London, world city

I first started taking photographs of London venues named after foreign places in the summer of 2008, when a cafe called Madeira and a supermarket named Istanbul caught my eye.

In the interim, I've been to north, south, east and west - to Tooting, to Shepherds Bush, to Stratford and Cricklewood, taking photographs showing London's great cosmopolitanism. I've found more than a hundred venues, with the most popular names coming from the USA, Turkey, Portugal and Italy.

And now I've reached 100 images, I'm going to bring this project to a close. And to do that, here are four venues - Buenos Aires, Tokyo, New York and Paris - evoking great world cities, just as London is.

American-style, London-style

I first featured American-style venues from my 'foreign venues in London photos' on the day of the 2008 American presidential election.

More than a year on from Barack Obama's inauguration, it seems his profile could do with something of a makeover.

Maybe he could pop along to these venues - New York Nails, Las Vegas Nails and Hollywood Barbers and Hairdressers. Glam-o-rama.

Green Lanes: Turkish shops & cosmopolitanism

Continuing my series of London bars, cafés, shops and restaurants named after foreign places, I took a trip to Green Lanes. Given the sizeable Greek, Turkish and Cypriot communities living nearby, I expected to come away with many venues named after places in those countries.

I wasn't disappointed, with major cities counted for - Bodrum restaurant, Diyarbakir restaurant and Istanbul barbers and a closed cafe bar with the name Kibris (the Turkish name for Cyprus), but four of the many many venues bearing Turkish and Greek names.









Eastern European names also featured, with a Danube bakery and a derelict shop named after Moldova.






I was more surprised to find venues and shops named after more Western European cities - a Paris beauty salon (a place to become tres belle) and Milano restaurant.

USA in London

Today is America's big day - the election of a new president. I've found the following American-themed places in London - a motley crew: a casino, a restaurant and plenty takeaways.

Vegas Casino, Islington

Montana Wines, Clerkenwell



Texas Embassy, near Trafalgar Square




Dallas Chicken in Vauxhall




Chicago Pizza & Friend Chicken, South Lambeth Road



Tennessee Fried Chicken, Lavender Hill