Apparently an idiom by Ovid, but then his mate Aesop said “Good things come in small packages”. I’m inclined to side with both sentiments, so here’s a few of the smallest things London has to offer. Shortest Street Until restrictions rendering it pedestrians only, the shortest street was Clenman Street in Borough at 85 feet… Continue reading Little things please little minds
Author: endean0
Hi, I'm Steve, a London tour guide and owner of A London Miscellany Tours, a guided walking tour company who specialise in small number tours of the greatest city in the world!
The “Iron Duke” steps
The “Iron Duke”, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, National Hero, Soldier, Politician and Prime Minister, what a guy!Its only fitting that he should have something named after him. I can just see these steps, Imposing wrought iron, sweeping and majestic, befitting a great British hero. Oh no, I was mistaken, these are a set… Continue reading The “Iron Duke” steps
A souvenir from starving Germany
You may have read my post last Friday regarding the Elizabethan building that was discovered when a bomb exploded near to it during a First World War air raid. One of the participating Zeppelins on the raid was L13, a German naval Zeppelin under the command of Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Mathy. Apart from raining down terror… Continue reading A souvenir from starving Germany
Then suddenly out of the blue
For someone who spends a lot of time walking the streets of the City of London in search of interesting and obscure facts and objects, I must admit I was slightly taken aback during my last walk. I came upon this City of London Police Call Post (Not a box, like the Tardis). It made… Continue reading Then suddenly out of the blue
The best seats in the house
St Bartholomew’s Gatehouse in Cloth Fair is definitely a fine old Elizabethan building. Well that’s not strictly true. It is and it isn’t. The framework is, but the exterior has been restored, but that doesn’t make it any the less interesting. If it hadn’t been for Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Mathy the commander of a First World… Continue reading The best seats in the house
Behind Closed doors
The Egyptian styled Art Deco temple to journalism that was once the former home of the Daily Telegraph is located on Fleet Street, and sits over a purpose built alley with seperate entrance and exits known as Peterborough Court. In all the times I’ve walked past the building I’ve never seen these gates open. However,… Continue reading Behind Closed doors
On Broadway
Going through my photo collection the other day, I came across a visit I made a couple of years ago to 55 Broadway. The building was designed by Charles Holden, construction started in 1927 and finished two years later. It became new headquarters for the Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL), the precursor of… Continue reading On Broadway
Technotours
No history in today’s post, just a blatant piece of self promotion. As some of you who read my ramblings may know, I run a guided walking tour company specialising in tours of the City of London called A London Miscellany Tours. The Coronavirus Pandemic put pay to the running of tours during most of… Continue reading Technotours
A dog licking a cooking pot
This fine piece of street art stands just yards away from Southwark underground station in south London, but what does it mean? It is a replica of a shop sign that used to hang outside of an Ironmongers that plied it’s trade on the corner of Blackfriars Road and Union Street. It was first displayed… Continue reading A dog licking a cooking pot
Fake News
A little late I know but in true Trumpian style here’s a couple of fanciful facts bandied around as the truth. Fact: There is only one street in Britain where you drive on the right. It’s Savoy Court, the short and taxi-filled road from Strand to the front door of the Savoy Hotel. This is… Continue reading Fake News
A LONDON MISCELLANY 