Sellfridges, which, err, sells fridges. Photo credit: London Shop Fronts blog
The Periscope Post editorial team is a big fan of ‘Ronseal’ blogs. By this, we mean blogs which do exactly what they say on the tin. That’s why we’re big fans of blog offerings such as kim jong-il looking at things, which features pictures of Kim Jong-il, err, looking at things and cliff richard dying inside (pictures of seemingly permanently sad-eyed Cliff Richard looking like he’s, well, dying inside). It also why Emily Webber’s London Shop Fronts Tumblr blog tickles our fancy. By now, you’ll have guessed that it features London shop fronts. There are over 1000 shop fronts on the blog but don’t expect to find any Starbucks or Superdrug stores. Hackney-resident Webber’s blog is an archive of the disappearing independent shops in London. It’s also a celebration of the interesting and sometimes worrying typography and design choices made by small retailers. Once you start browsing it’s hard to stop and it’s strangely exciting when you spot a shop front you pass regularly but have never really taken in properly. More time-poor viewers will be relieved to learn you can search the blog by type (cafes, kebab shops, nail bars etc) or by borough.
Cafe Rest, Shepherd's Bush. Photo credit: London Shop Fronts
City Snacks, Holborn. Photo credit: London Shop Fronts
