Secret London: London Bridge is Falling Down

Curiously abandoned in London's Victoria Park are two of the original stone alcove seats from the famous old London Bridge. They were rescued when the bridge was pulled  down in 1831 and date back to 1760, when the architect George Dance the Younger added them to provide a safe place for pedestrians to stop on the narrow crowded bridge. Head to the far east end of the park near St Mark's Gate, where they were placed in 1860.  Inside you can still see the Bridge Association insignia carved into the stone. 

Adventures at Home on London Adventure Walks

Those lovely people from Adventures at Home have reviewed our Great Fire of London walk from the blue book.  Click here and take a look at their day out in the Big Smoke.

Join the Lord Mayor of London for the day

It's the annual Lord Mayor's Show this weekend - head to the city to see one London's best free parades.  Watch the 'floats' at 11am, so named from the days when the parade took place on the River Thames.   See the Lord Mayor in his Golden Coach, ridden in since 1757 and built at a grand cost of £1065.0s.3d. 







While you are at it, explore the City.  Discover the secrets of Dick Whittington's London: where he lived, where he worked and where he is buried.  See the City's greatest buildings including Guildhall, with its medieval hall where Lord Mayor's have traditionally feasted on turtle soup, and Mansion House at Bank, where the Lord Mayor lives and holds court.   Check out the walk in our Adventure Walks for Families in London book which takes you round the city to discover the story of London's Lord Mayor and the city.  

Did you know?  The first pantomime performance of Dick Whittington's story was at Covent Garden in 1814.
Whittington paid for a 64 seater public loo, overhanging the river, nicknamed 'Whittington's Longhouse'.  It was one of the first public toilets in London.