Londonist: Time Machine

Londonist: Time Machine is a specialized newsletter exploring the intricate history and development of London through detailed investigations of maps, landmarks, and historical events. It utilizes a range of resources, including colorized historical maps, to reveal London's past from before its establishment to modern times, covering literary connections, forgotten places, and the evolution of cultural practices.

Historical Maps London Landmarks Literary London Historical Events Urban Development Cultural History

The hottest Substack posts of Londonist: Time Machine

And their main takeaways

Five... Pieces of London's Porter-Brewing History

0 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink History Brewing London Beer
  1. London's porter-brewing history offers insights into the city's past, including the development of the first London beer widely exported and its impact on the workforce.
  2. Portering was a demanding job in the 18th century, with around 5,000 fulltime porters supporting the city’s trade and daily life. Pubs played a crucial role as fuelling stops for porters, with stout porter being a popular choice.
  3. Check out Martyn Cornell's writings on Zythophile for more detailed explorations on London's porter history, including the forgotten story of London's porters and the brewing of porter.

5 Weekend Reads: 28 January 2024

0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🏝 Travel London history Historical Sites
  1. The post shares 5 weekend reads for January 28, 2024, focusing on London history.
  2. The Crystal Palace mentioned in the post is not the well-known one, hinting at an intriguing twist.
  3. Readers are invited to a Londonist: Time Machine event and offered a 7-day free trial for more content.

5 Weekend Reads: 10 December 2023

0 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
🏝 Travel History
  1. The post includes a roundup of five interesting London history links every week for paying supporters.
  2. John Betjeman's famous documentary Metroland turned 50 years old, which is highlighted in the post.
  3. Readers can access the full post archives with a 7-day free trial subscription to Londonist: Time Machine.

5 Historical Quirks To Spot On Bankside

0 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
🏝 Travel History
  1. The article highlights 5 historical quirks to spot around Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern in Bankside.
  2. Bankside is a unique area with ancient seats, unseen cannons, and misspelled plaques, adding character and charm to the neighborhood.
  3. The post is part of a paid newsletter, offering subscribers access to more historical insights and content about London.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

5 Weekend Reads: 10 September 2023

0 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture History London
  1. The post shares 5 weekend reads about London history, featuring the top London chroniclers, the Swingin' 60s, and Hyde Park Airport.
  2. The post directs paid subscribers to a weekly links roundup for London history enthusiasts, offering exclusive content every Sunday.
  3. Readers are encouraged to subscribe to Londonist: Time Machine for a 7-day free trial to access the full post archives.

5 Weekend Reads: 29 October 2023

0 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🏝 Travel History
  1. The post offers a weekly roundup of five interesting London history links just for paid subscribers.
  2. There is a mention of an upcoming site visit on 23 November for subscribers to Londonist: Time Machine.
  3. Readers can access the full post archives with a 7-day free trial by subscribing to Londonist.

5 Weekend Reads: 8 October 2023

0 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Podcasts London History
  1. The post features 5 interesting London history links for paid subscribers every Sunday.
  2. There is a new London podcast recommended for listeners to check out.
  3. Readers can enjoy a 7-day free trial to access the full post archives of Londonist: Time Machine.

5 Weekend Reads: 5 November 2023

0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
💾 History Events Places
  1. The post features 5 weekend reads including Guy Fawkes trivia, history in the stars, and a discovery in Tesco.
  2. The links roundup is curated specially for paid subscribers every Sunday, focusing on London history.
  3. Free access is offered with a 7-day trial to Londonist: Time Machine for full post archives.

5 Weekend Reads: 26 November 2023

0 implied HN points • 26 Nov 23
🏝 Travel History London
  1. The post is a roundup of five interesting London history links curated weekly for paying supporters.
  2. The curated links cover topics like vintage posters, mansion blocks, and unique historical sites around London.
  3. Readers can access these curated links by subscribing to Londonist: Time Machine, which offers a 7-day free trial for new subscribers.

5 Historic Quirks to Spot in... Fitzrovia

0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🏝 Travel
  1. Fitzrovia in London has historic streets dating back to Georgian times, with the name "Fitzrovia" likely originating from the 20th-century popularity of the Fitzroy Tavern among artists and intellectuals.
  2. The name 'Fitzrovia' was first coined in print in 1940 by Tom Driberg.
  3. Take a 7-day free trial with Londonist: Time Machine to access more posts and full post archives.

5 Weekend Reads: 24 September 2023

0 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture London history
  1. The post features a roundup of five London history links curated for paid subscribers every Sunday.
  2. There's an invitation for London history enthusiasts to meet up in person for the first time.
  3. Readers can access the full post archives with a 7-day free trial by subscribing to Londonist: Time Machine.

5 Weekend Reads: 3 Sep 2023

0 implied HN points • 03 Sep 23
🏝 Travel History
  1. The post contains a roundup of five London history links for paid subscribers.
  2. One of the links discusses the Great Fire of London, which happened 357 years ago on September 3, 1666.
  3. Readers can access the full post archives with a 7-day free trial of Londonist: Time Machine.

5 Weekend Reads: 12 November 2023

0 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Arts History
  1. The post shares 5 recommended reads related to London history every Sunday for paid subscribers.
  2. There is an upcoming behind-the-scenes tour on November 23, 2023, of a new archive/museum of design.
  3. Readers can access the full post archives with a 7-day free trial of Londonist: Time Machine.

5 Historic Quirks to Spot in... Cheapside

0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🏝 Travel Landmarks Exploration
  1. Cheapside is an ancient street with a rich history that dates back to medieval times.
  2. Despite its name, Cheapside is not a place for cheap rents; the name comes from the old term 'cheap,' meaning a market place.
  3. While Cheapside may not have many buildings from before the 20th century, it still holds a lot of historic significance and interesting quirks to explore.

5 Historic Quirks to Spot in... Trafalgar Square

0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🏝 Travel Cultural Exploration
  1. Trafalgar Square in London receives a Christmas tree from Oslo every year since 1947 as a thank-you for British help in World War II.
  2. The Square features historic quirks like damaged stones and reminders of significant events like the first Christmas.
  3. Visitors to Trafalgar Square can enjoy an epic walk around the area while observing these unique historical elements.

Five... Things About the History of London's Bowling Alleys

0 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
💾 History London Sports
  1. London has a rich history of bowling alleys, with unique stories and connections to different communities and events.
  2. The arrival of ten-pin bowling in north London brought anticipation of it becoming as iconic as Wimbledon is to tennis or Lords is to cricket.
  3. To explore more about London's bowling alley history, a subscription to Londonist: Time Machine offers access to detailed posts and archives.

5 Historical Quirks to Spot in... King's Cross Station

0 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
💾 History London WWII
  1. King's Cross Station has 5 historical quirks worth noticing, including a missing duck, an unnoticed milestone, and London's newest WWII repairs.
  2. The author of the post, Matt Brown, shares favorite historical sights in the well-known area.
  3. The post is for paid subscribers, but a 7-day free trial is available for access to the full post archives.