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London is very well known for its historical features, from Westminster Abbey to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Although the most well-known historical sites in London are fantastic, there are many more to explore if you’re willing to scratch beneath the surface.
Before your visit
Before you visit London to explore the past, you need to put together an itinerary to avoid wasting your precious time. If you’re struggling, the following five unusual historical sites are a good place to start.
As well as having a plan for your time in London, you need to make sure you have the correct travel documentation including passports and potential visas; read more about the application process by following the link.
Cockpit Steps
If you head to the passage between Old Queen Street and Birdcage Walk, you’ll find the Cockpit Steps. As the name suggests, these steps are the last remnants of the Royal Cockpit, which was a hot destination for 18th Century elitists to place bets on and watch cock fights. Although cock fighting is a sinister affair, it’s said that extensive cock fighting rules are the reason other sports have rules and regulations today.
As well as its cock fighting routes, it’s said that the stairs are haunted by a headless lady. The first sighting was recorded in 1804 by The Times, which told of two Coldstream guards seeing an apparition of a headless lady walking over the road to St James’ Park. The guards were reportedly hospitalized after the encounter.
Cross Bones Graveyard
If you make your way to Redcross Way in Southwark, you’ll likely stumble on an empty patch of land, which is the site of Cross Bones Graveyard. This unusual historical site is an unconsecrated memorial to the thousands of prostitutes that worked and died in this once lawless area of London. This is how it started at least, way back in the 1500s. However, over time, it began to include many different groups of people that were denied a holy burial.
If you want to find out more before visiting this once-sordid area of London, read this article.
Execution Dock
London was once one of the largest ports, so there’s no surprise it was a destination for pirate depravity. However, during the 15th Century, this behaviour came to a close, when Execution Dock was introduced by the Admiralty.
Convicted pirates used to be paraded from Marshalsea prison to Wapping, which is where the dock was located. Once there, they were served a final quart to encourage them to confess – or to calm their nerves. They were then executed and hung in place until they’d been washed over by three tides.
Inner Temple Lane
Wandering around the peaceful Inner Temple Lane is always exciting, but the cherry on the cake is the gatehouse. This Jacobean townhouse is the only survivor of the Great Fire, and it was only restored around a hundred years ago.
London has a lot of history that goes beyond the surface, and these sites barely scratch it. However, if you’re looking for unique historical sites in London, consider adding these to your list.