A few days ago after 9 years or so of waiting, the Raffles OWO Hotel opened in Whitehall to a great fanfare of a no-expense party with royalty and other high-status people. Obviously it will come as no surprise to you to learn that I too was there, yes about 9 hours after the party… Continue reading My sneak-peak inside the Raffles OWO Hotel
Category: Heritage
Posts predominantly related to Heritage
Standing under the shoulders of giants
A few days ago I was fortunate to be invited on a private behind the scenes tour of the Guildhall in the City of London. Imagine that, me on a tour! It’s one of a handful of buildings I’ve always wanted to look around that I’ve never properly been in. I did once get a… Continue reading Standing under the shoulders of giants
Billy Waters – The King of the beggars
Just before I met with some tourists embarking on a London Pub Tour a few weeks ago, I caught sight of this poster near St Pauls. Part of a temporary exhibition in the yard outside. I didn’t expect to see the King of the Beggars here as he isn’t well known, obviously part of the… Continue reading Billy Waters – The King of the beggars
Henry Croft – The original London Pearly King and the 2023 Pearly King and Queen Harvest Festival
As churches across the U.K. prepare to celebrate Harvest Festival, something I’m sure many cultures do in their own way across the world. London, the real London, not the one tourists visit in the West End, will be celebrating in their own unique way with the Pearly Kings and Queens that will attract crowds of… Continue reading Henry Croft – The original London Pearly King and the 2023 Pearly King and Queen Harvest Festival
Nosing around the Ukranian Cathedral in London
There is a lady on the tube seat opposite me who has a laugh that sounds like a heavy wooden chair being scraped on a wooden floor. Every time a new person gets on the train they are alarmed by her laugh! She’s busy chatting away to her boyfriend who is very somber and serious.… Continue reading Nosing around the Ukranian Cathedral in London
The return of the Bartholomew Fair
West Smithfield is one of my very favourite parts of London and I’ve written about it countless times despite it being an area little larger than a football field. As the western worlds oldest hospital, St Bartholomew’s and its neighbouring and magnificent neighbour St Bartholomew The Great Church both prepare for their 900th birthday party… Continue reading The return of the Bartholomew Fair
Beating the bounds
These days we all have easy access to maps and our local administration is likely run by some sort of government office, elected or otherwise. That wasn’t always the case especially in the U.K. where the role of the church was hugely important. With churches across the whole country, it was important to know what… Continue reading Beating the bounds
The RAF Flypast at the 2023 Trooping of the Colour
Saturday saw the annual Trooping of the Colour ceremony at Horseguards, an event that has taken place for centuries but which was notable for it being the first one wit King Charles III in attendance. Normally it is a bit of a pain to do tours in Whitehall when Trooping of the Colour is on… Continue reading The RAF Flypast at the 2023 Trooping of the Colour
When we were young
I don’t know about you but when I was little I used to spend most of my time out on the streets. In summer time from 8am until 8 or 9pm. Riding bikes, playing football or various traditional and sometimes rough games of times gone by. I remember being surprised about 10 years ago in… Continue reading When we were young
THE CORONATION OF THEIR MAJESTIES KING CHARLES III AND QUEEN CAMILLA
The main proceedings don’t start for another hour but I’ve been watching the buildup for a few hours now. I thought that some people overseas may enjoy an official guide or ‘Order Of Service’. Interestingly as I type this, I Vow To Thee My Country is being played in the Abbey. I first heard this… Continue reading THE CORONATION OF THEIR MAJESTIES KING CHARLES III AND QUEEN CAMILLA
Stephen Liddell 