Thank you for your many alphabetical suggestions.
Let's see if some of them have legs.
» How about embassies of countries beginning with each letter?
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in London(31 Princes Gate, SW7)
You'll find the Afghan embassy in Princes Gate on the south side of Hyde Park, a diplomatic cluster that's widely known because the Iranian embassy interrupted the snooker finals in 1980. These very splendid five-storey houses were built in 1847 by C.J. Freake, an adherent of Italianate 'stucco classic' style, and are set back from Kensington Road behind a smart line of shrubbery and a limo-parking area patrolled by armed police. The great and good, like His Excellency Dr Zalmai Rassoul (Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary), enter through the posh doors with the twiddly ironwork. Lesser souls, like those in search of Passport, Visa, Tazkera, Power of Attorney & Other Consular Services, are directed towards a minor staircase leading down into the basement which I guess was once the servants' entrance. There would have been servants once, back when this was a private house before it was purchased by the Royal State of Afghanistan in 1925. A stucco annexe was added in 1955 which currently houses their consulate section and a secure garage for the parking of diplomatic cars. As the first country in alphabetical order Afghanistan has the honour of the premier 101 diplomatic registration, so for example that Range Rover parked outside has numberplate [101 D 216].
» We hear a lot about bus stop M, what about the other bus stops?
Bus Stop A - Harrow Manorway in Abbey Wood
There are 496 Bus Stop As in Greater London and here's a prime example in Abbey Wood. It's the northbound bus stop on Harrow Manorway, a short walk north of Abbey Wood station just past the enormous Sainsbury's. It's in the London borough of Greenwich but only just because Bus Stop B on the opposite side of the road is in Bexley. Just behind the bus stop is the Thistlebrook Travellers' site.
Routes served: 180 229 244 301 469 472 N1 Timetables present: 244 469 669 N1 (four are missing, which is a pretty poor show) Bus which won't be stopping here in 3 weeks time: 472 because TfL are Superlooping it Maps in shelter: Spider map and walking map (both appallingly grubby) Adverts in shelter: Eat Natural hazelnut and date bars; Michael Jackson the musical (closes next month) Other facilities: litter bin, bus-stop bypass Places of interest nearby: no
» Perhaps give unusual Blue Plaques in London a go.
Edward ARDIZZONE(1900-1979)
130 Elgin Avenue, Maida Vale
Edward Ardizzone was a British painter and illustrator of many talents including that of official war artist, but is best known for his children's books. If you went to school in the 70s or 80s your copy of Stig of the Dump was liberally illustrated by him so his penmanship will be innately familiar. Ardizzone grew up in Ipswich, but the family moved into Elgin Avenue in 1920 when he was working as an office clerk, and Edward was still there in 1972 after retiring as a tutor with the Royal College of Art. Alas these days his home at number 130 is a hollowed-out sham, a four bedroom split level luxury apartment with a minimum of interior walls, not that you'd ever guess from out front.
» An A-Z of musicians/bands who have lived or worked in London?
Blur's frontman was born at Whipps Cross hospital and grew up in a much bigger than average terraced house in Leytonstone. Damon's parents were artists, his upbringing bohemian, indeed there's still something screamingly middle class about this street. For his early education he attended George Tomlinson Primary School on the other side of the A12, not that the A12 was here at the time. The Albarns moved out of Waltham Forest in 1977 when Damon was ten, ensuring that all the formative Blur stuff took place on the outskirts of Colchester instead. Damon did however come back for the unveiling of his plaque in 2014 and grinned out of a bedroom window, mainly because he had a solo album to promote.
» An A-Z of public statues could be interesting.
King Alfred, Trinity Church Square SE1
Just off Borough High Street is the former Holy Trinity Church, now Henry Wood Hall, and in the garden out front is what's believed to be London's oldest statue. It's an eight foot high representation of proto-hero King Alfred, the top half being about 200 years old and the bottom half being Roman. The lower chunk isthought to have formed part of a colossal sculpture dedicated to Minerva in a temple on nearby Watling Street, and was carved from Cotswold limestone during the reign of Trajan or Hadrian. You can only see it from beyond the railings however, unless you're a resident or their guest and willing to abide by the list of rules posted by the gate. No daffodils and cherry blossom are currently present, but give it a few months.
» Have you done an A–Z of shops, defunct or extant?
AJ Sports, Robin Hood Way, Kingston Vale
Fordham Sports was founded by John Fordham in 1984 and claimed to be "the largest stockist of specialist Cricket, Hockey and Rugby equipment in the South of England". Their shop can be found on the A3 just south of Richmond Park - in fact three shops because they expanded into nextdoor early on. Then in 2019 they sold up to AJ Sports, a more cricket-focused business with branches in Clapham, Harrow and Guildford, who haven't yet fully updated the awning. It's very much a 'walls hung with equipment' kind of store arrayed with sports shoes and over 1000 hockey sticks, plus the latest Gray-Nicolls Imperia 2026 cricket bat and various duffle wheelies to stash your kit in. According to their newest window slogan HOCKEY'S BACK! ARE YOU READY? so why wait?
» Could you use alphabetical sandwich bars/cafes as a start point?
Ace Cafe Stonebridge Park
Here's a legendary location - the famous Ace Cafe. It opened in 1938 to cater for passing roadside trade, but very soon upgraded to the Ace Service Station. The current building is a postwar rebuild, made popular then famous, then infamous as a Mecca for bikers and rock'n'rollers. The last fried breakfast was served in 1969, that is until a 2001 reboot that saw the Ace reborn for an older generation. Drop by and there's usually high octane action on the forecourt with a variety of bikes lined up proudly at the roadside for all to admire. If their owners aren't standing outside absorbing adulation they're likely sitting inside in full leathers with their helmet beside them on the table, swapping anecdotes over a nice cup of tea. Ace indeed.
I confess that fiveofthoseyou'veread on here before and two I went out and researched specially yesterday. My apologies if I didn't get round to road-testing your suggestion.
» A-Z of churches and places of worship? All Hallows-on-the-Wall, Bevis Marks, Croydon Minster, Dalston Methodist, East London Mosque etc
» An A-Z of sporting venues might offer considerable scope for variety. Alexandra Palace, Battersea Park, Crystal Palace, Dulwich College etc
» An A-Z of people associated with London rather than places? David Attenborough, Enid Blyton, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Dickens, etc
» An A to Z of people buried in one of the Magnificent Seven burial grounds? John Auldjo, William Booth, Betsi Cadwaladr, Fanny Dickens, etc
» Trees? Amwell Fig, Bexley Charter Oak, Cheapside Plane, Downe Yew, etc
» Cockney rhyming slang expressions working through the alphabet. Apples and pears, Bees and honey, Cream-crackered, Dog and bone, etc
» Perhaps a series of articles that relate London to the phonetic alphabet? (great idea but, erm...)
» Cheeses? (no)
Key question: Would it make a broadly interesting year-long series without getting very stuck at X and Z?
I'm still mulling it over...
