Author: Darrel Pratt

Where does fam come from? Many English speakers have abbreviated fam to family for blood/domestic relations, but fam as slang for one’s “people” originates in Black English and has been documented since at least the early 2000s. It also has a history of use in urban British slang as well. What does FAM mean in […]

London first came to being courtesy of the Thames. After invading Britain in AD43 the Romans made their way along the river, finally coming to a perfect point for a port, very close to where London Bridge stands today, and the Romans settled there, naming the area Londinium (on the current site of the City […]

Even the name of London might enshrine its wetland beginning as the name may be of Gaelic origin with lunnd meaning “marsh” (Ackroyd, 2001: 10). London was founded famously, and still sits, on the Thames River. When the city was founded the river was for Ackroyd “bordered by swamps and marshes” (9). What cities are […]

How was the deserted London scene in the movie ’28 Days Later’ filmed? I saw a documentary about this. They shot it at dawn (around midsummer I guess) and they also used digital cameras, rather than film, so they could set up shots quickly. How is London empty in 28 Days Later? Made on a […]

Content. London’s population grew rapidly in the 19th century. After the 1860s, local rail lines and underground lines began to extend further out from the centre, reaching villages like Brixton and Camberwell, which became the first suburbs. When was London’s most rapid growth? London’s population is in a period of growth. It grew from just […]

London’s reliance on coal-fired power plants for electricity and heat, and diesel-powered buses for public transportation, contributed to the Great Smog. London’s weather also contributed to the Great Smog. The city is contained in a large river valley, limiting air circulation. Who caused the London smog? On December 5, 1952, fog descended upon the city […]

London is widely acknowledged as a world-beating destination, but often overlooked beyond the capital is an incredible array of beautiful coastlines, rolling hills, quaint villages, historic cities and innovative design. Are there hills around London? The geography of Greater London is generally flat, with some minor hills surrounding the city center. These include Shooters Hill […]