Unusual London places
Hi! This week I would like to show you some unusual places of interest in London. Why is there a labyrinth of catacombs beneath Camden Town? How small is London's smallest house? What are the so called phoney houses? Where can I find the diner that never closes? Is it true that the London Vampire Group meets once a month in a ghostly pub near Oxford Street?
Everyone knows Camden Town is famous for its bars/clubs and market. But 21 feet beneath Camden Lock lies an extensive range of forgotten 19th century tunnels and arched catacombs. They were originally used as stables for horses working on the railways. Rumour has it that there is even an underground pool for canal boats too. Unfortunately, it is not possible to go down and see the catacombs due to the high risk of flooding.
Extraordinary houses
London's smallest house can be found at 10 Hyde Park Place, Marble Arch and measures only 3 feet 6 inches wide. Built in 1805, one theory for its construction is that it served as a watch house for the old St. Georges graveyard - a popular destination for body snatchers in the 18th Century!
As we all know, buying a house in London is expensive. But the houses at 22-23 Leinster Terrace, Bayswater W2 must be cheap as they are only fronts with no house behind! In 1863 London's first tube line opened and soon demand grew for more lines. Houses had to be demolished to make way for the new underground system. To help keep the prices high in the affluent area of Leinster Terrace a reconstruction was made in the style of the terrace houses from the front. Apparently, some fraudster once sold some tickets for a party there!
For party animals and vampires!
It is 4am, you have just finished clubbing and there is no food home. You had better head off to the American style diner that never closes. 'Tinseltown' (www.tinseltown.co.uk ) can be found at 44-46 John Street, EC1M 4DT approximately 10 minutes walk from Clarkenwell Green. They do burgers, Chinese stir fry, Mexican dishes, stacked pancakes and milk shakes.
On the 2nd Thursday of every month the London Vampire Group holds meetings at the ghostly and gothic Ben Crouches Tavern at 77a Wells Street, Fitzrovia, just to the left of the Plaza on Oxford Street. Ben Crouch was an infamous grave robber of the 1800s whose life is morbidly celebrated in the tavern named after him. I have been here a few times (not for the vampire meetings before you ask) and it's a good place to head to on a Friday night.