When I wander round the City of London ( “the City” or “the Square Mile”) it is always a delight to find remains from our past amongst the hustle and bustle of the modern business centre.  Many City workers rush around without seeing their history all around them – I know I was guilty of this when I worked in an office in the City.

However, some things are rather more difficult to spot than others.  This remnant of the ancient (originally Roman) city wall is an example.  I h...

The Gherkin: Open House Weekend Wrap-Up

The Gherkin was one of the buildings I first connected with when I moved to London. Completed in 2003 at a cost of £130m, alongside Tower 42 the Gherkin boldly stood out of the known skyline, a skyline which now seems littered with skyscrapers with nicknames of inanimate objects such as the ‘Cheesegrater’ and ‘Walkie Talkie’.  London’s skyline has the ‘Boomerang’ and ‘Scalpel’ to look forward to next.

 
Photo of London Skyline, 2003

Home to kings and queens since William the Conqueror, Windsor is dominated by its castle, which, as benefiting a monarch, is the largest in the kingdom.

 The trail starting in Egham takes you first to the calming waters of the Thames, where you can explore Runnymede, the site at which medieval barons forced a King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 which  lasted less than three months. Read more about the situation surrounding the Magna Carta.

"And still when mob or monarch lays,

Too rude a ha...

Clerkenwell is an area flowing with history of London's water supply. There is Myddelton Square, Amwell Street, Chadwell Street, Myddelton Street and River Street all in recognition to the New River. 

The New River Head, is on Rosebery Avenue and was built in 1920 to a design by Herbert Austen Hall who is more famously associated with the post-war design of several livery halls, primarily the re-building of Carpenters' and Clothworkers' Halls, but also the interior and north part of Fishmonger...

Hidden London - Wardrobe Place, EC4V

Wardrobe Place is a little courtyard just off Carter Lane. This is hidden place in London which feels like the streets were left untouched by the great fire in 1666. This, however, is an illusion as they were all burned down. 

What is the King's wardrobe? 

King’s wardrobe established by medieval king Edward III – kept ceremonial robes of state, on view just as crown jewels are today.

The Wardrobe, originally housed within the Tower of London was where (as ...