My London.

Glass Hearts Exhibition.

gordon@londontaxitour.com (Gordon Thom) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 00:02:09 GMT

Exhibition Of Glass @ 2 temple Place.

Did you know that there is a remarkable building in the heart of London that has been featured in numerous films and television series? Not only that, but it also houses a unique collection of glass works of art built around The Glass Heart (Peter Layton).

I quite liked a glass chair made of uranium glass, but I particularly liked the betting slips along with a fire extinguisher all made of glass. These and other exquisite pieces are all on view till April. And that's not all – the building also features a stunning screen made by Geoffrey Clarke for the SS Canberra.

The architectural gem, that is 2 Temple Place, is owned by the Waldorf family and has become a must-see for art and design enthusiasts. This exhibition will make you rethink how you view glass.

The exhibition is conceived and curated by curator and writer Antonia Harrison.

Opening Times Tuesday, Thursday – Saturday: 11am – 6pm Wednesday Late: 11am – 9pm, Sunday: 11am – 4:30pm Closed on Mondays & Easter Sunday ADMISSION FREE-Ends 21st April

Oxo Tower

gordon@londontaxitour.com (Gordon Thom) — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:28:55 GMT

Oxo Through The Ages.

The OXO Tower is a prominent landmark located on the South Bank of the River Thames in London, England. Its history spans over a century, and it has undergone several transformations, serving various purposes throughout the years.

1. Early History: The OXO Tower was originally constructed between 1928 and 1929 as a power station for the Post Office, designed by architect Albert Moore. Its distinctive design features a steel frame with Art Deco styling, characterized by geometric shapes and decorative motifs.

2. Conversion to a Factory: : In the 1930s, the building was acquired by the Liebig Extract of Meat Company, which produced OXO beef stock cubes. The company commissioned architect Albert Moore to convert the building into a cold store and factory for the production of OXO products. The iconic OXO lettering and logo were added to the building's façade, circumventing strict advertising regulations of the time by using the letters as windows.

3. World War II: : During World War II, the OXO Tower was damaged by bombing raids, but it remained largely intact. After the war, it was refurbished and continued to be used for manufacturing purposes.

4. **Decline and Abandonment**: In the latter half of the 20th century, the OXO Tower fell into disuse as the surrounding area underwent urban decay. The building stood abandoned for several years, facing threats of demolition.

5. **Redevelopment**: In the 1980s, the OXO Tower was granted Grade II listed status, protecting it from demolition and ensuring its preservation as a historic structure. In the 1990s, the building was refurbished and converted into a mixed-use development, featuring restaurants, shops, galleries, and residential apartments.

6. **Contemporary Landmark**: Today, the OXO Tower is a vibrant cultural and commercial hub on London's South Bank, renowned for its panoramic views of the city skyline from its upper floors. The building is home to the OXO Tower Restaurant, OXO Tower Brasserie, and OXO Tower Bar, offering fine dining experiences with stunning views of the Thames and the city beyond. The ground floor houses a variety of boutiques and design shops, while the upper floors are occupied by residential apartments and exhibition spaces.

Overall, the OXO Tower stands as a symbol of London's industrial heritage and architectural legacy, revitalized and repurposed for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.

Exploring the History of Middle Temple, London

gordon@londontaxitour.com (Gordon Thom) — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 20:40:52 GMT

Exploring the History of Middle Temple, London.

Located in the heart of London, Middle Temple is a unique and impressive legal society that is home to barristers in England and Wales. With its stunning architecture, fascinating history, and interesting events and exhibits, this area has something for everyone! Let’s explore Middle Temple and all it has to offer.

Middle Temple was founded in 1501 by King Henry VII as an Inn of Court. It was originally used as a place for law students to train and acquire their qualifications. In the 17th century, Middle Temple became a centre for social activities such as literary gatherings, music recitals, and plays. Today, it continues to be a place where barristers can live while they study or practice law.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Middle Temple is its stunning architecture. The main buildings were constructed in the Tudor style with brick walls decorated with carvings from Medieval times. Inside you’ll find a variety of courts, chambers, libraries, gardens, dining rooms, galleries, chapels and more - each one filled with its own unique history and charm. The Great Hall at Middle Temple even served as a set for movies like Batman Begins!

In addition to exploring the grounds of Middle Temple itself there are also various events hosted throughout the year including lectures on legal topics such as human rights or environmental law; musical performances; art exhibitions; literary readings; seminars on issues like Brexit; film screenings; educational programs for children; theatre productions; guided tours; holiday celebrations; workshops on topics like public speaking or writing skills; book clubs; debate competitions; comedy nights – just to name a few! One thing is certain - if you find yourself in London you won’t want to miss out on all that Middle Temple has to offer!

Middle Temple is truly an amazing place that offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to experience history firsthand. Whether you’re interested in learning more about British law or simply want to soak up some culture while exploring beautiful architecture – there’s something here for everyone! So if you’re visiting London anytime soon be sure to stop by this incredible landmark - you won't regret it! And remember – no matter what your interests may be – there's always something new happening at Middle Temple!

White Royal Mail Post Box.

gordon@londontaxitour.com (Gordon Thom) — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 17:11:13 GMT

White Royal Mail Post Box

Royal Mail have transformed this post box next to Lords cricket ground from its traditional red to white, to celebrate England’s double whammy, as holder of both Cricket World Cup titles.

It is further decorated with images of a gold cricket bat, stumps and a ball. It is also complimented with a plaque.

This postbox celebrates ICC Cricket World Cup victories for

the England Men’s cricket team on 14 July, 2019

and the England Women’s cricket team

on 23 July, 2017, both finals

taking place at Lord’s.

Changing of the Horse Guards

gordon@londontaxitour.com (Gordon Thom) — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 18:29:14 GMT

Horseguards at Horseguards Parade, London.

The Queen’s Life Guard is normally made up, of soldiers, from the Household Cavalry, which consists of a squadron from the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards. These are the two most senior regiments in the British Army.

The guard change, dates back to the restoration of Charles II in 1660.

Everyday, in all weathers, the guard change takes place in the morning and again in the afternoon. For my money, the Changing Of the Horseguards is better value then the foot guards.

It’s always worth counting the number of horses, as there are 12 on a short guard and 14 on a long guard. These represent weather the sovereign is in residence.

The pickpockets also enjoy this event, as they like a captivated crowd.

I quite like the 4 o’clock Parade, as this is also known as the Punishment Parade. This is because in 1894, Queen Victoria, was not amused when she found the men drinking and gambling. She decreed that they would hold the parade for 100 years as a punishment. In 1994, the Queen said she would like it to continue, as she liked the tradition.

Middle Temple Sundial

gordon@londontaxitour.com (Gordon Thom) — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 18:52:12 GMT

17th century sundial, Middle Temple.

This 17th century sundial, helps remind one of their mortality. Although it could be referring to the lawyers of Middle Temple's clients.

Templer Telephone Box

gordon@londontaxitour.com (Gordon Thom) — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 11:32:51 GMT

Stained glass Knight Templer telephone box.

Fantastic stained glass telephone box. Representing the connection with the Knights Templer's to the area, this telephone box is a wonderful expression of London street art.

Shelter Railings

gordon@londontaxitour.com (Gordon Thom) — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 11:51:17 GMT

The Forgotten Wartime Railings Of South London.

During the Second World War, over 600,000 steel stretchers were made for the ARP (Air Raid Protection officers). After the war had ended, the LCC, which was the municipal authority responsible for managing London came up with the idea of using them to replace the railings that had been removed from large council estates, to help with the war effort. Recycling at its best.

Unfortunately, most people are unaware of this small but interesting piece of London's heritage. This has allowed those responsible for the council estates, where they were installed to replace, rather then restore the recycled railings.

Penfold Postbox

Mon, 20 May 2019 20:10:51 GMT

Green Postbox

Named after John Penfold, the Penfold Postbox was one of the first designs of the 19th century (1866), although short lived. the last one being installed in 1879. This one is in its original colour of green. Guides like to say postboxes were later painted red to stop people walking into them, although it is more likely that it was to make them more noticeable

This replica postbox, that is used for Royal Mail post, was placed here in 2016 to mark the 500th anniversary of the Post Office, founded by Henry VIII established for his royal mail. It would be a long time before the masses were allowed to use the Royal Mail, and even longer before they could afford to use it.