Postcards from London: A Treasure Chest of History, Culture, and Humanity

London Photo Essay: a visual celebration of the architecture, cuisine, art, music, history, language, street life, and people of the most cosmopolitan city in Europe…

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About Frank’s Photography

(Click image to learn more)

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Frank’s Take on London

London… a delicious blend of tradition and modernity–eminently British, yet so much more. While she’s not cheap, London Town packs more historical and cultural interest per square meter than any place in the world… with something to satisfy every taste imaginable.

So bring your British power adapter, score a fistful of pounds, load up your electronic underground pass, mind the gap, look both ways before crossing the street, and prepare to be blown away.

And while London is bursting at the seams with iconic sights and historic landmarks, you will not appreciate her fully until you’ve discovered here secret corners and shared a moment with some of her many delightful and colorful characters.

Let’s go!


British Pounds

british pounds

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The London Underground (The Tube)

map of london underground

Make America Great Again! (sarcasm alert!)

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Westminster, Big Ben Tower

big ben tower
Cross Westminster Bridge and be thrilled by the distinctive chiming of Big Ben.

London eye from Westminster Bridge

Westminster Bridge terror attack memorial
Westminster Bridge Terror Attack Memorial
London Eye and School Kids on Westminster Bridge
gentleman playing the bagpipes on Westminster Bridge
Playing the bagpipes on Westminster Bridge

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Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey exterior
Pay homage to the pantheon of heroes interred at Westminster Abbey (including Dickens, Newton, and Darwin, to name but a few).
Muzio Clementi gravestone
Crypt of Muzio Clementi

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Tower Bridge

tower bridge
Cross Tower Bridge on foot (It’s bigger than you think!)

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Tower of London

tower of London

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The Thames

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Tate Modern Art Museum

Tate Modern Art Museum
The cavernous Tate Modern Art Museum is not to be missed.

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Millennium Bridge

Millennium Bridge
From the Tate Modern, cross the Millenium Bridge to Saint Paul’s.
millennium bridge-dedication to the queen

There’s almost ways something interesting happening on and around the bridge!

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Saint Paul’s Cathedral

Saint Paul's Cathedral
Saint Paul’s Dome by day
view from the top of Saint Paul's Cathedral
View from the top of Saint Paul’s
Saint Paul’s Dome by night

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Downing Street

Downing Street
Take a peek down highly fortified Downing Street (#10 is home of the prime minister)
Political protests are quite common nearby

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Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace

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Hyde Park

squirrel in Hyde Park
Enormous Hyde Park is almost always full of fun surprises.

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Street Scenes

Black Cabs

Near Trafalgar Square. Check out the crossing light design!

Look Left!

international newspaper stand

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Food & Drink

afternoon tea
Enjoy a leisurely and civilized afternoon tea.
Enjoy some Italian, Greek, French, or Polish cuisine. And be prepared to greet your hosts with a heartfelt “Good evening” in their mother tongue.
Daquise restaurant exterior

fish and chips

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The London Eye

Ride the London Eye, slowly, smoothly, and silently four hundred forty feet above the city…

The London Eye

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South Bank from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge

The Shard

Busted!

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Covent Garden

Covent Garden magician
Visit Covent Garden by day and be amazed by the world class street performers.

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Churchill War Rooms

Churchill War Rooms
The Churchill War Rooms preserved exactly as they were during the war.
Thousands of push pin holes marking the battle lines as the war progressed.

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Greenwich

Cutty Sark
Cruise the Thames to Greenwich Observatory where you can marvel at the rugged and elegant Cutty Sark…
Frank Peter straddling the prime meridian
Straddle the Prime Meridian…
John Harrison’s sea watch known as H4
and see John Harrison’s famous “Sea Watch” known as H4, the very first clock with sufficient accuracy to solve the longitude problem for trans-oceanic sailing.

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British Museum

Funny thing is that there’s almost nothing British at all in the British Museum!

British Museum
Entry to the British Museum is 100% free!
Parthenon Marbles
Marvel at the Parthenon Marbles, pillaged from Athens!

Moai from Easter Island

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Abbey Road

Frank Peter standing leaning on Abbey Road sign
See what’s happening at Abbey Road and make the famous crossing yourself!

Abbey Road studios

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Soho

Soak in the bustling night life and take in some world-class theater in Soho.

Herman ze German

Jamie Oliver's diner

Les Miserables

Picadilly Circus at night

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Random Stuff

Cozy Shisha Bar in Paddington

Ye Olde Chesire Cheese

making a toast at Ye Olde Chesire Cheese
Let’s end our visit by raising a pint or two with new friends at Ye Olde Chesire Cheese. Cheers!

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Where to next? (Travel Stories)

10 thoughts on “Postcards from London: A Treasure Chest of History, Culture, and Humanity

  1. This is another wonderful tour of London – I recognise so many of the sites and must admit there’s some I’ve not been to myself! You cover a lot of ground! London is a magical place; I always feel the excitement and buzz of it when I’m there. Thanks for sharing these amazing photos, they really do capture the city.

    1. Thanks a million for appreciating the visual story telling, Kath. I LOVE London in so many ways and share your feelings about the place. If I was young and rich, I’d live there. Alas, I am old and not so rich, so I will stay in Albuquerque. Ha!

      Anyway, please know that your presence here is good medicine. For real.

      Cheers! (sent with a big hug)

  2. Greenwich Observatory is one of my favourite places to vist when in London. They have a wonderful collection of antique time pieces and astronomical instruments some of which were among the first to be used by sailors to calculate their longitude to an astounding accuracy by measuring the position of the sun or the stars. So glad you got a chance to check it out.

    1. Thanks for sharing your experience, Chris. I’ve geeked out about such things since I was a wee lad. Standing a foot away from Harrison’s H4 Sea Watch was a religious experience!

  3. Marvelous, Frank. I haven’t been there in decades, back when you could walk pretty close and face 10 Downing Street. Well before there was only one Tate. You are a master at creating the sense of a city. Thank you, my friend.

    1. Dear DR, I’m “replying” to you because there is neither a “like” button or a comment blank on my screen today ~ I’m hoping the author of the post sees this comment and knows I loved it!

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