Category: History

1. Afternoon Tea at the Royal Horseguards with a peak at the Lobby of One Whitehall Place

   Posted on 11:51am Wednesday 22nd May 2013

    

   Royal Horseguards Afternoon Tea

   Yesterday a friend and I enjoyed afternoon tea at the Royal Horseguards Hotel. The hotel is located in a prestigious street close to Whitehall and faces out onto Victoria Embankment Gardens and the River Thames. The afternoon tea consisted of finger sandwiches with contemporary savoury bites and delicious cakes and pastries. We enjoyed a relaxing  three hour visit in beautiful surroundings and with consistantly excellent service.

2. Little Venice, its Canalway Cavalcade, History & Architecture

   Posted on 9:30pm Sunday 5th May 2013

   

   It’s uncertain where the name "Little Venice" came from and even though you’re unlikely to see any gondolas, it’s a title that well suits this area with its attractive waterways.

   For most of the year Little Venice is one of the most charming and tranquil corners in London but on the first bank holiday weekend in May (Saturday 4th - Monday 6th May 2013) the area is transformed with the vibrant and colourful Canalway Cavalcade, a unique waterways festival. It is organised by the IWA (Inland Waterways Association). More information about the IWA can be found on their website here.

3. Spotlight on... St Sepulchre without Newgate

   Posted on 9:30am Monday 29th Apr 2013

   

   St Sepulchre is the largest parish church in the City of London. It is mentioned in the nursery rhythm “Oranges and Lemons” in the line “When will you pay me? Say the bells at Old Bailey”.

   It’s built in the gothic style and is easily recognisable with its tower topped with four oversized pinnacles.

   Inside the 150ft/ 45m long nave with its tall classical Tusan columns and large windows provides the church with a grand and spacious interior. 

4. Spotlight on... Horse Guards Parade

   Posted on 9:30am Wednesday 27th Mar 2013

   

   Horse Guards is the official entrance to both Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace. There are two mounted guards on Whitehall daily from 10:00 to 16:00.

   Walking through the archway will bring you into Horse Guards Parade where Trooping of the Colour and other magnificent military displays are held. During the 2012 Olympic Games this was the venue for the beach volleyball tournament. 

5. Spotlight on... Covent Garden Piazza

   Posted on 6:26am Wednesday 27th Feb 2013

   

   The elegant Piazza, an Italianate styled main square, is Covent Garden's centrepiece. It’s the heart of a vibrant area offering a wide choice of theatres, shops, restaurants, cafes and public houses.

   Free daily shows by the entertaining street performers take place by the portico (porch) of St Paul’s Church and inside the Central Market House. 

6. The Utterly Charming St Albans Signal Box

   Posted on 6:30am Tuesday 12th Feb 2013

   

   St Albans is best known for its magnificent cathedral but if you’ve travelled there by train you might have noticed the historic St Albans Signal Box adjacent to the station. This cheerful yellow and maroon painted building always puts a smile on my face as I travel past it so I was delighted to find out that there are regular free open days throughout the year.

   The Signal Box is Grade II listed and dates back to 1892, replacing an earlier one on the site. It is a prefabricated wooden building, meaning that it was built off site, and at a later time the building was extended with the idea to house more levers but they were never installed. It closed in 1979 and has since been restored and opened to the public thanks to the volunteers from the St Albans Signal Box Preservation Trust. 

7. Guest Blog for Westminster Libraries

   Posted on 10:28pm Friday 8th Feb 2013

   I was asked by Westminster Libraries to write a guest blog for National Libraries Day 2013.

   In the blog "Westminster Libraries and me", I have written about some of my favourite books which I have used to research some of my walks.

   If you would like to read the article you can find the link here.

   The author of this blog is a qualified City of London and City of Westminster Tour Guide who leads guided walks combining world famous landmarks with hidden treasures often missed by the crowds.

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8. The Opulent Interiors of Lancaster House

   Posted on 8:58am Saturday 12th Jan 2013

   

     “My dear, I have come from my house to your palace”

   Queen Victoria apparently made this remarked when she visited her close friend Harriet, the Duchess of Sunderland, at Stafford House (the house's previous name).

   It is one of the few surviving great London townhouses, built in a warm honey coloured Bath stone, its next door neighbour is Buckingham Palace. The house is very opulently furnished with its principle rooms lavishly decorated in a Louis XIV style.

   Today Lancaster House is managed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is used as a venue for conferences and government hospitality. It is seldom open to the general public but I was fortunate to attend a private guided tour arranged for Westminster Guides. The tour was lead by James Yorke, the author of “Lancaster House: London's Greatest Town House”, whose encyclopaedia knowledge and genuine love for the house made this a very special visit.

9. A Visit to St Pancras Old Church Gardens

   Posted on 9:30am Wednesday 9th Jan 2013

   

   Last week I took a little detour to visit the delightful St Pancras Old Church which is quietly tucked away behind St Pancras International Station. Although adjacent to the busy main railway line it's a peaceful, little oasis.

   It’s believed to be one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in England, dating back to 314 AD, although the church one sees today was restored in the Victorian period.  It became known as Old when the new church was built in nearby Euston Road. The church and neighbouring railway station are both named after a child martyr beheaded in Rome for his Christian faith.

10. Spotlight on... St James's Square

    Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 1st Jan 2013

    

    St James’s Square is an elegant square with a facinating history. It is located in St James's one of the most exclusive districts in central London. This quiet area tucked away between Piccadilly and The Mall has managed to retain a charming village identity and is noted for quality shopping offering everything from handmade clothing to fine cigar and wines. The St James's area is often referred to as “Gentlemen’s London” due to its gentlemen's clubs and specialist retailers.