Miranda Quinney explores the vicinity of Farringdon station.  

London Archives

A short walk North from Farringdon will bring you  to the London Archives ( previously known as the  London Metropolitan Archives) . This is the UK’s second largest archive service and is the principal repository for the London area . It holds over 100kmsof books , maps, photographs , films, and documents .

I took part in a recent  tour organised by Deborah Oliver and  the City of London Councillors despite not being quite sure what to expect . I discovered that  the London Archive is an Aladdin’s cave for anyone interested in the history of London. It combines access to resources and information ( like a library ) with exhibitions ( like a museum) . Entrance is free and the archive  community engagement team can help identify the  documents stored which match a visitor’s areas of  particular interest. I was fascinated by the collection of historical marketing materials prepared to entice the first residents to the Barbican half a century ago .It was also interesting to see that the Barbican could have housed Europe’s first glass pyramid!  

In addition there is a  rolling programme of exhibitions  focusses on  the history of London from 1067 to the present day . The current installation  ( on until February 2025) is “ Lost Victorian London” and showcases the Archive collection of photos , letters , prints and plans giving a flavour of Victorian London which can no longer be seen . For those interested in research, the Archive provides both digital and physical access to their resources provided you sign up for a free History Card. 

For more information about how to obtain a History Card and their programme of events see www.thelondonarchives.org.uk

The London Archives
40 Northampton Road
London
EC1R 0HB

Opening times :

  • Monday: 10am – 4.30pm
  • Tuesday: 10am – 4.30pm
  • Wednesday: 10am – 7pm
  • Thursday: 10am – 4.30pm

Plus one Saturday a month – see their website for details 

Cross Rail Place 

On a previous trip to Canary Wharf, I’d noticed  a mirror clad building describing itself as an immersive art experience offering   “A Mind-Bending Fusion of Art and Technology.”  

Along the lines of Frameless in Marble Arch  (frameless.com ) and the Outernet at Tottenham Court Road ( outernet.com/#on-screen) , at Illusionaries visitors travel through rooms on whose walls are projections of eye-catching art. Unlike Frameless, Illusionaries showcases new works . The current exhibition is “Entheon” by Alex and Allyson Grey. The strap line “An Immersive Journey into the Realms of Humanity and Spirituality Through Visionary Art “ did not prepare me for the six rooms linked by an infinity mirror corridor , hugely detailed anatomical projections of the human body or the overwhelming vibrancy of the room offering 360 degree images exploring  human creativity . There was a moment of peace in the meditation garden where I joined the other visitors  sitting  on pebble shaped cushions gazing at the moving projections on a 13 ft Steeplehead . The written description which accompanied one of the pieces stating the influence on the work of taking LSD explained a lot . 

After an hour or so in the exhibition , I needed to take a few deep breaths, and was delighted to discover that the Roof Garden at Cross Rail Place  was just a short escalator ride away . Hidden on top of the building  and recognising that the location is  almost directly on top of the Meridian  Line, the planting is arranged according to which hemisphere they are from with Asian plants such as bamboos to the east, and plants such as ferns from the Americas to the west.

Following the meandering path through the gardens leads to an amphitheatre which is a community performance space and also to the Short Story Station sponsored by Penguin Books where visitors can print out a short story of 1 , 3 or 5 minutes duration . 

All in all, a lovely visit and well worth the short journey along the Elizabeth Line. 

Ticketing 

Exhibition Location: Illusionaries, Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AR

Tickets: From £24 Adults, £17 Teens/Students/Seniors 65+

Cross Rail Place Roof Garden : Free to visit and open daily to the public until 9pm or sunset in summer,  Crossrail Place Canary Wharf, London E14 5AR