It's our weekly London roundup starting with a few headlines that caught the eye in London over the last week or so, click the links for the full stories…
DAVID BOWIE: We were touched by this tale in International Business Times…
David Bowie made a secret final trip to London with his wife and daughter after being diagnosed with cancer. The emotional trip was a chance for the music icon to walk through the city where he began his journey, to revisit the places that had meant so much to him and where it all began.
Accompanied by his wife Iman and 15-year-old daughter Lexi, he managed to visit famous London tourist attractions such as the Tower of London and the London Eye, completely unnoticed by the public.
Full story here: www.ibtimes.co.uk
DAVID BOWIE: Shrines Spring Up In London – BBC
A bank of photographers and cameramen survey the scene. People come and go. Fans reminisce. A man plays Heroes on his phone as he tells those around him: "Bowie is everything."
Sheila Killick, 57, from London, is here to lay a dark red rose. "There was just nobody like him, he was just so different," she says.
"The '60s was dark - it was black and white, from the Stones to the Beatles, but he burst on to the scene in the '70s with colourful flamboyance and artistry. "He was a creative genius."
Mrs Killick saw Bowie live nine times, she recalls, a smile spreading across her face but with tears in her eyes.
"He was my hero. When I was a teenager we used to come here - we didn't have mobile phones but we just stood there [she points to the doorway] and laughed and dressed up in platforms, with typical Bowie up dos and high-necked striped shirts.
"I just felt so sad and thought it would be nice to come here."
Full Story: www.bbc.co.uk
BOWIE THEATRE: Lazarus Rises in London 2017 – Digital Spy
Lazarus is a stage sequel to Bowie's cult classic movie The Man Who Fell to Earth, and features both new songs and reworked classics made famous by the artist.
The New York Theatre Workshop has hosted the Michael C Hall-starring musical in the US - but producers are already plotting a London stage adaptation for next year.
Lazarus producer Robert Fox told the London Evening Standard: "It's definitely going to happen in London. Ideally I would like to find an alternative space but they are few and far between and it will probably go to a West End theater. But it's too early in the process to know exactly where and exactly when."
Full story: www.digitalspy.com
In Brief…
EAST LONDON: WWII Bomb Found in Plaistow – Evening Standard
SPORT: London The New Frontier for NFL – Wall Street Journal
TUBE: Decoding London Underground Announcements – The Independent
CRIME: Hatton Garden Robbery Planned in North London Pub – The Guardian
ART: Annie Liebovitz Exhibition In London – Huewire
If You Do One
OTHER Thing In London…
Our weekly slot in which we point you in the direction of other happenings and events in our great city. A new exhibition, a gig, a museum, a pop-up-shop – the best of London within a few minutes of aLondon Walkswalking tour.
This week I'm turning this slot over to a London Walker. Jem Jaye posted the following recommendation on our Facebook page…
The Museum of Immigration & Diversity
Thanks Jem!
In the winter visits are by arrangement, for groups. During the summer months there are a few open days which are posted on the museum's website, here…
www.19princeletstreet.org.uk
Walking &
Footwear News
Well, it had to happen. Before he was even cold, Bowie was being hijacked to flog everything from donuts to shoes…
First blood in the tasteless #Bowie
branded posts goes to @OfficeShoes
pic.twitter.com/fSWhRCAsAf
—
Condescending Brand (@Corporate_Brand) January
11, 2016
PR Week also ran (ahem) with a story on how Crocs tried to jump on the bandwagon. Their Tweet was taken down within the hour but can still be seen here: www.prweek.com
On a more respectful note, we enjoyed the Footwear News tribute to Bowie's influence on fashion…
A renegade who created alter egos to complement his music, Bowie never stopped experimenting with avant garde clothes and footwear. Where others were measured or manufactured, he was a fearless original who shot from his slim androgynous hip, using a special shoe or statement ensemble as an extension of his indelible art.
Full story: footwearnews.com
Just a quick word to end: this post in no way endorses the wearing of platform boots on a London Walk! Bring your flatties!
Seen in London This Week
Back to Bowie. One of the news stories above features the pop-up shrines to David Bowie. We visited Heddon Street earlier this week…
A little shrine on Heddon Street
#DavidBowie
pic.twitter.com/FftGl7jRVS
—
London Walks (@londonwalks) January
14, 2016
Seen in London This Week 2
Our #Plaque366 series here on The Daily Constitutional, in which I'll be posting a London plaque every day of the year during 2016, attracted the following Tweet from 18th Century inventor and entrepreneur Richard Arkwright.
Heaven knows why me house has been
desecrated with this plate. I should perhaps remove it. https://t.co/477muG60ln
—
SirRichardArkwright (@Sir_R_Arkwright) January
14, 2016
A few weeks ago I followed a tree on Twitter. Now I'm corresponding with an 18th Century inventor. I love Twitter!
And Finally…
This from Daily Constitutional editor Adam, snapped at the end of his Kensington tour on Thursday…
Bye Kensington. See you next week.
Can't feel my fingers or toes but it's still the #bestjobintheworld
@londonwalks
pic.twitter.com/ldqdkcPvWt
—
Adam Scott (@AdamScottG) January
14, 2016
Adam adds… I've been canvassing my fellow London Walks guides for tips on keeping warm on winter walks and I'll be sharing them here on The Daily Constitutional starting next week.
London Spy will return next Saturday A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
