Nicknamed Bookseller’s Row, Cecil Court is a hidden gem in the heart of central London.
Packed with twenty-odd secondhand bookshops and antiquarian booksellers, it truly is a paradise for literature lovers. Just moments away from the hustle and bustle of Leicester Square, you’ll be surprised to stumble across such a peaceful gem. The shop fronts haven’t changed for over a century, so a walk through Cecil Court is like a trip back in time.
Inside the stores, you’ll find anything from rare books, collector’s copies and first-editions, to old stamps, maps, posters and banknotes. It’s thought to be the thoroughfare that inspired Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley and, with its eccentric shops—some of which are even associated with magical or psychic literature—it’s easy to believe.
One very fun fact about Cecil Court is that it was the temporary home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart while he was touring Europe at the age of eight. The Mozart family stayed with a barber named John Couzin, and tickets for Mozart’s first London concerts were sold from his shop. There’s even a blue plaque to commemorate his very brief tenancy, because us Londoners love a cheeky claim to fame. Some say that it was while he was staying at Cecil Court that he composed his first symphony, but we’ll never know for sure.
Importantly, Cecil Court was also the business centre of the early British film industry, and therefore earned itself the second nickname, Flicker Alley. The first film-related company opened in 1897, and Cecil Court quickly became known as the place to buy or hire films. Pioneers of early British cinema Cecil Hepworth and James Williamson had offices on the street, alongside many international companies. During this time, all sorts of businesses opened along the alley; from equipment shops and rental companies, to foreign film dealers and companies specialising in cinema confectionery.
You’ll find Cecil Court just off Charing Cross Road, leading to St Martin’s Lane. Shops tend to open from about 10:30am until about 5:30pm, but this will vary.
Leicester Square has come alive with a brand new statue trail called Scenes in the Square, which celebrates a century of cinema.
Honouring Britain’s love of film and cinema, this new trail features the likes of Bugs Bunny, Mary Poppins, Mr Bean, Paddington, as well as DC Super Heroes Batman and Wonder Woman. Designed to appeal to all ages, Scenes in the Square brings the nation’s favourite movie moments to life, throwing it all the way back to the 1920s – oh, and it’s entirely free to visit!
Representing the earlier years is legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy who have starred in over 100 films together. The 1929 movie Liberty is the inspiration behind the statue that you can see teetering on a rooftop.
Bugs Bunny lurks in a nearby flower bed, celebrating his eightieth birthday and the eightieth anniversary of the 1940 film A Wild Hare, while the joyful figure of Gene Kelly is found clinging to a lamppost, recreating the iconic scene from one of the greatest musicals of all time, Singin’ in the Rain.
Elsewhere in the square you’ll be able to sit on a bench next to Mr Bean or everyone’s favourite marmalade-loving bear, Paddington. Look up to the sky to spot Batman watching over the city from a rooftop, catch Wonder Woman bursting through a wall, or pose next to Mary Poppins! Many of the statues will illuminate at night, and there are interactive maps, sounds and visuals to accompany the figures.
It goes without saying that Leicester Square is the perfect setting for such an installation, being London’s home of film since the very first cinema opened in 1930. This trail of statues isn’t just a pop-up either – it’s a long-term project to celebrate unforgettable movies and, if all goes well, they hope to welcome more characters in years to come.
Head down to Leicester Square to catch Scenes in the Square!
At Clapham Junction station some seats are taped off to keep people apart
During lockdown there have been reduced services on trains and buses but with restrictions being eased and more people being encouraged to return to work passenger demand is expected to increase.
From Monday 15 June, anyone travelling on public transport in England should wear a face covering — to help reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.
The government has advised people to walk, cycle or drive but if that’s not possible what are the risks of getting Covid-19 on public transport?
How safe are trains and buses?
A lot of the potential risk of infection on trains and buses depends on how crowded they are, and so how far away you can keep from other people. This applies both on the vehicles and at stops and stations, and will vary in different parts of the country and on different routes.
Ventilation also plays an important role as fresh air can help droplets containing the virus dissipate faster, so being able to open a window can be an advantage.
Coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or exhales small droplets packed with the virus into the air.
These droplets can enter the body through the eyes, nose and mouth, either directly or after touching a contaminated object.
The government’s consistent message has been to stay 2m (more than 6ft) apart from people outside your household.
People sit apart on the Tube as they try to keep their distance
Previous research has suggested a link between commuting on the London Underground and the likelihood of catching respiratory illnesses.
Dr Lara Gosce, at the Institute of Global Health, says her research (published in 2018) showed people who used the Underground regularly were more likely to suffer flu-like symptoms.
«Particularly, it shows that boroughs served by fewer lines — where inhabitants are forced to change line one or more times when travelling on the Underground — have higher rates of influenza-like diseases, compared to well-served boroughs where passengers reach their destination by one direct trip,» she said.
If you’re travelling on a relatively empty train or bus, though, your risks would be different. How long you spend on transport will also play a role — spending more time in contact, and coming into contact with more people will increase your risk.
So, «limiting the number of close contacts with potentially infected individuals and objects is important,» according to Dr Gosce.
«In terms of travel, avoid peak hours if possible,» she says, suggesting, where viable, passengers should choose routes involving only one means of transport.
What is the advice for passengers?
The government says people should «consider all other forms of transport before using public transport». If they can’t walk, cycle or drive to their destination, they are advised to:
Travel at off-peak times
Take a less busy route and reduce the number of changes
Wait for other passengers to get off before boarding
Keep 2m away from people «where possible»
Wash their hands for at least 20 seconds after completing their journey
The government acknowledges that there may be situations where people can’t keep 2m away from each other, such as at busy times or getting on or off public transport. In these cases, the advice is to avoid physical contact and face away from others.
Face coverings will be compulsory for people on public transport in England from 15 June (children under 11, disabled people and those with breathing difficulties will be exempt).
Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are asking people to wear them on public transport but are not making their use mandatory.
Face coverings can help reduce the risk of transmission in some circumstances. In particular, they are to stop the wearer passing on coronavirus, rather than protecting them from others.
What safety measures are travel operators taking?
Transport companies have been enhancing their safety measures to protect staff and passengers.
Transport for London (TfL) says from Monday, customers should wear face coverings at stations and for their entire journeys.
It has distributed 30,000 of these and will use it enforcement officers, along with officers from the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police to help customers «comply with the new requirement».
TfL has installed hand sanitisers at all tube, rail and bus stations and has also introduced a rigorous cleaning schedule.
Network Rail, which owns Britain’s rail infrastructure, introduced a new timetable on Monday 18 May, which added about 3,000 trains per day. But the company said passenger capacity was still only between 10% and 13% of normal levels.
It says it has been carrying out «deep cleans» and making changes in stations so people can maintain social distancing.
It will actually help put oxygen back into the air
City workers will encounter Europe’s biggest “greenwall” with some 40,000 individual flowers and grasses, after a new hotel is built in the Square Mile.
With a “sky bar” and rooftop garden offering views over St Paul’s, the developer, Dominvs Group, claims it will be the “greenest” building in London.
Plans were approved for the state-of-the-art, 382-bed hotel on January 28 by the City of London Corporation.
Blueprints show the 11-storey tower’s facade will be covered in 3,700 square metres of vertical greenery.
Dominvs says the cascade of foliage will convert CO2 into 6.3 tonnes of oxygen per year, and trap 480 kg of particulate matters that pollute the air.
In line with guidance from the Mayor of London’s office, the building will have an “urban greening factor calculation” of 1.37, compared to the Mayor’s target of 0.3.
About 3,750 square metres of office space will also be included in the development, as well as a restaurant, spa and salon.
It will replace an empty office block, Citicape House in 61-65 Holborn Viaduct, on the corner of Snow Hill.
Alastair Moss, chair of the Corporation’s planning and transportation committee, said he welcomes “radical and pioneering ideas” to make the City greener.
“This development’s green wall of around 400,000 plants offers many environmental benefits such as reducing pollution, absorbing sound and reducing flood risk,” he said.
“The Corporation has a real interest in urban greening, and we hope this building will prove to be a fantastic example of what is possible for future developments.”
Earning its name by running through Central London, the Central Line is one of the most important lines in the London Underground. The Central Line started as the Central London Railway in 1900 running east to west through the city. In 120 years of its existence, the Central Line has built up a very interesting history and some great facts to go with it. Combing through the miles of tunnels, we’ve found ten of the most interesting factoids about the Central Line that you ought to find fascinating.
DEEP UNDERGROUND
The Central Line has the most stations without a building above ground. These stations include Bank, Bethnal Green, Chancery Lane, Gants Hill, and Notting Hill Gate.
THE NUMBERS
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Central Line is one of the most important in the London Underground network. It is the longest line in the Underground at 46 miles, which is just three miles short of the distance between Leeds and Manchester. The line also reported a total number of nearly 261 million passengers between 2016 and 2017.
I AIN’T ‘FRAID OF NO GHOSTS
London is a city that has its share of spectres and spirits, and that extends to the Underground as well. Liverpool Street Station was built over the site of the infamous Bethlehem Hospital, a mental institution that coined the word “Bedlam”. In 2015, thousands of skeletons were found during construction for the Crossrail line, the remnants of a burial pit created for victims of the Black Death. The former British Museum station is also believed to be haunted by the ghost of a mummy.
BUSIEST AND QUIETEST
The Central Line’s busiest station is Oxford Circus, which saw nearly 85 million passengers during 2016 and 2017 due to its proximity to busy Oxford Street (the shipping district). By contrast, Roding sees maybe 250,000 passengers in a single year.
FORGOING TRAINS FOR PLANES
Prior to World War II, stations began an upgrade, lengthened to allow for eight-car trains. However, the war effort ceased the construction, and some new tenants moved into unused tunnels between Leytonstone and Newberry Park. The Pressley Company used the vacant tunnels as a factory to construct aircraft parts, employing some 2,000 people for the duration of the war.
NICKNAMES
Would you believe that the nickname “The Tube” didn’t originate as a term for the whole of the Underground? It actually started as a nickname for the Central Line. Back when the line started in 1900, the line had a flat fare of two pennies, earning it the nickname “The Two-Penny Tube”, which was later shortened to simply “The Tube”.
EARLY ATTEMPTS AT CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS?
In 1909, Harry Gordon Selfridge attempted to make a major push to have the Bond Street station named changed to “Selfridges” as a way to promote his store. Naturally, he was turned down. The store made another push in the 1930s to have its own subway connecting the station and the store but was refused yet again.
WHAT’S THAT SMELL?
In 2001, the Central Line attempted to freshen up its stations by pumping ascent known as “Madeline” through the vents. However, after a single day of use, the Underground cancelled using the scent as passengers complained of feeling ill.
IS IT MADE OF…WOOD?
Greenford station was home to the Underground’s last wooden escalator, which was removed in 2015. Most of the wooden escalators were removed after a fire at King’s Cross station caused by a lit cigarette dropping into the escalator killed 31 people.
TRAIN JUMPERS
Suicides on the Central Line from people jumping in front of trains caused the Underground to install suicide pits beneath the tracks in 1926.
Inside this beautiful, historical church you’ll find what many believe to be sacred: seriously fantastic coffee.
Saint Mary Aldermary is one of the oldest churches in the city dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It suffered quite badly in the Great Fire of London in 1668 and was rebuilt in the late 17th Century by Sir Christopher Wren — the architectural mastermind behind St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Naval College. Unlike Wren’s many other city churches, Saint Mary Aldermary was built in a distinctive Gothic style.
Nowadays, the Guild Church is run by a new monastic community within the Church of England, and they’re all about promoting love, hospitality and inclusiveness. But it’s not just a place for quiet reflection within the big city — it also serves an excellent cup of joe at the gorgeous Host Café.
The Host Café’s coffee is provided by local roasters, Mission Coffee Works; the cakes and breads come from The Artisan Bakery; the pastries come from Little Bread Pedlar based in Bermondsey; and the teas are from Londoners, We Are Tea. There’s also organic soup and sourdough toast available if you’re after something hot.
You’re also welcome to bring your own lunch if all you’re after is a change of scenery – and the WiFi is free to use, too.
The Oyster card — it’s a piece of London so embedded in our culture, we usually just take it for granted.
Despite most of us using one every day (or at least an equivalent contactless card) we probably don’t think about it too much unless we need to top it up to get on the Tube.
We use our Oyster cards to get around London’s public transport network, whether that’s on the London Underground, the Overground, on the DLR or trams, on London buses, or if you’re super fancy perhaps you use the river services.
It quietly drains your bank account as you spend every day travelling around the capital, but you could never be without it either.
It is an iconic London mainstay, but have you ever stopped to wonder why it’s called an Oyster card?
Introduced in 2003 after being thought up a few years before, a lot of research was carried out around the potential name for the card.
Two other names were considered — Pulse and Gem — but it was Oyster which made the cut.
Apparently it was chosen as a fresh approach that was not directly linked to transport, ticketing or London.
Andrew McCrum, who was brought in to find a name by Saatchi and Saatchi Design, said of the name: «Oyster was conceived … because of the metaphorical implications of security and value in the hard bivalve shell and the concealed pearl.
«Its associations with London through Thames Estuary oyster beds and the major relevance of the popular idiom ‘the world is your oyster’ were also significant factors in its selection.»
As the Oyster card was originally a contract between a company called TranSys and Transport for London, the brand originally belonged to TranSys.
But when the partnership with TranSys was terminated in 2010, TfL acquired the rights to the brand at a cost of £1 million (phew).
So there you have it — London is your oyster, everyone.
Travel can be adventurous and wonderful, but it also carries its own dangers anywhere in the world—even in London. In case the worst should ever happen, it’s good to be prepared and know where you can find help. Such help can come in many forms from London’s own Emergency Services to the US Embassy. Whether you’ve had your wallet stolen or you need medical attention, we’ve got a few helpful tips and places to go if you need help for any reason while traveling in London. Feel free to offer your own advice for travelers in the comments.
PREVENTION
Arguably, the best way not to need help is to take every caution beforehand to decrease the risk. The first thing to do when traveling is making sure that someone knows where you’re going to be, what your itinerary is, and has contact information for you. This should include not only your cell phone number or email but also the address and phone number of where you’re staying. The Metropolitan Police also recommends planning your routes in advance, having a fully-charged mobile phone with you, and carrying some spare cash in case cards are stolen.
As a tourist destination, London certainly has its share of pickpockets. Security firms, such as Churchill Security Ltd. observes that most pickpockets keep to highly trafficked areas and modes of transportation. Places where Londoners and tourists alike are likely to have their wallets snatched include the Tube, the City of Westminster, and stations including King’s Cross St. Pancras, Oxford Circus, Victoria, Liverpool Street, and Stratford see the most thefts. As the Met suggests, in these places, you want to make sure that you stay vigilant and maybe even carry a little extra cash somewhere else on your person in case you find yourself a victim.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
If you do find yourself a victim of a crime or in need of medical attention, it’s good to know who to call. Regardless of whatever it is you need, if it’s an emergency, the main number to remember isn’t 911. Despite what you may have picked up from watching The IT Crowd, the real emergency services number is—999. This will put you in touch with a call center, much like in the US, that will then direct the appropriate service to you, whether it’s police, ambulance, or fire brigade. Another useful number to remember is 112. This will also connect you to the emergency services call center, but a notable feature is that this number will work anywhere in the world and immediately put you in touch with the local emergency services. Lastly, if your situation is not an emergency, but you still need to reach the police, the number to call is 101.
Another thing to consider is that while the National Health Service is free for UK residents, the same cannot be said for tourists—except in emergency situations. If you require emergency medical care, that may be covered, but it’s not guaranteed. If you’ve got a bad case of food poisoning from that new fusion restaurant you just had to try, there are plenty of Urgent Care Walk-in Clinics run by HCA and NHS in the city. In either event, be sure to have travelers insurance with you in case your care is not covered. Visit London suggests that travelers insurance is a good idea even if your visit would normally be treatable by NHS, as it offers flexibility over where and how you’re treated and may cover care that the NHS does not. The Department of Health website can provide even more information.
THE EMBASSY
For our last bit of advice in this brief, the US Embassy is available in London to help all American citizens. If you have been here before, you should note that the embassy did move this year to its new home at 33 Nine Elms Lane. The Embassy provides a number of services to citizens such as legal and medical services as well as helping you contact family members, acquiring a new passport, or explain how to transfer funds. If you’re not sure how to access any of the help you may need, the Embassy has trained professionals that can help you navigate the criminal justice system and healthcare organizations in London. God forbid a family member should be kidnapped; the Embassy can also work with local agencies to ensure their safe return. The Embassy also provides other, non-emergency services as well, so be sure to look into those and see if you need their assistance for notary, citizenship, voting, or other matters while you’re away.
Of course, these pieces of advice are only a small number of the resources available to travelers. Feel free to consult their websites for more information or ask your travel guide. Remember that in any safety situation, the only stupid question is the one that goes unasked.
When it comes to a good pub, the ale is the thing you’re looking for most, then the food, and then the atmosphere. Of course, the appearance of any pub is an important part of the experience, and whether you’re looking for your new local or visiting from out of town, you want to be in a place that meets your expectations. Plenty of London’s pubs are beautiful places inside and out with plants, wood, and even stained glass helping to make them truly memorable places to have a drink. We’ve identified ten of the best-looking pubs in the city below, and you can let us know your favorites in the comments.
THE DOVE, HAMMERSMITH
Starting with one of London’s most historic pubs, The Dove in Hammersmith is a Grade II listed pub that dates from the 18th Century. The outside is rather unassuming, but with a quaint charm, and the inside is everything you would expect a pub to be. It has wood floors, old pictures adorning all the walls, brick fireplaces, and the bar itself is a black wooden affair that screens tradition.
YE OLD MITRE
From one Grade II listed pub to another, Ye Olde Mitre is also one of the oldest pubs in the city with the original pub on this site serving ale since 1546. The exterior is certainly one of the charms, especially when you go down the alleyway to find its wood and glass exterior greeting you like a diamond in London’s ruff. The interior is cozy and features wood panel walls, charmingly garish carpeting, and plenty of wooden chairs and benches that give it a classy feel.
CROWN & ANCHOR
The Crown & Anchor is in a beautiful three-story building in Covent Garden with the first floor as a traditional pub and the second featuring a bar and restaurant. Plants hang outside the windows on every level and the large windows not only look splendid, but they really let the light in to highlight the wooden columns and the green-painted walls.
MR. FOGG’S TAVERN
Form something wonderfully eclectic; you can visit Mr. Fogg’s Tavern in Covent Garden is one of many drinking establishments in the city patterned after the protagonist of Around the World in 80 Days. The pub’s story is that Phileas Fogg’s aunt left this traditional Victorian pub to her housekeeper who covered the insides with memorabilia in keeping with the surrounding theaters. This gives it a much different look to other pubs since it has a literary theme
PROSPECT OF WHITBY
Sitting on the banks of the Thames, the Prospect of Whitby has a particularly interesting history in that it was once home to plenty ruffians and thugs. It has since cleaned up its image and has a clean appearance to go with it. The pub has one of the most impressive wooden bars in the city that vaguely resembles a ship’s hull and stretches the length of the ground floor. The pub’s many areas give rooms that will suit any taste from the classy dining room to the secret garden.
THE BLACK FRIAR
Certainly one of the most visually stunning interiors on this list, The Black Friar can be found appropriately enough in Blackfriars and is Grade II listed. Since it was built on top of a former medieval Dominican friary, the interior (remodeled in 1905) abounds with religious imagery from depicting the friars who once lived on this site to archways that resemble those in a church. It even features paintings that resemble illuminated manuscripts and a stained-glass window.
THE GEORGE INN
The George Inn is the only surviving galleried inn in London that dates back to at least the 16thCentury when the first map of Southwark was drawn. Owned by the National Trust, the galleries are not only a defining feature of the pub, but they’re absolutely gorgeous. The interior is similarly attractive, but you may want to stay outside at one of the picnic tables and admire the building itself.
THE SPANIARDS INN
The Spaniards Inn may be one of the most literary pubs in London, getting references in both The Pickwick Papers and Dracula. Outside, the white-painted brick contrasts beautifully with the black shutters, doors, and window trim. Inside, you’ll find largely bare-bones wood walls and floors that one can imagine was the same as when Keats wrote Ode to a Nightingale in the gardens and Bram Stoker overheard a ghost story that he turned into his classic horror tales.
JERUSALEM TAVERN
Inside and out, the Jerusalem Tavern has a simple, classic look to it, full of wood and painted green walls. This mixes well with stone and old tile designs and belies the nature of the ales you’ll find inside. In addition to the usual ales and lagers, Jerusalem also serves several different fruit ales from St. Peter’s Brewery.
CHURCHILL ARMS
Last but certainly not least on this list is the Churchill Arms, which is unquestionably the best-looking pub in all of London. The exterior is absolutely adorned with plants that change appropriately with the seasons and sometimes let you have a look at the wood, brick, and windows underneath. Like Mr. Fogg’s, the interior is festooned with all manner of odds and ends that makes it an absolutely wonderful place for a pint.
London visitor 