There’s been a bridge over the Thames in London for about 2000 years. In the time since its founding during the Roman Empire, London has become one of the world’s most diverse cities.
Today, it’s as well known for its Indian food (try the restaurants in Brick Lane) and Middle Eastern cuisine (visit Edgeware Road) as it is for a proper afternoon tea (finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and endless pots of tea).
It’s also a book lover’s paradise with museums dedicated to literary classics — Hello, Sherlock Holmes! Good day, Mr. Dickens! – along with the British Library (don’t miss the tour), Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey, and Shakespeare’s Globe where you can watch a play in a faithful reproduction of the Bard’s theater.
In this episode, we clear up any confusion about London’s main bridges, make a case for why you should visit the Tower’s Ravenmaster (and his six raven friends), and learn about the mad skills of London cab drivers. Then we recommend five great books that took us there on the page, including a twisty courtroom drama, a time-traveling guidebook, a murder mystery set in North London, a beloved urban fantasy, and a modern classic with an unlikely hero.
Read the full transcript of London: The Tower, Tudors, and a Nice Cuppa Tea.
A little music to set the scene…
And some photos to set the scene…
Here’s more about the difference between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, plus 24 Rather Curious Tower Bridge Facts You Probably Never Knew.
Lake Havasu’s London Bridge — in Arizona.
Separated at birth? The Witch’s Guard in The Wizard of Oz and Beefeaters in London.
UK 2021 Census: Regional ethnic diversity.
Here’s a 6-day London itinerary for book lovers.
Fodor’s 15 must-see literary sites, TimeOut’s events and activities for book lovers, and a literary lover’s guide to London and beyond from Harper’s Bazaar.
Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street.
Charles Dickens Museum at 48 Doughty Street, the London home of Charles Dickens.
Shakespeare’s Globe theater. See a show! Take the tour!
London bookshops we mentioned: Word on the Water, Libreria, and Daunt Books.
Hungry for afternoon tea? Here are some lists of best afternoon teas in London: 22 ideas from Vogue, 24 from the BBC, and a list from The Nudge with budget in mind.
We went to The Goring Hotel and loved every bite. Very friendly and welcoming, delicious food.
Fortum and Mason is also very popular. They’ve been serving tea there for 200 years.
The amazing story of the secret passage found in British Parliament a few years ago.
Ben Aaronovitch is the author of the Rivers of London series. Here’s the author’s website and video celebrating 10 years of Rivers of London.
News about the TV adaptation of the novels. ‘All nine fantasy-detective books will be used to produce a new ridiculously brilliant television series.’
Elizabeth George is the author of Something to Hide. Here’s the author’s website and an interview about the book:
Matthew Green is the author of London: a Travel Guide Through Time. Here’s the author’s Instagram. He offers a lavishly produced audio tour of London coffeehouses to help you discover what London sounded like 300 years ago and a video series on London history from 1390 to 1960.
Dame Hilary Mantel is Mel’s personal hero and the author of Wolf Hall. Mel 100% recommends this series of Reith Lectures Mantel presented in 2017; they’re inspiring, educational, and thoroughly charming.
This is a peek inside how Hilary Mantel thought about her real-life characters: How to Play Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel’s suggestions to actors in the stage adaptation of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies.
This is a very handy list of key Wolf Hall characters with headshots.
The PBS website for the Wolf Hall miniseries, and here’s the link to buy it on Amazon. The first episode is available on YouTube:
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