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London Town with Mr Brown

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from London Town with Mr Brown, Tour guide, .

London Tour Guide (fully qualified with a Blue Badge !)
Walking tours of London, days out to Bath, Stonehenge, Windsor, Canterbury, Oxford and, especially, Shakespeare's Stratford-on-Avon
www.londontownwithmrbrown.com

24/01/2024

On this day 25th January 41 AD the foundation event of London: the Roman Senate accepted Claudius as new Emperor.
(seen here on a cameo at the British Museum)

Lacking experience, hearing impaired, afflicted with a limp and a stutter, he was in desperate need of a nice bit of conquering and expansion of the Empire to establish himself. Hence a couple of years later, having landed in Britain the Roman army established the first wooden fortifications and bridge on the banks of the Thames which eventually became the settlement of Londinium.

So arguably: no Emperor Claudius, no LondonTownWithMrBrown!!

Email [email protected] to join me for Roman tours on the streets of London or the British Museum

27/10/2023

On this day 27th October 1923, the birthday of artist Roy Lichtenstein whose original hand painted comic book style is so well known it has become shorthand for 1960s “Pop Art”.

See this example “Whaam !” on a guided tour of Tate Modern.

Email LondonTownWithMrBrown

www.LondonTownWithMrBrown.com

21/10/2023

On this day in London history 21st October 1944, the birthday of Mandy Rice-Davies, the “showgirl” whose 1963 connections with Christine Keeler and the politically toxic “Profumo Affair” made her a celebrity. As a consequence the press revealed the downright nasty dealings of her boyfriend, the slumlord Peter Rachman. The Oxford English Dictionary actually added the word “Rachmanism” as a shorthand description of appalling treatment of tenants. At one time Rachman was extracting rent from 1200 people living in flats in Notting Hill which were designed only for 200 at most. The accommodation was described as “dirty & unfit for human habitation” but tenants who were due to appear at a tribunal to testify against Rachmann mysteriously withdrew their complaints…. after a visit from his enforcers. When Mandy learned that Rachman had died of a heart attack, she fainted and had to be resuscitated. Her first words on recovering were: “Did he leave a will ?” After contributing to the downfall of the Government, Mandy went on to record minor hit singles, appear in movies and eventually settle down in Tel Aviv where she opened a series of successful clubs. Her life as she herself described it “a long slow descent into respectability”.

18/10/2023

On this day in London history 18th October 1922 the foundation of the BBC: The British Broadcasting Company which set up its broadcasting base here at Marconi House on the Strand with 4 employees. This was the origin of today’s British Broadcasting Corporation, currently employing around 21,000 people the world’s largest broadcaster. At the time in 1922 the building next door was the burlesque venue the Gaiety Theatre (2), the origin of the Gaiety Girls, but demolished in 1957 and now the ME Hotel (nice rooftop cocktail bar!). Original fittings from the theatre are still on display at The Victoria pub in Bayswater, original Gaiety Girls costume designs are on display in the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Theatre and Performance Galleries and the original Marconi House is still on the Strand.

For walking tours of Theatreland, visits to the V&A or historic pub crawls email me [email protected]

01/10/2023

This artwork, “The Family of Darius before Alexander” by Paolo Veronese shows a moment on this day in history, 01 October 331 BC. Alexander the Great had just defeated Darius III at the Battle of Gaugamela (present-day Iraq). Sisygambis, mother of Darius, (the kneeling lady with the fur cape) threw herself to the floor before the man she thought was Alexander, but it was in fact his general Hephaestion….oops ! The artist leaves us equally unsure whether Alexander is the man in orange or in red on the right. Veronese painted this nearly 2,000 years after the battle (1565) and its Venetian audience would have enjoyed the deliberate lack of clarity and given a hearty chuckle to see these ancient characters dressed in contemporary outfits. It was painted in Venice, but you can now see how huge it is at the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square.

For fun and enlightening art tours of the National Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, The Wallace Collection or the Victoria & Albert Museum email me: [email protected]

29/09/2023

On this day in history, 29 Sep 1571, Caravaggio, the creator of this splendid artwork, was born. Full name Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, would have been 452 years old today. This piece, the “Supper at Emmaus”, is available to view for free at the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square. It shows the moment of drama and revelation in this biblical story. The art of Caravaggio is fascinating and massively influential, but most of what we know about him comes from his criminal record. He wins the prize for “most arrested painter in art history”…. And, in a gloriously Italian manner, one of those arrests was over a violent argument about food in a restaurant ! Happy 452nd birthday maestro.

For fun and enlightening tours of the National Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, The Wallace Collection or the Victoria & Albert Museum email me: [email protected]

03/09/2023

On this day in London history, 3rd September 1938 was the birthday in Marylebone of the great architect Sir Richard MacCormac (1938 – 2014). Often called a “humane Modernist” his legacy is all around us in London: The Science Museum extension (1), Southwark Tube station (2), the new BBC Broadcasting House in Portland Place (3). All showing off his unique style featuring fine materials, great attention to detail and elegant geometry. His company MJP Architects is based in Spitalfields where he also lived with his partner Jocasta Innes in two beautifully renovated houses on Heneage St, as featured in his book “Two Houses in Spitalfields”. To quote from the Gentle Author in Spitalfields Life: he “will be fondly remembered for his shrewd intelligence, wit and generosity of spirit.”

For guided tours featuring architecture or any part of London email me on [email protected]

22/06/2023

“Hello darkness, my old friend”
On this day in London the National Portrait Gallery reopened after 3 years of closure for restoration.
And this picture of William Shakespeare (maybe) was the first portrait purchased in 1856 when the gallery opened. Catalogue number NPG1

We don’t know for sure that this is West Midlands leading playwright, but it certainly fits the dates and I just love that cool, piratical earring.

It’s purely my imagination but is this maybe (despite being married with 3 children) the hipster Will S, living the Shoreditch dream: hanging out with lords and actors; drinking and brawling with Ben Jonson; partying with the Dark Lady AND the Fair Youth !

While other later images of him show a settled middle-aged Stratford-on-Avon landowner. A bit portly maybe, receding hairline maybe , but you know what, the boy done good, had some real fine times and now just kicking back and relaxing. More wine w***h !!

For a Shakespeare walking tour or guided tour of the National Portrait Gallery email [email protected]

17/06/2023

London Town With Mr Brown is taking a break from London guiding, with a weekend University of Cambridge course called “Poets, painters and musicians in Shakespeare’s England” appropriately at the stunning Tudor mansion of Madingley Hall with its fabulous gardens as created by Lancelot “Capability” Brown. The Browns are everywhere !

Join me for my (soon to be created) Shakespeare walking tour of London. Email [email protected]

25/05/2023

Yesterday in music history…. RIP Tina Turner 24th May 2023.

As “Little Ann” backing singer in a band led by her future husband, Anna Mae Bullock started in the rock business aged 17. Taught how to release her wild vocal skills by Little Richard, she got her first break when a male singer failed to show for a recording session. Volunteering to record “guide” vocals so the musicians and studio time wouldn’t be wasted she blew everyone away with her powerful delivery on “A Fool in Love” (except the engineer who apparently yelled at her “Goddamit stop hollerin’ in my microphones!”)
Despite (or perhaps because of) the abuse she suffered from her husband, she was one of the hardest working people in show business, once discharging herself from hospital to go back on stage 2 days after giving birth.
Her breakout hit came over a decade later with “River Deep, Mountain High” one of the most intensely crafted studio recordings ever, on which Tina estimated she sang the first line over a thousand times before moving on to record the second.
The hit cover of “Proud Mary” was followed by her autobiographical hit “Nutbush City Limits”, her appearance as the Acid Queen in “Tommy” the “rock opera” and (after finally dumping her abusive spouse), the global superstardom that came with “What’s Love got to do with it ?”
No second hand emotions today. Just RIP Anna Mae.

12/05/2023

Happy birthday Dante Gabriel Rossetti (DGR) the epitome of the troubled artist. Born in London and living for many years on Cheyne Walk, Chelsea with a menagerie of exotic animals including a toucan dressed in a cowboy hat riding round on a llama; heartbroken at the early death of his first wife, he dramatically flung all his unpublished poems into her coffin; later in need of material he rather sheepishly had the body exhumed to retrieve them.

DGR was an artist of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood along with William Holman-Hunt and John Everett Millais, who all have work on display at the wonderful and under appreciated Tate Britain collection including this delicate and intriguing depiction of the Annunciation “Ecce Ancilla Domini”

Let me take you on an art history tour around London’s galleries. Email [email protected]

08/04/2023

On this day in history 8th April: 1605, the birthday of Philip IV of Spain; 1973 the passing away of Pablo Picasso. Both are responsible for great artworks in the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London. Philip because he commissioned these fabulous portraits from Diego Velasquez (the artist most famous for “The Rokeby Venus”). Picasso who created “Motherhood” (picture 4). Both paintings feature in my “Women in Art” themed tour of the National Gallery.

For walks in London including tours of the National Gallery email me:
[email protected]

07/04/2023

On this day in London history 7th April 1648 is the birthday of John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham. In 1703 the Duke had a large townhouse built near St James Park. It was later bought by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen's House. It wasn’t until 1837 when Queen Victoria moved in that it became Buckingham Palace and hence the London residence of the monarch until the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Will Charles III continue the tradition ?

For London walks with or without a royal them email [email protected]

27/02/2023

On this day in London history, the Labour Party was founded (in all but name) at the Congregational Hall on Farringdon St. The Labour Representation Committee as it was first known, immediately highlighted the injustice of Conservative support in the Taff Vale judgment. This was a railways dispute in which the union had to pay £23,000 damages for a strike and effectively made strikes illegal, since employers could recoup the cost of lost business from the unions. Prompted by this abuse of political process the Labour-Liberal pact led to the “Liberal Landslide” of 1906.
One of the government’s first acts was to overturn the Taff Vale judgment.
Let’s hope we are not in danger of sleepwalking back to a Taff Vale situation with this current government.

For more stories of history and politics on the streets of London book a walking tour.
Email me: [email protected]

25/02/2023

On this day in London history 25th February 1939 first ‘Anderson’ shelter was erected in a garden in Islington. Made of corrugated iron they were highly effective protection against the Blitz, if buried deep in the back garden. Over 3 million were issued free to most people but they were pretty basic….fancy sharing the bucket with your whole family ? They were also buried under earth and hence cold, damp and often flooded. Hence the invention of the Morrison shelter: a plastic frame looking a bit like a playpen which doubled up as kitchen table by day, protected bed by night. At least we don’t have to worry about planes dropping bombs on us anymore…..

For more wartime stories book me for a walking tour in London
Email [email protected]

23/02/2023

A sombre anniversary in today’s London history: 23rd Feb 1820 the arrest of the Cato St conspirators including British Afro-Caribbean William Davidson. An event which eventually led to the last public beheading in London.
They were a group angered by the oppression of the poor and in particular the Peterloo Massacre in Manchester, 6 months earlier where 15 innocent protestors died when charged by armed cavalry. The conspirators plotted in a house on Cato St near Edgware Rd to kill their dictatorial government. Betrayed by a spy and arrested on this day, 5 of them were executed publicly on May Day outside what is now the Old Bailey. Hanged until dead, their heads were then removed from their bodies as a message to the uppity masses to remember their place.

For more stories of the shocking violence and drama of London’s history, book me for a walking tour.
Email [email protected]

22/02/2023

On this day in London history two key artistic moments separated by 77 years. On 22nd February 1969 The Beatles commenced recording the first element of what would become their last album “Abbey Rd”. On 22nd February 1892 was the very first performance of Oscar Wilde’s “Lady Windermere’s Fan”. The play provided us with that classic Oscarism: “I can resist everything except temptation”. Ironically on the same day 77 years later the Beatles began recording “I Want You”.

For more fascinating connections, musical and theatrical tales, join me for a walk in the streets of London.

Email: [email protected]

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O Barco by Grada Kilomba - at Somerset House today 14th Oct 2022 “Just as a country with millions of people cannot be discovered so the history of slavery cannot be erased” #bhm #blackhistorymonth #somersethouse #london #guidelondon #britainsbestguides

What connects Westminster Abbey and St Albans ? (clue: it's not the Abbey !) Join us to find out on a charity fundraising Virtual Walking tour at 18:00 on Sunday 21st March - "A Tale of Two Cities" - a virtual walk through St Albans with saucy, silly and shocking tales about London and the links between the two. Raising funds for Youth Talk Donate here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MartinBrown75 then email me on [email protected] and I will send you the Zoom link Thanks to the 30+ people who have donated already !

A Simple Love Story: David Garrick: the first actor ever to be buried at Westminster Abbey. Broke all the rules of 18th century acting and revolutionised the theatre; has a West End theatre, a pub and a club named after him. A wild lifestyle in London and a string of affairs with actresses.....and then he met Eva Marie Veigel. She fell in love with him seeing him on stage, he fell in love with her when they first met......but..... she was from Germany and he was English, she was Catholic and he was Protestant, she was celebrated throughout the royal courts of Europe, he was born in a pub in Hereford. Her rich supporters even tried to separate them by threatening Garrick and forcing him to use his acting skills to pretend he didn’t love her. However in true rom-com style after initially falling for it, and heartbroken, she then overheard a friend of Garrick explaining the truth and .... you guessed it .... love conquers all, they marry and they actually did live happily ever after for the next 30 years until his death. Happy Valentine’s! #londontownwithmrbrown #walkingtoursoflondon#london#londontours#hiddenlondon#londonguides#guidedtoursoflondon#londoninstalbans#stalbansinlondon#westminsterabbey#touristlondon#walklondon#visitlondon#londontourguide

A sombre anniversary: 124 years ago today - 9th February 1897 - a British Army expedition began the invasion of the Kingdom of Benin (in modern day Nigeria) and after three days captured Benin City and looted its artefacts including the Benin Plaques now in the African galleries at the British Museum. Around the same time of year in 1544 the invasion of Edinburgh was ordered by Henry 8th. This eagle shaped lectern - the Dunkeld Lectern - was looted by Richard Lee and brought to St Stephen’s church in St Albans. It was “stolen” back by Scottish nationalists in 1984. It is now in the National Museum of Scotland. Will the Benin Plaques ever get back to Nigeria ? #londontownwithmrbrown #walkingtoursoflondon#london#londontours#hiddenlondon#londonguides#guidedtoursoflondon#londoninstalbans#stalbansinlondon#toweroflondon#cityoflondon#touristlondon#walklondon#visitlondon#britishmuseum

Scots laughing their heads off. So this is the White Hart - yet another great St Albans pub: famous for Mrs Brown’s birthday parties, but also this was where Scottish rebel, Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat was held captive on his way to his execution in 1747. He was sketched while incarcerated in this pub by William Hogarth the great English artist. Not long afterwards he was beheaded on Tower Hill in London watched by a crowd of thousands. In fact so many thousands that the timber framed seating collapsed killing 10 spectators. This English disaster amused the Scottish patriot Lovat greatly and it is said that he died “ laughing his head off” NB this post should in no way been seen as a sad and weak attempt to score points after Scotland’s rugby triumph against England in the Calcutta Cup. (Honest) #londontownwithmrbrown #walkingtoursoflondon#london#londontours#hiddenlondon#londonguides#guidedtoursoflondon#londoninstalbans#stalbansinlondon#toweroflondon#cityoflondon#touristlondon#walklondon#visitlondon#camra#whitehartstalbans#historicroyalpalaces

The Tower of London - a nearly 1,000 year old fortress, palace and prison. Today 02 February is Candlemas and it was today in 1101 that the first person ever imprisoned here escaped ! Bizarrely he was the Bishop of Durham, Ranulf Flambard, quite a dodgy character, embezzlement of church funds, a well known womaniser. In fact he once tried to seduce the saintly Christina of Markyate, although she left him locked up in his bedroom ! He was imprisoned in 1100 because he fell out with the new King, Henry the First but on Candlemas eve 1101 (this day 920 years ago), he celebrated with his jailers by having several barrels of wine delivered. When they were drunk and helpless Ranulf produced a rope hidden in one of the barrels and abseiled down the side of the White Tower. Next time you are in London treat yourself to more fun (and gory) tales from the Tower ! #londontownwithmrbrown #walkingtoursoflondon#london#londontours#hiddenlondon#londonguides#guidedtoursoflondon#londoninstalbans#stalbansinlondon#toweroflondon#cityoflondon#touristlondon#walklondon#visitlondon#historicroyalpalaces

From the National Park of Beer. My favourite street in St Albans. 5 great pubs within 400 metres. One day we can go and do this again. But for now just buy something online from them, so they are still there post-lockdown. Starting with The Goat, a converted to a pub in 1587. (Best for: West Ham FC supporters, fans of Elvis impersonators). Next The White Lion dates from 1597 at least. (Best for: beer garden and outdoor live music). Hare and Hounds from 1600s (Best for: families and watching sport). The Garibaldi - late Victorian (Best for: London Pride !). The White Hart Tap 1841 (best for: Sunday roasts).... also key historical location because outside this pub is where the Yorkists raised their standard against the king, the very first action taken in the Wars of the Roses. Hardly surprising a fight broke out if they had started drinking at The Goat..... ##nationalparkofbeer#londontownwithmrbrown#stalbans#stalbansinlondon#londoninstalbans#thegoat#thewhitelion#thehareandhounds#thegaribaldi#thewhiteharttap#pubs#camra#pubsinstalbans#walkingtours#pubcrawls#londonwalkingtours#londonguides#traineeguides#travel#realpubs

My favourite street in St Albans. 5 great pubs within 300 metres. One day we can go and do this again. But now buy something online from one of them, so they are still there when we can go back. Starting with The Goat, converted to a pub in 1587. (Best for: stone floors, West Ham FC supporters, bar billiards). Next The White Lion dates from 1597 at least. (Best for: beer garden and outdoor live music). Hare and Hounds from 1600s (Best for: families and watching sport). The Garibaldi - late Victorian (Best for: London Pride !). The White Hart Tap 1841 (best for: Sunday roasts).... also key historical location because outside this pub is where the Yorkists raised their standard against the king, the very first action taken in the Wars of the Roses 1455. Hardly surprising a fight broke out if they had started drinking at The Goat..... #londontownwithmrbrown#stalbans#stalbansinlondon#londoninstalbans#thegoat#thewhitelion#thehareandhounds#thegaribaldi#thewhiteharttap#pubs#camra#pubsinstalbans#walkingtours#pubcrawls#londonwalkingtours#londonguides#travel#traineeguideswife

St Albans Glenalmond building: 1940s Secret Intelligence Services based here in the war; famous author Graham Greene worked here under Russian double agent Kim Philby who nearly gave away his secret when he got drunk here at the King Harry one lunchtime.... we’ve all been there ! #londoninstalbans #stalbansinlondon #londontownwithmrbrown #stalbans #secretsandlies #spies #kingharrypub #kingharrypubstalbans

Virtual Tour of St Albans with 6 powerful women Sunday 17th January 2021 at 18:00 Free tour but donate to St Albans and Hertsmere Women’s Refuge. Please tell anyone you think might be interested. To donate go to https://sahwr.org.uk/give (use #MrBrown as the reference); Zoom link will be available here on Sunday 17th January 2021 or sign up by emailing me on [email protected] when you have made a donation to SAHWR. #londontownwithmrbrown #londonwalksandtours #stalbans #londoninstalbans #virtualtours

St Peter’s churchyard in St Albans: Mass burials of Wars of the Roses soldiers 1455 & 1461; These unmarked graves are the “Foundlings” i.e. orphans from Thomas Coram’s Foundling Hospital in London 1750s; crucially this was also the church used for Ricky and Bianca’s second wedding in Eastenders (2009) ! #london #londonwalkingtours #londonhistory #traineeguide #stalbans

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