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Ceuta: The European Parliament calls for stronger protection of EU borders.

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  Ceuta: The European Parliament calls for stronger protection of EU borders. The European Parliament has called for stronger protection of the EU’s external borders following mass irregular crossings into Ceuta at the end of July. In a resolution adopted by 339 votes to 225, with 16 abstentions, MEPs urged greater EU support for Spain, closer cooperation with Morocco and the return of people who have no right to remain in the EU. MEPs expressed deep sorrow over the reported deaths of 141 people at sea during the events of 30 and 31 July 2026. They condemned what they described as the use of irregular migration as a tool of hybrid warfare against the territorial integrity of an EU member state. The resolution affirms Parliament’s support for the people of Ceuta and Melilla. MEPs said the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two Spanish cities are beyond question and praised Ceuta’s residents and local authorities for their response to the crisis. Parliament also commended t...
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Tate Modern London – Art Inside an Industrial Giant

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  Tate Modern London – Art Inside an Industrial Giant Copyright © Daren Frankish Standing on the south bank of the River Thames, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern is one of those London buildings that makes an impression before you even walk through the door. It is huge, dark and unmistakably industrial. And that is because Tate Modern was never originally designed to be an art gallery. The building began life as Bankside Power Station , a vast electricity-generating station designed by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the man also associated with Battersea Power Station and the famous red telephone box. Bankside Power Station (Archive) Construction began after the Second World War, and the power station was built in stages, with its enormous central chimney rising almost 100 metres above the Thames. For decades this was a working industrial building, producing electricity for London. By the early 1980s Bankside Power Station had closed, leaving behind an enormous brick s...
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Location: Bankside, London SE1 9TG, UK
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The Shard, London - A Modern Landmark Above the Capital

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  The Shard, London  A Modern Landmark Above the Capital Copyright © Daren Frankish London is a city that has never stood still. Its skyline tells the story of centuries of change, from church spires and railway stations to concrete towers and modern glass skyscrapers. Few buildings have changed that skyline quite as dramatically as The Shard. Standing beside London Bridge Station on the south bank of the Thames, the Shard is impossible to miss. Rising to almost 310 metres, it is the tallest building in the United Kingdom and has become one of the most recognisable landmarks in modern London. Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, The Shard was conceived as much more than another office tower. Construction began in 2009, with the building formally inaugurated in 2012. Its distinctive shape is formed from angled sections of glass that rise towards an apparently unfinished point in the sky. Copyright © Daren Frankish It is this unusual design that gave the building its n...
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Location: 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG, UK
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The Walkie Talkie – One of London’s Most Distinctive Buildings

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  The Walkie Talkie – One of London’s Most Distinctive Buildings London has never been afraid of unusual architecture. The city is a mixture of old and new, where historic churches, narrow streets and Victorian buildings can suddenly find themselves standing in the shadow of something completely modern. Few buildings demonstrate that contrast better than 20 Fenchurch Street, better known simply as the Walkie Talkie . Standing in the heart of the City of London, the building is instantly recognisable. Its unusual shape widens as it rises, giving it the appearance that produced its famous nickname. It is certainly not a conventional skyscraper, and whether you like it or not, it is difficult to ignore. Completed in 2014, 20 Fenchurch Street was designed by architect Rafael Viñoly. Rising to around 160 metres, it is not the tallest building on the London skyline, but its shape gives it a presence that many taller buildings struggle to achieve. From street level it can appear enor...
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Location: 20 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 8AF, UK
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The Gherkin, London A Modern Landmark in the Heart of the City

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  The Gherkin, London A Modern Landmark in the Heart of the City Copyright © Daren Frankish London is a city where centuries of architecture sit almost on top of one another. Mediaeval churches, Victorian buildings and narrow old streets suddenly give way to glass, steel and some of the most recognisable modern buildings in Europe. Few demonstrate that contrast better than 30 St Mary Axe , better known simply as The Gherkin . Copyright © Daren Frankish Completed in 2004 , The Gherkin quickly became one of the defining features of London's modern skyline. Designed by Foster + Partners , the 180-metre building is instantly recognisable, not only because of its unusual curved shape but also because of the distinctive diamond pattern running across its glass exterior. For a photographer, however, the building becomes much more interesting when you get close to it. Looking Up Photographing The Gherkin from street level gives an entirely different impression from the familiar distan...
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Location: 30 St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8BF, UK
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The Golden Hinde - A Piece of Maritime History in the Heart of London

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The Golden Hinde  A Piece of Maritime History in the Heart of London Copyright © Daren Frankish London has a habit of hiding pieces of history in places where you least expect to find them. Walk through the narrow streets of Bankside, not far from the River Thames, and among the modern buildings you suddenly come across the unmistakable masts and rigging of a 16th-century sailing ship. This is The Golden Hinde , a full-size reconstruction of the vessel associated with Sir Francis Drake and one of the great maritime stories of the Elizabethan period. The original ship began life as the Pelican . In 1577, Drake left Plymouth with an expedition that would eventually become one of the most famous voyages in British maritime history. During the journey the vessel was renamed the Golden Hinde , believed to have been in honour of Sir Christopher Hatton, whose coat of arms featured a golden hind. What followed was an extraordinary voyage. Drake sailed through the dangerous Strait of ...
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Location: St Mary Overie's Dock, Cathedral St, London SE1 9DE, UK
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The Splendour of Chinese Music Comes to Cambridge

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  Chinese Musical Heritage Takes Centre Stage in Cambridge Cambridge, UK – 12 September 2026 The extraordinary history and continuing evolution of traditional Chinese music were celebrated in Cambridge on 12 September, when musicians, academics and cultural figures from China and the United Kingdom came together for an afternoon of discussion and live performance. Held at Clare Hall College, University of Cambridge , Splendour of Chinese Music: From Heritage to the World marked the English edition of The Splendour of Traditional Chinese Music , while also looking beyond the book to consider how China's musical traditions can be preserved, developed and introduced to new audiences internationally. The event was co-hosted by Clare Hall College and TE Creatives , with support from the Cambridge Chinese Community Centre and the UK-China Culture and Arts Centre . Rather than being simply an academic discussion, the afternoon combined history and conversation with performances by ...
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Location: Herschel Rd, Cambridge CB3 9AL, UK
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