfits, look no further than the watermelon kimono – a juicy take on a...
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.
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.
Londonist
Rude Tube: 160 Years Since First Naughty Graffiti On The Underground
What *did* he write?
9 months ago
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
100 tuts and a sigh
100 tuts and a sigh
beside the litter bin? Why is your basket on wheels completely blocking the...
7 months ago
100 tuts and a sigh
beside the litter bin? Why is your basket on wheels completely blocking the aisle? Why did you set the ringer on your phone to maximum volume? Who rotated the Cyclists Beware sign so traffic can't read it? Why has nobody rotated the sign back to where it...
Spoon & Tamago
Japan Society Presents a Festival of New Japanese Film
this post is sponsored by Japan Society From July 26-Aug 6, Japan Society is presenting the 16th...
a year ago
this post is sponsored by Japan Society From July 26-Aug 6, Japan Society is presenting the 16th annual JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. This year’s festival, which marks the first fully in-person JAPAN CUTS since 2019, features over 25 films from major blockbusters to...
Londonist
The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Drives Into London This Week
Merry fizz-mas!
a year ago
Londonist
Best Of Londonist: 15-21 January 2024
The best articles from the past week.
11 months ago
The best articles from the past week.
Londonist
Charlie Brown's - The Story Of Limehouse's Incredible 'Pub Museum'
An Aladdin's Cave in the East End.
a year ago
An Aladdin's Cave in the East End.
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.
diamond geezer
How deep is Crossrail?
In the last week TfL have refused to answer two freedom of Information requests both asking the same...
11 months ago
In the last week TfL have refused to answer two freedom of Information requests both asking the same thing. How deep are Crossrail stations?
geology student at UCL attempting to complete an air quality project and the other just wanted a data dump.
I am looking for the platform...
diamond geezer
Watch
AcquaintanceWatch #28July
Wochabinupto?
Blog visitors: 0
Blog comments: 0
Blog content:
Hours out:...
4 months ago
AcquaintanceWatch #28July
Wochabinupto?
Blog visitors: 0
Blog comments: 0
Blog content:
Hours out: 0
Nights out: 0
Alcohol intake: 0 Becks
Tea intake: 0
Trains used: 0
Steps walked: 0
Mystery count: 0
comments if(postComments['231203823120386'] != null){document.write(' (' +...
Cheese and Biscuits
Bouchon Racine, Farringdon
Such is the cyclical nature of these things, trends in food or clothing or plenty of other areas...
a year ago
Such is the cyclical nature of these things, trends in food or clothing or plenty of other areas besides will, given long enough, find themselves fading in and out of favour. There was a time, within living memory, when French cuisine was considered the gold standard of...
Londonist
Ramadan And Eid Events In London 2024
Illuminations, shopping festivals and Eid celebrations.
10 months ago
Illuminations, shopping festivals and Eid celebrations.
diamond geezer
10 things to see on the Liberty line
The introduction of line names on the Overground is sure to bring sightseers to Havering to see what...
3 weeks ago
The introduction of line names on the Overground is sure to bring sightseers to Havering to see what the Liberty line is all about. So here's my tip-top tourist guide to help you find the finest places in the locality, some of which are actually rather fine.
10 things to see on...
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.
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
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...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 30 September-1 October 2023
A drag brunch, a mudlarking festival, art markets, Oktoberfest and more.
a year ago
A drag brunch, a mudlarking festival, art markets, Oktoberfest and more.
Spoon & Tamago
An Architect Collaborated with 7 Renowned Artisans to Create this Stunning Home
All images © Koji Fujii / TOREAL courtesy Cubo Design Architect “We believe houses that are rooted...
a year ago
All images © Koji Fujii / TOREAL courtesy Cubo Design Architect “We believe houses that are rooted in an understanding of Japan’s cultural context and a respect for the skills and innovations of our ancestors, which can nevertheless be passed onto future generations, are the kind...
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
This North American City Is Basically A Big Old Copy-And-Paste Of London
Copy our homework much, folks?
11 months ago
Copy our homework much, folks?
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
diamond geezer
The 47th President
Two months ago I asked you the following question.
Who do you think will be the next American...
a month ago
Two months ago I asked you the following question.
Who do you think will be the next American President? (poll closed)
Kamala
HARRIS
comments (71)
Donald
TRUMP
comments (29)
And now here we are the morning after the election. A red dawn is rising.
10 comments from readers...
Londonist
Christmas Transport In London: What's Running, What's Closed, And What About Those Strikes?
Fingers crossed we have a strike-free festive period...
a year ago
Fingers crossed we have a strike-free festive period...
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...
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 11-17 March 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
9 months ago
Things to do for under a fiver.
Londonist
See London's Biggest Pie Chart
LSE's giant, mathematical mural.
a year ago
LSE's giant, mathematical mural.
diamond geezer
Unblogged November
30 unblogged things I did in November
Fri 1: I bought some Edding 55 pens online yesterday because...
2 weeks ago
30 unblogged things I did in November
Fri 1: I bought some Edding 55 pens online yesterday because I can't find them in the shops any more, and they were due to arrive today. Before they arrived I got three emails saying "Please note, your driver is unable to leave this item...
AFAR Media - Travel...
In-Depth Review of the Inn at Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos, California
a year ago
diamond geezer
2025 fares
-->TfL's annual fare rise was announced yesterday. It's good news for buses and bad news for...
a week ago
-->TfL's annual fare rise was announced yesterday. It's good news for buses and bad news for trains.
GOOD: "The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that he will freeze bus and tram fares for an historic sixth time next year, meaning Londoners continue to pay the...
Cheese and Biscuits
Xi Home Dumplings Bay,
I often like to look up the situation of restaurants I'm heading out to on Google Streetview, just...
2 months ago
I often like to look up the situation of restaurants I'm heading out to on Google Streetview, just so I know what to expect when I get off the bus and lessen (though not completely mitigate) the chance I might head off in completely the wrong direction. I wouldn't recommend doing...
diamond geezer
Pig Farm Alley
Underwhelming London: Pig Farm Alley, Worcester Park
Pig Farm Alley is a long straight path, off...
3 months ago
Underwhelming London: Pig Farm Alley, Worcester Park
Pig Farm Alley is a long straight path, off limits to traffic, in the London borough of Sutton. It runs from Trafalgar Avenue, off Stonecot Hill, to an edgeland nomansland by the Lower Morden Equestrian Centre. It's about a...
Londonist
Dive Into This Free Exhibition About Billingsgate Fish Market
Living the bream.
10 months ago
diamond geezer
Coventry Street
COVENTRY
STREET
£260
London's Monopoly Streets
COVENTRY STREET
Colour group: yellow
Purchase...
3 months ago
COVENTRY
STREET
£260
London's Monopoly Streets
COVENTRY STREET
Colour group: yellow
Purchase price: £260
Rent: £22
Length: 200m
Borough: Westminster
Postcode: W1/WC2
Coventry Street owes its name to Charles II's secretary of state, Henry Coventry, who'd built a house here...
diamond geezer
Six 15-minute posts
Here are six brief posts, none of which I spent more than 15 minutes on.
1) The consultation...
4 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
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?
Spoon & Tamago
Japan’s Tiniest Botanical Garden is in Shibuya
photos by Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office Walk south from Shibuya station and within...
9 months ago
photos by Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office Walk south from Shibuya station and within 10 minutes you’ll stumble upon a glass dome-shaped building sandwiched between several nondescript buildings. Hidden in plain sight is the Shibuya City Botanical Garden, Japan’s...
Londonist
The Age-Old Ritual Of Chair Lifting On Easter Monday
Blackheath Morris Men in Greenwich again this Easter.
9 months ago
Blackheath Morris Men in Greenwich again this Easter.
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
diamond geezer
Brent Cross West, West and East
The new Brent Cross West station serves two very different communities either side of the tracks....
a year ago
The new Brent Cross West station serves two very different communities either side of the tracks. You could call them Brent Cross West West and Brent Cross West East. Neither is buzzing with potential passengers.
Brent Cross West West is commercial and car-dominated, as befits...
diamond geezer
Unofficial tube map news 1
Three weeks ago a pasta-delivery company announced they'd be giving away free pasta outside five...
a year ago
Three weeks ago a pasta-delivery company announced they'd be giving away free pasta outside five tube stations on October 25th to celebrate World Pasta Day. This is the kind of marketingbolx that various media platforms adore, and Time Out, Metro, Secret London, AOL, MSN and the...
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...
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...
Londonist
The Killer 1962 Smog Of London
And no, we don't mean 1952.
a year ago
And no, we don't mean 1952.
The Forney Flyer
Nineteen Years of Joy, and Counting!
Nineteen years ago today, I married my best friend, Joy.
One year later our first child was...
over a year ago
Nineteen years ago today, I married my best friend, Joy.
One year later our first child was born...
... and well before his first birthday, we were commissioned by our church to head to the mission field. That was 17 years ago, and we've spent the vast majority of our...
Cheese and Biscuits
Hainan House, Angel
Hainan is an island off the south coast of China about the size of Vancouver Island - that makes it...
3 months ago
Hainan is an island off the south coast of China about the size of Vancouver Island - that makes it bigger than Sicily and Sardinia and twice the size of Hawaii, with a population of over 10 million people (more than London). And yet inevitably until last week I'd never heard of...
Londonist
LNER Launches Its Summer Sale
Hundreds of thousands of cheaper tickets available.
8 months ago
Hundreds of thousands of cheaper tickets available.
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #3
They've confirmed dates for the upcoming major roadworks at the Bow Roundabout.
This is annoying...
3 months ago
They've confirmed dates for the upcoming major roadworks at the Bow Roundabout.
This is annoying for a number of reasons.
It's hard to comprehend why local bus services have been worsened entirely unnecessarily for several weeks and I can only assume that this is because...
diamond geezer
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...
diamond geezer
Open House (2)
For Open House Day Two I zipped around the capital and visited seven different and quite varied...
3 months ago
For Open House Day Two I zipped around the capital and visited seven different and quite varied properties. It was a long day. I therefore don't have the time or energy to write about them all, not right now, so instead I've prioritised selecting some good photos and uploading...
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 Major Festival Of Czech Culture Is Returning To London
Made in Prague runs 3 Nov-10 Dec.
a year ago
Made in Prague runs 3 Nov-10 Dec.
diamond geezer
Stafford
Gadabout: STAFFORD
Stafford is a West Midlands market town at the heart of its own county, located...
9 months ago
Gadabout: STAFFORD
Stafford is a West Midlands market town at the heart of its own county, located halfway between Crewe and Birmingham. It may be the same size as Crewe but it's over a millennium older, has much better shops and boasts a castle and some nice old buildings. It's...
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
Giant Gorilla In Paternoster Square... And You Can Climb On It
New Gillie and Marc sculptures show endangered wildlife.
11 months ago
New Gillie and Marc sculptures show endangered wildlife.
diamond geezer
Summing up 2023
The last day of the year is an excellent time to tot up what you've been doing all year... assuming...
11 months ago
The last day of the year is an excellent time to tot up what you've been doing all year... assuming you've been counting, which obviously I have. Cue my Counts of 2023.
(If you don't count these kinds of thing, look at all the fun you're missing out on)
the number of London...
diamond geezer
Horizon 22
These are great times for going up very tall buildings. Last month 8 Bishopsgate opened its rooftop...
a year ago
These are great times for going up very tall buildings. Last month 8 Bishopsgate opened its rooftop viewing platform to the public, free of charge, and on Wednesday 22 Bishopsgate followed suit. Its viewing platform is called Horizon 22, and at 254m above ground level it's two...
Spoon & Tamago
Noriko Sugiyama Transforms Old Kimono Into Luxurious Landscapes
all images courtesy Noriko Sugiyama Noriko Sugiyama is a self-taught artist who works with discarded...
10 months ago
all images courtesy Noriko Sugiyama Noriko Sugiyama is a self-taught artist who works with discarded kimono and obi, which she masterfully upcylces to create landscapes brimming with energy and hope. But her path to artistry has been anything but conventional. Now at the age of...
Londonist
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.
diamond geezer
Preparing rail fares for contactless
The cost of travelling by train between London and Southend is changing.
In today's post I'm going...
a year ago
The cost of travelling by train between London and Southend is changing.
In today's post I'm going to focus on fares between Southend Central and Fenchurch Street to keep things simple but similar changes apply to other journeys. Also this kind of model is rolling out on other...
Londonist
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.
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...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Lufthansa Strives to for More Eco-Friendly Air Travel
2 months ago
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...
diamond geezer
Superloop 2
Yesterday's big reveal from would-be Mayor-to-be Sadiq was a major extension to the Superloop...
8 months ago
Yesterday's big reveal from would-be Mayor-to-be Sadiq was a major extension to the Superloop express bus network. Phase 1 has ten routes and the plan is to add another ten and call it Superloop 2. There's a map and everything.
The most important thing on the map is the box in...
diamond geezer
All lines challenge
"How can you travel just one stop on every tube line?" is an interesting question.
2003 as part of...
a year ago
"How can you travel just one stop on every tube line?" is an interesting question.
2003 as part of this blog's very first Tube Week, and again in 2015 when I went out and rode the solution. It's a question which can be varied according to how you choose to define a tube line,...
Londonist
Things To Keep You Busy For LGBT+ History Month 2024 In London
Museums, guided walks, cabaret and kids events.
11 months ago
Museums, guided walks, cabaret and kids events.
diamond geezer
Unblogged first week of May
7 unblogged things I did in the first week of May
Wed 1: While I was touring City churches I came...
7 months ago
7 unblogged things I did in the first week of May
Wed 1: While I was touring City churches I came across this, the Lost London Churches Project. They've printed a little colour card for every church in the City of London - current and former - and the idea is to collect them all...
diamond geezer
In the shadow of
We often say somewhere is "in the shadow of" something without it necessarily being true.
The sun...
10 months ago
We often say somewhere is "in the shadow of" something without it necessarily being true.
The sun does not cast a shadow from the first location to the second, that's not how daylight works, so these places are not "in the shadow of".
Let's start with something familiar in...
Londonist
Tom Scott: 10 Of The Vlogger's Best London Videos
From protected sightlines to buried coins.
11 months ago
From protected sightlines to buried coins.
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.
Londonist
In Pictures: Vintage London Palladium Programmes
Robert Opie shares his collection with us.
a year ago
Robert Opie shares his collection with us.
Londonist
London Now Has Its First Statue Of Queen Elizabeth II
Bronze likeness unveiled at Royal Albert Hall.
a year ago
Bronze likeness unveiled at Royal Albert Hall.
Spoon & Tamago
Laxative Literally ‘Empties Out’ All Other Ads in Creative Campaign Targeting Tokyo Metro
If you’ve boarded the Tokyo Metro this month, there’s a good chance you walked into a train car that...
a year ago
If you’ve boarded the Tokyo Metro this month, there’s a good chance you walked into a train car that was…well, different. Perhaps you felt unobstructed, light and fluid as you passed with ease through the typical blockage. If you experienced any of those symptoms, it’s the work...
Londonist
West End Tickets From £15 - London Theatre Week Has Launched
Slashed price seats available till 3 March.
10 months ago
Slashed price seats available till 3 March.
diamond geezer
Energen Close
While I was in Willesden, round the back of Taylors Lane Power Station, I came across this...
8 months ago
While I was in Willesden, round the back of Taylors Lane Power Station, I came across this oddly-named cul-de-sac. That's an odd name for a cul-de-sac, I thought. Why was Energen Close named after a private company?
Powergen, not Energen, although they were founded in 1989 so...
Londonist
Tube And Trains Will Be Off-Peak All Day Friday For 3-Month Trial
Drive to revive Fridays.
10 months ago
Londonist
London Overground Lines Get New Names And Colours
The Liberty line?
10 months ago
diamond geezer
Opening up the Thames Path
I'm indebted to Ian Visits for alerting me that a new stretch of the Thames Path has just opened up....
3 months ago
I'm indebted to Ian Visits for alerting me that a new stretch of the Thames Path has just opened up. It's alongside Craven Cottage, the home of Fulham FC, where previously you had to divert inland around three sides of the stadium. That's no longer necessary because a new...