London's south bank of the River Thames has been the capital's entertainment centre for centuries. After WWII, it was redeveloped and the centrepiece is the Grade I listed Royal Festival Hall; a beacon for arts and culture for over 70 years. The 2,700 capacity auditorium fast became one of the world’s landmark performance venues when it opened and the building is now open daily, free for anyone to visit and enjoy its light spacious interior. It is used for graduation ceremoni

St Ermin's is a prestigious hotel in Westminster around the corner from where MI6's HQ was from the 1920s to 1960s. Privy to many secrets, the hotel has long hosted spies who gathered to plan and plot. During WWII, it was home to the Special Operations Executive (SOE) whose mission was to carry out espionage, subversion and sabotage behind enemy lines in Europe to assist resistance movements. The story goes that Winston Churchill ordered them to ‘set Europe ablaze’ and he reg

The historic "watergate" at the back of Embankment Gardens is 400 years old this year! Why is this gate for boats so far from the banks of the River Thames and what was it built here for? The elaborately chiselled York Watergate was built around 1626 in the grounds of York House, as a mooring spot and access point to,the Duke of Buckingham's boat. This Grade-I listed building has been eroded by the weather but bears the Villiers family arms and motto "Fidei coticula crux" (

500 years ago William Tyndale translated the Bible and his efforts enabled so many more people to access it, influencing the way it is read today. Tyndale was the first to translate the New Testament into a clear, memorable English directly from the original Greek. His work formed the foundation for the King James Bible of 1611, which set the standard for Protestant faith and literary style for over four centuries. Commissioned by King James I to resolve religious disputes, i

JMW Turner and John Constable are arguably our greatest landscape painters and were born 250 years ago. A fabulous exhibition at Tate Britain (until April 12th 2026) showcases their interweaving lives and legacies. Turner was born in the heart of London, in Maiden Lane, was widely travelled and had early recognition from the Royal Academy. Turner's landscapes are suffused with light and action; they paved the way for impressionism whilst Constable stayed close to his Suffolk

The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is a Norwegian spruce given to the people of London by the city of Oslo each year. The tradition began in since 1947 after WWII when the British helped the Norwegian resistance to fight the Nazis who had overrun their country. The tree is prominently displayed in Trafalgar Square outside the National Gallery from the beginning of December until 6 January. The lights are switched on by the Lord Mayor of Westminster on the first Thursday of D

One of the wonderful things about London as November progresses is the wonderful lights that illuminate the streets and passages of our historic city! You can wander at will for free and enjoy the dazzling displays. In Covent Garden the Christmas market has a fabulous “Theatre of Christmas” theme! Take a ride on the carousel and have a festive hot chocolate to keep you warm! Wonder at the Christmas Angels of Regent Street and be amazed by over 300,000 stars twinkling over Oxf

"Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World" has just opened at the National Portrait Gallery and concentrates on his revolutionary approach to...

The Garden Museum next to Lambeth Palace is a very special place. Tucked away 15 minutes walk from Waterloo station, it is based in St...

The magnificent Bank of England stands at the heart of what once was the Roman city of Londonium . Our national bank began to operate...

The fabulous recreated "Shakespeare's Globe" theatre on the banks of the Thames is THE place to see a Shakespeare play this summer and...

Tying into my “I Spy London” talk is a FREE exhibition on at the National Archives in Kew. until 28th September 2025. Immerse yourself in...

At a time when international relations are strained and intelligence agencies are often in the news, why not enjoy a lighter look at the...

Once home to crocodiles...today, St James's Park's pelicans are the most exotic of the modern wildlife in the area. Soak up London's...

250 years ago, on December 16th 1775 Jane Austen was born in Hampshire. She was a remarkable author whose novels remain well-loved. Jane...

This summer, a display of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London marks the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII giving visitors a chance...

King Edward VII only reigned for 9 years but the Edwardian era (1901 - 1914) saw momentous changes during and immediately after his...

There is SO much going on this Spring - walk through the daffodils in historic St James's Park and check out the classy views of...

Here's a thing - King Thutmose II's tomb has just been found in an exciting discovery near Luxor. He lived 3540 years ago and a beloved...

FREE to visit, the remarkable, eclectic home and museum of Sir John Soane, one of the greatest English architects, is now a museum at 13...