I always like to start by the numbers. Let’s go then:
- There are 8.3 million people living in London. No wonder it feels so crowded!
- The first tube station was opened in 1863
- The most expensive apartment in the world is n° 1 Hyde Park: 135.4£ million
- at 310m, the Shard is the tallest skyscraper in Western Europe
- 40% of Greater London is green areas
- The tube network comprises 250 miles of tunnels
- There are 43 universities in London. More than any other city in the world
- They have gotten pretty rare, but there are still 15000 red phone booths in the city
- There are more than 3800 pubs in London. And all of them expensive XD
- The city counts 147 theaters
- 649 bus routes serve the biggest city in Europe
- An outstanding 16.8 million tourists visit London every year.
During the 9 months I’ve been living here, I’ve been exploring the city’s every nook and cranny, trying to discover places shunned by the tourist masses that flock to the Big Ben and to Leicester Square. I have to say I’ve been fairly successful in my endeavour, and I have to admit that I have grown quite fond of the city, especially after my long evening walks along the canals and the Thames. I thought I would share of the places I’ve discovered and particularly places that have something to do with Business and Finance (in some way or other). Click on the image to get a Google maps link. Hope you enjoy.
The Bank of England museum. One of the first museums I visited in London, mainly because I wanted to try and see if I could help myself to that shiny gold bar they have on display. Alas, that turned out to be impossible. But the museum was a pleasant surprise. It’s not big, but it is surprisingly informative and interesting. Plus it’s free and it teaches you about how to control inflation. What more do you want?
Canary wharf. This is another easy one. But rather than get there by Tube, try walking on the opposite bank of the Thames, on the south side. The glass and metal skyscrapers will prove a formidable contrast to the bare sand hills. Seen from this side, Canary wharf (which by the way gets his name from the fact that the ships from the Canary Islands used to moor here) looks like an island removed from the rest of London. I don’t know whether that is a good thing or not.
The silver vaults. Built in 1876 as a place where people could deposit and safeguard their household silver and documents, it’s now a sort of “shopping mall” for silver, with more than 30 shops who deal exclusively in the grey metal. It intrigues me to think what corporate secrets were once stored in the vaults deep below ground.
LLoyds, the Strand. This branch used to be a restaurant when it opened in 1883. I am including it because it’s probably the bank with the best interior decor I have ever seen (so far). It is also interesting because it was the first building in London to have air conditioning. Specifically, two ladies would ride a bike in the basement that was connected to some giant bellows which would gently blow the air in the hall. Apparently they used to have the bike on display but they sadly don’t anymore.
The City. Okay, this one is fairly obvious. The old financial center is ever crowded, unless you go at night or during the weekend. Then it is eerily silent. And I actually like it best, especially when all the skyscrapers lit up after dusk and the visitor gets lost in the narrow streets in between the towering office buildings. And sometimes you find hidden surprises in the alleys, such as an old “turkish” bath, huge horse statues or an abandoned church turned into a quiet park.
Museum of Brand and Advertising. If you are into packaging and marketing, this might just be the museum for you. It’s not very big and it’s divided into two parts. The first covers the history of british advertising, from the 1850’s to the present times. The Victorian ads are especially amusing. The second section explores how the packaging for some of the best known British brands has changed (or not) over the years.
I am sure I have missed something, I will continue to explore the city and hope to find some other place I can add to the list.
Opinionated 