Top 5 'Little' Places of Interest in London (England)
Various places take ‘time’ to see and explore, but then there are some places that don’t! I’m not joking!!! I’m talking about sculptures, installations and street art in public! It doesn’t make sense to get out just to visit these places, but if it’s on your way, they shouldn’t be missed! Here are 5 such places in London!!!
Allies Sculpture: During WWII, there were the Allies and Axis Powers that fought against each other. Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill and Theodore D. Roosevelt were the leaders of the Allied forces. Here in London, there is a sculpture depicting Churchill and Roosevelt sitting on a bench and casually chatting up! The bronze sculpture was designed and sculpted by Lawrence Holofcener and was unveiled in 1995. Check it out when you’re visiting Regent Street or Oxford Street!
Paddington Bridges: Everyone knows of the Tower Bridge and how it closes and opens. (If you’re visiting London check out the Bridge lift timings and witness it)! But very few know of the Paddington Bridges! Remember the Little Venice of London? Well, that’s a part of the Paddington Basin and at one end of it, is the Merchant Square where these 2 bridges are! Many who work in Merchant Square aren’t aware of these! Reason - both open up and close every day at noon and every Saturday at 2pm, when most people are inside their offices!!!
The Rolling Bridge was designed by Heatherwick & was built in 2005. Its 12m long and has 8 planks (so rolls up to an octagonal shape!). The Fan Bridge was designed by Knight Architects and 20m long, built in 2014. This opened up like a Japanese Fan! While Rolling Bridge caters to a small branch of the basin, the Fan Bridge is across the basin! Somehow I never got to see it in the rolled form or fan form!!! Check it out when you’re visiting Paddington or Hyde Park or Little Venice.
Winchester Palace: That’s a very, very deceiving name!!! Well, originally it was a palace built in 13th C CE by Bishop Henry of Blois for the bishops to stay when they visit London! It was destroyed in a fire in 1814 CE and today, all that’s remaining is just this wall!!! The most important feature here is the circular rose window, built in 14th C CE. Today it is maintained as a garden by English Heritage which cannot be accessed, and can seen only from Click St. Check it out when you’re visiting London Bridge, Monument, Tower of London, HMS Belfast etc. Just around the street corner from Winchester Palace is the Borough Market. While Borough Market is a popular place for food lovers, there is actually a Secret London Bridge Food Tour that begins here to explore some unique flavours of the region! Its not a veggie friendly tour though!
Wellington Arch: While many know of Wellington Arch and would have seen it, not many know that it can be climbed. It isn’t free though. It is managed by English Heritage and climbing it is priced at £5.00. Read about the arch and sculpture atop in my earlier post. Surrounded by 2 major parks of London and at a vicinity to the Shard and London Eye, the view from atop has so much greenery & is very different when compared to anywhere else in London!!! Check it out when you’re visiting Buckingham Palace or Hyde Park.
Thames River Bus: A cruise on Thames doesn’t come cheap! But the Thames River Bus does!!! The Thames River in London is also used as a regular mode of transport. Imagine someone residing at Greenwich, working at Westminster – the easiest way to travel would be along the water or ‘on’ the water!!!
There are 21 piers between Woolwich & Putney, split in 3 zones. Similar to Emirates Airline, this too works with Oyster and Contactless cards. The prices begin at £3.90 for travel within a zone to £7.20 across all zones. The view of the city from Thames is altogether a new experience that at places it even looks like Amsterdam or Venice!!! Those are the views of HMS Belfast and Tower of London's Traitor Gate from the Thames!
An ardent traveler by passion. Being an ex - Art History Teacher, my area of interest especially lies in Nature and Heritage. Visited 85 UNESCO World Heritage sites as of June 2022. I've been listed among the Top 7 Women Travel Bloggers of India, Top 50 in UK. I have been interviewed in a couple of TV Shows, Radio Channels and Events as well. Read more about me and read the testimonials of different brands
Thank you for sharing some sights I never even saw when I lived in London! I had no idea you could climb Wellington Arch. It is probably a great spot for views of Central London!
When I think of London, I usually think of Big Ben, the London Eye, and Buckingham Palace. Thanks for opening my eyes to some fun things to do outside of the normal tourist destinations! I would love to take part in the boat tour, the views look amazing and it seems pretty inexpensive!
The closing and opening Paddington bridge caught my attention. I'll love to see it in person though. Cruising on Thames River Bus seems like a good idea and a better version since it's cheaper. And what were you doing interrupting the the men's chat @ the first picture? There are so many places in London I'll love to visit. Just waiting for the time.
I had never heard of any of these before! I'd love to snap a selfie with Churchill and Roosevelt, lol--what a quirky spot. The water bus sounds fantastic--we used something similar in Venice, and it was SUCH a money saver.
They are really great unusual tips standing out of what we usually read on other travel blogs! You are right, one wouldn't wake up just to go see the Winchester palace but I do agree if we are passing by it is still interesting to see! Hope to get to London this year!
I lived in London and never reached some of these places. I'm in Latin America at the moment but as soon as I get back I'm going to check out Winchester Palace. English Heritage at it's finest. I love to take photos of historic buildings (especially doors), it's a little hobby of mine.
I love how you highlighted some hidden gems in this post! I am fascinated by the Paddington Bridges. I didn't even know fan bridges and rolling bridges exist! Now I have to see them in person!
Still can't believe I have never been to London and the UK after over 50 countries visited haha. It's nice to "live London" through your eyes for a little bit. Can't wait to go and have a visit!
It is so true that we often are unaware of the little marvels in our home cities. I recently tagged along with a friend who wanted to roam around my city - Hyderabad and discovered a number of lesser monuments I would never have given a thought to otherwise!
I liked the Paddington Bridges! I am from St. Petersburg, where we have a lot of drawbriges. In summer nights they lift to let the ships go through. But there is no bridges like Paddington there.
I definitely comply with some points that you just have mentioned on this post. I appreciate that you just have shared some reliable recommendations on this review.
Awww I love this and truly appreciate your insight into great experiences to be had in London that are just a little out of the ordinary. I've spent so much time in London and never thought to climb the Wellington Arch, will definitely add this to my list for the next trip - once its not in the winter :)
So cool! I love discovering the more hidden places of a tourist city. The Allies Sculpture is kind of adorable haha I would love to take a picture there
the bridges are really interesting. I would love to see it folding to the shape of a fan. if I had to wait for the whole to day, I would. Thanks for showing some of the least known places of the great city.
Even they are small places in London, they have names that sounds huge and spectacular! Is that a London thing? However, these places have their own unique beauty :)
The rose window in the Winchester Palace is so stunning. And I started thinking of the times when the Thames was the primary mode of transport...those were the days!
I missed the Winchester castle the last time. It was one thing that I totally could not tick off my list. And after reading this, I feel I could have dropped something else to accommodate this . Sigh
Thank you for sharing some sights I never even saw when I lived in London! I had no idea you could climb Wellington Arch. It is probably a great spot for views of Central London!
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of London, I usually think of Big Ben, the London Eye, and Buckingham Palace. Thanks for opening my eyes to some fun things to do outside of the normal tourist destinations! I would love to take part in the boat tour, the views look amazing and it seems pretty inexpensive!
ReplyDeleteThe closing and opening Paddington bridge caught my attention. I'll love to see it in person though. Cruising on Thames River Bus seems like a good idea and a better version since it's cheaper. And what were you doing interrupting the the men's chat @ the first picture? There are so many places in London I'll love to visit. Just waiting for the time.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of any of these before! I'd love to snap a selfie with Churchill and Roosevelt, lol--what a quirky spot. The water bus sounds fantastic--we used something similar in Venice, and it was SUCH a money saver.
ReplyDeleteThey are really great unusual tips standing out of what we usually read on other travel blogs! You are right, one wouldn't wake up just to go see the Winchester palace but I do agree if we are passing by it is still interesting to see! Hope to get to London this year!
ReplyDeleteI lived in London and never reached some of these places. I'm in Latin America at the moment but as soon as I get back I'm going to check out Winchester Palace. English Heritage at it's finest. I love to take photos of historic buildings (especially doors), it's a little hobby of mine.
ReplyDeleteI love how you highlighted some hidden gems in this post! I am fascinated by the Paddington Bridges. I didn't even know fan bridges and rolling bridges exist! Now I have to see them in person!
ReplyDeleteI do really love to visit again the beautiful place of London. I will definitely save this to my bookmark as my references.
ReplyDeleteStill can't believe I have never been to London and the UK after over 50 countries visited haha. It's nice to "live London" through your eyes for a little bit. Can't wait to go and have a visit!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these sights. I love the places that are off the beaten path, not as touristy. Those are the best sights to visit.
ReplyDeleteIt is so true that we often are unaware of the little marvels in our home cities. I recently tagged along with a friend who wanted to roam around my city - Hyderabad and discovered a number of lesser monuments I would never have given a thought to otherwise!
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine told me about Thames river bus. I think it is a joyful ride. For a photographer, the Wellington Arch will be a nice place to be.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Paddington Bridges! I am from St. Petersburg, where we have a lot of drawbriges. In summer nights they lift to let the ships go through. But there is no bridges like Paddington there.
ReplyDeleteNo plans of exploring London anytime soon, however these are amazing places to visit. Taking notes all of these for future reference. :-)
ReplyDeleteLiz Gen | fatmoments.com
I definitely comply with some points that you just have mentioned on this post. I appreciate that you just have shared some reliable recommendations on this review.
ReplyDeleteAwww I love this and truly appreciate your insight into great experiences to be had in London that are just a little out of the ordinary. I've spent so much time in London and never thought to climb the Wellington Arch, will definitely add this to my list for the next trip - once its not in the winter :)
ReplyDeleteLovely photos...i miss London...my last visit was 8 years ago...love that city so much!!
ReplyDeleteSo cool! I love discovering the more hidden places of a tourist city. The Allies Sculpture is kind of adorable haha I would love to take a picture there
ReplyDeletethe bridges are really interesting. I would love to see it folding to the shape of a fan. if I had to wait for the whole to day, I would. Thanks for showing some of the least known places of the great city.
ReplyDeleteEven they are small places in London, they have names that sounds huge and spectacular! Is that a London thing?
ReplyDeleteHowever, these places have their own unique beauty :)
The rose window in the Winchester Palace is so stunning. And I started thinking of the times when the Thames was the primary mode of transport...those were the days!
ReplyDeleteI missed the Winchester castle the last time. It was one thing that I totally could not tick off my list. And after reading this, I feel I could have dropped something else to accommodate this . Sigh
ReplyDeleteAhhh London, always full of surprises :) Great list, I will definitely visit Winchester Palace next time I am around!!
ReplyDelete