10 most interesting places in London. Visit the Bank of England Museum. Dark slot machines

👁 Before we start... where to book a hotel? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 for a high percentage of hotels - we pay!). I have been using Rumguru for a long time
skyscanner
👁 And finally, the main thing. How to go on a trip, perfect without bothering? The answer is in the search form below! Buy . This is such a thing that includes flights, accommodation, meals and a bunch of other goodies for good money 💰💰 The form is below!.

Truly the best hotel rates

Probably, there is not a single adult on the planet who would not know the famous London buildings, at least from photographs. Those who have been to London and seen them with their own eyes can say that they know the city very well and are ready to take a tour of it themselves. In fact, excursions, acquainting city guests with the places and buildings of London known to them, deprive vacationers of the opportunity to see the London that usually stands, as it were, away from tourist routes.

Start the tour with brand museum, packaging and advertising (Colville Muse, 2). More than 12,000 exhibits have been collected here, acquaintance with which will reveal the secrets of how many well-known brands became popular thanks to advertising of their products and packaging. We can say that this museum presents the history of the consumer society.

The next destination of the tour is Transformer bridge to Paddington Baysen(West London). One can simply marvel at the engineering thought of its creator, Thomas Heatherwick. The task was very simple, namely, it was necessary to build a small bridge for pedestrians. Only everything was complicated by the fact that boats had to sail under the bridge. Therefore, such a bridge was made, which looks like a caterpillar. At first, this is an ordinary bridge, on which pedestrians walk, and at the right moment, like a caterpillar, it slowly begins to rise and fold.

Next, you can go toPiccadilly Circus, where in house number 1 is "Ripley”, a museum of incredible things. Here are collected a variety of unusual exhibits. For example, wax figures of unusual people, stuffed animals, dinosaur eggs. And a journey into a black hole will amaze even the most indifferent tourists.

One thing no one expects to see in London is a Hindu temple. But on Brentfield Road, such a temple was erected in 1995. Sri Swaminarayan(this is the name of this temple) is the only Hindu religious building of such a large size outside of India. You can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Hinduism by going inside.

After the philosophy of Hinduism, you can digress from serious thoughts in Crystal Palace park(southeast London). It was here that about 160 years ago the artist B.U. Hawkins recreated the appearance of dinosaurs by making life-size statues of these monsters.

The logical continuation of this excursion will be a visit to cartoon museum(Little Russell Street, 35). The museum displays approximately 5,000 cartoon characters. Here you can also see cartoon caricatures of famous politicians and even Queen Elizabeth II.

After visiting the museum, it is best to head to the north-east of London, namely to the place where the River Thames flows into the North Sea. How the setting for a sci-fi movie is perceived (Unity Way, 1). It seems that these structures were built by aliens. The barrier performs a very responsible task, namely, it protects the city from floods.

Another unique object, connected not with fantasies, but with the real past, is Escalator at Greenford tube station. Its peculiarity is that it is made of wood. It reminds of the time when the escalators in the subway were wooden. All such escalators have long disappeared, and this one not only functions perfectly, but also attracts the attention of tourists due to its peculiarity.

You can plunge into history in one more place in London. This is about Harry Potter Museum which is located in West London. Museum visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with the history of the creation of this film, as well as see the scenery of this picture, learn how the process of filming goes in general, how costumers, artists, decorators work, how stunt tricks and special effects are developed.

You can complete the tour in north-east London, where you can not help but notice a completely new building, majestically towering above the surrounding buildings, namely a skyscraper, which received a rather unusual name "Shard" (The Shard). At the moment, there is not a single building in London higher than this skyscraper. Its height is 390 meters. Here you can not only take a picture against the backdrop of this London miracle, but also take part in an exciting tour of this building.

Of course, all these places are not the whole "secret" London. There are many other interesting places in the city that are off the beaten track. But this is another walk through unknown London.

👁 Do we always book a hotel on Booking? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 for a high percentage of hotels - we pay!). I have been using Rumguru for a long time, it is really more profitable 💰💰 Booking.
👁 And for tickets - in air sales, as an option. It has been known about him for a long time. But there is a better search engine - skyscanner - more flights, lower prices! 🔥🔥.
👁 And finally, the main thing. How to go on a trip, perfect without bothering? Buy . This is such a thing, which includes flights, accommodation, meals and a bunch of other goodies for good money 💰💰.

London is the capital of the United Kingdom and one of the most visited cities in the world. The multicultural city is famous for its many modern buildings, monuments from Roman times, magnificent palaces, museums with exquisite exhibits, fragrant green parks and high-class shops. In addition to all this, the city is a concentration of the best restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs in the world. London is also known for its art and theatre, exhibitions and art galleries, the most prestigious colleges and universities in the world. All of London's monuments are easily accessible thanks to an extensive public transport network. Located on the banks of the River Thames, the metropolis dates back to 43 AD. e. and despite constant modernization, still retains its historical charm and culture. All these wonders cannot be explored in one day, but I invite you to take a virtual tour and visit 10 photographic monuments of London.

Royal Observatory

Buckingham Palace

Museum of Natural History

Tower of London

National Gallery

Madame Tussauds museum

Hyde Park

Lords Cricket Stadium

notting hill

London Eye

One of two "sewer temples" through which sewage entered the river during the time of Queen Victoria. The unremarkable facade of the station hides a riot of colors inside, images of fig trees on the walls, as well as four pumps with 52-ton flywheels. The station is open several times a month, the schedule and the cost of the entrance ticket can be viewed on the website.

Cemetery of the Crossbones (Cross Bones)

An unconsecrated cemetery for the "Winchester geese" - this is how prostitutes were called in the Middle Ages, who were allowed to work in the city by the Bishop of Winchester. On the Crossbones, until it closed in 1853, the poor and homeless also found their last refuge. The site was not remembered until excavations in the 1990s. Now the cemetery serves as a memorial; its gates are covered with ribbons and messages to lost loved ones.

Down the same street is Red Cross Garden, another undiscovered gem in the city. The park was opened by the British social activist Octavia Hill, the founder of the National Trust, which is engaged in the protection of significant architectural and natural sites in England.

Church of Saint Bride

The spire of this church in 1793 inspired an apprentice baker from Ludgate Hill to create the first layered wedding cake. Now a classic cake, he baked for his bride. The church, built by Christopher Wren, is open to the public.

smallest church in london

St Ethelburga's Church is the smallest building of its kind in London. Its height is 17 meters and its width is 9. The church is located in the eastern part of the City of London.

Grave of a Nazi dog

German ambassador Leopold von Hesch and his dog Gyro lived in the old German embassy in London at 9 Carlton Terrace in the 1930s. Although von Hesch was not thought to have supported Nazism, he served Hitler until his death from a heart attack in 1936. His body was sent back to Germany on the cruiser HMS Scout, but the remains of Guiro, who died in 1934, remained on British soil. A small tombstone still stands next to the old embassy building; in a sense, this is the only monument to the Nazis in London.

Garden of St. Dunstan's Church to the east

One of the most beautiful secret gardens in London is located among the ruins of St. Dunstan's Church on the way between London Bridge and the Tower. The church, built around the 12th century, burned down in a fire in 1666. After that, it was restored, but the bombing during World War II completely destroyed the temple. In 1971, a small park was opened on its ruins.

The pub where Lenin and Stalin drank together

The Crown Tavern pub near Clerkenwell is considered the place where Lenin and Stalin first met. This legend is disputed by many, but it is known for sure that there are many attractions associated with the Bolsheviks in London. For example, young Stalin stayed at The Tower House, an inexpensive hotel that served as a shelter for fugitives from all over the world. The future leader arrived at the V Congress of the RSDLP in 1907.

London stone

Previously, the mysterious stone was embedded in the wall of the house at 111 Cannon Street at knee height. It is believed to be from a boulder of unknown origin that has stood on the south side of the street for centuries. Some believe that these are the remains of a building from the time of Ancient Rome, others that the boulder was used for occult rituals.

The stone is now in the Museum of London. The bronze plaque on it reads: "This is a fragment of a block that was fixed in the ground where the Cannon Street station is now located." The stone was removed from the street in 1742, and in 1798 it was walled into the wall of the church, which stood there until it was demolished in 1962. Its origins and significance are unknown, but in 1188 it was reported to have an association with Mayor Henry.

Pedestrian tunnel in Greenwich

There are two good reasons to visit Island Gardens. It offers great views of the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park. In addition, the park contains one of the entrances to a pedestrian tunnel under the Thames, intended for dock workers who lived along the southern part of the river. The tunnel, designed by Sir Alexander Binney, was opened in 1902, but it remains unknown to the general public to this day.

London's oldest outdoor statue

The sculpture of the goddess Sekhmet, installed above the entrance to the Sotheby's auction house, is the oldest outdoor statue in London. The monument to the Egyptian goddess of heat and war dates back to 1320 BC.

Dark slot machines

Near Lincoln's Inn Fields, there is a Novelty Automation store that displays the inventions of Tim Hankin, an inventor known for his eccentric games. Hankin is the author of a slot machine in which you need to hit on the heads of bankers climbing from everywhere, a divorce simulator, as well as a desktop version of Pong, one of the first computer games. Exchange money for tokens and get the opportunity to play any of these games. Hankin's games are also on display at the port town of Southwold in Suffolk.

Postman Park

St James's Park, Regent's Park and Victoria Embankment Gardens are lovely but draw too many tourists. Instead, it is better to visit the inconspicuous Postman Park, which was named so because of its popularity among post office workers. It is located a stone's throw from St. Paul's Cathedral, but easy to miss. The park is dedicated to ordinary people who died saving the lives of others. Several scenes of the 2004 film Closeness were filmed in this particular park.

The first coffee shop in the city

The first London coffee house (or, more precisely, a coffee kiosk) was founded by the Greek Pasca Rose in 1652. Rosé discovered the taste of coffee while serving a British merchant in Turkey. The taste of the exotic drink impressed the Greek so much that he decided to bring it to London. His kiosk gathered around him people from all walks of life. The owners of the pubs and taverns of Cornhill are left to watch with envy as Pasca sells 600 cups of coffee a day. Worse, coffee has come to be portrayed as an antidote to drunkenness, violence, and lust, providing pure thinking, sophistication, and wit. Rosé sparked a coffee boom, and his "bitter Mohammedan brew" changed London forever.

Japanese rooftop garden

You can hide from the bustle of the English capital in the Japanese garden on the roof of the University of London. The garden opened in 2001. You can visit it when the Brunei Gallery is open - usually from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 to 17:00.

Bridge without a river

London is usually seen as a city of one river - the old Thames. In fact, more than 20 tributaries diverge from it. Some have been taken into the sewer system and can be seen through grates in the pavement or flowing through drain pipes. It was the Thames and its tributaries that shaped the landscape of London. Despite the fact that over time the appearance of the city has changed a lot, traces of the rivers can still be seen if you know where to look. So, at the intersection of Piccadilly and Green Park there is a place where the road crossed the Tyburn River. The Oval Stadium is so named because it was built in the Effra bend. And the Holborn Viaduct bridge once served as a crossing over the River Fleet, on the site of which Farringdon Street is now.

The oldest shop in London

Lock & Co. Hatters is the oldest hat shop and one of the oldest family businesses in the world. Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Admiral Nelson and other celebrities wore Lock hats. And let's not forget Firmin & Sons, a company that failed to keep its old store but is the third oldest business in London after The Whitechapel Bell Foundry (1570) and The London Gazette (1665). It manufactures belts, buttons, uniforms and insignia, officially supplying all British monarchs with buttons since 1796.

The smallest building in the city

The smallest listed building in London is Ostler's Hut (groom's hut) at the Lincoln's Inn Fields hotel in the western part of the city centre. The building was built in 1860 to house the hotel groom - the man who took care of the horses of arriving guests.

Soho noses

Rick Buckley's nose-shaped installations are hidden all over London. The objects symbolize the growth of curiosity, in other words, the increasing prevalence of outdoor video surveillance. Most of them are in Soho. In 1997, Buckley installed 35 installations, now, according to rumors, there are only ten left.

Map of unusual places in London

In order not to miss interesting publications from the world of travel, subscribe to our groups in

Traveling is the best way to relax and enjoy new sensations and impressions. Every city in the world keeps a huge cultural heritage of the peoples who lived and live in it. Millions of tourists from all over the world form a completely chaotic stream of people hungry for novelty, and the service industry is responding to this. Now you can fly anywhere, but a real life hacker understands that all these travel agencies and excursion companies work with maximum convenience for themselves.

Everything is put on the conveyor: the next pack of guests is loaded onto buses, transported along a run-in route, they sell something along the way, and now you seem to have seen all the delights of the place where you arrived. But any large city is fraught with many secrets and mysteries that you will not be shown on a regular tour. These places may not be in guidebooks, but they are definitely worth seeing. In our series of articles, we will tell you about such places in various cities around the world, and the first on the list is London.

1. Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising (Museum of brands, packaging and advertising)

The entire history of consumer culture from 1800 to the present day in one place. This specialized museum contains more than 12,000 original items from the unique collection of Robert Opie. Here you can learn about how the brands now beloved by many have achieved loyalty and recognition through creative packaging and advertising of their products.

Address: 2 Colville Mews, London, W11 2AR
Website: www.museumofbrands.com

2. Rolling Bridge (Transformer Bridge)

This is a true engineering marvel. At first glance, it may seem that this is not a bridge at all, but some kind of huge mechanical caterpillar that has come to life. Initially, the creators of the bridge solved a quite ordinary problem: they needed a pedestrian bridge, which at the same time would allow boats to sail under it. Agree, the decision turned out to be at least unusual. Even on video, the transformation of this design is mesmerizing. Imagine what it's like to see it live. This is what a creative approach to solving quite trivial problems means. It is not for nothing that Thomas Heatherwick, the creator of this transformer bridge, received the prestigious British Structural Steel Design Award.

Address: Paddington Basin, west London
About the project: rolling bridge
Wiki: rolling bridge

3. Ripley's London Museum

In fact, this is a whole network of museums scattered around the world, and one of its branches is located in London. What is interesting and unusual about it? Everything. The slogan of the museums is the phrase "Believe it or not", and the exhibits fully justify it.

Here are collected the most unusual things from all over the world - dinosaur eggs, wax figures-copies of "non-standard" people, stuffed animals with the most incredible shapes and mutations. The exhibitions are complemented by all kinds of entertainment events: a mirror maze, a journey into a black hole, laser show tests.

Address: 1 Piccadilly Circus, London, W1J ODA
Website: www.ripleyslondon.com

4. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Sri Swaminarayan Temple)

The last thing you expect to see in London is a Hindu temple. However, it is there, and its size and appearance are not just surprising. The domes and chic of this masterpiece of architecture make people literally freeze in surprise. This is a rather young building (the temple was built in 1995), but it is truly unique. No other place in the world outside of India has a Hindu temple of this size. Once inside the temple, you can completely plunge into the atmosphere and philosophy of Hinduism.

Address: 105-119 Brentfield Road, London, NW10 8LD
Website: www.mandir.org

5. Apple Store (Apple Store on Regent Street)

We simply could not help but indicate this shrine for all fans of the apple company. At the moment, it will not be possible to find an Apple Store in Russia - so far the company has limited itself to the official online store. But in fact, each Apple store is unique and is truly a masterpiece of architecture, as it is located inside very extraordinary buildings. The London Apple Store is no exception, but the most architecturally outstanding in our opinion is the store on Regent Street. Just look at the photos. This place is worth a visit.

Address: 235 Regent Street, London, W1B 2EL
Website: www.apple.com/uk/retail/regentstreet

6. Crystal Palace Park (Park with dinosaurs)

It would seem, well, what can be interesting in a park, even if it is in London? Paths, trees, a beautiful zoo and, of course, dinosaurs. It was this place that gave birth to a fashionable trend to this day - a passion for dinosaurs. More than 160 years ago, the sculptor and artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins recreated the giant and not so monsters that once lived on earth in the form of statues, and they were built in full size, and the famous paleontologist Richard Owen advised the creator.

Address: London, SE20 8DT
Website: www.crystalpalacepark.org.uk

7. The Cartoon Museum (Museum of cartoons)

London has a huge selection of museums, but the cartoon museum is one of the most unusual. This is a small cozy exhibition, where each visitor can feel like a child and touch the wonderful world of cartoons. The museum features over 5,000 cartoon characters and 4,000 comics. Moreover, the exposition also reflects the history of quite serious animated films that touch on topical social topics. The museum is also famous for its political satire - you can find not only the image of Winnie the Pooh, but also, for example, a caricature of Elizabeth II.

Address: 35 Little Russell Street, London, WC1A 2HH
Website: www.cartoonmuseum.org

8. Thames Barrier (Barrier on the Thames)

An uninformed person is unlikely to recognize in these futuristic structures the dam that controls the river. You might think that aliens have landed here, or the military is testing some kind of weapon of the future. In fact, this structure is almost 30 years old, and it was built because of the threat of repeated floods that happened in the areas adjacent to the river earlier. It is definitely worth looking at this powerful defender.

Address: 1 Unity Way, Woolwich, London, SE18 5NJ
Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk

9. Wooden escalator at Greenford tube station

The London Underground is one of the oldest in the world. Its first branch opened in 1863. Structurally, the London Underground has some of the longest escalators compared to underground communication systems in other cities and countries. Previously, wood was used to make these moving stairs, and at Greenford station one such wooden escalator is still in operation.

10 Warner Bros. Studio Tour London (Harry Potter Museum)

As you know, the iconic Harry Potter series was filmed in England, and in this case, Warner Bros. did, perhaps, the most pleasant of the possible actions that she was capable of: the film studio in which the film was shot was converted into a museum. In it, visitors can look at the scenery used in the filming and learn a lot about the filming process, the huge work of set designers, costume designers and artists, the development of special effects and stunt tricks.

Address: Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7LR
About the museum:

Even if you are sure that over the past years you have studied London from and to - there are always unexplored and extremely unusual places that you still might not even have heard of. We bring to your attention 13 attractions that can surprise even the most sophisticated and experienced Londoners.

"Fake" door at 10 Downing Street

Few people can get close to the famous 10 Downing Street door leading to the Prime Minister's residence, so here's an alternative for you: its exact replica at 10 Adams Street.

Watch Neal's Yard

This unusual clock, which has delighted passers-by since the 80s, is located above the Holland and Barrett pharmacy, but in working order you will no longer admire it.

When they first appeared, every hour water flowed out of them, falling into small buckets in the hands of the figures below: four of the figures watered the flowers with it, and another simply poured water down onto the asphalt (and sometimes on the heads of passers-by).

Unusual window in St-Martin-in-the-Fields

The window in the church near Trafalgar Square, which appeared in 2008 and is the work of the Iranian artist and Turner Prize nominee Shiraz Khushiari, definitely looks unusual - you have not seen such windows before.

A road where cars drive in the wrong direction

The Savoy road is the only one in London where you can drive on the right hand side. Why? At one time, this was done for the fair sex, who usually sat in the car in the seat on the right: thanks to the "alternative" traffic rules, they could immediately enter the Savoy building, instead of describing an unnecessary circle.

Brixton Mill

Few people expect to see a mill in the capital, but there are eight of them in London, and Brixton, built in 1816, deserves special attention. It was closed in 1934, and in 2011 it was restored and reopened for visitors - be sure to check it out!

Samuel Johnson's cat

There are legends about Johnson's love for his pet Hodge (it's no joke - the poet bought oysters for his cat), and there is even a small statue of the pet at the house of the famous Briton at Gogh Square.

Mausoleum-telephone booth of Sir John Soane

Everyone knows the fondness Londoners have for the famous telephone booths, but in the mausoleum at Old St Pancras, they have definitely taken on a new form (in a rather literal sense of the word).

The thinnest house in the city

The width of the house on the corner of South Terrace and Thurloe Square in Knightsbridge is only 7 feet. Another thing is its price - about 2 million pounds.

T-34 tank on The Mandela Way

This tank was used in the 95th year for the filming of the film Richard the Third, after which it passed into the possession of Londoner Russell Gray. He placed his purchase between Mandela Way and Pages Walk, where the tank is still located, often changing its appearance thanks to graffiti.

The narrowest alley in the city

Brydges Place is the narrowest alley in London, only 15 inches wide. You can also visit Pickering Place (the smallest square in the city) and The Dove in Hammersmith (the smallest pub) at the same time.

The York House

Nude ladies are a charming addition to the landscape that opens up visitors to York House in Twickenham. During the bombing, they had to be covered with a thick layer of mud, as the city authorities were afraid that the moonlight would reflect off the statues and play into the hands of the enemy.

Tim Fishlock's ear

If you like to look at everything to the smallest detail, then by all means try to find an ear sticking out of the wall on Floral Street, next to Leicester Square.

Fake Kenwood House Bridge

The charming bridge that spans the Thousand Pound Pond at Kenwood House isn't really a bridge at all, just an elaborately decorated façade - so don't expect to walk across it when you're nearby.

photo: Courtesy CC/flickr.com/Liz Smith

Unusual places in London that you did not know about updated: April 19, 2019 by: Anastasia Belskaya