Laundrette

The first UK launderette was opened on 9 May 1949 in Queensway (London). Some may be manned during fewer hours than the operating time each week. They are generally found only in urban and suburban areas and have been common features of urban life since the 1960s. In the last two decades there has been a decline in the number of launderettes, to approximately 3000 nationally. However, most UK households have bedding (such as duvets and comforters) which are far above the capacity of domestic machines, making launderettes the only means available for cleaning them. Many of the manned operations in the UK have added value services such as ironing, dry cleaning and service washes, which prove popular to busy professionals, students, and senior citizens. Cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester have significant numbers of launderettes, as do many coastal tourist areas. Whilst the future of launderettes in the UK is not assured, domestic machine users experiencing breakdowns in the home, users of large bedding, and tourists are all potential customers, thereby making the provision valuable to the community.


The launderette commercial, promoting Levi’s classic 501s.

Venice Walk, London

Little Venice is the point where Regent's Canal meets the Grand Junction Canal. It may not have quite the glamour of Venice, but it has its own picture-postcard charm. The canal is lined with weeping willows, and flanked by graceful stucco Regency mansions, many designed by the celebrated architect John Nash. On a sunny day, there's nothing finer than sitting in a canal side cafe, as sunlight glimmers on their brilliant white columns. Houseboats and barges in bright red, dark green or navy line the canal, with names like "Maurice, "Old Badger" and the "Scarlet Pimpernel". Some have window boxes spilling over with geraniums, others elaborately decorated nameplates. Ducks and geese swim along the canal, and you may see a heron or two. An island in the centre is called Browning's island, after the poet Robert Browning who lived nearby.

Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate

Alexandra Road may be seen as the culminating effort by Neave Brown to apply the principles of the London terrace house to the design of high-density public housing. The 5 rowhouses on Winscombe Street built by Brown in 1967 for the architect and his friends were the first experiment with the terrace type. The Camden Town project at Fleet Road begun about the same time was a further application of the idea, now with over 50 dwellings, arranged in parallel, terraced rows. Alexandra road represents the application of the terraced theme on an enormous scale. Because Camden has three main rail stations, there is much rail-frontage land in this part of the city. Alexandra Road is built on one of these difficult frontage sites along the Euston line.

king's College view from National Theatre

King's College London was founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington (then Prime Minister) in 1829 as a university college in the tradition of the Church of England. It now welcomes staff and students of all faiths and beliefs.
King's professors played a major part in nineteenth-century science, and in extending higher education to women, working men and through evening classes.
The College has grown and developed through mergers with several institutions who have their own distinguished histories. These include the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals; Chelsea College, Queen Elizabeth College, and the Institute of Psychiatry.