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  • Discover the History of Bradgate House, the Childhood Home of Lady Jane Grey

    In February, an announcement was made by Historic England that it is to give a grant of £37,160 to help preserve the remains of Bradgate House, the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey. Archaeologists from the University of Leicester have been carrying out digs to find out more about the history of the house and what it would have looked like in Jane’s day. The ruins are in Bradgate Park, a beauty spot dominated by a 212-metre hill. At the top is an eighteenth-century folly called Old John, a tower with an arch which can be seen for miles around.

  • Trooping the Colour – A Royal Birthday Parade

    Many of us would love to have a birthday parade with marching bands, and soldiers perfectly turned out displaying their marching skills. Trooping the Colour marks Her Majesty The Queen’s official birthday. As the late Duke of Edinburgh stated, ‘it is not a “theatrical” production, (sic) it is a deadly serious demonstration of the basic infantry skills for which the British Guards are renowned across the world.’

  • Top 10 Reasons to Visit London’s Royal Borough of Greenwich

    Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, Greenwich provides the perfect day out for visitors wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of Central London. A short journey down river from Central London, the Royal Borough of Greenwich is home to six museums, stunning historic architecture and a wonderful range of shops, markets, pubs and restaurants.

  • Uncovering the Secrets of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich

    This year is a very good time to visit the spectacular Old Royal Naval College (ORNC), right in the heart of Greenwich, especially if you love royal and maritime history and architecture. In 2023 we are celebrating Wren 300. This is a commemoration of 300 years since the death of the great architect of the ORNC, Sir Christopher Wren, who gave his time for free when the building was commissioned in 1694. So what is the ORNC, and why should you include it on a visit to London?

  • Upon The Roof: Ten Places To See London From On High

    Many visitors to London like to see the city from on high and several attractions give them the opportunity to do so. The London Eye and the viewing platform at The Shard are two of the capital’s most popular attractions, while One New Change and the Sky Garden attract people who do not wish to pay an entrance fee or wait in line to look at London from high up. Other towers, such as Arcelor Mittal Orbit in the Olympic Park and The Monument to the Great Fire, may not attract so many visitors but are important parts of London’s skyline.

  • History of Canterbury Cathedral

    Canterbury Cathedral covers 1,400 years of history and is today the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the Church of England. Once one of the major pilgrimage sites in England until the Reformation in the 16th century. Today the Cathedral is renowned as having some of the finest Medieval stained glass in the country as well as being one of the great Gothic style architectural buildings dating mainly from the 11th-16th century.

Blog Posts

A Dance to the Music of Time, 1640, Wallace Collection, London. Photo Credit: © Public Domain.

Poussin And The Dance Exhibition At The National Gallery In London

Paintings of dancing maenads, maidens, and a cavorting Bacchus in beautifully choreographed compositions are the subject of this themed exhibition which will be at the National Gallery from 9th October to 2nd January next year. Dance – both secular and religious – is one of the great themes in Western Art.

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James Bond 007 Film - Dr No

James Bond Quiz Questions | 20 Trivia Questions on the 007 Books & Films

With the new James Bond 007 movie Spectre starring Daniel Craig set for release on 26 October, we thought we’d put together a quiz.  Specifically, below are ten questions each about the James Bond 007 books and films.  How many will you answer correctly?  

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Guide London A to Z: Letter L

Guide London A – Z: Letter L London Landmarks And Tourist Attractions

How many London landmarks and tourist attractions can you name that start with the Letter L? Blue Badge Tourist Guide Elizabeth Carew continues our Guide London A-Z video series and provides insights on the historical events, famous and not-so-famous landmarks in London starting with the Letter L.

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Guide London A to Z: Letter K

Guide London A – Z: Letter K London Landmarks And Tourist Attractions

How many London landmarks and tourist attractions can you name that start with the Letter K? Blue Badge Tourist Guide Linda Hamer continues our Guide London A-Z video series and provides insights on the historical events, famous and not-so-famous landmarks in London starting with the Letter K.

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The Mosaic House, Fairlawn Grove, London W4 5EL. Photo Credit: © Ian Alexander via Wikimedia Commons.

The Carrie Reichardt Mosaic House in Chiswick, London

Spitalfields, Shoreditch, and Penge have established themselves as London’s hottest spots when it comes to street art, where you will find uncensored, clandestine, and sometimes sanctioned works adorning any spare wall or surface in reach of stealthy street artists.

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Guide London A to Z: Letter J

Guide London A – Z: Letter J London Landmarks And Tourist Attractions

How many London landmarks and tourist attractions can you name that start with the Letter J? Blue Badge Tourist Guide Mark King continues our Guide London A-Z video series and provides insights on the historical events, famous and not-so-famous landmarks in London starting with the Letter J.

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Guide London A to Z: Letter I

Guide London A – Z: Letter I London Landmarks And Tourist Attractions

How many London landmarks and tourist attractions can you name that start with the Letter I? Blue Badge Tourist Guide Edwin Lerner continues our Guide London A-Z video series and provides insights on the historical events, famous and not-so-famous landmarks in London starting with the Letter I.

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Association Of Professional Tourist Guides Welcomes 2021 London Blue Badge Tourist Guides At Mayfair Reception

Every year the Association of Professional Tourist Guides (APTG) welcomes those who are training to become London Blue Badge Tourist Guides into the profession.

In order to gain the coveted Blue Badge – the recognised symbol of a professional guide in London – they have to finish a two-year course and pass a series of practical and written examinations set by the Institute of Tourist Guiding.

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Guide London A to Z: Letter H

Guide London A – Z: Letter H London Landmarks And Tourist Attractions

How many London landmarks and tourist attractions can you name that start with the Letter H? Blue Badge Tourist Guide Aaron Hunter continues our Guide London A-Z video series and provides insights on the historical events, famous and not-so-famous landmarks in London starting with the Letter H.

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Westminster Abbey Burials: Scientists’ Corner. Photo Credit: © David Streets.

Westminster Abbey Burials – Famous People Buried Among Kings At Westminster Abbey

As well as being the major royal church of the United Kingdom, Westminster Abbey contains the tombs of many famous people who were not born into royalty. Over 3,000 people are buried at Westminster Abbey – many forgotten by history – but it remains the final resting place for celebrated Britons. Others who are not buried there are honoured with commemorative plaques. Below are some of the famous Westminster Abbey burials.

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Guide London A to Z: Letter G

Guide London A – Z: Letter G London Landmarks And Tourist Attractions

How many London landmarks and tourist attractions can you name that start with the letter G? Blue Badge Tourist Guide Jacqueline Stater continues our Guide London A-Z video series and provides insights on the historical events, famous and not-so-famous landmarks in London starting with the Letter G.

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A promenade concert in the Royal Albert Hall, 2004. Photo Credit: © MykReeve via Wikimedia Commons.

History Of The Proms – A London Institution

Every year in late summer, London plays host to The Proms, a series of classical music concerts held in the Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington. The Albert Hall was built in memory of Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert in 1871 and stands opposite the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park. It has a capacity of over 5,000 and is always packed out for the Last Night of the Proms in September, an event that is as much about patriotism as music.

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