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There are many reasons to visit Southwark Cathedral, the gothic gem of a building nestled on Bankside next to London Bridge and the Shard. Until 29th March you can add one more: the opportunity to see the dramatic sculpture of Christ’s head with crown of thorns by acclaimed British sculptor Nic Fiddian-Green. The giant eight-foot…
Read moreThe exciting discovery yesterday that the skeleton found in Leicester is indeed that of Richard III creates an interesting problem – what should happen to the skeleton next? Towns are vying to be the final resting place of the bones, but does London have a good case? Of course some are saying that Richard should…
Read moreA walk that I never meant to create has now become rather an obsession. I am certain I am not alone in this. The river itself is fascinating but the origin of the name is also a mystery. Stow in A Survey of London 1598 assumes the name comes from the river running under the…
Read more… at plans for an old Shakespeare playhouse which include a new theatre. It was only a few months ago that Museum of London archaeologists announced they had concrete evidence for the site of one of the oldest theatres in London – the Curtain. Built in the 1570’s this venue entertained thousands of Elizabethan Londoners. William…
Read moreAs devotees of the Bard, we’re only too happy to draw our readers’ attention to what promises to be a fascinating talk on Shakespeare by Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum. MacGregor, whose BBC Radio 4 series ‘100 objects that shaped the world’ became almost required listening, is delivering an illustrated talk on Monday…
Read moreMy vote goes to Richard I. For some reason he has gone down in history as a hero – the Lionheart – but he didn’t speak English and in his 10 years as King of England he spent only a few months in the country. Famed as a warrior and Crusader he failed to capture…
Read morePlans by Oxford University’s Bodleian Library to make Shakespeare’s first folio available on the internet would surely have had the approval of the scholarly Humphrey Lancaster, first Duke of Gloucester. On his controversial death in 1447 Humphrey bequeathed his fine collection of books and manuscripts to Oxford University where they helped form the nucleus of…
Read moreVisitors to the American hospitality House at Vinopolis on Bankside in Southwark don’t have to walk far for a reminder of past Olympic triumphs by US athletes. Less than a hammer’s throw from Vinopolis is the historic Anchor tavern. Marked on the Thameside path outside the Anchor is a tribute to one of the greatest…
Read moreWe’ve asked various Footprints Guides to choose their Favourite Activities. This month Rob Smith suggests.. While the weather so far this summer has not been great for walking, its given me the chance to catch up with the BBC’s excellent series of London programmes. On of my favourites has been London on Film – The West End ,…
Read moreIt is good to see Islington’s Peoples Plaque scheme continuing, with the latest one for Edith Garrud unveiled this weekend. Edith was a real kick ass heroine – known as the Jujitsu Suffragette, and star of Britain’s first martial arts film. Edith and her husband were physical training instructors, a fairly unusual job for a…
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