Essential History | The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
Before the lockdown, my brother and I took a trip to Normandy (ahead of the 75th anniversary commerations of VE day on 8th May 2020). We visited the D-day landing beaches, museums and memorials. We also visited the Bayeux Tapestry (depicting the Norman invasion of England in 1066) and the burial tomb of King William [...]
More than three hundred years after its completion, St Paul's Cathedral dominates the skyline on Ludgate Hill in the City of London. Seat of the Bishop of London and the mother church of the British Commonwealth, it is the second largest domed church in the world (after St Peter's in Rome). The work of Sir [...]
Hampton Court Palace was the home of England's most famous king from 1529 until his death in 1547. With sixty acres of gardens and 750 acres of parkland, it was King Henry VIII's weekend and summer retreat from London. The palace was occupied by monarch's of the Stuart and Hanoverian Royal Houses up until 1737. [...]
The 'square mile' of the City of London is home to half a million workers during the week. On Sundays however it is relatively quiet; allowing you to discover the deserted streets and secluded spaces. The juxtaposition of old and new architecture creates some interesting photographs. Here are a few from a recent visit.
The centre of Stratford-upon-Avon is packed with Elizabethan and Jacobean architecture and history that recall the life of the world's most famous writer, William Shakespeare. This article shows you how to spend one day in Stratford-upon-Avon, exploring the town and its connections to the bard. We start the walk in Henley Street near the [...]