Essential History | The top sights in London, Madrid and beyond
The best cultural and historical sights in London, Madrid and beyond.
American locations, buildings, people and events in London and beyond London
London partied in Piccadilly yesterday to launch the NFL season in the UK. America's National Football League consists of 32 teams. The exciting thing is that six of the teams will play in London during 2018/19. The results all going forward to the American league – so we’re guaranteed some fireworks, both on and off [...]
The new US Embassy building in London opened in January 2018. But why was a new building necessary - and was it really a bad deal for the US tax payer? Public access to the surrounding grounds has been possible since early summer 2018. We went for a first visit. The former US Embassy in [...]
Canary Wharf is the name of the second financial district for London. It is situated about three miles to the east of the ‘City of London’ in the former London Docklands. The addition of Canary Wharf was to provide additional capacity for the ‘City’ – a top-ten world economy, if it were a country in [...]
The Virginia Quay Settlers Monument, on the north shore of the River Thames, marks the embarkation point of the first English settlers of North America. This was where Captains Christopher Newport and John Smith set sail in December 1606 - some 14 years before the Mayflower set sail two miles further upstream. There were three ships [...]
American Bar at the Savoy Hotel We’ll start with arguably the most famous of the American bars in London. And one of the earliest to sell ‘American-style’ cocktails to the British public. As you enter the front reception lounge, turn left and head upstairs to the bar. It’s been frequented by all the great and [...]
Granted, this website is about 'cultural and historical' sights - but I think the occasional exception is okay - particularly for the sake of family harmony! Last weekend I took my gorgeous nieces to two of London's most professional temples to consumerism. That's M&M's World and the LEGO Store. Both are situated on the north [...]
The ‘Darkest Hour’; directed by Joe Wright and starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill is an account of Churchill’s early days as Prime Minister, machinations in 'Whitehall' and the Dunkirk evacuation. The film is set over one month in May 1940. It concludes with success at Dunkirk and Britain resolved to stand strong over Nazi [...]
Here is self-guided tour of 12 key portraits at the National Portrait Gallery for Americans in London. The National Portrait Gallery (NP)G is a haven of peace compared to its next door neighbour; the National Gallery. It also has a rather nice rooftop cocktail bar with views over London. Both galleries are on Trafalgar [...]
Here are five must-see American historical sites that you can visit in London today. They are not in any order or category, but having said that, we should start from where the Mayflower set sail in the first place. 1 The Mayflower Pub Back in 1620, the Mayflower started its journey from here to the [...]
It may not look much on the outside, but this is authentic, world first London. The building in the photograph houses the entrance to the first tunnel known to have been constructed successfully underneath a navigable river. It connects Rotherhithe with Wapping in London, is still in use and you can visit it. Descend the [...]