Architectural Oddities in London

Discover 29 architectural oddities in London.

Interior of 575 Wandsworth

London, England

575 Wandsworth Road

What started as a way to address damp basement walls turned into a house filled with intricate hand-carved designs.

The view of the hotel from Brown Bart Gardens.

London, England

The Beaumont Hotel

This five-star hotel was originally a swanky parking garage.

Find the lamp on a quiet side street just off the Strand.

London, England

Carting Lane Sewer Lamp

The pretty iron lamp is a reminder of the architecture underneath London's streets.

Faux Number 10 Downing Street.

London, England

10 Adam Street

England's most famous front door has an accidental doppelganger.

Vauxhall bridge "Architechture"

London, England

Vauxhall Bridge's Miniature St. Paul's Cathedral

A tiny replica of the iconic London landmark hides on the side of the steel structure.

London, England

Urine Deflectors of Fleet Street

One of the few remaining examples of 19th-century London’s attempt to clean up its reputation.

London, England

Epstein's Medical Sculptures

A series of carved figures that scandalized British society.

Tower Bridge Chimney.

London, England

Tower Bridge Chimney

An architectural oddity hides in plain sight on this iconic London bridge.

Rows of railings.

London, England

London's Stretcher Railings

The fences outside some of South London's estates are made from recycled World War II stretchers.

York Water Gate.

London, England

York Water Gate

These ornate arches show how the course of the River Thames has changed.

Panyer Boy stone carving.

London, England

Panyer Boy

A mysterious carving from 17th-century London seemingly depicts a young boy sitting on a bread basket.

London, England

The Soho Square Hut

The Tudor-style cottage in the middle of the square is not quite what it seems.

The kiln.

London, England

'Potteries and Piggeries' Bottle Kiln

A relic from one of London's worst 19th-century slums.

The coat hook is said to be one of the questions for the London cab driver test known as "The Knowledge."

London, England

Metropolitan Police Coat Hook

Installed at a chaotic intersection, this gave London traffic cops a place to hang their heavy woolen coats.

The house was built in 1700.

London, England

Admiral's House

An eccentric 18th century naval officer built a ship's quarterdeck on his roof, the inspiration for Mary Poppins's "Admiral Boom."

London Necropolis Railway Station

London, England

London Necropolis Railway Station

A closed London rail station created to cart away the dead still bears the marks of attempts to make it less morbid.