For over 140 years the Regents Canal linked King’s Cross, one of the industrial heartlands of north London, to the major industrial cities of the North. The waterways no longer form a vital industrial transport artery, but after a period of decline and dereliction, they are seeing a renaissance, as the Kings Cross Regeneration enters an exciting new stage.
Packed into a sweaty tube, or fighting the crowds on Oxford Street: sometimes it’s easier to see London as a battleground, rather than somewhere to be explored and enjoyed. But London is also a very creative city – from its street art to its architecture – so we love the concept behind CitySketch London. This gorgeous book illustrates some of the capital’s most famous landmarks and stunning vistas with the aim of prompting the reader’s own creativity, and getting them to see the city just a little bit differently. We had the pleasure of speaking to Melissa Wood, the illustrator of the book, and someone who loves London almost as much as we do.
The streets around Brick Lane are full of interesting street art. One of the most distinctive is this Smiley by Chilean-born, now London-based artist Otto Schade. Schade is fascinated by surrealist art, frequently using this imagery of his bandages in his work: in fact, he’s used it to depict such icons as James Dean, David Bowie and Mickey Mouse. There’s many more examples of his work on his website. And for great pictures of this work being created, check out the 50mm London blog.
Londoners with a keen eye for design will have had plenty to behold this summer, thanks to the Festival of Architecture, a celebration first initiated by The Architecture Foundation ten years ago. From family events to professional competitions, indoor exhibitions to outdoor spaces, there’s been a lot going on in the capital city – ‘Capital’ itself being the theme for 2014 – with the festival featuring over 150 installations. Check out our round-up of the best bits from this year’s collection.
Summer is the perfect time to explore London and we’ve been all over the city this July, from skips to subterranean tunnels. Been too busy eating ice creams to read our blog? Here’s what you have missed.