Category Archives: Cool Britannia

Posts predominantly related to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Alexander Parkes – The man who changed and poisoned the world

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

Alexander Parkes is another one of those people from the Victorian Age that is forgotten despite him changing the world and his story is being told in a new exhibition in Bow, East London. The fact the the exhibition is … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, London, News | Tagged Alexander Parkes, Environment, Green Issues, Industry, Inventor, Nunnery Gallery, Plastic, Victorian | 2 Comments

The fake Number 10 Downing Street

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

It’s perhaps the most famous doorway in the world, number 10 Downing Street. For centuries home of the British Prime Minister and I’m standing in front of it. Except it isn’t and I’m not. Though until just the 1990’s, one … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Politics, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged 10 Adam Street, 10 Downing Street, Downing Streel, Life, Prime Minister, Robert Adam, Secret London, walking tours | Leave a comment

The secret underground road right in the heart of London

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

It’s hard to believe that just a few minutes walk from the iconic Trafalgar Square or the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, there is an almost forgotten and entirely buried street in the very centre of London. It’s rarely … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, London, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Adelphi, Embankment, Ghosts, Lower Robert Street, Secret London, Tunnels, Victorian | 2 Comments

York Watergate – The ceremonial gateway to the River Thames, out of sight of water.

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

Following on from Mondays post on the Lions of the River Thames, not to far away is one of the last remnants of an era of grandeur on the Thames that has largely been swept away. The York Water Gate. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Life, London, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Architecture, Embankment, London, River Thames, The Strand, York Watergate | 3 Comments

The Thameside Lions that guard against flooding

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

There is always something to look out for in London, even in the most unlikely places. One might not know that you’re seeing but there are points of interest all over the place. Should you happen to to be near … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, London, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Embankment, Floods, London, River Thames, Sewers, Thames Lions | 5 Comments

Smithfield Market on the moo-ve after 900 years

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

One of my favourite less-visited parts of London is the area known as Smithfield. Like many an ancient city in the Middle-East, India or elsewhere, London had and to an extent still has, districts that would specialise in certain produces … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London | Tagged Barts Hospital, Braveheart, Executions, London, Markets, Meat Market, Old Bailey, Peasants Revolt, Smithfield, St Bartholomew the Great | 2 Comments

The Extinction Rebellion Protests in London

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

The environment is something I’ve always taken a keen issue in since when as a young boy I gave all my meagre savings to help seals in the North Sea. I’ve written a few posts here and there on the … Continue reading →