Architectural Oddities in London

Discover 23 architectural oddities in London.

London, England

Urine Deflectors of Fleet Street

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

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London, England

Epstein's Medical Sculptures

A series of carved figures that scandalized British society.

SEANETTA

Added by SEANETTA

London, England

Tower Bridge Chimney

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

YoAdO

London, England

London's Stretcher Railings

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

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London, England

York Water Gate

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

Kerry Wolfe

Added by Kerry Wolfe

London, England

Panyer Boy

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

AmunyAnkhesenra

Added by AmunyAnkhesenra

London, England

The Soho Square Hut

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

Tony Dunnell

Added by Tony Dunnell

London, England

'Potteries and Piggeries' Bottle Kiln

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

ariadnemaze

Added by ariadnemaze

London, England

Metropolitan Police Coat Hook

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

ahvenas

Added by ahvenas

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."

Added by Kavya Ram Mohan

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.

escapade1935

Added by escapade1935

London, England

The First Public Drinking Fountain

Public access to clean drinking water was an instant hit among the masses.

Added by Karitxa

London, England

Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel

Hidden behind a wall for decades, this masonic lodge was only rediscovered during renovations.

Laetitia Barbier

Added by Laetitia Barbier

London, England

Shoreditch Town Hall

A recently restored Shoreditch landmark with ties to Jack the Ripper.

EricGrundhauser

Added by EricGrundhauser

London, England

Tea Building

A building that survived WWII, possibly on the virtue of its name alone.

EricGrundhauser

Added by EricGrundhauser

London, England

Guildhall's Underground Roman Amphitheater

A 2000-year-old Roman amphitheater lies just below Guildhall Yard.

Mark Casey

Added by Mark Casey