Mike Hall
@thisismikehall.com
Award-winning mapmaker and illustrator in Valencia, Spain | My first book THE BOROUGHS OF LONDON is now available! https://www.batsfordbooks.com/book/the-boroughs-of-london | More info: linktr.ee/thisismikehall
Also enjoyed this guy: a representation of the Bridgwater Carnival brandishing a squib (a firework on a stick). He’d enjoy the Fallas festival in Valencia. 🎇
January 17, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Also enjoyed this guy: a representation of the Bridgwater Carnival brandishing a squib (a firework on a stick). He’d enjoy the Fallas festival in Valencia. 🎇
I’m in Bridgwater, Somerset for a couple of days for reasons I won’t go into. Had a bit of time to kill this morning so went for a wander round the town centre. Quite charming from certain angles.
January 17, 2026 at 10:21 AM
I’m in Bridgwater, Somerset for a couple of days for reasons I won’t go into. Had a bit of time to kill this morning so went for a wander round the town centre. Quite charming from certain angles.
Finally, unceremoniously deleted my X account just now. I'm surprised Elon hadn't changed this message to read "Go on, fuck off crying to Bluesky you pedo libtard" or some such.
January 5, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Finally, unceremoniously deleted my X account just now. I'm surprised Elon hadn't changed this message to read "Go on, fuck off crying to Bluesky you pedo libtard" or some such.
What’s going on here
December 31, 2025 at 3:35 PM
What’s going on here
Found myself watching The Holiday (2006) last night. You know when you can tell a movie is going to be terrible simply because of the font they use for the title? This was a textbook example.
December 29, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Found myself watching The Holiday (2006) last night. You know when you can tell a movie is going to be terrible simply because of the font they use for the title? This was a textbook example.
Thanks so much to everyone who submitted entries! Look out for more competitions and offers on my prints in the near future.
You can read more about the (genuinely) fascinating story of how the boroughs got their names in our book 'The Boroughs of London', available everywhere now!
(ends)
You can read more about the (genuinely) fascinating story of how the boroughs got their names in our book 'The Boroughs of London', available everywhere now!
(ends)
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Thanks so much to everyone who submitted entries! Look out for more competitions and offers on my prints in the near future.
You can read more about the (genuinely) fascinating story of how the boroughs got their names in our book 'The Boroughs of London', available everywhere now!
(ends)
You can read more about the (genuinely) fascinating story of how the boroughs got their names in our book 'The Boroughs of London', available everywhere now!
(ends)
10. Last but not least, Karol Zemek's idea for another Ealing rebrand:
"Rani is the Punjabi word for queen, so the name celebrates both the Punjabi community in Southall and Ealing's title of 'queen of the suburbs'."
"Rani is the Punjabi word for queen, so the name celebrates both the Punjabi community in Southall and Ealing's title of 'queen of the suburbs'."
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
10. Last but not least, Karol Zemek's idea for another Ealing rebrand:
"Rani is the Punjabi word for queen, so the name celebrates both the Punjabi community in Southall and Ealing's title of 'queen of the suburbs'."
"Rani is the Punjabi word for queen, so the name celebrates both the Punjabi community in Southall and Ealing's title of 'queen of the suburbs'."
9: Elli Woollard suggested this mature new name for Lambeth:
"It was named 'lamb' over a millennia ago, so it should now be renamed 'Mutton' (we could drop the 'beth' bit - no sheep have been landed on the Thames round here for centuries). It would also be a nice rhyming counterpart to Sutton."
"It was named 'lamb' over a millennia ago, so it should now be renamed 'Mutton' (we could drop the 'beth' bit - no sheep have been landed on the Thames round here for centuries). It would also be a nice rhyming counterpart to Sutton."
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
9: Elli Woollard suggested this mature new name for Lambeth:
"It was named 'lamb' over a millennia ago, so it should now be renamed 'Mutton' (we could drop the 'beth' bit - no sheep have been landed on the Thames round here for centuries). It would also be a nice rhyming counterpart to Sutton."
"It was named 'lamb' over a millennia ago, so it should now be renamed 'Mutton' (we could drop the 'beth' bit - no sheep have been landed on the Thames round here for centuries). It would also be a nice rhyming counterpart to Sutton."
8: Alan Oliver evoked an important local figure for his rebranding of Tower Hamlets:
"My suggestion would be to rename [it] Lansbury after a local hero: George Lansbury. He did so much for the under-represented, not only of this future borough but also for the minorities in the UK as a whole."
"My suggestion would be to rename [it] Lansbury after a local hero: George Lansbury. He did so much for the under-represented, not only of this future borough but also for the minorities in the UK as a whole."
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
8: Alan Oliver evoked an important local figure for his rebranding of Tower Hamlets:
"My suggestion would be to rename [it] Lansbury after a local hero: George Lansbury. He did so much for the under-represented, not only of this future borough but also for the minorities in the UK as a whole."
"My suggestion would be to rename [it] Lansbury after a local hero: George Lansbury. He did so much for the under-represented, not only of this future borough but also for the minorities in the UK as a whole."
7: Sticking with a north London theme, Rob Nash proposed this new name for Haringey:
"I think Haringey could be brightened up with a rebrand. Since it stretches from Alexandra Palace in the west to the River Lea / Lea Valley on its eastern edge, my suggestion for a new name is: Ally Pally Valley!"
"I think Haringey could be brightened up with a rebrand. Since it stretches from Alexandra Palace in the west to the River Lea / Lea Valley on its eastern edge, my suggestion for a new name is: Ally Pally Valley!"
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
7: Sticking with a north London theme, Rob Nash proposed this new name for Haringey:
"I think Haringey could be brightened up with a rebrand. Since it stretches from Alexandra Palace in the west to the River Lea / Lea Valley on its eastern edge, my suggestion for a new name is: Ally Pally Valley!"
"I think Haringey could be brightened up with a rebrand. Since it stretches from Alexandra Palace in the west to the River Lea / Lea Valley on its eastern edge, my suggestion for a new name is: Ally Pally Valley!"
6: David McCutcheon bent the rules slightly and proposed combining Islington and Haringey into one borough and renaming it Arsenham, for its two famous football clubs:
"Straight away Arsenal and Tottenham came to mind, being so close together!"
"Straight away Arsenal and Tottenham came to mind, being so close together!"
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
6: David McCutcheon bent the rules slightly and proposed combining Islington and Haringey into one borough and renaming it Arsenham, for its two famous football clubs:
"Straight away Arsenal and Tottenham came to mind, being so close together!"
"Straight away Arsenal and Tottenham came to mind, being so close together!"
5: Wren Hayward took inspiration from local etymology (and made us hungry in the process) with his suggestion Cheesedog, combining the word cheese (in reference to Chiswick - originally Ceswican, "Cheese Farm") and dog (in reference to Hounslow - originally Hundeslow, "Hound's Barrow")
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
5: Wren Hayward took inspiration from local etymology (and made us hungry in the process) with his suggestion Cheesedog, combining the word cheese (in reference to Chiswick - originally Ceswican, "Cheese Farm") and dog (in reference to Hounslow - originally Hundeslow, "Hound's Barrow")
4: Caroline Francis, who offered the puntastic Yeswestminster as a new name for Westminster:
"Renaming Westminster after the iconic tv show would be appropriate considering the amount of political shenanigans that occur in that borough."
"Renaming Westminster after the iconic tv show would be appropriate considering the amount of political shenanigans that occur in that borough."
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
4: Caroline Francis, who offered the puntastic Yeswestminster as a new name for Westminster:
"Renaming Westminster after the iconic tv show would be appropriate considering the amount of political shenanigans that occur in that borough."
"Renaming Westminster after the iconic tv show would be appropriate considering the amount of political shenanigans that occur in that borough."
3: Mark Carter, who put forward Exessex as a new name for Havering:
"Many Romfordians resented being 'forced' into London... but nevertheless everybody, having left Essex, were now ex-Essexers, hence the new name Exessex."
"Many Romfordians resented being 'forced' into London... but nevertheless everybody, having left Essex, were now ex-Essexers, hence the new name Exessex."
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
3: Mark Carter, who put forward Exessex as a new name for Havering:
"Many Romfordians resented being 'forced' into London... but nevertheless everybody, having left Essex, were now ex-Essexers, hence the new name Exessex."
"Many Romfordians resented being 'forced' into London... but nevertheless everybody, having left Essex, were now ex-Essexers, hence the new name Exessex."
2: Guy Bryson, who proposed renaming Ealing to Acton Junction:
"In reference to the bizarre number of train stations Acton seems to have in it for such a small area."
"In reference to the bizarre number of train stations Acton seems to have in it for such a small area."
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
2: Guy Bryson, who proposed renaming Ealing to Acton Junction:
"In reference to the bizarre number of train stations Acton seems to have in it for such a small area."
"In reference to the bizarre number of train stations Acton seems to have in it for such a small area."
1: Louise Ashton, who suggested changing the name of her borough Lewisham to CatLady Park:
"A mash-up of Catford, Ladywell, and any of the numerous Parks we have in the borough (Crofton Park, Grove Park, Honor Oak Park) and also reflects the number of cats marauding in my area!"
"A mash-up of Catford, Ladywell, and any of the numerous Parks we have in the borough (Crofton Park, Grove Park, Honor Oak Park) and also reflects the number of cats marauding in my area!"
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
1: Louise Ashton, who suggested changing the name of her borough Lewisham to CatLady Park:
"A mash-up of Catford, Ladywell, and any of the numerous Parks we have in the borough (Crofton Park, Grove Park, Honor Oak Park) and also reflects the number of cats marauding in my area!"
"A mash-up of Catford, Ladywell, and any of the numerous Parks we have in the borough (Crofton Park, Grove Park, Honor Oak Park) and also reflects the number of cats marauding in my area!"
ℹ️ Read more about the book, what it’s all about and where you can buy it here:
shop.thisismikehall.com/pages/boroug...
shop.thisismikehall.com/pages/boroug...
December 8, 2025 at 6:21 PM
ℹ️ Read more about the book, what it’s all about and where you can buy it here:
shop.thisismikehall.com/pages/boroug...
shop.thisismikehall.com/pages/boroug...
My book ‘The Boroughs of London’ is BACK in stock on UK Amazon — just in time to order as a gift for that London-obsessed cartophile in your life! 🎁
🌟 Recommended by London Historians, The London Society and the blogfather of London trivia himself, Diamond Geezer
www.amazon.co.uk/Boroughs-Lon...
🌟 Recommended by London Historians, The London Society and the blogfather of London trivia himself, Diamond Geezer
www.amazon.co.uk/Boroughs-Lon...
December 8, 2025 at 6:13 PM
My book ‘The Boroughs of London’ is BACK in stock on UK Amazon — just in time to order as a gift for that London-obsessed cartophile in your life! 🎁
🌟 Recommended by London Historians, The London Society and the blogfather of London trivia himself, Diamond Geezer
www.amazon.co.uk/Boroughs-Lon...
🌟 Recommended by London Historians, The London Society and the blogfather of London trivia himself, Diamond Geezer
www.amazon.co.uk/Boroughs-Lon...
You can read more about all of the places I’ve been to today plus hundreds more across all 32 boroughs in the capital in our book The Boroughs of London, available now in all good bookshops!
www.batsfordbooks.com/book/the-bor...
www.batsfordbooks.com/book/the-bor...
November 26, 2025 at 5:11 PM
You can read more about all of the places I’ve been to today plus hundreds more across all 32 boroughs in the capital in our book The Boroughs of London, available now in all good bookshops!
www.batsfordbooks.com/book/the-bor...
www.batsfordbooks.com/book/the-bor...
Never in my life did I think I’d be so glad to be at Hackbridge station. My ride back north awaits
November 26, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Never in my life did I think I’d be so glad to be at Hackbridge station. My ride back north awaits
Here I reach the end of my Sutton odyssey, and somewhere entirely 21st century: the BedZED estate, designed to be the first zero-carbon housing scheme in the country, and its distinctive ‘wind scoops’ on the roof (also drawn by me for the book).
November 26, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Here I reach the end of my Sutton odyssey, and somewhere entirely 21st century: the BedZED estate, designed to be the first zero-carbon housing scheme in the country, and its distinctive ‘wind scoops’ on the roof (also drawn by me for the book).
Penultimate stop: Carew Manor, with its Grade I-listed hammerbeam-roofed great hall somewhere inside.
Bonus: Beddington Church next door, very old, very flinty
One location to go!
Bonus: Beddington Church next door, very old, very flinty
One location to go!
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Penultimate stop: Carew Manor, with its Grade I-listed hammerbeam-roofed great hall somewhere inside.
Bonus: Beddington Church next door, very old, very flinty
One location to go!
Bonus: Beddington Church next door, very old, very flinty
One location to go!
Roundshaw, a largely 1960s housing estate built on part of the site of Croydon Airport (London’s original airport) where all the streets are named for aircraft and aviators. 🛩️
Two left…
Two left…
November 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Roundshaw, a largely 1960s housing estate built on part of the site of Croydon Airport (London’s original airport) where all the streets are named for aircraft and aviators. 🛩️
Two left…
Two left…
Next: Little Holland House at Carshalton Beeches - home to Frank and Florence Dickinson for nearly 60 years, and *every* item of furniture and decor within was handcrafted by them. Grade II listed! Sounds amazing. Sadly also closed today (only open 1st Sunday of each month)
November 26, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Next: Little Holland House at Carshalton Beeches - home to Frank and Florence Dickinson for nearly 60 years, and *every* item of furniture and decor within was handcrafted by them. Grade II listed! Sounds amazing. Sadly also closed today (only open 1st Sunday of each month)
6 locations down, 4 to go 😅 Time for a break, and an opportunity to recharge both my and my phone’s batteries!!
Touch-and-go whether I’ll have enough time to complete the tour before I head back north…
Touch-and-go whether I’ll have enough time to complete the tour before I head back north…
November 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
6 locations down, 4 to go 😅 Time for a break, and an opportunity to recharge both my and my phone’s batteries!!
Touch-and-go whether I’ll have enough time to complete the tour before I head back north…
Touch-and-go whether I’ll have enough time to complete the tour before I head back north…