One of the challenges for the Destination City programme, aimed at attracting more visitors to the Square Mile, is helping people find their way around once they arrive. That was particularly true during the three weeks of Bartholomew Fair in September, with 250 events scattered across the City. While there was an official map with … Continue reading “Finding our way around the Square Mile”
Property development in the Square Mile can lead to tensions with residents. Barbican residents have campaigned forcefully against office development on the former site of the Museum of London, and residents on the Middlesex Street estate fought a 24 storey office tower because of overshadowing. However a recent report from the City Property Association makes … Continue reading “Can City residents and property developers find common ground in Destination City?”
Update: I’ve developed a set of pages on this wiki bringing together official reports, articles and blog posts about Destination City together with questions that I think might arise at the November 7 event. The City Question Time event has moved to December 14 6pm at the Old Bailey, with a festive celebration afterwards. Sign … Continue reading “Clash of dates highlights the engagement opportunity for Destination City”
Update : I developed a set of pages on this wiki bringing together official reports, articles and blog posts about Destination City for the November 7 event. The meeting with about 100 residents prompted a lively discussion – see note at the end. On November 7 the Destination City team will hold their first public … Continue reading “Invitation to first public meeting about Destination City”
Update: I’ve developed a set of pages on this wiki bringing together official reports, articles and blog posts about Destination City together with questions that I think might arise at the November 7 event. As I reported in this post, the Barbican Library is planning a community hub that will include ways for residents to share information … Continue reading “Piloting a community information hub”
A week after the City Corporation’s £1.3 million Bartholomew Fair ended, two more modest events showed how traditional activities can attract crowds despite relatively little publicity. Yesterday I went to the Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival in Guildhall Yard, while at Southwark Bridge the annual Sheep Drive celebrated the ancient privilege of Freemen of … Continue reading “Pearly Kings and Queens and the Sheep Drive show City’s authentic culture and heritage”
Yesterday there were two traditional events in the City of London – the Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival and the Sheep Drive and Livery Fair. I’ve written about the Pearlies here, but didn’t get to the Sheep Drive. Fortunately there’s quite a lot on social media, and I’ve pulled together some content to demonstrate … Continue reading “Sheep Drive and Livery Fair”
New plans for a community hub in the Barbican Library include ways for residents to share information more effectively, engage with the Corporation’s Destination City programme, and try out enhanced digital technologies. The hub is part of a general Refresh for the library. The hub ideas go back to some work I did last year … Continue reading “Barbican Library plans innovative community information hub”
Update: The City Corporation has announced that work will begin on the scheme on 8 July 2024, and will take about 18 months. The news release gives details of traffic and bus diversions. The City Corporation is in the final stages of consultation on a new square near St Paul’s Cathedral – and councillor John … Continue reading “Site for a new children’s playground in the City?”
Over on the Cloth Fair site I’ve reported on my research into earlier re-staging of Bartholomew Fair, starting with the big one organised by Barts Hospital in 1923. Senior medics yielded to a session in the stocks. I’ve asked for more info from anyone involved in more recent events, including 1973, 2000 and 2010. Meanwhile, … Continue reading “After the Fair is over”