Charing Cross

The scenes depicted on the walls of Charing Cross Station got me thinking about what the current centre of London may have been like in times gone by.

 Charing comes from the old English word "cierring" meaning to turn, which referred to a bend in the River Thames.  The Cross was added to the Hamlet's name after the memorial cross to Eleanor  was erected in 1291-94.  

An inn stood in the area now known as Trafalgar Square, a chapel and hospital occupied the land from Northumberland Avenue to the river.  Much of the land in the area was seized by the King a few years later during the crusades.  In later centuries houses of nobility were built in the area, no doubt due to the proximity to the Palace of Westminster.  

Three Girls set off from London to Paris

Three friends have today set out from Crystal Palace to cycle from London to Paris 9-13 May 2012 for Pancreatic Cancer charity. Over the next 4 days they will cover 300 miles before arriving at the Eiffel tower in Paris.

Pancreatic cancer is the 5th deadliest cancer in the UK. Sadly survival figures have stayed the same for 40 years and shockingly pancreatic cancer receives less than 1% of the cancer research budget.

When pancreatic cancer touched us we got brave and decided that we should stop thinking about the smaller things in life like bad public transport, indifferent shop assistants and the terrible weather, and think about what we could do that might contribute to a better future for people who get pancreatic cancer. Naturally it meant providing some funding to the dedicated individuals and their organisations that can make that happen!

Our blog has recorded many of our trials and tribulations up to this point, including a broken arm!!! We will capture our trip here as well. Why not join us on our journey


“Three Girls in Five Days – The Ride of Our Lives” http://threegirlsinfivedays.blogspot.com/

Four Lads

Four Lads on holiday in London having a great time.

London is a great place for a holiday and tomorrow I am running a wee competition to give away some tickets to one of the famous tourist attractions, so drop by.

Never Be Bored in London

Just released by Tired of London Tired of Life the book from the blog of the same name. Tom takes you on a new adventure every day in London. This is not just another book with the same old tourist attractions. Tom said "I set myself a challenge to discover new things to do, and secretly began to form my own collection of hidden delights". Now Tom is sharing these delights with all of us, like for example "sit on the bench that ended slavery", touch a meteorite, and follow it up with a drink in a Victorian Gin Palace".
This is a book for anyone who wants to see more than just the usual sites of London - visitors and Londoners alike.
I was lucky enough to grab the very last copy at the launch last night. Make sure you grab your copy here before they all race out the door .

Student Process

Thousands of students marched through London yesterday is a relatively peaceful protest against cuts in education and increases in student fees. The protest march was flanked on all sides by 4,000 police directing the route of the students.

Naked Bike Ride

To highlight the vulnerability of the cyclist and protest about the dependency on oil and the car culture more then 1,000 stripped (dare as you bare) and rode the 9 miles around central London. The Naked Bike Ride is an annual event that takes place in 50 countries.

Local Neighbourhood

This image was taken as part of a project I'm working on showing the village aspect of London. Although the population of London is around 7.5 million, it is still in many ways just a collection of villages sitting side by side. A sense of community exists no matter what part of the city you live in.

No Bull

Ok so this is a picture of a cow. Whoopee. Yes but this is zone one in London. Ah ha a little unusual wouldn't you say. I started taking pictures of said cow and chatting to it. Yes also a little odd but it's a cow in London, zone one.
I'm taking pictures when a security guard came out and told me this is not allowed. A group of young men nearby came to my aid and said: Its a cow in the centre of London of course you are going to take pictures and by the way where's the law that says she can't take a picture of a cow. The guard left.
So here is a picture of a cow.

Now a DRUM ROLL for the winner of the pizzaexpress winner:

Congratulations Brianna a voucher is on its way to you.

The correct answer is 119 pizzaexpress restaurants in London.