Unique things to do in London Part 2
- greaterlondon
- May 2, 2015
- 3 min read
6. Explore The Tropical Gardens In Barbican
PHOTO taken from LINK
Why schlep out all the way to Kew gardens, when there are tropical plants to be discovered in central London at the heart of the concrete, modernist jungle that is the Barbican. The Barbican is a fascinating place in itself, a 1960s residential estate built in the brutalist style that houses a school, museum and labyrinthine arts and conference venue, the largest in Europe.
At the heart of the complex, you will find the second biggest conservatory in London, which houses a ‘tropical oasis’ of plants, birds and exotic fish. The gardens are not always open to visitors, so you need to check ahead of time, but it’s well-worth heading to Barbican anyway to take a look around and get thoroughly lost.
7. Get An Inflation Busting Bacon Sarnie At One of The Few Remaining Cabman’s Shelters
Photo taken from LINK
If you are wandering around central London, you may spot one of these unusual shuttered green sheds from time to time on the main road or inside a park. These are cabman’s shelters, which were designed to offer a pit-stop to carriage and taxi drivers in the late 19th century and were provided for by a charitable fund.
There are 13 remaining cabman’s shelters today, including one outside Temple tube station and another in Russell Square. You can still pick up a cup of tea from these places for about 50p and a range of delicious hot sandwiches including bacon or sausage, which the London Review of Breakfasts once described as having an “excellent sausage to sauce ratio.” Order at will, but remember… it’s always polite to let any taxi drivers around you order first!
8. Take In Some Taxidermy
Photo taken from LINK
Pun lovers alone may get a kick out of Get Stuffed, a real macabre cabinet of curiosities and something of a legend among North Londoners… although not always for the right reasons. The Islington based taxidermy shop has certainly courted controversy over the years for its dealings with rare and protected species.
Get Stuffed can be visited by appointment only, but many make the pilgrimage to the Essex Road to gawp through the store’s main window and view the menagerie of exotic, stuffed animals on display, which have included over the years: a lion, a giraffe’s head and a selection of malicious looking foxes.
If you also enjoy dining out amongst preserved beasts, then try out the restaurant Les Trois Garcons in Shoreditch, which is literally piled high with all manner of animals and a few mythical, hybrid creations, too.
9. “This Is Not A Brothel…”
Photo taken from LINK
Meard Street in Soho is a gorgeous period alleyway filled with Georgian houses, but it’s also home to a curious little landmark. Peer closely at the door to number seven and you will discover a sign stating in no uncertain terms: “This is not a brothel. There are no prostitutes at this address.” You may assume it’s just a last ditch effort by an anxious homeowner to stop punters banging on their door in the middle of the night, but actually the story is a little more interesting.
Until his death in 2010, 7 Meard Street was home to the notorious artist and self-styled dandy Sebasitan Horsley. The sign was intended as a little joke to all who visited. Although Horsley, who claimed to have slept with over 1,000 prostitutes and once consented to be crucified in the name of art, did tell the Creative Review that he ran a brothel out of there for a few years, so perhaps there was some necessity to it after all.
When you visit Meard Street today, you will sadly find no Horsely, but the sign remains and you will also find yourself conveniently situated opposite one of the delicious Honest Burgers restaurants, which is well worth a visit (if you can stomach the queues).
10. Visit The Skateboard Graveyard
Photo taken from LINK
We’ve all asked this question a thousand times: “Where do all the broken skateboards go?” Well, if you’re in London, you’ll find a hoard of them respectfully discarded on the southern support pier of Hungerford Bridge. Since 2009, the bridge – which is near to a famous skate park underneath Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank of the river – has become the final resting place of many a cherished board and the occasional skate shoe.
A website was even started up for people to post obituaries for their deceased decks, although it hasn’t attracted many tributes. Nonetheless, make sure to pay your respects as you pass by on your way to the Houses of Parliament.
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