Notting Hill Carnival, Central London

A captivating window into London's Caribbean culture, Notting Hill Carnival made a welcome return to the upmarket west London neighbourhood in 2022.  While it can be marred by some violence and crime, this extraordinary festival is generally a good-natured celebration of London's ethnic diversity.

Cycling around Richmond Park, South West London

 

Thanks to the partial closure of the ring road to cars, cycling in Richmond Park early on a summer evening is a joy.

Addington Square, South London

 

Lined on three sides by a jumble of early nineteenth century houses,  Addington Square is a peaceful and picturesque spot next to Burgess Park. Although most of the square is well maintained, there are a couple of semi-derelict houses that hark back to the 1960s, when the area was a den of iniquity. 

Trinity Street, South London

 

Laid out in 1813, Trinity Street is part of the well-preserved and peaceful Trinity Square Conservation Area. While it is an entirely residential area today, it was dotted with businesses in the nineteenth century. Largely closed to traffic, Trinity Street is now on one of the main cycling routes up to the City of London. A barrier, which prevents through traffic, was erected in 2002. 

Benhill Road, South London

 

Another one of Camberwell's leafy Victorian residential streets, Benhill Road is on the cycle route from Crystal Palace into the City of London.

Brunswick Park, South London

 

Brunswick Park, the road, overlooks Brunswick Park, the park.  With big mature trees and venerable Victorian architecture, it is a fine road.

Halles Saint-Géry, Brussels

 

An ornate covered market built in 1881 in the Flemish neo-Renaissance style, Halles Saint-Géry now serves as both an impressive exhibition space and a suave night spot. With a high vaulted ceiling and extensive wrought ironwork, the interior is just as handsome as the exterior.

Nero Street Art, Place Saint-Géry, Brussels

 

One of Brussels' many street murals, the comic panel on a wall of Place Saint-Géry depicts Nero trying to feed some birds with the help of other characters also created and drawn by Marc Sleen. Nero, who appeared in a Belgium newspaper for more than 50 years, is one of the country's best known comic book characters.