Shoreditch must be one of the trendiest places in London right now. While shiny new sky scrapers and modern shopping malls are springing up in other parts of the capital, this district just a short hop from the City is growing organically. Shoreditch cafes arguably serve up the […]
London was once surrounded by the vast palaces and estates of senior clergymen from across Britain. On land now lying in Zone Two and built up with homes, shops and offices, bishops could until enjoy all the pleasures of being in the countryside whilst having an important base […]
The pubs on the stretch of the Thames from the Tower of London to Canary Wharf are pleasant places to enjoy a night out with friends. Many of these north bank drinking establishments go back hundreds of years and walking into them today you can really feel the […]
Just to the west of Vauxhall station, Nine Elms is one giant building site right now. Roads are closed off to all but construction traffic and giant cranes fill the skyline. Countless workers are helping build some flagship new developments for the capital, including a new US embassy […]
Until 1750 the only crossing point in England’s capital over the Thames was London Bridge, a factor vastly limiting development on the south side of the river. But in that year, after much wrangling, Westminster Bridge finally opened, followed by Blackfriars Bridge in 1769. The significance of these […]
Shad Thames is today one of the trendiest parts of London. It’s a glitzy stretch on the south bank of the river Thames with smart restaurants, fashionable boutiques and expensive apartments in converted Victorian warehouses. While the development has been popular for some time now, the opening of […]
Even when temperatures plummet the Thames does not completely freeze over these days, as it did in the past during the so-called “little ice age”. Demolishing the old London Bridge in 1831 improved the flow of the river and following the construction of its replacement structure, with wider […]
On a weekday lunchtime the brightly coloured Central Saint Giles, to the east of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, is buzzing with activity. Workers pour out of their offices into the shops and restaurants set around a covered courtyard forming the heart of this £450 million development. […]
The re-development of Euston station is back on the agenda after George Osborne declared that the Sixties eyesore should be pulled down and rebuilt. Brand-new offices, apartments and a shopping centre could form part of the new plan, completed in time for arrival of High Speed 2. “I’m […]
Tucked away in Vauxhall down a poky alley behind the Zeitgeist at the Jolly Gardeners – London’s German pub – there are two small cottages that have stood the test of time. While much of Georgian heritage in the area has been swept away during the rapid urbanisation […]
Past In The Present 