Founded in 1840, The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is one of the most extensive and important botanical gardens in the world, housing the “largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections” around the globe. It’s quite frankly one of the most incredible gardens in the world, a stunning sanctuary less than 30 minutes from… Continue reading The largest glasshouse in the world re-opens at Kew
Month: May 2018
My ride in the last ever petrol London Black Taxi
In my role as a tour guide, I get to explore every hidden corner of London, though after nearly 5 years I sometimes feel like I am still just learning the ropes. Every day, every neaighbourhood reveals new secrets, new shortcuts, new quirky bits of history and new ways of getting from A to B.… Continue reading My ride in the last ever petrol London Black Taxi
2,000 years on Bath Abbey is set to use the famous hot water that the Romans did!
Long before the Romans, it was the ancient Celts who lived across the British Isles who first noticed the hot waters spewing forth from deep beneath the the surface of the Earth, In fact, they used to pray there. When the Romans arrived, they built a complex of baths and steam rooms to harness the… Continue reading 2,000 years on Bath Abbey is set to use the famous hot water that the Romans did!
Egypt and the building of a new Capital City
Though Egyptians have lived in and around the Cairo area since time began, the modern city itself is ually traced to the year 968 AD and the newly arrived Fatimid dynasty. For centuries the city prospered and grew to become the largest city in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Later French… Continue reading Egypt and the building of a new Capital City
Harry, Meghan and the £32 million wedding!
Today’s couples spend an average of £17,913 on their big day, with the average wedding size being 78 guests for the ceremony and 83 guests for the evening. However, Harry and Meghan aren’t like today’s average couples. They’re having everything from bespoke silver plated fanfare trumpets to a “drone destroyer”, so it’s safe to say they will be… Continue reading Harry, Meghan and the £32 million wedding!
The Royal Wedding – Harry and Meghan by the numbers
A few days ago, the Queen signed the Instrument of Consent which gave official approval for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, you can see her signature at the top right of the document. So I thought I would do two posts looking at the Royal Wedding from a different perspective using facts… Continue reading The Royal Wedding – Harry and Meghan by the numbers
Is the Queen descended from the Prophet Muhammad?
It is said that most of us have hundreds or thousands of living relations, if only we knew who they were. On one line of my family tree I have found to be descended from such people such as the brother of King Harold of 1066 fame, Robert The Bruce and various old Saxon and… Continue reading Is the Queen descended from the Prophet Muhammad?
London VE Day Photos from 8th May 1945
Today is VE Day and I wasn’t going to post anything in particular but a quick search came across countless incredible photos and so I thought, why not! VE Day is a public holiday in several European countries such as France though incredibly not in the UK as though the 8th May 1945 saw the… Continue reading London VE Day Photos from 8th May 1945
The lonely Isle of Islay and the doomed American soldiers who died there in 1918 in 2 naval disasters.
The Scottish Isle of of Islay is best known these days for its world famous peaty single malt whisky but a century ago, this normally tranquil place which sits on the western coast of the U.K and facing the fierce north Atlantic was for just a few short months at least, anything other than tranquil.… Continue reading The lonely Isle of Islay and the doomed American soldiers who died there in 1918 in 2 naval disasters.
Ye Olde England Tours is Hiring!
Most of you will know that I run a small tours company based in London. We do a large number of walking tours in London itself along with plenty of day trip car based tours to places of interest such as Bath, Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and similar places. Thankfully business has been good and we’re… Continue reading Ye Olde England Tours is Hiring!
Stephen Liddell 