One of the biggest objects in the maritime museum is Prince Frederick’s lavish state barge, built in 1732 for the son of George II, and used by royalty to travel along the Thames until 1849.
Soane was a distinguished neo-classical architect who designed the Bank of England. After his death in 1837 his house became a unique museum of architecture and art.
The world’s first gardening museum is within the ex-church of St.Mary-at-Lambeth. The cemetery contains the graves of 17th century royal gardeners, and also Capt Bligh, of Bounty fame.
London’s largest prison is where WW2 traitors William Joyce (Lord Haw Haw) and John Amery were hanged, and from where Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs escaped in 1965.
Built with convict labour in the 1880s, the iconic gatehouse makes this the most recognisable prison in the UK. In 1966 Communist double agent George Blake escaped over the walls.
This bomb-proof fortress was built in 1940 for the Admiralty. Described by Churchill as a ‘monstrosity’, it was where he planned to make his last stand in the event of a Nazi invasion.
The dark curve of stone in the pavement here marks the outline of the Roman amphitheatre, where gladiator fights and animal-baiting once entertained the people of Londinium.
