You may not know it, but London in the 1920s gave birth to a rather curious architectural subset of the Art Deco movement – Egyptian Revival Architecture. 

The world had gone gaga over the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 and this obsession manifested itself in some quirky and wonderful buildings including Museum House on Shaftesbury Avenue

Few buildings remain, but luckily, the most impressive example, Carreras Cigarette Factory can still be found on a busy road in Mornington Crescent. 

The History of Carreras Cigarette Factory

Designed by Marcus Evelyn and O.H Collins and AG Porri – the theme was a canny choice, intended to capture the fashion of the time and as a backdrop for Carrera’s distinctive black cat logo. No surprises that it’s often nicknamed The Black Cat Factory. 

Carreras Cigarette Factory really took the Egyptian theme to the max – with onyx cats and elegant pillars very much at odds with the Georgian architecture surrounding it. 

The first construction in London to use pre-stressed concrete, at the time it was built it was actually the biggest reinforced concrete factory in the UK and the world’s largest cigarette factory too. The building was completed in 1928, and named the Arcadia Works Building and Carreras were so pleased with it, they put it on the back of their cigarette cards.

On a less savoury note, rumour has it that Hitler had also earmarked it as a potential UK HQ – along with the University of Oxford – thanks to its eye-catching design.

Like many London buildings, the tale of Carreras is no simple one. Fierce criticism led to it being largely homogenised in the sixties when it was being turned into office space – the pillars were squared up and the Egyptianising decorations were removed. The original bronze cats were sent to Carreras other factories and the building was left looking somewhat sorry for itself.

Decades later, it was then partially restored in 1998 – 1999, though many of the details you see today (including those iconic cats) are replicas rather than the originals. 

These days it’s plain old office blocks inside (which you can’t access) but you can have a good nose around from the outside.

Practical Information and Map

Address: Greater London House, Hampstead Rd, London NW1 7FB

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This is the very spot where the Great Fire eventually burned itself out – during a five day rampage that saw it burn The City of London and approximately 70,000 homes within it, to cinders.  

The Golden Boy of Pye Corner is the other monument to the Great Fire of London – not the one erected by Sir Christopher Wren, but its smaller and less obtrusive alternative. 

A Monument to The Fire of London

The Golden Boy monument was put in place to stop the decades of misinformation and rumour that had swirled around the question of what actually caused the fire. 

The first suspect was an unhinged Frenchman called Robert Hubert who confessed to starting the fire… only for authorities to find out after he’d been executed that he hadn’t arrived in the country until two days after it started. Next was the Catholics, who were blamed for setting the city alight as part of a Papist plot to bring down London. 

William Lilly, an astrologer who’d predicted the fire in a pamphlet entitled Monarchy or No Monarchy published 15 years prior, narrowly escaped his condemned execution by an earnest plea to a special committee in the Commons on the basis that he had no idea of when the fire would happen. 

Finally, the fire was traced to the bakery on Pudding Lane – and thus the fat lad Golden Boy was erected near Farringdon and caste in gilded bronze as a reminder that gluttony was the true cause of the fire. 

Read the inscription “This Boy is in Memory Put up for the late FIRE of LONDON Occasion’d by the Sin of Gluttony.” – you’ll no doubt remember it the next time you reach for that second cupcake.

The more eagle-eyed among you will no doubt have noticed that the building its housed in looks a lot more modern than the monument – the boy used to reside in the front of a pub called the Fortune of War in the same location, but that was pulled down in 1910 and he was remounted on the building that replaced it.

Interestingly, as the longer plaque closer to ground level points out, The Fortune of War was also a popular spot for body snatchers in the 19th century – the snatchers would bring the bodies to the pub and the surgeons from St Bart’s Hospital across the road would come and purchase them for research. Cheery associations all around then.

Golden Boy of Pye Corner: Practical Information and Map 

Address: Giltspur St, Farringdon, London EC1A 9DD 

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On the face of it, it looks like the other gas lamps dotted around the area, but the Patent Sewer Ventilating Lamp is anything but. 

The Story of the Gas Destructor Lamp

To understand the lamp, you need to cast your mind back to the 19th century, when London was a noxious place with unsavoury sanitation habits that gave rise to The Great Stink of 1858. 

The illustrious minds of Victorian society put their heads together, seeking a solution to the city’s festering problem – and, spearheaded by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, came up with the sewage system that’s largely still in use in the city today. 

One particular issue remained. As it sludged and slurried through the pipes, the sewage emitted noxious fumes that smelt rather disgusting and gave rise to a real fear that the methane gases in the sewers could cause them to explode.

To fix the problem, holes were drilled to allow the gases to escape. The issue was… they smelled totally awful. So a bright young inventor, Joseph Webb, came up with the idea of creating a lamp that would burn off the gases and illuminate the street.

The column of the lamp is hollow, so gases from the sewers can ascend from the sewer to the lamp to be burnt off – no noxious fumes and with the added benefit of lighting the streets at the same time.

The first version of the lamp was intended to solely be powered by the methane in the sewers, but it proved too unreliable and the lamps kept going out. 

Webb then modified the design so they could be operated both by the sewer gas and the standard gas network, and thus the Patent Sewer Ventilating lamps were installed across the city. 

Thanks to changes in the plumbing system, the ventilating lamps became obsolete over time. They were removed, one by one and now the Carting Lane – aptly nicknamed Farting Lane by the cheeky locals – lamp is the sole remaining one in existence.

London Sewer Lamp: Map

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Why does the pump exist? More importantly, what’s the story behind it (it’s London after all – everything has a story, if only you dig deep enough)?

The History of the Broad Street Pump

The answer isn’t a nice one. 

Cholera. That brutal and often deadly disease, first reported in England in 1831, had London firmly in its grip in the 1850s. Outbreaks were frequent, killing large numbers of people at a time… worst of all, scientists weren’t even sure how it spread. 

It was in the midst of one particularly vicious outbreak in August and September of 1854 that a local scientist, John Snow (no, not the Game of Thrones hottie, focus people, focus) confirmed his suspicions that rather than spreading through the air and miasma, cholera in fact spread through water. 

The disease killed almost 600 people in the area in those two months alone, but that number would undoubtedly have been higher were it not for Snow. 

Dr Snow operated in Soho, at 54 Frith Street as a surgeon and GP – so was well placed to investigate the 1854 outbreak. Suspecting that the local water pump sat at the heart of the outbreak, Snow set off to prove his theory. 

Snow noted that none of the employees of a local Soho brewery developed cholera – thank to the fact that they drank water from the brewery (which had a different source from the offending pump) or just drank beer alone. 

He traced all the cholera patients, asking them if they had drunk water from the pump, creating a dot map to illustrate the cases in the area around the offending item. 

The evidence was overwhelming. In Snow’s own words  “Within 250 yards of the spot where Cambridge Street joins Broad Street there were upwards of 500 fatal attacks of cholera in 10 days…”

This information in hand, he spoke to local officials and persuaded them to remove the handle from the pump so water could no longer be drawn from it. The result? The outbreak declined and shortly came to an end. 

It was later discovered that the source for the pump stood mere metres from a cesspit (that’s Victorian London for you) in which a contaminated nappy had been washed. The bacteria from the nappy leached into the pump water and caused the outbreak. 

Snow’s Legacy

Despite the evidence, it wasn’t for over another ten years that Snow’s theory was accepted by the medical establishment as fact. Changes were made to the water supplies that ended cholera outbreaks in the UK. 

Unfortunately, Snow never lived to see his theory put into wider practice. He died after a severe stroke in 1858 at the age of 45. His legacy lives on – not least in the unobtrusive pump on Broad Street. 

Seeing the Replica of the Pump

The pump – a replica of the long-removed original – was unveiled in 1992 to commemorate the work of Dr Snow. 

The original is marked by a small kerbstone and a plaque on the side of the pub a few metres away.

Map

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I’ll wager you’ve heard of some of London’s nicknames – like The Big Smoke – but maybe not some of the others… The Great Wen anyone? 

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” William Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet.

Whatever Shakespeare’s thoughts on the immateriality of names, London’s nicknames tell you a lot about the city’s past. Let’s explore. 

Nicknames for London

The Great Wen

Now, I’ll put my hand up and say that I hadn’t ever actually heard someone call London by the nickname of The Great Wen… but the story behind it is too good to pass up. 

A wen is another word for a boil or a sebaceous cyst. 

London was growing rapidly in the early 1800s. 

So William Cobbet, an English pamphleteer, journo, member of Parliament and farmer came up with the nickname The Great Wen to refer to the expanding city. 

The Swelling Boil just doesn’t have the same ring I guess. 

The Big Smoke, The Smoke or The Old Smoke

Much as we might complain about the poor air quality in London today, it’s nothing to the great smogs that used to plague the capital. London’s always had a bit of a reputation for being a bit foggy and grey but this was vastly increased by the Industrial Revolution. 

The Industrial Revolution led to the rapid building of millions of buildings in London – and millions of air-polluting chimneys alongside them, which, in turn, made the fogs thicker and more persistent.

The problem carried on getting worse and worse until 1952 when The Great Smog of London killed thousands of people when it raged for four days straight between the 5th and 9th December. 

It resulted in sweeping air pollution reforms and laws including the Clean Air Act of 1956. 

The City

While London is clearly a city, and a pretty sprawling one at that, The City technically only refers to the Square Mile that was the historic centre of London. 

It’s where you find the majority of London’s Roman ruins (like the stellar Mithraeum) and many more of the buildings of bygone days. 

Even today, it’s run by the City of London Corporation and has its own police force and Lord Mayor of the City of London. 

Prior to the 11th century, much of the country’s power and authority rested within The City – a fact that Edward the Confessor didn’t like very much. 

He started building what was to become The City of Westminster to wrest power away from The City of London and started a centuries old beef that still means The Queen (or any other monarch of the UK) is not allowed to step foot in the City of London without the permission of its Lord Mayor. 

Read Next: City of London Area Guide – What to See, Do and Skip

The Swinging City

It’s hard to believe it in a day when it costs a million pounds and the blood of your firstborn to buy a stamp-sized flat in London but the city was at the centre of the cultural revolution that shook up the UK in the 60s. 

Hedonism, opportunity, weird floral patterns – it was out with the staid postwar culture and in with the new and London was blazing the way. 

You know you’re doing something right as a city when the then Editor-in-Chief of Vogue (Diana Vreedland)  calls you “the most swinging city in the entire world”. Beat that. 

Reykjavik-on-Thames

This one was thrown up by the last financial crisis (the 2008 one rather than the one we’re heading for in 2020) and is a disparaging reference to the similarities between the financial instability of Iceland, one of the earliest casualties of the recession, and the then teetering London. 

This rather scathing quotation from the New York Times in 2009 says it all. 

“An island nation that bulked up on debt and lived beyond its means. A plunging currency. And a financial system edging toward nationalization. With the pound at a multi-decade low and British banks requiring ever-larger injections of taxpayer cash, it is no wonder that observers have started to refer to London as “Reykjavik-on-Thames.” 

Ouch. Not so swinging now.

Londontown 

Don’t get too excited because: 

1. This one isn’t even that interesting and 
2. It’s factually incorrect anyway (the horror) 

Nicknaming London as Londontown (oh, how original) was first started by a rather gushy wartime song called A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square written in 1939 with lyrics by Eric Maschwitz and music by Manning Sherwin. To give you an idea of the level of gushiness we’re talking about, here’s an extract from said song… 

“But I’m perfectly willing to swear

That when you turned and smiled at me

A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

The moon that lingered over London town.” 

Saccharine sweet. 

And Finally… Londinium to London

There’s a long (and not that interesting) history behind where London got its name but if you want the TLDR version, it goes a little something like this.

Romans invaded Britain, founded a trading settlement on the northern bank of the Thames and called it Londinium. That was around 43AD. 

In the many, many years that followed, London got called all kinds of things: Londinio, Londini, Londiniensium and Augusta (wut?) before we all agreed to settle on London.

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It used to be that the most exciting colour you’d see on a bird was the red plumage on an aggressive robin, but that was before a band of rose-ringed parakeets expanded their grip on London. 

Rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula Krameri) proliferate in London. In 2012 it was estimated there were around 32,000 of them – a number that would have risen significantly in subsequent years thanks to their rather voracious breeding habits. 

But how did these feral parakeets – native to Africa and the Indian Subcontinent – come to rule London’s skies? 

Turns out the answer isn’t as easy to find as you might think… but the road to discovery is quite a ride, careering through rumours of bust-ups between pop stars, massive storms and burgled houses. 

Why are There Parakeets in London?

Ask ten city-dwellers about how the green parakeets came to London and we’ll wager you get ten different stories (well, more likely five different stories and a few blank stares). 

They range from the near-believable to the downright bizarre – proof if ever you needed it that Londoners can spin a good yarn from even the simplest of events. 

Jimi Hendrix

In 1968, Jimi Hendrix, giddy with the high of having released his final studio album, Electric Ladyland, strolled into the streets of Mayfair. 

He bore a birdcage in his hands, paying little attention to the traffic that blared down the streets, the suits that passed him on the pavement. Rather surprisingly, given that he was one of the biggest rock stars of the decade, he too was ignored. 

Instead, as Hendrix reached Carnaby Street, his eyes remained fixed on the birdcage, more specifically its two inhabitants – a pair of rose-ringed parakeets named Quant and Halston. The moment arrived and he stopped dead, opening the door of the cage and setting the two birds free. 

Over time, two became four, four became eight and the wild parrots spread across London. 

The Great Storm of 1987 

Wait, wait, that doesn’t sound right. Everyone knows that the first wild parakeets were spied in London much later than that. Remember the Great Storm of 1987 when a hurricane ripped through the British Isles? 

The storm blew through a house near Esher, caving in its windows and emptying the contents of the front room all over the lawn and into the road. 

Amidst all the confusion it took a couple of days before the family realised their prized pair of breeding parakeets had escaped. Once, the youngest thought he spied one of them in the local park – it wasn’t long before the local paper started reporting sightings of a small flock of parakeets. 

The African Queen 

No, both of those are wrong. The real history lies in the filming of The African Queen in 1951. The film’s stars, Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn were filming at Isleworth Studios.

The director, John Huston wanted the film to look as realistic as possible so he ordered for a flock of parakeets to be brought on set, ready for their appearance on the silver screen. 

The wily birds, bored of waiting for their moment to shine took umbrage at what they saw as a failure to respect their precious time, escaped into the wilds, stealthily growing in number since. 

George Michael vs Boy George 

Others say it was a burglary of George Michael’s home that did it – those that say it was a bust-up between Michael and Boy George disagree, but only on the means of escape – they’re also convinced the tale of London’s parakeets lies at Michael’s door.

Yet more tell you equally lurid theories – their earnest faces and dead serious eyes almost convincing you they’re speaking the truth.

Parrot Fever

In recent years scientists working to discover how London came to have so many parakeets have come up with a very interesting theory…

During the previous century owning parrots was very popular, but not without its perceived risks. That risk? Parrot fever!

Scientifically known as Psittacosis, parrot fever can kill. Researchers believe that word of this spreading through the news caused people to release their birds on such a scale that the population was able to take root. 

What’s more, they’ve gone on to try and prove this using techniques akin to forensic science. The scientists mapped 50 years of parakeet sightings in London using techniques that the police use to track the movement of a serial killer. Yes, genuinely. 

Their research pointed them in the direction of a handful of locations including Syon Park, Worton Hall Studios, and (Jimi Hendrix did you really do this?) Carnaby Street. 

They have also looked back through old news and traced the major releases of birds to two time periods, 1929-1931 and 1952 – the first of which actually coincides with an outbreak of 

Psittacosis. 

It’s still just a theory, but one that sounds pretty compelling to us.

Disproving the Myths

Ok, so how did parakeets come to London really? Unfortunately, the truth appears to be a lot more boring than any of these urban legends would have you believe. 

Although scientists can’t pinpoint the date or location that birthed the flocks of green parrots with absolute certainty, they can tell you that they did not originate from a single place or a single time. 

It makes sense when you think about it. Londoners’ affinity for keeping parakeets as pets stretches back hundreds of years. It was almost inevitable that some were going to escape into the wild. 

First Sightings and an Ideal Habitat 

Recorded sightings of wild parakeets in London date back to 1893 when a pair were reported in Dulwich. They grew in frequency, to the point that today no one would think to even report it – doing so would be akin to reporting seeing a pigeon on Trafalgar Square.  

Part of their success can be ascribed to London’s abundance of green spaces (it falls within the UN definition of a forest after all). Used to the much colder climes of regions like the lower parts of the Himalayas, London, with its relatively warm and wet winters is no challenge. 

A Little Science 

We should also consider that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature states that any given species needs at least 50 healthy individuals to populate a new habitat. 

They also say that for a population to cope with threats like disease, competition, predators etc. they need at least 500 healthy individuals. 

Given that parakeets are so ubiquitous in London these days we can assume that even early on their numbers would have trumped the figures given by the IUCN. 

That kind of puts an end to the theory that all this starts with Hendrix or George Michael then…

Where to Find Parakeets in London?

An easier question would probably be where not to find them. 

Parakeets have spread far and wide across London, you’ll find large flocks in Mitcham Common, Kensington Gardens, Lewisham Crematorium, Esher Rugby Club, Battersea Park and pretty much everywhere in Kingston Upon Thames. 

You can also see them regularly in any of London’s major parks. We always seem to catch a good look at a flock in Victoria Park. 

The best place to get up close and personal with the Parakeets is in Kensington Gardens – they’re very used to human contact here.

If in doubt, follow the loud squawks.

Feeding The Parakeets

London’s parakeets feel so at home in the big city that many of them will eat right out of your hand. This can happen anywhere you’ll find the birds, but as we said, the ones in Kensington Gardens are particularly friendly. 

If you want to feed the birds you’ll want to bring your own feed. Nuts and seeds are their favourite. Contrary to popular belief bread is actually not great for them so avoid picking bits off your sandwich – the birds will still eat it. 

This next tip might sound obvious, but it’s worth mentioning: you’ll want to stay as still as you can. These lovely little creatures are still pretty flighty (no pun intended) and won’t come anywhere near you unless you clearly show you’re not a threat, and that you’ve got something to eat of course. 

What You Need to Know… 

Are Parakeets a Problem in London?

The sheer number of Parakeets in London has led to worries that the newcomers may overwhelm native species. Scientists’ main worry is that other species could eventually become extinct.

That said, it’s too early to tell how their presence has affected native species. Despite much worry and speculation, there’s no concrete evidence they’re particularly detrimental – but the jury’s still out.

Are the Parakeets Going to Be Culled? 

If you want to see the parakeets there’s a chance you may need to *ahem* shake a tail feather – these little beauties are so common across London that many campaigns have been led to cull them and end their very cute reign of terror. 

All the petitions to remove the birds have been unsuccessful so far – Londoners just love their parakeets a bit too much. Then again, all it takes is one rouge parrot-hater looking for an axe to grind. 

There have been a few isolated cases of culling. For example, between 2017 and 2019 gamekeepers at Richmond Park (also a great place to see parakeets) set out to cull the birds with the aim of keeping the population in control. Though they only got around to taking out 117 of them. 

The post So… Why On Earth Are There So Many Parakeets in London? appeared first on London x London.

Packed with delicious restaurants, charming bars, and plenty of Italian culture, this area is one of the coolest (yet underrated) spots to hang out in the capital.

If you’re confused, don’t fret – we’ve got the low down on the where, what, and why, and we’ll be covering everything you need to know about Little Italy.

Ready to explore? Andiamo!

First Up, Where is it?

Little Italy, which you might have seen referred to as the Italian Hill or Italian Quarter, is an area in London based around Clerkenwell Road, Farringdon Road, and Roseberry Avenue. 

It was once home to thousands of working class Italians – around 12,000 in 1895 according to the Italian Consulate – and although numbers have diminished more recently, a fair few remain. 

The cultural remnants and stories of those Italians still echo through this part of central London today.

History of Little Italy

Italy is now known as a land of fine food, wine, art and architecture. The home of opera, cradle of the Renaissance, and home to a vast array of beautiful cities, beaches, and country villas.

So, what were Italians doing in London in the first place? There’s no one reason. 

Some were skilled workers who came to London for the same reason talented people ever come to a big city; more opportunity to deploy their trade fruitfully. 

Later waves were driven less by opportunism than by necessity, as parts of Italy – especially in the south of the country – suffered from deprivation.

The First Migrants

The first Italians to settle in the area arrived in the early 19th century from Northern Italy. Displaced by the Napoleonic wars of expansion, these first Italians chose what became Little Italy to settle as the area was seen as a centre of craftsmanship.

In the ensuing years, the Italian wars of unification saw a further wave of migrants arrive from Italy, with the Clerkenwell area chosen as the place to be due to the affordable accommodation in what was then considered a slum area.

The Italian community slowly grew, with a Catholic free school founded by an Italian priest in 1842. Forty years later, Giovanni Ortelli, a well-known and rich businessman, built a hospital for Italian speakers in Queen Square which was free to patients, thanks to funding from donations.

An Explosion of Culture

Many of the latter group came to join what is nowadays known as the ‘hospitality’ industry, or worked as domestic servants in the households of the wealthy. 

Those who were able to save up, or were lucky to join those already established in the city, set up and ran small businesses to serve their own community and introduce Londoners to their culture. 

Perhaps the most famous venture for Italian immigrants was selling Gelato, or ice-cream, a newly affordable food due to developments in cooling technology during the 19^th century. In fact, it’s estimated that there were over 900 ice cream sellers in this area in the 1890s.

Lace wear and hat making – as memorialised in Virginia Woolf’s iconic London novel, Mrs Dalloway – were also professions associated with Italian migrants. 

While Italy is now known as being the home of high fashion, these earlier indications of Italian prowess in the world of clothing were only recognised as being lower class jobs, employed in the service of upper class women in London.

A Colourful Past

Italians all around the world have long carried with them heavy cultural stereotypes – this is no different in our capital. In particular, for flamboyance, noise and (potentially) criminal activities. 

The mafia stereotype is one that has haunted Italian immigrants the world over, and though it certainly unfairly tarnished the vast majority of migrants, there was some criminality among those in Little Italy. 

Charles ‘Derby’ Sabini was just one of the gang leaders among the Italian migrants in London. To this day, it’s a well-known urban legend that all the ice cream vans in London are really a cover for mafioso activities. 

Even as early as the 1850s, the area was associated with crime – Dickens’ Artful Dodger took Oliver Twist to visit Fagan, who lived on Roseberry Avenue that runs from Holborn to Clerkenwell.

London’s Political Ties 

A colourful cast of characters emigrated from Italy to London at this time, perhaps the most famous being Giuseppe Mazzini, a key figure in the fight to unify Italy in the mid-19th century. 

The Genoan was a radical, a proponent of social-democratic republicanism in a nation of fractured city states. He would go on to have an extraordinary political influence on major figures like Lloyd George, Gandhi, and David Ben-Gurion. 

He sought refuge as a political exile in London, and a blue plaque can be found in Little Italy today, highlighting where he used to live during his years of exile.

In the 19th century, London wasn’t just the centre of the Industrial Revolution and the world’s largest empire – it was also a place of relative political tolerance, and many intellectuals and revolutionaries lived here.

Little Italy during WW2

Italy declared war on the United Kingdom on 11th June 1940, as Mussolini sought to feast on the remains of France as she fell to German invasion. This led to a huge increase in anti-Italian sentiment across the country, with riots in London against the Italian community.

Seen as a threat to national security, Churchill instructed the authorities to “collar the lot!” and Italian men between the ages of 17 and 60 were arrested and sent to internment camps. This included the likes of John Sperni, the mayor of St Pancras, and also saw an end to the power of the Sabini family’s dominance as the UK government requisitioned Italian businesses.

Things to do in Little Italy Today 

Clerkenwell underwent some serious changes in the early 20^th century – slum clearance, major infrastructure overhauls, property developments, and more general terrorising of blue-collar workers. 

Much of the Italian influence in Little Italy we see today is less from the original immigrants in the 19^th century but from new arrivals and those trying to sell a little slice of the Mediterranean lifestyle to Londoners whose appetite for all things Italian remains undimmed. 

The area is also home to the Consulate General of Italy in London, and an Italian language driving school.

Delis & Restaurants 

In particular, Londoners have recently gone mad for ‘aperitivo’ culture and today, as you can imagine, the best things to do in Little Italy revolve around food and drink.

Terroni’s

Terroni’s of Clerkenwell can boast of being the oldest Italian deli in Britain, dating its origins back to 1878, meaning that this stunning little eatery is approaching its 150th birthday.

Situated next door to St Peter’s Church in Holborn, Terroni is no longer owned by the Terroni family. After closing in 2003, a new version of Terroni was opened in 2012 combining the much-loved deli with another delicacy Italians are famed for, coffee.

Stacked with authentic Italians brands, such as De Cecco, Pozzi, Negroni, Perugina and enough different wines from Tuscany, Umbria, Puglia, and the Italian islands, one visit to Terroni’s will give you a massive hankering to book yourself a holiday.

Luca

Luca is a stunning Italian restaurant with a beautiful bottle-green facade that gives way to a dining experience that suddenly transports you to the gorgeous rolling hills of Tuscany. This up-market restaurant and bar uses the best seasonal ingredients for an authentic Italian dining experience.

Although on the pricey side, the food is worth every penny. Monkfish crudo with pickled beetroots, apple and horseradish buttermilk, Tagliatelle of rabbit and Celeriac croustade with castelluccio lentils. If that hasn’t made your mouth water, nothing will!

Santoré

If it’s authentic Italian pizza you’re after, Santoré on Exmouth Street is an unmissable experience. Its sprawling brown exterior covers some lovely street seating, where you can sit with your wood-fired pizza and glass of vino, watching the world go by just as you might in Naples or Bari.

It’s not just pizza; the menu caters to almost everything you could want from an affordable but good Italian restaurant. Pasta, fish, meat, and salads of all descriptions – if you manage to get beyond the incredible range of Antipasti on offer first.

The seafood risotto is perfect, as is the Tonnata pizza that comes without cheese. Trust us, it works!

St Peter’s Church

St Peter’s Church, commissioned in the mid-19^th century, remains a community focal point. The procession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is held annually on the first Sunday after the 16^th July – decorated floats began to appear in the 1950s and have continued to this day.

The church is now a grade 2 listed building and initially met plenty of opposition before it was built. It took 18 years to build following the idea’s genesis from Vincenzo Palloti in 1845 to its opening on 16th April 1863. It was based on the Basilica San Crisogono in Rome, yet designed by Italian architect Sir John Miller-Bryson.

St Peter’s was the first Italian church outside Italy, while its bell, known as “The Steel Monster” is one of the largest in any Catholic church in the UK, weighing in at 3.5 tonnes. During World War II, displaced Polish Catholics were allowed to worship and hold mass in Polish.

In the church’s loggia are two wall memorials. The first is to commemorate the Italian Britons who lost their lives in World War I, and the other remembers the 446 Italians that were killed during the winking of the SS Arandora Star in 1940.

Little Italy London: Map

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When we first stumbled across Cleopatra’s Needle, we had to do a double-take – it might just top the list of random London landmarks that barely make any sense.

Which is saying a lot really, as the capital is filled with so many weird and wonderful things to see and do.  

But what exactly is this Egyptian obelisk for? And why on earth is it in London? 

If you’ve never heard of Cleopatra’s Needle, allow us to explain it all. And make sure you stick around for some interesting little facts at the end.

Wait, What is Cleopatra’s Needle?

Cleopatra’s Needle is situated on the Victoria Embankment, smack bang between Waterloo Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges.

Standing at 21 metres tall and weighing a hefty 224 tons, the Egyptian obelisk is covered in ancient hieroglyphs and overlooks the Thames.

It was first gifted to the UK by the ruler of Egypt and Sudan, Muhammed Ali, in 1819 as a nod to the victories of Lord Nelson and Sir Ralph Abercromby at the Battle of the Nile and the Battle of Alexandria, respectively.

The History of the Obelisk 

Egyptian Beginnings 

The relocation of the obelisk might seem a little random, but Cleopatra’s Needle has a long and fascinating history that led to it eventually being sent to London from Alexandria (which was known as the royal city of Cleopatra). 

It was created from granite (sourced from near the Nile) for Pharaoh Totmes III in 1460 BC and used to stand in Heliopolis. 

Originally, the obelisk had only one block of text on each side, with other inscriptions on either side of the original ones added in later years by Ramesses II to highlight his important victories as Pharaoh.

In 12 BC, the Needle was moved to Alexandria inside the Caesareum – a temple built by the Romans at the request of Cleopatra. 

It, and its twin obelisk that now stands in New York City, were pulled down in later years, though. This provided them with a stroke of luck; it helped to preserve most of the hieroglyphs and prevent them from weathering away.

Cleopatra’s Needle Comes to London 

Okay… but how on earth did they haul it over to London?

Fast forward a few hundred thousand years and one of Cleopatra’s Needle was to be given to the British. 

While the government of Lord Liverpool was flattered by the gift, they decided that they did not want to fund the obelisk’s long and arduous transportation to London (charming, really). 

It wasn’t until 1867, however, when James Edward Alexander visited Concord in Paris that he decided that London was bereft without a colossal Egyptian obelisk.

He had heard that the owner of the land in Alexandria (where the British Needle was situated) intended to break Cleopatra’s Needle up and use it as building material. Curiosity piqued, Alexander got his mates on board, and together they funded the cost of shipping the Needle to London.

And so the Needle’s horrific journey by sea began in 1877.

The Voyage from Hell

Manned by a crew of Maltese sailors, the needle was encased in an iron cylinder that was then fitted with a deckhouse, mast, rudder and steering gear. This makeshift craft was called ‘Cleopatra’ and was towed by the steamship ‘Olga’.

After becoming stranded somewhere near Spain, Olga’s skipper dispatched members of his crew to rescue sailors from Cleopatra.

Sadly, the rescuers perished, and today their names are commemorated on plaques at the base of the obelisk in London today. The sailors from the Cleopatra were rescued and taken to safety near the Bay of Biscay. It was initially assumed in London that the Cleopatra had sunk, yet news of a sighting by Spanish trawlers made its way to England.

It took a while for the obelisk to arrive in London, eventually arriving on the Thames in September 1878. After a perilous voyage, the government could finally breathe a sigh of relief as Cleopatra’s Needle was winched into the very same position it still stands in today.

What You Need to Know: Quirky Facts About London’s Most Famous Obelisk 

There Are Actually Three Needles (Although Only One in London)

There are three famous Cleopatra’s Needles across the globe. The Obelisks in London and New York are a pair, while the one in Paris has a twin in Luxor in Egypt.

Cleopatra’s Needle is Flanked by Two Sphinxes

If you look closely at Cleopatra’s Needle, you’ll find that the obelisk is flanked by two bronze Egyptian sphinxes designed by the British architect George John Vulliamy.

Look even closer and you’ll notice that the cats are facing the wrong way – this is believed to be due to an error during the installation.

Decorating the cool cats is a pair of hieroglyphic inscriptions reading “Netjer nefer men-kheper-re di ankh” which translates to “the good god, Thuthmosis III given life”.

There’s a Time Capsule Buried Under The Obelisk

Believe it or not, there’s actually a treasure trove buried deep underneath the Needle. 

When the obelisk finally arrived in the capital, the Victorians decided to mark the occasion by planting a time capsule. 

While we don’t recommend digging it up (you might just end up being thrown in the Tower of London), it’s said there are children’s toys, razors, railway books, copies of the Bible, a portrait of Queen Victoria, and, most bizarrely, 12 paintings of ‘pretty ladies’ that were hand-picked by Captain Henry Carter*.

*Captain creepy, more like.

The Ship Carrying The Obelisk Was Immediately Destroyed

After what can only be described as a horrendous journey across the globe, the ship carrying the Needle was disassembled immediately after Cleopatra’s Needle was removed from it on the 6th July 1878. 

It was probably for the best.

The Obelisk was Bombed During World War I

On 4th September 1917, less than forty years after the obelisk arrived in London, the German air force carried out an air raid on London. A bomb thrown from a raiding bomber landed near the needle, causing damage to the ancient obelisk.

By way of commemorating the raid, the damage was unrepaired and remains visible in the guise of shrapnel holes on the right of the two sphinxes. The raid is also marked by a plaque mounted on the damaged plinth.

The Needle Isn’t Named After Queen Cleopatra

We’ll be honest, we’d initially assumed that the needle was named after the famous Queen Cleopatra. However, that’s not the case.

Instead, the obelisk and its twin now in New York City, was named after the city of Cleopatra, where it was first erected. Now the city of Alexandria, the obelisk’s name originates in the same way that London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, takes its name from its original Thames-spanning location!

The Needle was Restored in 2005

As you’d expect from a stone monument built thousands of years ago, age had begun to take its toll on this beautiful structure.

In 2005, gentle restoration work was undertaken to maintain the structure and the two guarding Sphinxes. However, great care was taken not to alter the obelisk, nor repair the wartime damage from 1917. 

Practical Information & Map 

Location

Cleopatra’s Needle is situated next to Victoria Embankment Gardens – the nearest tube stations are Embankment and Charing Cross.

The post Cleopatra’s Needle – The Curious Tale of the Obelisk That’s Travelled From Egypt to the Embankment appeared first on London x London.

From forestry to fire, disaster to destitution, and one or two well-known facts that are actually red herrings. We’ve been dipping deep into the history books to find compelling, quirky, and, in some cases, scarcely believable trivia facts about our great city.

So, if you want to wow your London-based mates on a night out, what are you waiting for? It’s time to discover some fun, strange and interesting facts about London. 

Interesting Facts About London

London Had a Gin Craze, and it was… Crazy 

No, we’re not kidding you. If you think that Londoners are obsessed with gin now, try London in the 18th century. 

It’s a little-known fun fact about London that the city officially went through a period called the Gin Craze between 1720 and 1751.

During the peak of the craze, the average consumption of gin was 2 pints per week – for every person in the city – including children. 

The craze started when Parliament deregulated the distilling trade to deal with a surplus of corn – distillers flooded the market with cheap liquor and all hell broke loose. It finally ended when laws were passed to restrict the distilling and selling of gin.  

Paddington Contains Two Fake Houses Built to Hide a Tube Line – They Also Pop Up in Sherlock 

The Fake Houses of Leinster Gardens might look like normal houses – you need to walk around to the back of them to reveal the truth – that they’re completely fake.

The two houses are only a metre or so deep – they were built to replace two houses that were knocked down when the Metropolitan Line was created. You might recognise them from Sherlock too as they were used as a filming location for the hit TV series. 

We Drive on the Left, Except at The Savoy

In a bizarre turn of events, the only road we don’t drive on the left in the UK is the small road leading from the Savoy to The Strand and back again. The road layout means it’s a much more efficient way to drive – we bet it didn’t hurt that it’s at The Savoy either. 

London is Actually a Forest

Standing in the middle of The City of London it feels difficult to believe but London has so many trees that it falls within the UN definition of a forest. In fact, London has its own official Forestry Conservator. 

A Bus Driver Had to Jump a 10 Ft Gap on Tower Bridge when it Opened with his Bus on it

Albert Gunter was driving a bus over Tower Bridge in 1952 when it started to rise – with the bus still on it. 

It all ended well thanks to some quick thinking on Gunter’s part. He put his foot down, sped the bus up and got it to clear a 10ft gap before landing on the other side. His reward? A measly day off from the grateful bosses at London Transport.

There are Some Rather Naughty Street Names and They Give You a Pretty Good Idea of What they were Used for 

Londoners have a reputation for being pretty blunt – in the past that extended to the naming of roads.

You can still find Cock Lane in Farringdon – it was the only street in London licensed for prostitution and housed more than its fair share of brothels. These days it plays host to a host of less salacious businesses.

But Some Were Deemed So Bad That Theya Had to be Changed

However, some of London’s dirtier street names have been lost as they were deemed too filthy for decent eyes and ears.

Over the years we’ve waved farewell to Pissing Alley, Shiteburn Lane and Gropecunt Lane. Can’t think why. 

Harrods Used to Sell a Welcome Present to Help Soldiers Shoot Up

The gift kit, sold by the prestigious department store in 1916 included morphine, coke and syringes, to be sent to the Western Front in the height of World War II.

With bullets and artillery shells flying around wantonly, we wonder how many of these ‘Shooting Up’ kits were gratefully received by recipients!

Norway Has Gifted a Christmas Tree to London for Trafalgar Square Every Year Since 1947

The tradition started as a way for Norway to thank the UK for its assistance during World War II. The tree is specially picked and shipped over to London where it sits proudly in the middle of Trafalgar Square during the Christmas period.

The Heart of the City is only 1 Square Mile 

You know how they refer to The City – the original heart of London – as the Square Mile?

Well, they’re really not joking. Although London is home to a population of over 8 million people and 3,236 square miles, the actual City of London is contained to an area of one square mile, making it the smallest city in England.

The Lord Mayor is Inducted into Power in Almost Total Silence 

The Lord Mayor is the senior representative of the square mile and makes lots of important decisions on behalf of London.

However, the ceremony in which the mayor is inducted into power is known as the Silent Ceremony because barely any words are used throughout. It’s followed the next day by the much more flamboyant (and noisier) Lord Mayor’s Show. 

London Still Has Sheriffs 

London’s tradition of having Sheriffs dates all the way back to the 7th century and it’s still going strong.

They’re not sheriffs in the way that you might think – protecting the city from evildoers in the style of a John Wayne Western – the Sheriffs have to carry out the instructions of the High Court of Justice and support the Lord Mayor. Their jurisdiction only extends across the City of London (Square Mile). 

During the Second World War, London Functioned as the Capital of Six Countries 

Governments displaced by the Nazi regime took up residence in London during the second world war – so the city was the seat of the governments of six countries at the same time.

That covered the governments in exile of France, Poland, Holland, Belgium and Norway and, of course, the home government of the United Kingdom. 

The City Has Not One but Six Major Orchestras 

We always tell people that London is cultured AF but the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Or perhaps that should be in the music.

London has six orchestras – The Royal Philharmonic, The London Philharmonic, The BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the London Symphony Orchestra. 

Banks in the City of London Used to Have to Be Located Within a 10-Minute Walk of the Bank of England 

This rule was only revoked as recently as 1980 but until that date, all banks operating in the City had to be within a 10-minute stroll of the Bank of England. This was so the Governor of the Bank of England could call an emergency meeting and have everyone in attendance within half an hour. 

There are Always at Least Six Ravens in the Tower of London 

Legend has it that the Tower of London will fall if there aren’t at least six ravens in residence at any given time. To make sure the ravens don’t fly away, the Ravenmaster clips one of their wings.

While this sounds pretty unpleasant, the ravens are not harmed, simply unbalanced and unable to fly.  And there we were, thinking that London was a progressive and forward-thinking city – lol. 

The Royal Family Has its Own Flag and it’s Flown Over Buckingham Palace When the Monarch is in Residence

How do you tell whether King Charles III is in residence when you go and see Buckingham Palace?

The answer’s pretty simple actually – the Royal Standard (yellow with a red dragon on it) is flown over the palace when the Monarch is in residence. If you see the Union Jack fluttering it means the King isn’t at home. 

London Zoo Used to be a Pretty Unsavoury Place 

Zoos have come on leaps and bounds since their early days – perhaps none more so than London Zoo, such as in the early 18th century when it was housed in the Tower of London. In those days, you could exchange free entry in return for bringing a dog or cat to feed to the lions. 

People Used to go and Visit an Insane Asylum Just for the Lols 

London’s Bedlam Asylum used to be one of the city’s most visited attractions.

London’s 18th-century population used to head to the asylum to watch its inhabitants wreak havoc amongst themselves. 

Surprisingly, what was Bedlam still exists (much transformed) as Bethlem in Beckenham and is home to the touching Museum of the Mind. 

King’s Cross St Pancras is the Busiest Underground Station

We love a good stat, and in 2022, King’s Cross St Pancras was recorded to be the busiest station on London’s famed Underground network. 69.94 million people entered or exited the station’s Underground station, just over a million more than second-placed London Waterloo.

Previous winners of the crown have included Stratford (2022), Waterloo (2015 and 2016), and Oxford Circus (2014). 

Want to Test Your London Knowledge? Check out this brilliant London Quiz

More Than Half of the Underground Runs Overground 

In the early days of the underground, lines needed to be near the surface to allow steam trains to vent the built-up steam when they emerged into the open air.

Nowadays, only 45% of stations on the underground network are actually subterranean, with the remaining 55% very much above ground. The Met Line has the smallest proportion of stations underground, much to the delight of phone-hungry commuters!

The First Concepts for the Underground Were Pretty Bizarre

Before London decided to use good old trains, ideas for the underground included a series of underground rivers with commuter barges that would float between pre-designated stops.

Sounds a lot more peaceful than the Central Line during rush hour. 

6.5 Million People Take a London Bus Every Day 

That’s around half of the total daily bus journeys in the UK. 

Guy Fawkes’ Night Celebrates the Foiling of the Gunpowder Plot to Blow Up the Palace of Westminster

Bonfire night is celebrated all across the country – there are lots of brilliant displays in London (Brockwell Park is our favourite).

It didn’t end so well for Guy Fawkes and his Gunpowder Plot co-conspirators. After Guy Fawkes was discovered attempting to blow up the Houses of Parliament, he was tortured before being hung, drawn and quartered. 

London’s Bus System Covers the Equivalent of 12,000 x The Circumference of the Earth Each Year 

London has a comprehensive bus system covering pretty much every part of the capital with more than 9,000 vehicles serving 675 routes and 19,000 bus stops – it’s also the basis for one of the more astonishing facts about the city.

Each year, the buses on London’s transport network drive over 300 million miles, which when you tot it up, is more than 12,000 times the earth’s circumference (approx. 25,000 miles). 

Londoners Love Pubs so Much, They Named Five Underground Stations After Them 

You know the situation – you pop out of a tube station and see a pub with the same name.

We used to assume that the station came first but there are five underground stations named after nearby pubs: The Angel, Royal Oak, Elephant & Castle, Manor House and Swiss Cottage. 

More People Live in London than in Austria 

London’s population in 2023 has exceeded the 9.5 million mark for the first time. This is more people than live in Austria. And Israel, Switzerland, Denmark, Bulgaria and many other countries.

Indeed, if London declared independence from the UK, it would be the 95th most populous nation on earth. No wonder rush hour is so packed!

Three Times As Many People Visit London Every Year As Live Here

That’s 30 million visitors from across the globe compared to the resident population of 9.6 million.

Now you know why you have to regularly share your public transport space with so many suitcases.

The Shard is the Tallest Building in London, Made of 11,000 Panels of Glass 

It’s notoriously bright and warm if you work in the offices, or are staying in the hotel inside though. 

London is Home to the Only Surviving House of Benjamin Franklin

Considering his impact on US history as one of the founding fathers, it’s incredible that the only surviving home in the world for Benjamin Franklin still stands in London.

It can be found at 36 Craven Street, next to Charing Cross Station. 

Great Ormond Street Hospital Owns the Copyright to Peter Pan

After being asked to join a committee to buy a piece of land to extend Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in 1929, the author of Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie declined the offer.

Instead, he donated the copyrights to Peter Pan to the hospital, ensuring that the hospital has benefited from the royalties for all Peter Pan sales, licensing agreements, and sales have helped benefit the care of children across the capital ever since.

There are 32 Capsules on the London Eye

Big deal, you might think. However, this isn’t as random a fact as you might imagine. There are 32 capsules to represent the 32 boroughs of London. Each one is numbered from 1 to 33, with number 13 omitted for reasons of superstition.

London has Been the Largest City in the United Kingdom Since the 17th Century 

London had a population of ½ million inhabitants in the mid-17th century when it was the largest city in England.

It’s remained in that position ever since and is now the largest city in the United Kingdom (which only came into existence in the 18th century). 

London Is and Has Always Been Open for Immigration

Much as people whinge about London becoming too diverse and somehow less British (it’s amazing how much respect you can lose for people like John Cleese as soon as drivel like that comes out of their mouths), London has always attracted immigrants. 

Large-scale immigration in London started with the Huguenots in the 17th century and has been followed by waves of Irish, African, Chinese and people from many more countries over the centuries. 

Key takeaway? The idea that a few decades of immigration has somehow changed the fabric of a “truly British” London is a fabrication and a pretty laughable one. 

And Has the Diversity to Prove it 

London is one of the most diverse cities in the world – together its residents speak over 300 languages, made up of almost every known ethnic group on the planet. 

London Has Hosted the Olympics Three Times 

London is the only city in the world that has hosted the Olympics three times – in 1908, 1948 and most recently in 2012. The 1908 Olympics were also the longest in the history of the event – lasting a whopping 187 days. 

London University Was the First in Britain to Allow Women to Study

London has always taken a relatively progressive position on things – including allowing women to use their brains. In 1878, London University was the first in Britain to allow women to study and earn degrees

London’s Underground System is So Old it Used to Be Powered by Steam Trains 

London has the oldest underground system in the world (If you want a really fascinating day, go to one of the TFL Transport Museum Depot opening days – it’s a real eye opener). Did you know that when it first started in 1863 the trains were powered by steam?

It wasn’t until 1890 that electric trains were introduced. 

Looking for more quirky tales about London? Check out these cool Quotes about London

London Buses Weren’t Always Red

Before the London General Omnibus Company decided to paint its buses with the striking shade of red they became so renowned for throughout history in 1907, buses were painted different colours depending on the route they travelled.

Ever since 1907, public bus services running within the centre of London had to be predominantly coloured red. 

Parts of London Have Been Inhabited Since 4000 BC 

It was a far cry from the city that we find today but there have been settlements and villages in the area of London since the New Stone Age.

The Romans Established Londinium in AD43 

The Romans conquered Britain under the Emperor Claudius and established Londinium – a trading settlement on the north bank of the Thames – in AD43. 

The Great Plague Killed More than 100,000 Victims in 1665

The 1660s were a dire time for London with the Plague and the Great Fire of London decimating both the population and the buildings of London. London was no stranger to the bubonic plague, but 1665 saw the plague reach its peak thanks to warm weather and poor sanitation.

Over 100,000 people died in London as a result in 1665 alone.

The Great Fire of London Devastated Four-Fifths of London in Four Days

Just as London was reeling from the catastrophic death toll of the Great Plague a few years before, it was hit by the Great Fire of London.

Famously started in Pudding Lane, The Great Fire raged for four days and four nights, destroying over 13,000 houses, 80 churches and making over 100,000 people homeless in the process. Despite this devastation, only six deaths were verified as a result of the fire.

London Was Bombed for 57 Successive Nights During the Blitz 

London was bombed every night for 57 consecutive nights from 7 Sep 1940 during The Blitz by the Luftwaffe. 

Over 30,000 Londoners Died as a Result of Bombing in the Second World War 

WWII took a heavy toll on London. More than 30,000 people died as a result of German bomb and rocket raids between 1940 and 1945, over 50,000 people were injured, while most of the City of London was destroyed. 

The Great Stink of London Gripped the City in 1858 

We’ve talked about the Great Fire and the Great Plague but the Great Stink? Surely we’re pulling your leg. Let us assure you, we are not.

London was always a smelly and unsanitary city but it got so bad in 1858, a.k.a during The Great Stink, that the city passed laws to stop the butchery of animals within the city and to stop people dumping sewage in the Thames. It was also the impetus for the city’s impressive sewage system. 

London’s Underground Stations Often Hide Grisly Pasts 

Take Aldgate Underground Station as an example – the station was built on what had previously been a mass grave for those who died from the plague. There are over 1,000 corpses buried underneath the station – rather horrid. 

Londoners Used to Riot about Anything and Everything 

These days it can feel like the city’s anger pulses underneath a veneer of British politeness but Londoners never used to shy away from a riot or two.

Never was this truer than in the 18th century when Londoners rioted about the Irish (1736), in defence of cheap booze (1743) and for political reform (1780).

The latter, the Gordon Riots, saw 50,000 storm the city in a five day rampage that led to 300 deaths. Once order had been restored, 25 people were hanged. 

Big Ben isn’t Called Big Ben

Want a really fun fact about London? We’re betting that what you think of when you think of Big Ben isn’t actually Big Ben at all.

Most people refer to the tower and clock as Big Ben, when actually its name is Elizabeth Tower (previously known as St Stephen’s Tower). Big Ben is the bell within the tower. Mind blown. 

Ever Wondered Why Black Cabs Don’t Have to Rely on Sat Nav? It’s Because they Have the Knowledge

Black cab drivers are worth their weight in gold.

They’ll navigate you home after a steaming night out on the town in the blink of an eye and without relying on unpredictable sat nav systems.

Rather than it being down to Jedi levels of innate London intuition, it’s because they have to pass a ridiculously hard test called The Knowledge to get their licence. It generally takes 2-3 years of studying over 300 routes before you can pass. 

There are Still Lots of Archaic Traditions Happening Across the City

Case in point? The Ceremony of the Constable’s Dues is when a navy boat has to pay a barrel of rum to the Constable at the Tower of London in order to enter the Port of London.

Of course, the whole procedure is surrounded by pomp and circumstance because Londoners love a good show almost as much as they love a good drink. 

Henry III Was Given a Polar Bear as a Present Which He Kept in the Tower of London 

What do you give a king as a present? Well, at some point in history someone thought that the answer to that question was a polar bear.

Obviously. Henry III kept his pet polar bear chained up outside the Tower of London and next to the Thames, where it was able to feast on the river’s fish.

Do You Live in Lundenwic? 

During the millennia of London’s history, it has been called several names – Londinium by the Romans, Lundenwic by the Angles and Saxons… until it became the plain old London we know today. 

London Is Home to More Than 170 Museums

If you want to learn more about the incredibly deep and rich history of London, then visit one of the 170-plus museums in London.

11 of these are national museums, while many of them provide visitors with free entry.

A Special Breed of Mosquito has Evolved to Live in the London Underground 

Culex Pipiens Molestus is a subspecies of mosquito that has evolved specific habits suited to its life on the London Underground. It can live in dark places for long periods of time, doesn’t have to hibernate, is a particularly voracious biter and doesn’t need water to lay its eggs.

Nature is truly, truly terrifying. 

It is Against the Law to Feed the Pigeons in Trafalgar Square 

Trafalgar Square’s pigeon problem got so bad that former mayor Ken Livingstone made it illegal to feed pigeons in the square in 2003. These days it’s a much cleaner and less poop-ridden affair. 

It’s Illegal to Wear a Suit of Armour in the Houses of Parliament 

And has been since 1313 when the Statute Forbidding Bearing of Armour was passed. 

We know, it really would have been fun to turn up in the public galleries in your ancestral suit but it’s just not worth the punishment. 

In 1814 a Tidal Wave of Beer was Unleashed on London Killing Eight People

Swimming in beer might sound like an absolute dream but the London Beer Flood will make you reconsider.

It all started when a vat of beer in the Meaux & Company Brewery exploded, unleashing a huge tsunami of beer that swept down from Tottenham Court Road to the surrounding streets. Of the eight people who died, five of them were attending a wake. 

The Mayor has to Grant Permission to The King to Enter the City of London 

If the King wants to enter the City of London, he has to formally request permission from the Mayor via a ceremony held at Temple Bar.

It’s a precedent that the mayor allows him to enter.

The Tower of London is Not Actually Called The Tower of London

We have all come to know and love the iconic Tower of London… but did you know that the fortress’ real name is His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London?

Its nickname is taken from The White Tower, which is the main portion of the building that was built by William the Conqueror.

The Smallest Statue in the World was Built in London

Two mice eating a piece of cheese, aka The Philpot Lane Mice, is the smallest-known statue in London. But this adorable sculpture has a darker meaning…

It was built to honour two builders who plunged to their deaths during an argument over a stolen sandwich – however, it’s believed that the theft was, in fact, the work of a cheeky mouse in stealth mode.

Let’s Not Fly a Kite…

One of the most famous songs from Mary Poppins sees Mary, Bert, Jane and Michael sing about the beauty of flying a kite in London. 

However, believe it or not, the Metropolitan Police Act of 1839 made it illegal to fly a kite in parks or other public areas. If you ever fly a kite in violation of this law, you risk receiving a fine of up to £500.

So-Called Facts About London that Aren’t Actually True 

We’ve been bombing you guys with so many interesting and fun facts about London – but we came across a few myths that aren’t actually true. 

Time to debunk a couple of “facts” about London. 

It is Categorically Not Illegal to Die in The Houses of Parliament 

This one crops up in a couple of places.

First of all, how would you ever punish someone for dying in the wrong place?

Secondly, people have died in the Houses of Parliament in the past – one such person was Sir John Cust, the then Speaker of the House who is said to have died of a result of not being able to leave the chair during the sitting to go to the loo. 

The Guy Did Not Mean to Buy Tower Bridge 

There’s a particularly persistent rumour that pretty much every Londoner will have heard at some point or another and gleefully passes on to anyone who will listen.

The story goes that American tycoon Robert McCulloch, who bought London Bridge in 1967 to re-erect in a community he’d founded in Lake Havasu had actually meant to buy London’s much more iconic Tower Bridge.

What japes! 

Unfortunately for the punchline, it’s just not true – McCulloch had always intended to buy London Bridge. Killjoy. 

The post 64 Fun and Interesting Facts about London You’ll Absolutely Love appeared first on London x London.

We’ve written before about our love of the Crystal Palace Park Dinosaurs. They’re a wonderful part of the rich history of London. 

Even the members of our team who didn’t grow up in the capital remember coming here as kids and marvelling in awe of the bizarre beasts, a London dino experience only overshadowed by terrifying encounters with the animatronic T-Rex at the Natural History Museum. 

Of the many sculptures at Crystal Palace Park, there are two that have a pretty curious history. They would be the iguanodons. Why are they curious? Even as kids we could tell the designer got them almost entirely wrong…

Why Visit The Iguanodons?

We have to say that all of the park’s dinosaur sculptures are well worth a visit for their quirky charms, but the iguanodons are especially worth noting. 

Bizarre-looking and utterly unlike anything that we’d associate with the beast today, they look much more like something you’d find at the zoo than in Jurassic Park. The story behind them is also a great reminder of how the facts can change. 

The History of the Dino Park’s Iguanodons and the Discoveries that Rewrote Their Telling of History 

The iguanodon sculptures arrived in Crystal Palace Park in the 1850s. To throw a little context on this, the word dinosaur had only been invented about 15 years earlier. The whole concept of a being as old as these was in stark contrast to the widely held belief that God created everything.

The dino sculptures were to be a metaphor for the ingenuity of Victorian society, a symbol of its scientific, enlightened thinking. The man who designed them, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, was a model of that ethos too. But he would live to see that scientific thinking prove him wrong. 

Dino Design 

You probably can’t help but look at the iguanodon sculptures and think that looks nothing like the animals I’ve seen on TV. You’d also be right in thinking that they look an awful lot like the kind of lizards you can find on Earth today (if only a little bit larger). 

That’s because when Hawkins was designing the iguanodons he was doing so largely out of conjecture. He’d have known that the bones he was dealing with were that of a reptile but the general shape would have been a mystery to him. 

To compound matters, the biggest reptiles Hawkins would have had knowledge of would have been low-slung creatures like crocodiles, komodo dragons, monitor lizards and (this is key) iguanas. The idea of a lizard that walked on two feet would have seemed like nonsense to him. 

Then there was the matter of that horn. Any dinosaur-obsessed kid these days can tell you that iguanodon’s horn belongs on its thumb. You’ll see that the iguanodons at Crystal Palace Park have it placed on their heads. 

Dino Discovery

Within Hawkins’ lifetime, further iguanodon would be unearthed around the world which would change the way we understand what the prehistoric reptiles looked like. 

The first of these came just 20 years after Hawkin’s iguanodons were unveiled. It was in the 1870s with the theory that iguanodons had a ‘kangaroo-like posture’, though this was later to be proved wrong too. Iguanodon would much later on be found to walk on all fours though not in the way that Hawkins had imagined. 

It wasn’t until 1878 that the iguanodon spike was agreed to come from its thumb, not its nose. By this point, the dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park were so treasured that nobody wanted to change them. 

So What did Hawkins Get Right?

There is one thing that Hawkins got spot on about the iguanodon and that’s its scaly skin. Though he wouldn’t have known it at the time, fossils have since been found of dinosaurs closely related to iguanodon that show reptilian skin patterns just like the ones on Hawkins’ sculptures. 

These days more and more scientists are speculating about dinosaurs having feathers though, so who knows how long scaly skin will remain the commonly accepted truth…

Crystal Palace Park Dinos: Practical Information

Address: Crystal Palace Park, Thicket Rd, London SE19 2GA

Opening Times: Open from 7:30am on weekdays and 9:30am at weekends. The park closing times change throughout the year. You can find info on closing times here.

Tickets: The park is free to enter and there’s no charge to see the dinosaurs. 

Website

Crystal Palace Park: Map 

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