Category: Cool Britannia

Thomas Coram and The Foundling Hospital

Whilst researching for a new book which I am writing on ‘Things To Do In London’, I came across a park which piqued my curiosity.  The park is called Coram’s Fields and remarkably it is only open to children with adults only being able to enter if they are accompanying young children themselves. I thought for… Continue reading Thomas Coram and The Foundling Hospital

It’s goodnight from me … and it’s goodnight from him.

These days so many of us watch or have to watch people with little talent on a Saturday night trying to sing, dance or make us laugh.  It wasn’t so long ago that our Saturday evenings were spent watching people with actual talent.  Many of them could sing, dance, act and make us laugh.  Few… Continue reading It’s goodnight from me … and it’s goodnight from him.

Animation of Allied bombing raids on Nazi occupied Europe

I was going to write something entirely different today and indeed had even started writing it when I happened across a segment of this newly released animated video by the Imperial War Museum in London which I thought many others would like to see. The animation depicts every single bombing raid by first the RAF… Continue reading Animation of Allied bombing raids on Nazi occupied Europe

Are British really obsessed with weather

Earlier this week I posted about whether the widely known stereotype of us British having bad teeth had any validity?  In the end, it had none at all and we can rest easy knowing there are few with more healthy or well-maintained teeth than us. Today I’m going to deal with another stereotype, namely are… Continue reading Are British really obsessed with weather

Music of London Rock and Pop Tour

Some of you might actually wonder what I do when I am not blogging or writing some book or other.  Well, I actually give private guided tours to individuals, families and groups from around the world.  My tours generally are one of three types. Day Trips from London.  Here I go to the hotel where… Continue reading Music of London Rock and Pop Tour

Sights of Old Spitalfield Market

Last weekend I visited one of my favourite London markets, Spitalfields. There has been a market at Spitalfields since 1638 when King Charles I granted a licence for root vegetables to be sold there and over the centuries it grew bigger and expanded. However as the 20th century progresses, it began to fall into disrepair… Continue reading Sights of Old Spitalfield Market

Whitechapel Street Art

I’ve written before about my Jack The Ripper Tours in Whitechapel, London and even posted a few photos too. Today I arrived there with an hour to spare so decided to have a little look around as I often do in this area. Whitechapel is of course famous for its poverty and crime problems. In… Continue reading Whitechapel Street Art

Is there Life on Mars, is there life on Earth?

I’ve spent 11 hours today editing my new book whilst listening to constant features dedicated to and music from David Bowie in BBC 5Live. I remember the first time I came across David Bowie, I was about 3 years old in 1977 and I was going through my mother’s record collection st my grandparents. Already… Continue reading Is there Life on Mars, is there life on Earth?