Miscellaneous - Archive Articles

Your most read articles on ianVisits during 2021

A time for introspective pondering about a year that's past, and a look back at what you the reader read the most.

See the Holly Man and the Devil perform their Twelfth Night revels

Next month, Beelzebub himself will rise up from the River Thames, as the Twelfth Night revels make a long-awaited return to Bankside.

Watch the Space Station fly over London on Christmas morning

If you can drag yourself out of bed early on Christmas Day, there's a chance to see Father Christmas heading home after delivering his presents -- or more accurately, the International Space Station flying over London.

Terminus Treasures: new study reveals best day out at the end of tube lines

A company claims to have found the best things to do at the ends of the railways in London. Spoiler - they haven't.

An American Werewolf in London with model tube station

It's undeniably stupidly expensive, but there's a limited edition of that famous werewolf movie being released, with a model of a tube station in the box set.

Now you can drink from a London Underground moquette mug

For London Transport fans, there's now a range of coffee cups that come decorated with moquette patterns.

How to request your very own Red Arrows flypast

Organizing something interesting and fancy a flypast by the Red Arrows? Or a WW2-era bomber? Surprisingly not only is it possible, but it's also usually free.

Bodleian Libraries reach the milestone of 1 millionth image online for public access

Oxford's Bodleian Libraries says that its project to digitise images and make them available for free has now passed its 1 millionth image.

Air conditioning in the home

Jumping onto a bit of a hobby horse of mine as summer is coming, and that's the vexed issue of air conditioning in the domestic home.

Unusual locations for Weddings in London

With news that Selfridges has just gained a wedding license, so you can now get married in a temple to mammon, what other interesting places in London allow marriages?

The Tower of London wants you to name a raven

Two new ravens have been born at the Tower of London, and there's a chance for the public to chose a name for one of them.

Building site booties made from recycled plastic bottles

This is one of those things you probably would never think about unless you visit building sites, and even then, might not think about it.

The Iron Throne is coming to Leicester Square

The famous throne from the famous TV series will be making a publicity appearance in London this summer to mark the 10th anniversary of the TV show.

Red Arrows to fly over North-West London on Wednesday

Look to the skies, if you're local, as the Red Arrows are going to fly over northwest London on Wednesday (31st March).

A call to improve London’s lighting at night

Anyone who has wandered around at night can't help but notice the contrast between an effective, but decoratively lit heritage area and generic suburbs with streetlamps flooding streets in a sickly orange haze.

I can haz a covid jab!

Yesterday, I joined a small queue outside a big blue bus to get my Covid vaccination jab. That short queue was the culmination of nearly a year of pandemic lockdowns and social distancing.

Mating toads forces road closure in Ham, Richmond

A road in Richmond is to be closed to traffic from next week - to allow toads to cross the road and get to their annual breeding grounds.

The Queen commands Mary Anning must appear on 50p coins

The 19th-century fossil hunter, Mary Anning is being commemorated in a series of new collectable coins from the Royal Mint and Natural History Museum.

Petition for a Covid lockdown Bank Holiday

A petition has been set up on the official Parliament website calling for an extra Bank Holiday this summer.

Southeastern’s Javelin HS1 train simulator launched

If you've ever wanted to drive a train along the UK's first high-speed rail line, then a new route release for Train SIM World 2 will excite you.

London street signs going for sale

There's a chance to buy a London street sign as a batch of old signs no longer needed are put up for auction.

Spring flower photography competition

While out on your daily allowance of exercise, why not stop for a short, socially distanced moment to take a photo of some spring flowers?

London’s ceremonial gun salutes during 2021

Ceremonial military guns will go bang bang several times in London during 2021, at the Tower of London and in the Royal Parks.

Your most read articles on ianVisits during 2020

Well, that was quite the year and one which we will both want to forget about, and spend decades watching documentaries about.