Monday Miscellanea

This Week In London’s History

Monday - 1st June 1845: A homing pigeon arrives in London, having set off from Namibia some 55 days earlier. Supposedly.

Tuesday - 2nd June 1953: The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II takes place in Westminster Abbey. Wednesday - 3rd June 1982: Israeli ambassador to Britain, Shlomo Argov, is shot in the head outside the Dorchester Hotel in London. He would survive the attack, but be left permanently paralysed. Three men would be convicted of attempted murder. Thursday - 4th June 1762: A newly installed peal of ten bells at St Mary-le-Bow church in the City is rung for the first time to mark the 25th birthday of George III. Friday - 5th June 1734: The Bank of England’s current premises on Threadneedle Street are opened for business.

London Quote Of The Week

Sir, if you wish to have a just notion of the magnitude of this city, you must not be satisfied with seeing its great streets and squares, but must survey the innumerable little lanes and courts. It is not in the showy evolutions of buildings, but in the multiplicity of human habitations which are crowded together, that the wonderful immensity of London consists.

Samuel Johnson

Random London Fact Of The Week

The first branch of Starbucks to open in London (and, in fact, the UK) was on King’s Road in Chelsea. Believe it or not, this happened a mere 11 years ago.

Picture by wallyg via the Londonist Flickr pool.