LONDON on the Ground

The saint, a 12th century Archbishop of Canterbury, was famously murdered in Canterbury Cathedral, but he was a Londoner, born on Cheapside. Not long after Thomas Becket’s death in 1170, a biographer wrote: "Thomas adorned Canterbury by his setting and London by his rising". After more than 850 years, his legacy continues to adorn, or at least to imprint itself on, London today. In today’s City of London, the area of Becket’s birth, we can see many physical symbols of his

Greater London recently reinstated its 60 year old coat of arms, while the City of London’s arms have evolved over eight centuries. St Paul, Thomas Becket, the cross of St George, lions, dragons, the Thames and the spires, towers and walls of the City have all featured in more than 800 years of designs representing London. Greater London's coat of arms The Greater London Authority (GLA) assumed the historic coat of arms of its predecessor, the Greater London Council (GLC), in

A London-related anniversary with a Christmas connection for every day from 1-24 December. If you have been following my social media, you may already have seen my daily series from the start of December to Christmas Eve. This blog post draws together all 24 entries in the London On The Ground London Advent Calendar. My walking tour A Christmas Carol in the City of London looks at how Dickens' well loved story still influences the way Christmas is celebrated today and also