The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
Gordon's Wine Bar47 Villiers St, London WC2N 6NE A palace for Uncle Peter. Strand evolved from the Saxon period as the main ecclesiastical highway between the king (living at the Tower of London) and his church (at Westminster Abbey). It was therefore a desirable place for Bishops and the aristocracy to establish a London residence [...]
On a prosperous windIn 1620, the Mayflower started its journey to the New World. The Mayflower left Rotherhithe under the command of Captain Christopher Jones with around 30 passengers. It sailed to Southampton for supplies and more passengers, also picking up leading puritan, and future governor of Plymouth Colony, William Bradford. On 6 September 1620, [...]
Pubs and the metropolis Metropolitan London has around 7,000 public houses, an average of 25 pubs per square mile. No other capital city in the world matches this density. It is not surprising that the London pub is such an institution at home and abroad! Pubs take their name from being private houses licensed to [...]
The Grapes14 Lime Street, London EC3M 7ANClaudius succeeds, where Caesar failed Emperor Claudius needed a big hit - and the invasion of England in AD 43 was it. With an overwhelming force of 40,000 troops and elephants he achieved what Julius Caesar failed nearly 100 years earlier. But London wasn’t the goal - there was [...]
Available in store or online, see links below! Order my acclaimed guidebook that pairs pivotal moments in London's history with 52 of its most iconic pubs - each just a stroll from where history was made. Goodreads reviews: ‘It's like a history field trip with beer, a fine way to learn with info-rich text and [...]