Architecture of London, My London

Author:
Diana Grant
Updated date:
Apr 29, 2018

I'm a seasoned traveller and enjoy sharing sightseeing & travel tips . I particularly love London, my home of choice for over 50 years

If You Visit London, You'll Find It's Full Of Surprising Nooks And Crannies - I Love It

I am going to show you some lovely photographs of places to see in London - some you will recognize, and others might encourage you to visit London after you have seen what I have to show you. There is also a Poll about London and a poem, "Subway", written by me.

I came to live in Central London for a year when I was 17, staying with relations in Great Portland Street. Having previously lived in Central Africa, it was as different as chalk and cheese - London is bustling with life and shops and people, lots of green parks and squares, interesting architecture and museums, and you'll notice that London is never completely dark.

There are so many things to do in London and places to see. I thought it was wonderful.

My opinion hasn't changed, I still think London is the best place in the world, but I prefer to live in the leafy London Suburbs now. I am still within easy travelling distance to the centre, but can just as easily reach the surrounding countryside.

The Royal Courts Of Justice, Strand - Also Known As The High Court

You may well recognise the Royal Courts of Justice - a grand Gothic style building which was actually built in Victorian times

The front of the building is often shown on television news, when lawyers and litigants are interviewed during and after a big court case. The 7/7 Bomb Enquiry is one of the well-known cases, and many famous injunction proceedings and divorces have taken place there, including Paul McCartney's divorce. The Appeal of Julian Assange (the Wikileaks founder) was heard there.

The Great Hall, Royal Courts Of Justice

If you go through the front door, you will find yourself, after being searched and possibly frisked by Security, in the Great Hall.

And what a hall!

Tiled floor, Gothic arches, mysterious stone stairways winding up into I know-not-where, bewigged and black-cloaked barristers, anxious litigants, court staff, an air of weightiness.

Walk straight ahead until you get to the other end, and there, beyond dark oak panelled barriers, you will find the back door. And then, down a few steps and you will find yourself in Carey Street.

Images: The Royal Courts of Justice - by Diana Grant

Carey Street

Carey Street Behind Royal Courts of Justice

Charles Dickens knew this area well, and wrote about it in his books

This is typical Dickensian London. Charles Dickens studied law before he became a journalist, and would have known the haunts round the Central Law Courts and Lincoln's Inn Fields very well. Portugal Street, with The Old Curiosity Shop, is a stone's throw from Carey Street, and one reason why I love Dickens' book "Bleak House" is because he describes in such detail all the haunts I know so well myself, as a lawyer.

Carey Street has a special meaning for Solicitors - if you say of a solicitor "he's gone to Carey Street", it infers that he has gone to a disciplinary hearing for financial irregularities and has been struck off the Solicitors' Roll (which means he is no longer permitted to practice as a solicitor because he has indulged in conduct unbecoming to the Profession). Solicitors quake in their proverbial boots at the very mention of Carey Street!

Law Book Sellers in Carey Street

Also in Carey Street is one of the most famous Law Book Sellers - Wildys. As well as selling new law books, they also stock second hand law books, a boon to law students, when the average new paperback law book, many of which are required reading, cost about £65 ($85). The entrance is through a little archway which leads to Lincoln's Inn.

Wildy & Son

British Museum

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The British Museum - One Of The World's Most Important Museums

Great Russell Street, London WC1

The British Museum houses about 7 million objects and is one of the largest collections of antiquites in the world, with historical and cultural artefacts from every continent - it houses a greater number of Egyptian artefacts than any other country, including articles excavated from Tutenkhamen's tomb, Egyptian mummies, wonderful statues and jewellery, and the Rosetta Stone, an engraved stone tablet which was the key to unravelling the heiroglyphics written in cuneiform.

Double Headed Serpent Mexico 15th-16th Century (British Museum)

Assyrian Sculpture

A Wooden Carved Griffin

A Stone Horse

Best of all, like most London museums, admission is free, so you can keep returning to your heart's desire.

Paddington Bear at Waterloo Station With Companion

Me And Paddington Bear

Purely by chance, I had my Paddington Bear sun hat with me, so I put it on, and then we looked like twins!

London Has Several Subways To Take People Across Roads And Avoid Traffic

Below is my poem about one such underground passageway:

My Poem - Subway

Subway
A long dark passage leading nowhere and everywhere
Grey stained cement walls in the half-light
Austere and unforgiving
Black rivulets running from the ceiling cracks
Pervasive smell of urine taints stale air
Openings at intervals where daylight glimmers
On upward slopes to uncertain places
Random writing on the wall
A man could sleep here in his box
Ignored by life and death alike
Just the irregular footsteps passing by
Echoing his heartbeat

© By Diana Grant

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

No list of things to see in London would be complete without mentioning Big Ben, our famous clock over the Houses of Parliament!

This has now been silenced for several years whilst repairs are going on.

Houses of Parliament

Alexandra Palace, North London - Offers Fantastic Panoramic Views Over The Whole Of London

Alexandra Palace is a Grade II listed building, standing on one of the highest points in London. It was built in 1873 and was to be 'The People's Palace' . It was burnt down almost immediately, and quickly rebuilt.

In 1936 it became the first television station used by the BBC, with a tall radio tower which is still used.

Fireworks At Alexandra Palace

Roughly The Same View - Alexandra Palace On Fire In 1980

Muswell Hill

An Edwardian suburb in North London

The whole area was purchased and developed between 1896 and 1913 by a builder and developer, James Edmonson, who designed the buildings in the main shopping area, Muswell Hill Broadway, and many of the surrounding streets, giving Muswell Hill a uniquely consistent character and appearance.

Quiet and leafy Muswell Hill is built on one of the highest points in London

View of City of London from Muswell Hill

Muswell Hill Broadway

Muswell Hill Roundabout

Cullens - One Of The Oldest Shops In Muswell Hill

Muswell Hill was designated as a Conservation Area in 1974 to protect the area's generally unspoilt character and in 1991 this Area was extended to further local streets

Muswell Hill Library

Queen's Avenue, Muswell Hill With Typical Edwardian Houses

One of my favourite London Buildings, Cornwall Terrace is a block of eight double-fronted houses overlooking Regent's Park. The Nash terraces are fine examples of Regency architecture and are a fitting landmark for this part of London, at the top end of Portland Place where it leads on to Regent's Park on the East side. I still marvel at its beauty, even though I have passed it hundreds of times - it never fails to give pleasure.

Cornwall Terrace - One Of A Group Of Buildings Known As "the Nash Terraces" - Designed By The Architect Sir John Nash

Cornwall Terrace - John Nash
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Sir John Soane Museum at 12-14,Lincoln's Inn Fields - What makes the Sir John Soane of particular interest is that it is the single collection of just one man

See the Sir John Soane Museum on YouTube - This is a wonderful, idiosyncratic museum and I used to visit it when I worked for a barrister, a few houses to the right of this building.

Sir John Soane was a wealthy architect and Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy, who was an extensive collector of all kinds of artefacts, from sculptures to a large collection of Hogarth's paintings, including The Rake's Progress, and many political cartoons of the 18th Century. The museum contains his personal collection, and he rebuilt or converted three adjacent houses between 1792 and 1824 to contain it, creating interesting nooks, mirrors and balconies and, in the picture room, pictures on shutters which open to reveal more pictures underneath, which themselves open to a third layer of paintings, to utilise all available space. On his death, he left the building and the whole collection to the State, with a proviso that nothing in the house could be changed from the way he had designed it.

The two enjoyable YouTube videos below will give you two different perspective of the Sir John Soane Museum.

Sir John Soane Museum

Royal Courts of Justice

Take This Poll About London Sights - See How You Measure Up Against Other Pollsters

Just a bit of fun!

Whether you plan to visit London or have already been there, or maybe you even live in London, stop by and vote for which place in London you think looks the most inviting?

If you didn't like the look of any of this page about London, this poll is not for you!

Links to Other Places Mentioned On This Web Page

If you want more detailed information of a historical or architectural nature, here are some links to web pages you might find interesting:

Sir John Soane's Museum - Wikipedia
A very interesting description of the architectural history of the museum, as well as a short biography of Sir John Soane himself and the important contents of the museum.
The Royal Courts of Justice - Wikipedia
Information about the highest court in the land

Comments - Reader Feedback

Sukhdev Shukla from Dehra Dun, India on February 04, 2017:

Nicely described, Diana. I passed through London twice, while travelling up to Manchester and also on my way back, but could not get chance to have a closer look of London. But still it looked like a great city with beautiful buildings. Thanks for describing it in detail. I enjoyed going through your Hub.

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on February 18, 2014:

@Max Globe: No floods there!

Max Globe on February 18, 2014:

Wow, I love your lens! The information, the way it's written and grouped. And your photos are so fine:) You featured one of my favourite places in London by the way - Muswell Hill. Thank you for this beautiful lens.

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on July 11, 2013:

@Gloriousconfusion: That would be a very positive and joyous way of remembering her. I'm sure you won't be disappointed

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on July 09, 2013:

@Gypzeerose: : Thank you for your message which will be dealt with as soon as possible.

This is an automated reply.

Rose Jones on July 09, 2013:

My sister Carolyn was an Anglophile, someday soon I will visit in her memory.

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on March 21, 2013:

@MissMalaprop: Yes, Borough Market is one of the best

MissMalaprop on March 21, 2013:

I spent the month of July in London in 2004 during college. I LOVED it. I've always been an Anglophile, and I celebrated my 21st birthday at Windsor Castle. I discovered so many awesome nooks and crannies in London. My favorites were Portobello Market (there was also this lovely cafe near the Tube stop there that I loved, that had the best cappuccino!), as well as Borough Market!

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on February 19, 2013:

@Michey LM: Thank you so much, Michey

Michey LM on February 18, 2013:

You gave great pictures for places which are beautiful and full of history. Sent Angel Dust in your way.

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on January 30, 2013:

@xceeduk: That's great, look forward to seeing it

xceeduk on January 29, 2013:

Nice post - I have added it to my related lens on travelling in London. Hopefully, it will do us both some good :-)

AlleyCatLane on January 20, 2013:

Thanks for the tips. I hope to visit Lobndon one day - hopefuuly in the near future.

baronbarnaby on June 29, 2012:

London Underground uses Transport for London's Travelcard zones to calculate fares, including fares for use on the Underground only. Travelcard Zone 1 is the most central, with a boundary just beyond the Circle Line and Travelcard Zone 6 is the most outlying and includes London Heathrow Airport. All of Greater London is covered by zones 1 to 6. londonunderground.ws

baronbarnaby on June 29, 2012:

Anthony Godinho from Ontario, Canada on November 04, 2011:

I enjoyed your virtual tour of London and especially liked all those photographs. I've transited through London many times in the past 15 years, but one day I should take the time to visit. This lens definitely made me want to visit. Blessings! :)

gypsyman27 lm on September 13, 2011:

I enjoyed this a lot, very well done. You have given me a view of London that I didn't have. See you around the galaxy...

KimGiancaterino on September 13, 2011:

I didn't do too well on the quiz. Time for another trip to London. Congratulations on your purple star!

Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on September 02, 2011:

@TonyPayne: Thanks for Blessing - much appreciated. Yes, it's actually easier to write from a personal point of view, and especially so if you feel really enthusiastic about something. I just wish I had taken to digital photography earlier in my life!

Tony Payne from Southampton, UK on September 01, 2011:

This is just an excellent lens, and I left a well deserved Blessing behind. It's your own take on London, with your own photographs and memories, rather than something straight out of Wikipedia etc. I lived in London for 15 years, from 1977 to 1994. I spent the first 11 years in Harringay, just south of Wood Green, so close to Muswell Hill and Alexandra Palace. Wish I had lots of photos from that time, but sadly I don't have any. Now I know better and take hundreds on every trip.

anonymous on July 17, 2011:

Beautiful lens! As mentioned, I LOVE England, and hope to take an extended tour someday. As a fanatic British history buff, visiting England is my dream!

lovetouring on June 08, 2011:

Good lens, we offer tours of London and are often asked about some of the quirky aspects of London and special places to go and lenses like this demonstrate that London has a wealth of quirky attractions and things to see. Something most other cities just can't or don't offer.

anonymous on May 09, 2011:

Thank you for these tips and wonderful photos! I purchased the map you suggested. We are every excited about our upcoming trip to visit London this summer!

tgnyc00 on April 26, 2011:

Great lens! You deserve a SquidLike!

Don't forget to check mine out at:

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