Free London attractions this summer include parks, British Museum, Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, V&A Museum of Childhood and the Science Museum
Where in the World: Headquarters of Hercule Poirot
This is the London headquarters of Hercule Poirot. It’s called Whitehaven Mansions in the series, and Florin Court in the real world.
Autumn leaves in Kew Gardens
Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew This week’s #FriFotos* theme – autumn/fall – inspired me to add an extra post. I’ve just returned from a hectic few days in London, attending the World Travel Market and heaps of fringe fun. I took Wednesday morning off, however, to have a look at the Royal Botanic Gardens [...]
Murder and Mayhem in London through the Ages – Part 3: Jack the Ripper
123 years ago, a man known as Jack hung around Whitechapel, ridding the world of prostitutes. Five murders have been attributed to him. Grotesque murders, but still “only” five. Judging by the number alone, he seems a bit of an amateur among serial killers. Yet Jack is the most famous of them all. Never discovered, [...]
Murder and Mayhem in London through the Ages – Part 2: Execrable executions
Continuing our time-travel through London’s pernicious past, here are a few ominous outings our forefathers might have enjoyed: Take an excursion to Newgate prison to gawk at inmates: Daniel Defoe sat here (for poking fun at the Tories), as did Pennsylvania founder William Penn (contempt of court). Then continue to Wapping (present day Docklands), known [...]
Murder and Mayhem in London through the Ages – Part 1: The Bridges
It’s a chilly, windy evening. Maybe that’s why we’re only six. Six people about to walk through 700 years of London’s criminal history. Jason, a qualified London guide for 13 years, is tall and gangly and reminds me of Hugh Grant. Same wavy hair and quick speech. More to the point, he’s passionate and knowledgeable, [...]
What to do on a Friday night in London if you’re time travelling
It’s a late Friday night in London, and I’m in an Indian restaurant in Gloucester Road. … drinking a milk shake. I could be doing more interesting things, of course. But the possibilities seem a bit civilized and, dare I say, dull – compared to what I could have been doing to amuse myself had [...]
Reading the past with the Rosetta Stone
The British Museum is one of my favourite museums in the world. Yet, like many museums in the western world, the British Museum should probably return some of the artefacts to their country of origin. One of these is the Rosetta Stone, a stele from 196 BC. It belongs, if not in Rosetta, at least [...]
Welcome! I'm Sophie - writer, dreamer, negotiator, wanderer, mum - in search of the world's curious places. Mostly with my daughters, sometimes solo. The girls share their take on it, too.
As seen in
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – the real Narnia
- Pets, pools and pennies at the Hemingway House, Key West
- Atlantic Canada: Lively Lunenburg
- Canada Road Trip: Vancouver to Calgary, the Scenic Route
- Cape Byron Lighthouse
- The innovative architecture of Rotterdam
- World at a Glance: Green bikes – and scooters – in Amsterdam
- Viva Bahia, a fabulous Majorca family hotel
- Greece: A guide for history buffs
- Norfolk Coast Path: horizons
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Karen Dawkins: I would not want to take my kids -- but please don...
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Travel Musts: What amazing colors in those pictures! I wish I co...
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Ursula: Oh my God that pool surrounded with those balinese...
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Edit: Actually those roller are technically green, their...
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Steve: The scooters look like a great way to get around (...
