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2 weeks ago | 
lookup.london | Katie Wignall
The 17th Century Wine Cellars Under St James’s April 8, 2025in London, Look Up London, West LondonWonderfully tucked away, The Stafford London is a luxury hotel in St James’s and was founded in 1912. Although the hotel might be relatively new, it stands on a site steeped in history and in the basement you can find some wine cellars that date back to the 17th century. But first, let’s explore ground level…The Stafford has two entrances in St James’s.
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3 weeks ago | 
lookup.london | Katie Wignall
The Remains of Harwich House at Pedley Street Arch March 31, 2025If you’ve ever got the train into Liverpool Street Station you may have noticed some strange objects along a viaduct by Pedley Street. This is an architectural salvage yard and it contains a few bits of stonework that once stood along Bishopsgate. They are remains from Harwich House. You can also see them from the street.
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1 month ago | 
lookup.london | Katie Wignall
Fanny Wilkinson | The Landscape Gardener Who Shaped London March 25, 2025in Churches and Graveyards, London, Look Up London, natureAlthough it’s a huge urban metropolis, London is lucky to be covered in green space. Except perhaps ‘lucky’ isn’t the right word. During the late 19th century there was a huge effort to create more public, open space for Londoners and we have one particular woman to thank. She was the first female professional landscape gardener and her name is Fanny Wilkinson.
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1 month ago | 
lookup.london | Katie Wignall
City Churches | St Olave’s Hart Street March 18, 2025in architecture, Churches and Graveyards, City of London, London, Look Up LondonSt Olave’s Hart Street is a marvel. It survived the Great Fire of London and, thanks to a sensitive restoration after WWII, stepping inside is like a trip back to Medieval London. Its name is an indication of the church’s antiquity. Saint Olaf (anglicised to Olave) was King of Norway from 1015-1028.
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1 month ago | 
lookup.london | Katie Wignall
The Nine Victorian Heroines of Postman’s Park March 11, 2025in Churches and Graveyards, City of London, London, Look Up London, natureOne of the London’s most beloved ‘hidden’ gems is the Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice in Postman’s Park. It’s always a favourite stop on my City of London walking tours so for women’s history month I thought it would be appropriate to take a closer look at the nine women commemorated on the memorial.
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1 month ago | 
lookup.london | Katie Wignall
V2 Bomb Tragedy at JJ MACK & Sons, Smithfield Market March 5, 2025Whilst delivering my Smithfield walking tours lately I have often looked up at this new office block and wondered how to pronounce the name; JJMACK. It turns out I’ve been looking at it all wrong. It is a nod to J J Mack & Sons (which makes a lot more sense) whose business used to stand on this corner of Smithfield Market.
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1 month ago | 
lookup.london | Katie Wignall
A Glimpse into the Lives of Medieval London Women February 25, 2025We might think that we have little in common with the Londoners of 600 years ago. However the British Library’s exhibition of Medieval women gave a fascinating insight using letters, books and documents. I’ve picked out my favourite London connections which gives us a rare glimpse into the lives of Medieval women, ranging from an enslaved woman to a Queen. What does this fearsome-looking skull have to do with a medieval women?
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2 months ago | 
lookup.london | Katie Wignall
Old vs. New London: 9 Views Where Centuries Collide February 18, 2025in architecture, London, Look Up LondonLondon is a city of contrasts where a modern skycraper can stand beside a Medieval church. This clash of old vs. new often sparks debate and a questioning of whether we’ve gone too far with the constant increase of glass slabs on the skyline. With that in mind, I find the following 9 views of London an amazing juxtaposition of historic and more contemporary architecture.
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2 months ago | 
lookup.london | Katie Wignall
Women of St Paul’s Cathedral February 11, 2025in architecture, Churches and Graveyards, City of London, London, Look Up LondonIn contrast to Westminster Abbey’s 3,500 burials and monuments, St Paul’s Cathedral is rather lagging with only 500 monuments within its walls. When you filter for women then we’re getting down to almost single figures. So within my favourite building in London I thought it was about time I shed some light on the inspiring women commemorated in St Paul’s Cathedral.
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2 months ago | 
lookup.london | Katie Wignall
5 of London’s Narrowest Streets (and the History Behind Them) February 4, 2025in London, Look Up London, nature, Things to do in LondonWhere is London’s narrowest street? The capital has quite a few intriguing little alleys and most have interesting stories attached. Here are five of my favourites with (probably) the narrowest of them all at the end!Laid out in the 1760s, this tiny alley off Oxford Street leads into an attractive courtyard with plenty of alfresco restaurants and shops.
