Local questions in London

The house from where the popular British breakfast television show The Big Breakfast was broadcast during its original run from 1992 to 2002 was located at Old Ford Lock on Fish Island in Bow, East London. Built in 1947, the house was originally three separate cottages where the lock keepers, toll takers, and navigation operators of the Old Ford Locks Read more...

The dress code at The Ivy restaurant in central London is smart casual. During fine weather, tailored shorts and short-sleeved shirts are permitted, but long-sleeved shirts are required at all other times. Athletic attire of any kind is not acceptable. Ties are not required and smart dark jeans may be worn, but as dining at The Ivy is a special Read more...

The Elephant and Castle district of London is named after an 18th century public house and coaching inn of the same name that became a notable landmark because of its location near a major road intersection in the area. The inn was rebuilt in 1816 and in 1898, and ultimately demolished in 1959. A new pub called the Elephant and Read more...

The ornate cast iron gates and railings across the Whitehall and St James’s Park entrances to Downing Street were installed in 1989, at a time when the threat of terrorist attack was high, particularly by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (or IRA). The British Prime Minister’s official London residence at 10 Downing Street, with its iconic black door, is arguably Read more...

On 30 January 1969, the Beatles performed live on the rooftop of the headquarters of their media company, Apple Corps, at 3 Savile Row in the Mayfair area of central London. Although pre-planned, the daytime concert was unannounced, but soon drew crowds on the street below. Their set lasted 42 minutes before London’s Metropolitan Police attended the property to request Read more...

BBC television presenter and journalist Jill Dando was shot and killed, aged 37, on the doorstep of her home on Gowan Avenue in Fulham, southwest London, on 26 April 1999. As she returned home and approached her front door at about 11:32 am, Dando was pushed to the ground by an assailant who pressed a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol against Read more...

Caroline Flack was found dead in her top floor loft at the Fleetwood Apartments in Stoke Newington, London on 15th February 2020. The British television presenter was 40 years old and had committed suicide. Flack was due to stand trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend and had stood down from presenting the ITV show Love Island. Read more...

Singer Amy Winehouse was found dead, aged 27, in the bedroom of her home at 30 Camden Square in London on the afternoon of Saturday 23rd July 2011. The cause of death was said to be alcohol poisoning and the coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. Read more...

The brass letterbox on the front door of 10 Downing Street in London is engraved with the title First Lord of the Treasury. It is the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, not the British Prime Minister, although the distinction is technical because, since 1905, the same person performs both roles concurrently. Read more...