The Older Borough Market

Borough Market is open on Fridays and Saturdays, and it is a fascinating place, but in the excitement of the shop people often neglect to observe the art deco facade. Bit of a shame, really.

The First Sloane Ranger

Come on girls, tell me honestly - do you think this is one of the most attractive men you have ever seen? Let me ask you again at the end.

We're in the same area as yesterday. This statue is of Hans Sloane, he who gave his name to the square and thence to the vapid socialites. Maybe not the first name to trip off the tongue if you were asked to name a great London physician and scientist, but he was a true giant of the Age of Reason; his achievements were legion. It was his collection that founded the British Museum, and then the Natural History Museum.


What do you think of him now, girls? Oh, sorry - did I forget to mention he invented milk chocolate?

London Beneath your Feet

If you come out of the alleyway with the schoolchildren (from New Year's Eve) you will find yourself next to a recently created space - the Duke of York's Square. Embedded in the pavement is a reproduction of what I guess must be an 18th century map of the Kings Road, although curiously it isn't marked as the King's Road (which is what it was - the King's private road until 1830). Anyone have any more detailed info?

I find it fascinating that it attracts so little attention - yet call it art and people will flock. While you are contemplating it (and its fascinating detail like "Bloody Bridge"), you can also have some of London's best ice cream.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

A Naked Sausage

You may have reservations about buying hot food from a roadside stall, but I am here to tell you that London boasts one of the very best hot dog stalls (quite apart from anything you'll find in Borough Market). The Naked Saussage in Chapel Market is the place. They are to hotdogs what Crufts is to an ordinary mutt - something to aspire to. The best sausages, good bread, choice of sauces - what more could you ask for?

See where on The London Daily Photo Map

January Theme Day - the Best of 2007

It's a worldwide City Daily Photo theme day one more time, for which I had to select my best photo of 2007. For me, there could only ever be one high spot - that is the portrait I did of David Bailey. Whatever the technical merits, meeting and photographing an icon of photography was one of the best things to come out of doing this blog (apart from meeting all you great folk out there).

A very happy and healthy 2008 to you all.

Over one hundred people around the world have posted a picture on this theme today, although if past history is anything to go by quite a few may have forgotten, and some are on different time zones. Click around and see what's out there.

Paris, France - London, England - Hyde, UK - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Grenoble, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Riga, Latvia - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - New Orleans (LA), USA - Wichita (KS), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Francisco (CA), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Mainz, Germany - Melbourne, Australia - Portland (OR), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Toulouse, France - Naples (FL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Brussels, Belgium - Stayton (OR), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Torun, Poland - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Nashville (TN), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Prescott (AZ), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Evry, France - Trujillo, Peru - Arlington (VA), USA - Denpasar, Indonesia - American Fork (UT), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Coral Gables (FL), USA - Montpellier, France - Joplin (MO), USA - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Boston (MA), USA - Torun, Poland - New York City (NY), USA - Dunedin (FL), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Chateaubriant, France - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Budapest, Hungary - Austin (TX), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Cypress (TX), USA - Bicheno, Australia - Wroclaw, Poland - Brookville (OH), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Cheltenham, UK - Wellington, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - London, UK - Haninge, Sweden - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Arradon, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Mumbai, India - Terrell (TX), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - Delta (CO), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Saigon, Vietnam - San Diego (CA), USA - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Belgrade, Serbia - Auckland, New Zealand - Seguin (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA - Oslo, Norway - Singapore, Singapore - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Cheltenham, UK

It's a leap year!

Well, 2008 is almost upon us and it's going to be a leap year. As tomorrow is a Daily Photo Theme Day, there was no way I was going to wait another four years to use this photo. So, taking advantage of the worldwide spread of Daily Photo sites, let me be the very first to wish you a Happy New Year.

The sculpture commemorates the bicentennial of the Duke of York's Royal Military School, and you can read about it here. The sculptor was Allister Bowtell, who died in 2006 and apparently lived life to the full.

Other views of this are here and here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Every picture tells a story

And the story this one tells, apart from asking the question "How convenient is London?" is that I'm back off holiday, but absolutely whacked after driving for 12 hours. I'll catch up with y'all tomorrow and fill in the detail in the commnents.

Time ticks away........

Time ticks away, and I'll be ho,e soon. This clock is in Stratford, East London. What? What makes you think I'm rushing to get all these posts done before I go away?


I'm away skiing for a week, so unable to respond. Daily posts will continue.

Vandalism or Art?

You can decide. This is just off Great Eastern Street in the City. I don't know why they put the carriages up there, but I'm glad they did.



I'm away skiing for a week, so unable to respond. Daily posts will continue.

Old and New

Yesterday, we had the modern buildings, today, the old. This is Spitalfields as it has probably looked for hundreds of years.



I'm away skiing for a week, soh unable to respond. Daily posts will continue.

Boxing Day

Today, I'm mgoing to take you to Canary Wharf, as it always seems to me like a pile of boxes - perfect for boxing day.



I'm away skiing for a week, so unable to respond. Daily posts will continue.

Ho Ho Ho

Happy Christmas, Everyone!

I'm away skiing for a week, so unable to respond. Daily posts will continue.

The time is drawing near

Before the day, let me take the opportunity to wish all my readers the very happiest Christmas and health and joy in the New Year.

I'm away skiing for a week, so unable to respond. Daily posts will continue.

Clubbin' it

London used to be known for its clubs, and although (almost) all the old ones have closed down, there are new ones springing up. The Union Club in Greek Street is typical - 9 out of 10 mooses who expressed a preference said they preferred it.

I'm away skiing for a week, so unable to respond. Daily posts will continue.

Last minute gift issue?

Time's running out for present buying, but here's a thought from the heart of London -Design and decorate your own footwear. I'm not normally a fan of multinationals like Nike and to be honest, I won't be buying any. But it's a cool idea, and I'm glad its in London.

I'm away skiing for a week, so unable to respond. Daily posts will continue.

Life in the Goldfish Bowl

This very-open-plan office is part of Sea Container House on the Southbank, where Sainsbury create their in-house magazine. I'm not sure I'd enjoy being so exposed.

However, I'm leaving cubicle land for a week to go skiing, so I'm not going to be able to respond, but daily posts will continue.

I'm away skiing for a week, so unable to respond. Daily posts will continue.

Devotion to Duty

Do you think she's slightly overdresed for 9 a.m.on the Southbank? Riding along on my way to work one morning, I passed by a TV outside broadcast team who were shooting a breakfast show live. This elegant, stalwart model was braving the cold for the show - and still smiling. Now that's professionalism. Here are the two of them, waiting to go on, and here is a general view of the set.

London's Best Toyshop

I defy any Londoner not to have fond memories of Hamleys - no relation ;-). It doesn't matter that I never got anything much from there (except for a tube of blow-your-own baloons), it was enough that it existed - ok, almost enough. Some place where you would go when you grew up and had lots of money.

This is their Chrismas display which has been arranged on two levels. I waited as long as I could for some kids to start peering through the bottom bit, but it wasn't to be.

Still looking for that gift?

In an age where the shops in Regent Street are almost all anonymous multinationals, it's quite a pleasure to find a small independent. This is Pole Position who bill themselves as "London's Only Dedicated Motorsport Shop" - I can't recall seeing anything like this anywhere.

So, if you are stuck looking for a present for that person who has everything, why not get them Jensen Button's race suit. A bargain at a mere £2,850.

A photo with punch

Welcome to London's Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park until 6th January, which boasts a range of attractions including the largest outdoor ice rink, a wheel and much, much more. In contrast to the attractions which are expensive, this shot is of the Pimm's tent, where they were giving (rather nice) stuff away.