London is a city where history hums beneath the surface, and sometimes, quite literally, beneath your feet. From multimillion-pound mansions to gas-lit alleyways, the capital is a fascinating blend of the regal, the ridiculous, and the downright surreal.
Whether you’re a history lover or just enjoy a good quirky fact, here are 9 fascinating things you might not know about London’s homes and streets.
1. "Blue Plaque" Homes
Ever walked past a beautiful townhouse and spotted a round blue plaque by the door? London has over 950 buildings adorned with these markers, each commemorating someone notable who once lived there. From Charles Dickens to Jimi Hendrix, these homes offer a glimpse into the past lives of the famous and infamous. It’s like a celebrity trail, just with better architecture.
2. The most expensive home ever sold in the UK
How much would you pay for a 45-room mansion in central London with Hyde Park views? Apparently, someone paid over £200 million for such a home in Knightsbridge, making it the most expensive residential sale in UK history. Safe to say, that mortgage payment is not on any of our monthly budgets.
3. Iceberg Homes
In the wealthiest parts of London, space is at a premium so what do the ultra-rich do? Dig down. Nicknamed “iceberg homes,” these properties hide entire underground worlds: swimming pools, cinemas, wine cellars, and even car museums, often larger than the visible house above. Yes, the rich are literally living under the surface.
4. London’s Garden Squares
Wander through areas like Kensington, Bloomsbury, or Belgravia and you’ll find picturesque garden squares surrounded by elegant terraces. But don’t get too comfortable, most of these gardens are private, and only local residents with a key can access them. Think of it as a park with a velvet rope.
5. Ha Ha Road
Tucked away in Greenwich, Ha Ha Road sounds like the setup for a comedy sketch, but it’s actually named after a landscaping feature. A ha-ha is a type of hidden ditch used in stately home gardens to keep livestock out without blocking the view. Still funny, though.
6. London’s shortest street
Candover Street in Fitzrovia could be one of the shortest streets in the city, measuring just about 5 metres long. It’s more of a hiccup than a street but hey, it still counts on the map.
7. London still has over 1,500 gas lamps
Step into areas like Covent Garden or Westminster at dusk and you might spot something out of time: gas lamps still glowing with a soft, warm light. Some are even manually lit each night by traditional lamplighters. In a city racing toward the future, it’s a charming throwback to Victorian London.
8. Streets with strange names
London is filled with street names that sound like they belong in a fantasy novel or a murder mystery:
Bleeding Heart Yard - tied to a gruesome legend involving a noblewoman’s heart.
Crutched Friars - named after an ancient religious order that carried crucifixes.
Knightrider Street - a nod to the knights who rode through on their way to tournaments, not a tribute to David Hasselhoff.
Every name tells a story often one much weirder than you'd expect.
9. Rivers flow beneath your feet
You may not realise it, but several of London’s historic rivers, like the Fleet, Effra, and Tyburn, still flow beneath the streets. Once open waterways, they were gradually buried as the city expanded. Next time you’re walking around, remember: you might be standing on a hidden river.
London is more than just red buses and Big Ben. It’s a city where every corner hides a story, every house might have housed a legend, and even the streets are full of surprises. Whether you’re house-hunting, sightseeing, or just people-watching, keep your eyes open, you never know what you’ll find.
