Nancy Mitford was born in London and spent many years in the capital, writing her bestseller The Pursuit of Love here. In advance of the much-anticipated release of the BBC series, let’s discover Nancy Mitford’s London and see she was born and where she lived, partied and romanced. Nancy Mitford Nancy was the eldest of…
London History
Discover London's history and meet some of London's old movers and shakers, the historical figures who were celebrities in their time.
J.M.W Turner in London: Walk in Turner’s footsteps
Joseph Mallord William Turner was born, bred and died in London and was a Londoner through and through. During his lifetime he was one of the most celebrated figures in the country, the art critic John Ruskin referring to him as the “father of modern art.” Let’s follow Turner in London, meet some of the…
Best Books about London History: 12 guide books for time-travelling in London
Oh, give me a good book about London history any day of the week. There’s nothing like it for peeling back the layers of the city and for taking a jaunt into London’s past sights, smells and sounds. The “magic lantern” has always fascinated writers, readers and historians, and for those of us who like…
Royal Love Affairs: where the British royals met their mistresses and lovers
Ever wondered where those badly-behaved royals would meet up with their lovers for a secret rendez-vous? Or where they met for the first time? Throughout British history, members of the royal family have had liaisons, some dangereuses, some carried out in secret and others, the cause célèbre of the day. Let’s look at some British…
Dead Famous Londoners: Theodore Hook and The Berners Street Hoax
Chances are, you’ve never heard of the Berners Street Hoax, one of the world’s biggest pranks and one which brought Georgian London to a virtual standstill. Concocted by Theodore Hook who was a celebrity of the time, it was designed to show that any old London house could become the most talked-about address in town…
Dead Famous Londoners: Richard D’Oyly Carte
A Victorian heavyweight, Richard D’Oyly Carte was hotelier extraordinaire, a composer, talent agent (he managed Oscar Wilde) and music impresario. His management prowess led to the birth of the Palace Theatre, the Savoy Theatre and the Savoy Hotel, one of London’s greatest and most famous hotels. He also bought and refurbished Claridge’s, Simpsons-in-the-Strand and The…
Dead Famous Londoners: A. A. Milne in London
Alan Alexander Milne, or A. A. Milne as he is known, is a household name today, thanks to a silly old humming bear and his furry friends, but he was also a successful novelist, screenwriter, humourist and playwright. Born and bred in London, Milne spent the bulk of his creative years in Chelsea, using his…
Tales of my City: Charles Dickens’ London
This week marks the 150th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ death. The celebrated author shares his London secrets with me and tells me how Queen Victoria is a big fan of his acting. Dick – do you mind if I call you Dick? I do. But you may call me Boz. What is your go-to pub?…
Tales of my City: Beau Brummell’s London
As London revs its engines to re-open after lockdown, I speak to the famous English dandy Beau Brummell. He shares his favourite London secrets and tells me how he would like to have tea with the Duchess of Cambridge. Where do you buy those exceedingly good cravats? I like to shop in Regent, Bond, Jermyn,…
Tales of my City: Winston Churchill’s London
In celebration of VE Day 75, Winston Churchill shares his favourite London locations, the first thing he’ll be doing after lockdown and how he wants to meet Sir David Attenborough. This is the first in the series Tales of my City, where I interview a ghost of London past. A flight of fancy, these are entirely…