Find Reuter's Bust

A statue of Paul Julius Reuter stands outside the Royal Exchange in the City of London where he founded his famous news service.



Reuter was born in Germany, but moved to London where he took British citizenship. A pioneer of news gathering, known for his work using the telegraph for news reporting. He was a pioneer of his age and is even said to have started off working with a fleet of pigeons.

For more, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Julius_Reuter

Drink at the Boot and Flogger

Your author finally made a long-overdue trip to the Boot and Flogger, on Redcross Way in Southwark, last night and was suitably impressed. Actually only opened by legendary wine sellers Davy’s in 1964, it's an atmospheric and comfortable place with plenty of charm.


Wood paneling, comfortable leather and wood armchairs, suits and friendly staff seem to be the name of the game at the Boot and Flogger, and wines and fortified wines rule the roost when it comes to drinking.

The wines were nice, but your author doesn't know enough about that sort of thing to make a difference, and was impressed they had Imperial Leather soap, which is obviously a mark of luxury.

For more, see http://www.timeout.com/london/bars/venue/2%3A20162/boot-flogger

_{^Picture © Yersinia used under Creative Commons^}

Book tickets for the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition

The National Gallery opens a new exhibition today, and ‘Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan’ seems to be the hot ticket in town at the moment. Said to bring together one of the most complete collections of da Vinci paintings in existence, the show is already sold out until mid-December, and is bound to sell more over the coming weeks.


Your author isn't really one for hype, but it seems that Leonardo's appeal is timeless, and the number of people prepared to stump up £20 to attend - and the fact that galleries from around the world are prepared to lend their paintings for this extrodinary showcase - shows that London is still a capital for world art, and let's hope it will continue to be so.

The exhibition continues until 5th February 2012. For more, see http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/leonardo-da-vinci-painter-at-the-court-of-milan?

_{^Picture © rudolf_schuba used under Creative Commons^}

Drink at the Windmill

Found on the Cut, a short walk from Waterloo Station, the Windmill is a smashing pub popular with theatregoers and after work drinkers seeking a swift half before they board the train home.


The walls are covered with portraits of famous actors and actresses, and a central bar serves drinkers in the back and front of the pub at the same time, whilst a busy thai kitchen serves decent food at acceptable prices.

The pub is owned by the same people that run the nearby Kings Arms - a fantastic pub where your author drank on his first night in London - and is owned by the Windmill Taverns Group, founded by John and Ryan McElhinney and their father in 1998.

For more information, see http://www.windmilltaverns.com/the-windmill/

See St John the Baptist, Eltham

A pretty church at the centre of what was once a leafy village, St John the Baptist church in Eltham is thought to have a history going back 900 years, though the modern version dates from 1879, following the demolition of the earlier version.


One of the first records of the Eltham's existence has been found in the records Rochester Cathedral, which show Chrysom Oil, used in Baptisms, was brought to Eltham from the cathedral in 1115.

For more information, see http://www.elthamchurch.org.uk

Drink at the Blue Anchor

First mentioned in the Fulham Manorial Roll in 1722, and thought to be considerably older, the Blue Anchor is an attractive pub facing onto the Thames at Hammersmith.


The beautiful interior is fitted out with historic flourishes and rowing paraphernalia, and is particularly popular with rowers, positioned as it is on a stretch of the river about half way along the course of the University Boat Race, and countless other rowing races throughout the year.

There is a decent menu, and a range of ales and other drinks. For more information, see http://www.blueanchorlondon.com

_{^Picture © futureshape used under Creative Commons^}

Watch a firework display

This year, 5th November falls on a Saturday, and whatever you might think about its Catholic-bashing message, there is something satisfying about celebrating Guy Fawkes night by wrapping up warm and heading outside to your nearest firework display, of which there are plenty.


Your author will be joining 100,000 other spectators to celebrate the start of mulled cider season at Blackheath fireworks, one of the few survivors in the Blackheath events calendar.

With the cancellation of Victoria Park fireworks - ostensibly because too many people were coming from outside the borough - readers could be forgiven for thinking that there are no other options in London. However, IanVisits lists 34 events around Greater London, and also adds the huge Brockham Bonfire, just outside the M25 which has in recent years been author's event of choice.

For a full list, see http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2011/10/17/list-of-london%E2%80%99s-bonfire-night-fireworks-for-2011/

_{^Picture © fotologic used under Creative Commons^}

Visit the Hanger Hill Garden Estate

Built on the site of Acton Aerodrome, and a golf course, which had superseded eighteenth century Hanger Hill House, home of local landowners the Wood family, the Hanger Hill Estate was an experiment in the development of the interwar years, laid out between 1928 and 1936.


Where once there were country lanes and rolling fields, a suburb recognised as an important example of the Mock Tudor style was laid out, in a part of Greater London that apparently became especially popular with British Japanese families, many of whom still live in the area.

For more information, see http://www.hhgera.com/

_{^Picture © Copyright David Hawgood, reused under a Creative Commons Licence^}

Wander around some tents

Your author has made no secret of the fact that he doesn't like the continuing blight on one of the most beautiful spots in our city, but it is always worth taking a trip down to St Paul's Cathedral to make up your own mind.


As the rest of us desperately try to keep our heads above water, the activists' only achievement is some clergy resignations and preventing the rest of us from visiting Paternoster Square.

They claim to represent 99% of humanity, waving banners saying things like "We are not some special interest group. We are you", but your author doesn't remember being asked to vote for them.

But it's up to you to make up your mind, and you should wander past. For more background, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15546275

_{^Picture © Alan Denney used under Creative Commons^}

See the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Willesden Lane

Quite literally one of the best temples in Willesden, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir came into existence in 1975, when the congregation bought a disused church and decided to renovate it.


In 1986, a new plan emerged to build a proper temple on the site, and build a three temple storey complex, and the result was unveiled in 1988, in the same design we see today.

For more information, see http://www.shreeswaminarayan.org.uk/

Drink at the Elephant and Castle, Kensington

The clocks have gone back, and autumn has truly arrived, so it is now time to hunt out London's cosiest pubs, so you'll have somewhere to retreat to as the night draws in and winter arrives. Last night, your author popped in to the Elephant and Castle on Holland Street in Kensington and was very pleased with what he found.
Sometimes finds Nicholson's Pubs a bit patchy, but this one is a gem, with friendly staff and cosy seating which seems in keeping, and involves lots of dark wood. There were ales and food and it was just right for the autumn. It felt like a proper local pub, even though it's only a short walk from Kensington High Street.

For more information, see http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/theelephantandcastlekensingtonlondon/

Go canoeing with Kayaking London

Your author braved the drizzle yesterday afternoon to cash in a voucher bought from generic deals website in the spring, and take to the Thames in a canoe for the first time from a kayaking centre beside Cremorne Gardens in Chelsea.


After a quick bit of orientation, the group were issued with paddles and kit and set afloat for two hours on the river, and your author's closest encounter with the Thames since hitting a tree root and toppling in on a bike ride to Thames Head.

It is a really good experience, which every Londoner should try, and it was only a shame that the trip didn't stray very far, reaching only as far as Albert Bridge. Pictures of kayakers in front of Big Ben were enticing, but for a dreary Sunday afternoon a little messing about on Counters Creek, in the shadow of Lots Road power station, was more realistic.

For more information, see http://www.kayakinglondon.com/

_{^Picture © Metro Centric used under Creative Commons^}

Attend the Hampstead Affordable Art Fair

Today marks the last day of the Hampstead Affordable Art Fair, the North London cousin of a South London favourite which has been vending affordable art to willing punters since 1999.


It's been going since Thursday, with 90 galleries exhibiting art from well-known and emerging artists, with prices ranging from £40 to £4,000.

For more information, see http://www.affordableartfair.com/hampstead/

_{^Picture © Richard Moross used under Creative Commons^}

Watch snowboarders in Battersea

Over in Battersea, in the shadow of the power station, the Relentless Freeze Festival have built their now annual ski and snowboard ramp, and are displaying all sorts of tricks all day.


It costs a fair amount to attend, but for your money, you get to see a snowboard world cup and a Europe Vs The World ski and snowboard battle, and enjoy music from The Streets and others.

As always with these things, it's difficult to know whether tickets are still available, but for more information, see http://www.relentlessfreeze.com

_{^Picture © Fimb used under Creative Commons^}

See Henry Moore's Two Piece Reclining Figure No.5

Not all of London's good art is found in galleries, and one excellent piece your author stumbled across recently is Henry Moore's Two Piece Reclining Figure No.5, in the gardens of Kenwood House.


Reclining figures are a staple of Moore's work, but this one was apparently a bit of a change for him, as he had previously stuck to seated women, and this news two piece reclining figure offered unexpected perspectives. Now surrounded by fences, presumably because the Bronze in which it is cast is worth a pretty penny, the figures are still worth a look.

For more information, click here.