I’m forever making lists of places to visit, sights, hotels, restaurants, pubs etc and often recommend some of them to visitors and clients.
Here are some of the places I think are interesting in London, in no particular order.
1. Tunnel under the Thames
This foot tunnel links Cutty Sark gardens at Greenwich and Island gardens on the Isle of Dogs and is 390 metres in length. It was being renovated when I went and will eventually have 2 working lifts to accompany the 88 steps down from the Island Gardens end and 100 steps up to Greenwich. It’s part of the UK’s National Cycle Route 1, linking Inverness and Dover, although you have to push your bike through rather than cycle. With all the tiles on the walls there’s an errie echo as you walk along.
Joan under the Thames
2. The Thin House - A great optical illusion
This house can be seen on the south terrace of Thurloe Square in Knightsbridge. It’s a wedge shape to fit in against the train line. It has to be seen to be believed.
Thin end of the Wedge
3. Savoy Court – Cars drive on the right
This is the only street in the UK where the traffic drives on the right. Indeed a special Act of Parliament granted permission for this, as the Savoy Theatre was on the right-hand side. Taxis can drop people off outside the theatre without turning round in front of the Savoy hotel, and when leaving can pickup a new fare from the hotel as they turn around.
The small roundabout at the main entrance meant vehicles needed a turning circle of 25′ in order to navigate it. To this day, this is the legally required turning circle for London taxis.
4. Traffic Light Tree – A Driver’s Nightmare
One of my personal favourites, it’s on the roundabout at the junction of Heron Quay bank, Marsh Wall and Westferry Road. It’s 26 foot high and has 75 lights which change in random order. What a great place to bring someone who’s just passed their test !!!
Can I go now ?
5. The Phoney House
This modern day follies can be found at 23 – 24 Leinster Terrace, Bayswater W2. The houses were demolished in 1863 when the Paddington to Farringdon tube line was built. Property agents insisted that the train company reconstruct the fronts and make them look like real houses, if you look carefully you’ll see that all 18 windows are greyed out and there are no letter boxes. You can see the rail line at the back of the houses from Porchester gardens, see picture below.
Where's the house gone ?
6. Sewer Gas Lamp – ‘Farting Lane’
This is in Carting Lane opposite the stage door of the Savoy Theatre. Until the 1950’s the bulb was illuminated by sewer gas from the bowel movements of the Savoy Guests, hence it’s nickname. It’s now lit up by normal gas.
7. Smallest house in London
At no 10 Hyde Park Place, this house is only 3′ 6″ wide. It’s now part of the Tyburn Convent. People thought it blocked a right of way to serve as a watch house overlooking an old graveyard – there was lots of body snatching in the 18th Century.
8. Giant wall socket and Plug
You can see this on the facade of an electricity sub station at the second floor level on Ganton Street, just off Carnaby Street.
9. Cable Street Mural
You can see this at 236 Cable Street, Shadwell, E1 0BL. It covers the wall of the former HQ of the International Brigade and depicts the 1936 rally against fascist leader Oswald Mosley which took place in the area and is known as the Battle of Cable Street.
Cable Street Mural
10. Vauxhall Bridge Sculptures
Unless you are travelling by boat or look over the parapet you might miss these. There are female bronze figures on either side depicting the functions of local government. Looking downstream are Drury’s figures for Government, Education, Fine Art and Science / Astronomy and facing upstream are Pomeroy’s for Agriculture, Architecture (holding a beautiful model of St Paul’s cathedral), Engineering and Pottery.
11. First shop in the world
25 Nelson Road, Greenwich, SE10 9JB
It’s claim to be the first shop in the world is due to it’s location at 4/10 of a minute west of the prime meridian. It’s now a shop selling Nautical memorabilia.
12. The ‘Sham’ Bridge
In the formal gardens at Kenwood House there is a pond which has a wooden bridge. It has a three span facade with a balustrade and when you look at it from the terrace or lawn in front of the house it gives an illusion of the water continuing beyond it.
13. London Walks
No trip would be complete without doing at least one guided walk. I’ve been doing these for many years and have never been disappointed. The guides are very informative and you get to see things you would never find on your own. See the list here.
Did you also know …..
The 02 dome is the largest roof in the World
Largest roof in the world
Bridget Driscoll was the first person in the world killed by a car (at 4 mph !!) in Crystal Palace back in 1896.
St Peter’s barge in West India Quay off Hertsmere Road E14 is London’s only floating church
