I grew up playing the British version of Monopoly, whose properties are all in central London. The game begins at Old Kent Road and ends at Mayfair. In between are properties like The Strand, Trafalgar Square, and King’s Cross Station. You roll the dice to travel the board with your token, hoping to amass a fortune and bankrupt your opponents. The game ends with one exultant victor and everyone else out. I learned a lot of life skills playing this game.

I didn’t go to London often in my youth; Sheffield (my home) was a world away. I know it better now, thanks to regular train rides to London during my stay in England from 2022-23. London-opoly was my way of exploring London, putting my boots on the ground, and getting to know it in a more personal way. 

I photographed all the British Monopoly board properties, including train stations and utilities. I even photographed Free Parking (it doesn’t exist) and tokens (thank you, battleship HMS Belfast on the Thames; unfortunately, I never did see a Scottish Terrier). The gallery below shows a selection of photographs from this project, which I would love to publish, one fine day, as a book.