Exploring one of the world's greatest cities
November 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, an event which effectively symbolised the end of the Cold War. Between 1945 and 1989 many cities found themselves under the shadow of the tense stand off between East and West. London was no exception and there are numerous sites in the…
When H.G Wells’ celebrated tale, War of the Worlds, was first serialised in Pearson’s Magazine in 1897, the world was powered by steam and Queen Victoria was still on the throne. Yet Wells had the foresight to envisage an alien invasion of Earth in which ultra-intelligent beings from Mars travel across the gulf of space in…
Update – please note that this exhibition at the National Archives has now finished. However, continue with my post below to see my personal highlights from it. In addition, my further Cold War posts include: * London’s Cold War Spy Locations * London True Crime: The Umbrella Assassination * London’s Cold War Bunkers *Bloomsbury: Where the…
The Romans founded London almost 2000 years ago. Emperor Claudius established Londinium, as it was originally known, between AD43 and AD50. Due to the ravages of time little exists of early Londinium today but, if you know where to look, there are some intriguing pockets of Roman history hidden around London’s historic Square Mile. Take my…
I’m extremely excited to announce the development and opening of my very own robslondon shop. For the shop’s first product, I’m proud to offer copies of my book: The Knowledge: Train your brain like a cabbie which can be shipped worldwide (along with a personal message if you so wish). UPDATE: Now available on the…
Although not as widely heard in London as it once was, Cockney rhyming slang remains an intrinsic part of the city’s character. Origins Playful, witty and occasionally crude, the dialect appears to have developed in the city’s East End during the 19th century; a time when the area was blighted by immense poverty. It’s believed…
Venture further out on the tube to Rickmansworth and you’ll discover craft beer, a controversial WWI memorial, links to America, a Titanic connection and much more…
This is the story of an audacious bank robbery which occurred on (or rather below) Baker Street in the autumn of 1971. No weapons were brandished, nor were any alarms triggered. Yet the gang who committed the heist managed to make off with an absolute fortune… Mysterious voices It was late in the evening on…
London is packed with museums, many of which are world renowned. Whilst institutions such as The British Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert are certainly not to be missed, there are many smaller, more unusual museums which are equally worthy of attention. As an added bonus these quirky London museums are…
If you’re sightseeing in London, the idea of visiting a dark, disused tunnel probably isn’t going to be top of your bucket list. There is one such place in London however that’s certainly worth checking out: Leake Street (aka the Leake Street Arches). A little history Located just moments away from the London Eye, it…
