Even though I work every day in London and surely spend more time walking its streets and alleys than anyone but the most enthusiastic police officer, I never really get to enjoy the attractions of London. I’m always busy. I see what things are coming months or even years in advance but always working so… Continue reading The stained undershirt worn by King Charles I for his execution
Category: Ye Olde England Tours
A London street transformed to look like WW2 in The Blitz
A few weeks ago I was giving a Churchill Walking Tour to a family of 8 in London. It was a cold wintery Sunday morning and the streets were largely quiet until towards the end of the tour we came across a filming unit down a side-street near Parliament. There were a few doorways surrounded… Continue reading A London street transformed to look like WW2 in The Blitz
My New Book: Angels of Postman’s Park
For the last two years or more I have been working on my new book which I’m very happy to have released on the 28th March as my little tribe to my wonderful mother who died 10 years ago on that date. Sat almost in the shadow of St Pauls Cathedral, Postman’s Park is a… Continue reading My New Book: Angels of Postman’s Park
The Lamassu or Shedu of Khorsabad
Do you have a favourite ancient civilisation? Probably you’ve never really thought about it. There are so many to choose from though the mainstream media seem to obsess over the Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Greeks and of course those pesky Romans get everywhere. There are so many more major civilisations to learn about and they… Continue reading The Lamassu or Shedu of Khorsabad
A new look for Aldwych
On Saturday whilst giving a James Bond Walking Tour, I had a brief opportunity to see the changes at Aldwych in Central London. Aldwych has always been funny kind of place. Neither here nor there really. A gateway to Covent Garden, except it’s not. Roads leading down to the river, Fleet Street and the City… Continue reading A new look for Aldwych
Tiny the rat catcher extrodinaire
Very close to the wonderful Bunhill Fields (previously bone hill) is the pub that was in Victorian times as The Blue Anchor but which is now the Artillery Arms. The 1835 Cruelty to Animals Act prohibited pastimes such as bull baiting, cock fighting and dog fighting but no mention was made of rats – a… Continue reading Tiny the rat catcher extrodinaire
A valentine to St Paul’s Cathedral
I love St Pauls Cathedral. I remember when the first Covid lockdown ended and having no-one else, went to hug one of the great columns on the front of the building in gratitude for making it through the pandemic to that stage. Like Big Ben and various other church bells, St Pauls seems to be… Continue reading A valentine to St Paul’s Cathedral
The Death of Nelson – A painting in the Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament
Following my post on tuesday about the painting depicting the two allied commanders meeting after the Battle of Waterloo, I decided I may as well post on the painting that sits directly opposite it in the Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament. It shows the Battle of Trafalgar and the dying Admiral Nelson on the deck of HMS Victory,… Continue reading The Death of Nelson – A painting in the Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament
Queen Elizabeth Walking Tour of London
I only created one brand new tour in 2022, City of London Walking Tour which by chance I received my very first booking for this morning. I really enjoy researching new tours and locations and am always amazed how no-one had come up with anything similar and yet when various tours take off, they are often… Continue reading Queen Elizabeth Walking Tour of London
The London street bollards that are old cannons
Wandering around London and indeed many other British coastal cities you might from time to time come across rather strange looking bollards to stop people driving on pavements or generally just closing off areas to make them for pedestrians only. Plenty though by all means not all are actually old Royal Navy cannons with a… Continue reading The London street bollards that are old cannons
Stephen Liddell 