Charles Wright

My Beautiful Laundrette: Possibilities and perils of 1980s London A special screening of the classic movie in its original form is coming up, combined with a walk around the places where it was set and shot

Released in 1985, My Beautiful Laundrette was a ground-breaking movie in several ways. I've teamed up with @shortsarky88.bsky.social to put on a special 16mm screening and local location walk. Read it about here: www.onlondon.co.uk/my-beautiful.... And BUY TICKETS TOO!!! 😍

I always enjoy reading the TripAdvisor London Forum because I'm fascinated to see what foreign tourists expect, what they ask about and what surprises them. I thought this post from someone from Texas was a really lovely and cheering comment about riding the tube late at night

Charles Wright: What's up with the London Stock Exchange? Dire warnings abound about the Square Mile institution. Are they justified and should we care?

What's up with the London Stock Exchange? Dire warnings abound about the Square Mile institution & why its troubles are bad for the capital and the country. @charleswright57.bsky.social has probed the debate for On London and asked why this stuff matters: www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig... #london

Tensions between conservationism and development can be particularly acute in London's history-rich Square Mile. If you missed this exploration by @charleswright57.bsky.social of the current state of play, catch up now. #london #planning

Dave Hill On London: Politics, Places, People | Substack All sorts of journalism about the UK's capital city, plus history and culture on the side. Click to read Dave Hill On London: Politics, Places, People, a Substack publication with thousands of subscri...

Today's paid-for On London Extra, going out soon, asks how government will boost economic growth by hammering local government in the (by far) most productive part of the UK. Plus Dawn Butler's latest mayoral hints, vintage footage of 1960s regen and more, more, more. davehillonlondon.substack.com

There's a couple of fundamental problems with how the government's new funding formula treats Inner London:

1. Not factoring in housing costs when measuring deprivation
2. Not allowing more tax flexibility or devolution to affected councils

On London: Independent news, comment and analysis A small but influential website covering the UK capital’s politics, development and culture with a team of top writers

Spot on, @hugorifkind.bsky.social (see OnLondon.co.uk @davehillonlondon.bsky.social for more analysis)

When will we get some fluent policy on modern languages? | Rob Williams Rob Williams: Michael Gove's call for children to learn more languages is part of a confused narrative that dates back to Labour

I'm just going to rehash old articles I've written. Nothing changes. As a country we don't seem to learn anything. Today it's language learning. We are actually moving backwards www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Londoners and, no doubt, visitors to the capital from elsewhere in the UK and around the world cower in fear beside the River Thames as crime continues to "spiral out of control". (warning: traces of sarcasm detected). #london #farage #jenrick #lionesses #england

Bromley by-election produces first Reform UK win in London The Conservatives put a huge amount of effort into their campaign, but were defeated in a former ward stronghold

My article on Reform’s first win in a London borough by-election www.onlondon.co.uk/lewis-baston...

Green transition disconnect from 'everyday realities' of the young An Islington-based study led by the London School of Economics has exposed tensions between environmental concerns and other worries

‘Green transition’ policies must be founded on “climate justice” according to young people in new @islington-council.bsky.social and #LSE study. My On London report www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...

Green transition disconnect from 'everyday realities' of the young An Islington-based study led by the London School of Economics has exposed tensions between environmental concerns and other worries

Piece for OnLondon by @charleswright57.bsky.social reporting findings of a project about how young people relate to "liveable neighbourhoods" and green transition policies in general. Some results might be unexpected: www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig... #london @islington-council.bsky.social

Green transition disconnect from 'everyday realities' of the young An Islington-based study led by the London School of Economics has exposed tensions between environmental concerns and other worries

‘Green transition’ policies must be founded on “climate justice” according to young people in new @islington-council.bsky.social and #LSE study. My On London report www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...

Bromley Common and Holwood By-Election result – London Borough of Bromley Bromley Common and Holwood By-Election result Voting for Bromley Common and Holwood By-Election closes at 10pm on Thursday 24 July, with the election count then getting underway.

Reform has won a seat on Bromley Council: www.bromley.gov.uk/news/article... Tories still in deep, deep trouble in the capital. #london

Search for Royal Albert Dock master developer begins The Mayor of London is seeking a master developer to deliver a £3 billion regeneration at Royal Albert Dock, Newham – one of East London’s largest stalled development sites [Deadline: To be confirmed]

It’s an exciting day for @yourroyaldocks.bsky.social as we launch the search for a master developer to lead the transformation of Royal Albert Dock.

This new waterside neighbourhood will include homes, employment space and leisure facilities. www.architectsjournal.co.uk/competitions...

'From a Window at 45 Brook Street, London, W1' (1926) by Cedric Lockwood Morris

(National Museum Wales, National Museum Cardiff)

Yep. @stephenkb.bsky.social FT column yesterday was pertinent on this “magical thinking”, that we can just put it behind us and move on.

Just to say: we should absolutely be dragging Reform for this.

Arguably their most senior elected official is a straight up climate change denier. Needs to be called out and pushed back on. Hard.

Barnet Council backtracks on leader's claims it offered Barnet Football Club alternative sites for stadium The authority has clarified that it is not currently in talks with the club about possible locations in the borough after Barry Rawlings said last week that "three or four sites have been mentioned" ...

Spot-on reporting as ever from @barnetpost.bsky.social on the confusion as to whether discussions were underway on alternative sites in the borough for the club: barnetpost.co.uk/2025/07/16/b...

Barnet 0 - Barnet planning committee 1; but some challenging questions around "grey belt" and viable alternative sites to come if/when the club launches an appeal. This game by no means over...

Charles Wright: Barnet FC lose stadium vote but it isn't full-time yet The council's planning committee rejected an application to "bring Barnet back" but the "grey belt" planning goal posts could yet move

So Barnet FC 0 Barnet planning committee 1 in the club's bid to return to their historic home in the borough. But it's not the end of the game, maybe not even half-time. My On London report www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...

Good morning! This week's theme is London Shops.
------
'Rupert Court Between Wardour Street And Rupert Street, Soho' (c.1930) by Rex Vicat Cole

(Private collection)

Support still growing for return of Barnet FC to its historic home Two influential community groups and a local councillor have made known their sympathy for the scheme

Decision time tonight at Barnet planning committee on Barnet FC bid to return to the borough. Could new grey belt rules help their cause? www.onlondon.co.uk/support-stil...

Dave Hill: Lamenting a 'lost' London is a populist scam Claims that the capital has fallen into lawless decline with immigration as a main cause are false and unpatriotic

New comment piece. Those who lament a "lost" or "fallen" London, & these days blame it on immigration, are engaging in a populist scam: www.onlondon.co.uk/dave-hill-la... #London #Jenrick #Reform @sundersays.bsky.social @lewisbaston.bsky.social @richardbrown.bsky.social @charleswright57.bsky.social

7/7 twenty years on Ken Livingstone's speech from Singapore

A few reflections on the anniversary of the 7 July bombings, which is tomorrow

open.substack.com/pub/modernle...

Who says Treasury's Green Book has a built-in pro-London bias? Rachel Reeves told the House of Commons that the complaints of MPs outside London were justified, but the reality is rather different

No, the Treasury Green Book isn't biased against London, and the capital could benefit from changes to the appraisal process just announced. But (as perhaps it always was) it's all about the politics. Time to keep lobbying for the capital? My latest for On London www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...

Spot on from @adrianmcmenamin.bsky.social We are not the USA

Planning reform is a real bright spot in the Government's agenda. But if it continues to allow local politicians to block new homes already agreed in local plans, then it risks not making the most of its own reforms - a quick thread:

Don't want to join in the "London is over" dialogue but someone talked to me on the tube last night, and now a woman is having a video conference at the bus stop, and are none of our rules sacred any more...

Who says Treasury's Green Book has a built-in pro-London bias? Rachel Reeves told the House of Commons that the complaints of MPs outside London were justified, but the reality is rather different

Who says the Treasury's Green Book has a pro-London bias? Not the government's own assessors of the document, as @charleswright57.bsky.social reveals: www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig... Will interest @centreforcities.bsky.social #london #transport @stephenkb.bsky.social @theifs.bsky.social