Home is where the art is: London as a city of culture

If asked to think of something associated with London, most people would probably say Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, London Bridge or Westminster Abbey. In fact, London probably has more than its fair share of iconic images. But this only helps to demonstrate the depth of history and culture associated with the UK capital, and is why it is frequently rated as one of the top few city-destinations in the world. But as culturally and historically significant as these tourist-friendly structures may be, they are far from the be all and end all of life in London. Indeed, London has perhaps some of the finest and most diverse cultural attractions out of all the major cities in the world, some of which don’t receive the wide-spread attention they deserve. The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, for example, is a fine example of English galleries at their best, offering a fascinating insight into the life and work of perhaps one of the most famous English arts and crafts designers ever. The Georgian building that is home to the vast collection of printed, woven and embroidered fabrics, rugs, carpets, wallpapers and furniture, is also the former residence of William Morris himself, having lived there between 1848 and 1856, and this certainly adds an extra aura of authenticity to the gallery.