guardian.co.uk on tumblr

  1. Quote

    | 71 notes

    The London marathon is not a political event, and I’m not seeking to depict it as one. But each of us, participants and spectators alike, draws our own version of the moral meaning of the grueling, heartening, experience and, for me, this year’s, the 33rd, is already defined against the backdrop of a London that is changing for the worse.

    It comes at a time in its history when the capital has been casually claimed as a playground, financial killing field, and unofficial tax haven by the most worthless of the super rich, and used as a testing ground by a desperate, dishonest government for its policy of pinning blame for austerity on those least able to defend themselves. All of this goes on with the chortling approval of a dilettante London mayor, for whom City Hall is a mere public podium of convenience from which to pursue his private ambitions.

    The marathon, it seems to me, is nourished by the antithesis of this mean, destructive spirit. The efforts poured into it by ordinary people illustrate and resolve a potential paradox: on the one hand, it is an intensely individual and competitive event, with most of those running engaged in a grinding struggle with their own bodies and minds; on the other, and simultaneously, it is a huge collective endeavour largely conducted for the benefit of others.

    Dave Hill: Why its marathon shows London at its best 

  3. Gallery

    | 288 notes

    Another then and now..

    Queen Elizabeth II surfaces during her first public engagement for more than a week following illness. Members of the Royal family visited Baker Street Underground Station to mark the 150th anniversary of the London Underground Photograph: Tim Rooke/Rex Features And here she is in March 1969 travelling on the tube after the official opening ceremony of London Underground’s Victoria Line, 7th March 1969. Photograph: Fox Photos/Getty Images

  4. Photo

    | 83 notes
    An archeologist measuring a skeleton found during an excavation of a tunnel at a site in Farringdon, London. So far 13 skeletons have been found and are believed to date from the time of the Black Death in the mid-14th century. For a round up of the most eye-catching images of the day see picture desk live Photograph: Crossrail/EPA

    An archeologist measuring a skeleton found during an excavation of a tunnel at a site in Farringdon, London. So far 13 skeletons have been found and are believed to date from the time of the Black Death in the mid-14th century.

    For a round up of the most eye-catching images of the day see picture desk live

    Photograph: Crossrail/EPA

  5. Photo

    | 82 notes
    Architecture: Debate the race for the sky Are tall buildings proving a blight on British cities? Join us for a lively debate on the issue with architects, planners and others London’s skyline in 2012, represented in the style of the London tube map. Illustration for the Observer 

    Architecture: Debate the race for the sky

    Are tall buildings proving a blight on British cities? Join us for a lively debate on the issue with architects, planners and others

    London’s skyline in 2012, represented in the style of the London tube map. Illustration for the Observer 

  9. Video

    | 21 notes

    Amateur footage on Wednesday shows a plume of smoke coming from the scene of a helicopter crash in Vauxhall, south-west London. Burning fuel is strewn along a street. The aircraft is thought to have collided with a crane and come down in flames after cartwheeling to the ground. Two cars were also involved in the accident. Two people were confirmed to have been killed

    (Source: Guardian)

About

A selection of stories, photos, quotes, video and audio from guardian.co.uk, curated by James Walsh, Hannah Waldram, Carmen Fishwick and the Guardian's editorial team. We are also editors of the news tag.

People we follow

Stuff we like

Follow Guardian comment on Twitter

    Follow @CommentisFree on Twitter