After a long weekend of stag party shenanigans in Valencia I was shattered. I couldn’t even look at a beer, let alone drink one. And my body was rejecting all but the plainest of foods. So arriving in Taragona, about two hours north of Valencia by train, chilling […]
Arriving in a new city there are multiple ways to get acquainted with your surroundings. You could for example spend the day hopping on and off an open top bus, opt for a walking tour with a knowledgeable guide, or if it’s a city on the water then […]
What is in a street name? Residents in Primrose Hill have won an important victory blocking Dumpton Place being given a more “upmarketket” name. Developers building luxury flats had wanted to change it to Jasmin Mews, a name they believed was amenable to buyers – and something which […]
The practical jokes are planned and the rules are set for harsh pub drinking games. If you haven’t guessed it already I am indeed getting ready for a fun-filled array of night-time and day-time activities at a friend’s stag weekend. Preparing a bachelor for married life through a […]
London is a city that was built on overseas trade. Right from the establishment of Londinium by the Romans in 43AD, merchants came from far and wide to sell their wares. Later on, Medieval London prospered on the back of trade with the continent, with wine being imported […]
London’s Livery Companies, which today boast a membership of over 26,000, have played a big part in this weekend’s Celebrate the City festival. They’ve been selling their wares at a market outside Guildhall and many have also opened their doors to the public. But what, in the free […]
Usually deserted at the weekend, the City of London is alive today with activity. Stalls fill Guildhall yard and Cheapside. Livery companies have opened their doors so you can see their wonderful meeting halls, many of which are listed. And with impromptu concerts springing up both inside and […]
“The next station is Caledonian Road,” is one of the announcements I hear every day as I trundle into work on the Piccadilly Line. Then a few minutes later the doors open so a few people can get out and others get on. And in no time at […]
Working as a journalist in Hull it wasn’t hard find to find bad news. With devastating floods, murders and large scale job losses some could say that the city was tainted. Yet from a selfish point of view, all of this meant there was usually plenty of choice […]
With a host of exhibitions, TV programmes and special events on right now, the Thames is the talk of London. And as the sole reason as to why London is what it is and where it is today, it is only proper that this important river gets the […]
Past In The Present 