London Daily Photo

Devonshire Oblong

2012-02-13T00:02:00.000Z

Devonshire Square is an old Georgian Square that has given its name to a new development between Bishopsgate and Aldgate. This area here, in the shadow of the Gherkin is covered over so al fresco addicts can sit out whatever the season or weather.

I'm off for a while, as ever the posts should keep rolling.

Not So Black Cab

2012-02-12T00:02:00.000Z

We still refer to them generically as Black Cabs, but of course in recent years they are often far from black. It means the driver can earn a little more, but I rather liked the old monotone.

I'm off for a while, as ever the posts should keep rolling.

End of the Line

2012-02-11T00:02:00.001Z

Liverpool Street Station is a little strange. It started life as a standard Victorian station with the high vaulted glazed cast iron roof needed to cope with steam trains. When it was redeveloped in the sixties (maybe early seventies) they covered over half the station so they could sell off land to build on, and the Broadgate Centre was born. Because of its geography there are high walkways (with, yes you guessed it, shops)that let you look down on the people scurrying around.

I'm off for a while, as ever the posts should keep rolling.

Riding By

2012-02-10T00:02:00.001Z

The main line train ride from Stratford to Liverpool Street Station passes close by the Olympic Park, and offers one of the best views. At least if the windows were clean, it would.

I'm off for a while, as ever the posts should keep rolling.

Wild Wild Wood

2012-02-09T00:02:00.000Z

Most of the London snow thawed on Monday and Tuesday but the cold has settled round us. I thought I'd use that as an excuse for another picture from Saturday, taken in my local park. I can't decide whether it looks more abstract or more threatening. Whichever it is, I rather like it.

Spraying at a Theatre

2012-02-08T00:12:00.001Z

Here's a tip: In classical theatre, sitting in the front row is not always the best thing, if you don't like getting sprayed. These Italian looking fountains are in the inner courtyard of the Barbican Centre.

Votive Offering - Siobhan Benita for Mayor

2012-02-07T00:02:00.001Z

How would you describe the commitment needed to put yourself forward as an independent candidate for the Mayor of London? I don't know about you, but I would have great difficulty putting either of the main party candidates down as a first preference. Whichever I'd choose (OK, here's a secret, it wouldn't be Boris) there's far too much baggage with each for comfort.

When I came across Siobhan Benita's campaign for the post, I was pleasantly surprised. Her policies are realistic and probably achievable, she appears to have no particular minority drum to beat, all in all she seems credible. Resigning her job to take up the challenge is true London spirit, even though logic says she doesn't stand a cat's chance against the main party machines. If she gets enough votes, what she says WILL make a difference to the other candidates, too. I'd love to share in the dream that she might just win....

I'll be featuring more about her, her ideas and campaign over the coming weeks, if I get the chance. In the meantime, if this appeals to you, she now needs signatories to get past the next stage of qualifying, and you can help. Go to her website, click on "Get Involved", the next page asks for your eMail, enter it in and click through to the next page, you will get the opportunity to add yourself as a signatory and, optionally, to add yourself to the mailing list. Go on, you know it makes sense.

'Sno Fun

2012-02-06T00:02:00.000Z

London is currently in the grip of the elements. Well, we've had a few inches of snow, so everything grinds to a halt. You can still have some fun, though.

Monster Munch

2012-02-05T06:13:00.003Z

Do you have a problem finding that gift for a little (or big) monster? Fear and tremble not, for help is at hand. Head on over to Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, the purveyor of fine comestibles for the ogre under your bridge.

You may suspect that all this is all the work of some dastardly monster PR push trying to put forward the acceptable face of monsters, ghouls and terrors whilst covering up a hidden, nefarious agenda. And you would be right! This is all a front, a cover up, to the Ministry of Stories, a "creative writing and mentoring centre for young people in east London. We use storytelling to inspire young people aged 8-18, in the belief that writing unleashes their imaginations and builds confidence, self-respect and communication" Founded by Nick Hornby, among others, all the services are provided by volunteers.

Have a poke around their sites (as long as you have the Monster pop up setting disabled on your browser, you should be safe, but I'm not guaranteeing anything) and be prepared to have your cold monster heart warmed to the cockles.

(Those on Twitter may enjoy following @MonsterSupplies)

One Love

2012-02-04T00:16:00.001Z

This mural is the work of Otto Schade and can be found in Hoxton Street. What is not immediately obvious is that his face is made up of words from the titles of Bob Marley's songs.

The Diner, The Waitress

2012-02-03T00:02:00.000Z

I was very pleased to discover The Diner in Curtain Road, especially because the service was excellent, too.

Say Cheese

2012-02-02T00:02:00.000Z

I remember when the first International Cheese Shop opened in Goodge Street in 1987 (I was working just around the corner), it was a revelation. They had a brilliant idea - not only could they sell great cheese, but they could make sandwiches out of the cheese, too. This, for a cheesophile, was heaven. These days it is all a lot more ordinary to find that type of thing, but the decent cheese sandwich lives strong. This shop is in Liverpool Street station, there are others in Victoria and Marylebone Stations.

February Theme Day - Animals

2012-02-01T00:02:00.000Z

Another first of the month and another theme day around the worldwide City Daily Photo community. Teh theme this month is "Animals" and in London there is the monument to the animals that died in war - "Because they had no choice". You can find it at the top end of Park Lane

To see how others around the world interpreted the theme, click here to view thumbnails

Angels in the Architecture

2012-01-31T00:02:00.000Z

He looks around, around
He sees angels in the architecture
Spinning in infinity

This angel can be seen floating in the void above the vehicle Silk Street entrance to the Barbican, and you will also come across it if you take the Highwalk from the Barbican Centre to London Museum; look out for it.

And the Paul Simon track? You can see the video of him and Chevy Chase here.

Mummy Loves Andrex

2012-01-30T00:02:00.001Z

Turns out that this new talent on London streets is Teddy Baden; it seems a little unfair to describe him as sub-Banksy but that's the way it feels. I have featured his work before without knowing it, though.

Local Library - London Style

2012-01-29T01:05:00.003Z

Following on from yesterday, I bring you the central London equivalent. Recently the occupation movement, taking over empty buildings and spaces in the city, have popped up all over the place. This entrance way to an empty building just of Finsbury Square (secured against occupation) has been taken over as a spontaneous library. There may be more, but the books appear a lot more forlorn than in the phone box.

Local Library

2012-01-28T08:41:00.001Z

Not strictly London, as this is in a Hertfordshire village outside the M25, but I thought you might enjoy seeing the use to which a telephone box has been put.

The Writing on the Wall

2012-01-27T00:02:00.000Z

It's interesting that a recent art experiment in London Underground is made to look almost like graffiti - this campaign asked people to submit stories of acts of kindness for publishing. You can read more here. It was apparently active in the lead up to Christmas, but can still be seen.

Metro-Land

2012-01-26T00:02:00.000Z

John Betjeman, seen here in St Pancras Station, is associated in most people's mind with Metro-Land, the distillation of the suburbs made accessible byt he train. You can read more about Metro-Land here.

The Saucer Has Landed

2012-01-25T00:02:00.000Z

I was quite surprised to come across the new futuristic entrance to Kings Cross Station, this is the one you would use to get to St Pancras International.

In Charge of the Money

2012-01-24T00:02:00.000Z

The Government buildings in Whitehall are quire remarkable in themselves, but few take the time to look at them closely. Let me fix that for you. This is the Treasury building, they've been swiping our money for over a thousand years, you can read a potted history here.

Xin Nian Long Kuai Le

2012-01-23T00:02:00.001Z

A very happy Year of the Dragon to all my Chinese visitors. I do have a number of photos of the dragons in London, but to be honest in most of them St George is doing the dirty. Given the cosmopolitan nature of our city, I thought I'd use a photo taken in the Forbidden City in Beijing. Whichever, a very happy, healthy and prosperous (Chinese) New Year to you all. Not sure I've added the Mandarin for dragon (long) in the grammatically correct place, but my Mandarin is getting very rusty.

A Different Age

2012-01-22T00:02:00.002Z

There was a time when having a name in a different language, especially French, added an air of j'ne sais quo, an air of sophistication. If this shop had "Ladies Hairdresser" above the door, you would expect it to be somewhere other than Maida Vale around the corner from Little Venice.

The Italian Connection

2012-01-21T00:02:00.000Z

The Italian Garden in Hyde Park is where the River Westbourne entered, if you would like to read about this lost river Diamond Geezer is one of the better resources, otherwise just enjoy how fresh and... Italian.... this area looks.

Getting Your Ducks in a Row

2012-01-20T00:02:00.002Z

OK, they are gulls, not ducks, but you get the idea.