Ten great Twitter accounts for London lovers to follow in 2021

Written By Phineas Harper

Love it or hate it, Twitter is one the liveliest arenas for sharing images, ideas and and arguments about the world. Many fascinating people use Twitter to discuss London’s architecture from heritage issues to infrastructure to housing. If you’re doing some Twitter house keeping to start the year and are looking for new interesting voices to follow, we’ve compiled this list of accounts we like for their varied, inspiring, enraging and amusing commentary on London’s urban landscape.

Otto Saumarez Smith

@OSaumarezSmith

A historian and educator whose tweets about heritage issues and brilliant archive photographs are quickly earning him a growing following. Come for the lush historic photographs, stay for the sassy politically-engaged campaigning.

Russell Curtis

@russellcurtis

A practicing London-based architect and co-founder of RCKa Architects, Russell is a sharp observer of urban planning concerns and uses Twitter to cast light on important issues which may otherwise go unnoticed. If you are interested in where London’s urbanism is going wrong, follow Russell in 2021.

South London History

@S_LondonHistory

Tweet-sized chunks of South London history and heritage with a strong architectural flavour. At times melancholy mourning over lost treasures but always looking to the future too.

Ella Jessel

@EllaJessel

If you work in architecture or urbanism and don’t follow Ella Jessel you are missing a trick. Covering important stories about architecture in the UK in forensic detail for the AJ, her journalism is crucial, investigative and always timely.

Shit Planning

@planningshit

Despite their rude name, this account posts insightful and often hilarious commentary on the urban landscape in London and beyond. Expect some serious Twitter shade throwing when the urban realm falls short but sincere praise when architects and planners pull it out of the bag too.

Carole Wright

@Blak_Outside

Where nature and London collide, you’ll fine Carole, tweeting important stories about local history, under-represented community heroes, gardening and the environment.

Art, Architecture and Design at London Met

@LdnMetArts

Most university twitter accounts are, frankly, dull as ditch water. But not at London Met. The official Twitter accounts of the university’s art, architecture and design department often bursts with personality, sharing student proposals about the future of London and engaging with issues facing our city.

Harry Wilkin$

@hs_wilkins

Never knowingly not using all caps, Harry posts effusive praise for the best modern design and damning criticism of the worst. If you can get over the shouty style, this account serves up some excellent, if belligerent, points about contemporary and 20th century architecture with character.

John Grindrod

@Grindrod

It is never the wrong time to follow John Grindrod whose books, Concretopia and How to Love Brutalism are firm favourites of the Open City reading lists. John loves London deeply, particularly it’s lesser explored corners but can be relied upon to not pull his punches when duty calls.

Lucinda Rogers

@LucindaDraws

You might know Lucinda Roger’s for her beautiful drawings and paintings of London which are regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy summer exhibition and elsewhere. You may not also know she’s an avid campaigner for communities across London under threat from ill conceived development proposals.

Phineas Harper
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