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]]>The Heliot Steak Restaurant in London’s Hippodrome Casino is a hidden treasure in the city’s gambling scene. The restaurant, known for its high-quality steaks and seafood specialties, provides a sumptuous dining experience with elegant décor and great service. The attention to detail at Heliot Steak House distinguishes it from other casino restaurants, from the expertly grilled steaks to the well curated wine list. Aside from the food, the restaurant is housed within the historic Hippodrome Casino, which features a variety of entertainment options such as live shows and gaming tables. The Heliot Steak House is a must-visit venue within London’s casino scene for anyone searching for a really unique and memorable experience.
The Clermont Club, London’s oldest casino, has a long and colorful history. John Aspinall founded the club in the 1960s, and it immediately became a hot spot for the city’s elite, including nobles, celebrities, and politicians. Aspinall was known for his quirky nature and love of animals, and he frequently housed exotic animals in his private zoo, including tigers and monkeys. The Clermont Club was noted for its high-stakes games, and it was even alleged that during the Cold War, it staged secret games between British spies. Despite changing hands over the years, the club has retained its reputation for luxury and exclusivity, and it is still a favorite location for visitors looking for an exceptional gaming experience in the centre of London.
Many of London’s casinos are home to hidden treasures, including remarkable art collections and antique gaming tables that represent the history of gaming. For example, the Ritz Club houses a collection of 17th and 18th-century art, including works by notable artists such as Gainsborough and Reynolds. The casino’s showpiece, however, is its gorgeous Chinoiserie-style gaming area, complete with elaborate hand-painted murals and genuine Louis XVI furniture. Similarly, The Clermont Club is noted for its antique gaming tables, some of which date back to the 18th century. These tables, which have elaborate marquetry and delicate carvings, are considered works of art in their own right. The Colony Club also features an amazing art collection that includes works by well-known modern painters such as David Hockney and Bridget Riley. These hidden gems give a touch of luxury and sophistication to London’s casinos, showcasing the city’s cultural and artistic past while giving a one-of-a-kind gaming experience.
London’s casinos provide much more than traditional gaming, offering a wide range of experiences to suit all tastes and interests. The Hippodrome Casino, for example, has a Sky Bar with spectacular panoramic views of the metropolitan skyline. The casino’s top floor bar features a variety of cocktails, wines, and beers, making it the ideal spot to relax and unwind after a day of gaming. Another unique experience can be found at the Palm Beach Casino, which hosts live jazz performances every Friday and Saturday night. Visitors can listen to music while sipping cocktails at the casino’s bar, which is stylish and classy. Several other London casinos provide live acts, stand-up comedy shows, and interactive gaming experiences that add a new level of excitement to typical casino games. The Victoria Casino, for example, provides a virtual reality experience that immerses gamers in a 3D gaming environment. These distinct experiences showcase the range and inventiveness of London’s casino industry, offering something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned gambler or just looking for a fun night out with friends.
While London’s most famous casinos are well-known around the world, don’t think that there is nothing more to be discovered. There are still numerous treasures to unearth in the city. For example, the Victoria Casino provides a refined and intimate gaming experience with an emphasis on poker. Tournaments and cash games are available in the casino’s poker area, and players can enjoy complimentary food and drinks while they play. Another hidden treasure is the Colony Club, located in Mayfair, which offers an elite and elegant dining experience. The restaurant features sophisticated European cuisine as well as traditional British dishes, and customers can dine in an exquisite and cosy atmosphere. In addition to dining, the Colony Club offers a range of games such as American roulette, blackjack, and punto banco. For those looking for unusual gaming or great dining experiences in London’s casino scene, these lesser-known casinos provide a different and more customised experience.
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]]>If you want to learn about the dark side of London by visiting these creepy places, then you are at the right place. Today’s article will discuss these eerie London sites, so you can take a self-guided tour there, if you’re brave enough.
We just had to start with the Tower of London, which draws more than 2.8 million tourists every year. What’s the Tower of London though? Many people associate it with torture and executions, which is accurate, but it didn’t always represent this.
William the Conqueror commissioned the castle sometime after 1066, and the first Norman monarchs used it as royal residence. Sometime later, the kings moved their royal court to Westminster Palace, and many other palaces in the next thousand years.
Still, the Tower of London retained its royal chambers, which were used for ceremonial (the monarch would sleep there before their coronation) and strategic purposes (royals would live there in times of turmoil).
However, since its very inception, the Tower had a designated prison, the White Tower (that’s where its name comes from). Later, the Tower became an even bigger symbol of tyranny and gore. Henry VI was murdered there in 1471, and in 1483, young Edward V and his brother, Richard, vanished from the Tower.
The Tower also saw a great deal of royal executions in the following century. Edward, Duke of Buckingham, was beheaded there in 1521, followed by Anne Boleyn in 1536, Margaret Poole in 1541, and Katherine Howard in 1542. The castle was also used for numerous interrogations that included torture.
Nowadays, the Tower of London is among the best-preserved castles in London, and if you read our article on the forgotten palaces in the capital, you’d know how significant that is.
Whitechapel is a neighbourhood in London, which is frequented by true crime enthusiasts every year, because it served as the “hunting grounds” for the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper.
Whitechapel was a classic Dickensian neighbourhood by the mid-19th century, exhibited in the poor condition of the infrastructure and the droves of destitute residents. These conditions drove up crime, which culminated in the Whitechapel murders between 1888-1891 when eleven prostitutes were killed. Some contribute them all to Jack the Ripper, but many past and contemporary investigators disagree.
Many of the Victorian buildings in Whitechapel are preserved today, so you don’t have to imagine what the district looked like back then. You can take a self-guided tour along the Whitechapel streets or go on the famous Jack the Ripper walking tour with experienced guides.
If you are brave enough, you can also visit the Ten Bells. It’s said that the non-conspicuous pub is haunted by the spirits of two Jack the Ripper’s victims – Annie Chapman and Mary Jane Kelly.
Both women are said to have visited the pub, and some believe they never left spiritually. Bar staff and customers claim they have seen their ghosts and that there are also unexplainable cold spots in the venue.
The Ten Bells was mentioned in the famous graphic novel From Hell (1999), and its film adaptation, starring Johnny Depp, in 2001.
Hyde Park is the perfect place for a picnic, and one of London’s most famous parks, mostly thanks to the Rolling Stones who love performing there. Hyde Park, however, has a creepy side to it.
In 1881, a family asked to bury their beloved Maltese terrier, Cherry, in the park since it was the little one’s favourite spot. The park allowed it and the family even put a tiny gravestone on the spot.
The Duke of Cambridge heard of this and later buried his dog there. This started a trend within London’s elite who would bury their pets in the cemetery. Now, more than 300 pets are buried there.
While no cemetery is ever not creepy, this one is also profoundly sweet. The engraved epitaphs show the owners’ adoration of their animal companions and they prove that people have always had a special place in their heart for their pets.
London is full of houses, castles, and pubs thought to be haunted; there are so many that we couldn’t possibly dedicate separate sections in the article. Still, we don’t want you to miss out on some good old ghost fun, so here’s a list of the most haunted places in London:
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]]>In this article, we will discuss London bars that not only serve delicious beverages, but which also have an interesting concept. We will give you some fantastic speakeasies and other “secret” bars, which would show you a different, but just as fascinating part of London that not many people are aware of.
Here are the bars and their addresses:
Opium is a bar in the heart of London’s Chinatown that would take you on a trip back in time to the 1920’s. Inspired by the opium dens of the early 20th century, Opium is the perfect secret bar that you could easily miss while you’re navigating through the busy Chinatown district as its humble door doesn’t suggest a fancy bar behind it.
Opium is in fact a spot with three separate bars, all of which are in the opulent Oriental style. The bar also offers private boots upon request, if you don’t think your experience would be secretive enough. The mixologists make some of the most creative cocktails, inspired by the enigmatic city of Shanghai.
Basement Sate is another secret bar in Soho that would satisfy all your senses. The founders state that the bar was born out of their love for three things – cocktails, desserts, and good music, and that’s precisely what they aim to deliver.
They aren’t scared to experiment with different tastes and combinations, so you’d be up for a nice surprise when you try their beverages and desserts. They have live music as well, which really builds the atmosphere. They also offer mixologist courses for those who want to master the art of a good drink.
The Blind Pig is a speakeasy inspired by the Prohibition Era in the United States. The name is derived from the phrase used in the Prohibition that signified an illegal bar (speakeasy). The décor matches the theme and it is a bit mind boggling to go from busy London to this hidden gem with its 1920’s Americana style.
To find the bar, look for the sign reading “Optician” and then find the doorknob in the shape of a blindfolded pig. Drink in style at the Blind Pig and try some of their witty-named signature cocktails like Dill or No Dill.
Yes, as the name suggests, you need an appointment to visit By Appointment Only. The magnificent bar can be found in the midst of tall buildings in central London. The small, but elegant construction is deceiving, as it only serves as a front for the opulent bar underneath.
By Appointment Only uses the grounds of an old Turkish bath built in the Victorian era and you cannot even imagine how glamorous it is until you visit it yourself. Get a delicious cocktail in a mini bathtub and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of By Appointment Only.
Yes, the Luggage Room is in fact a luggage room that was converted into a bar. The Luggage Room is every bit secretive since you need to open a hatch to gain entry; how cool is that? Once there, you will be treated to an ultra-glamours décor where marble and leather dominate the environment.
The Luggage Room is another 1920’s themed bar (we are starting to see the pattern) and you should feel free to dress as a flapper girl or a gentleman with a nice tuxedo. Don’t worry if you haven’t eaten yet, because the venue also offers delicious food like mouth-watering steaks that complement its rich selection of cocktails.
If you are a fan of Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland, then you must absolutely visit the Looking Glass Cocktail Club. Similar to the novel, the bar has a Victorian theme and of course, a massive mirror.
Looking Glass Cocktail Club is a lovely speakeasy that offers inventive cocktails and a fairy tale atmosphere. For those who don’t live in the United Kingdom, the combination of Victorian glamour and house music might be peculiar, but locals know it’s one of the best settings for a bar.
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]]>This article aims to find more obscure and often strange museums that appear to be hidden from the average tourist.
Here are the museums to be covered in the article and their addresses:
The Cinema Museum – 2 Dugard Way, Renfrew Rd, London SE11 4TH The Vagina Museum – 18 Victoria Park Square, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PF The Freud Museum – 20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret – 9a St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY The Sherlock Holmes Museum – 221b Baker St, London NW1 6XE Leighton House Museum – 12 Holland Park Rd, London W14 8LZ The Magic Circle – Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD
Enjoy learning about and exploring these hidden gems of London!
The Cinema Museum details the history of cinema, and more specifically, British cinema and it features film memorabilia such as authentic posters, 5 million metres of film and much more. You can only visit this museum through a scheduled appointment, so make sure you check the availability before you make any plans.
The Vagina Museum is a first-of-its-kind museum that is dedicated to female reproductive health. There, people can learn everything about the female reproductive system and the long battle for equal rights. It’s the perfect place to find accurate information, presented in an interesting manner. The museum also holds temporary thought-provoking exhibits.
Did we also mention it’s free?
To the fans of psychoanalysis and its father, Sigmund Freud, the Freud Museum is there to cater for your needs. The Freud Museum is housed in the last residence of the Austrian psychiatrist. After Hitler’s rise to power, Freud moved to London for safety. The home was later a residence of his daughter Anna Freud, a prominent child psychoanalyst.
Visitors can see the personal residence of Freud and his possessions; there are also temporary and permanent exhibitions dedicated to his life and work.
If you are in the medical career or you’re simply interested in the history of medicine, visit the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, which tracks the history of medicine from medieval times to the modern age.
The museum is housed in an old operating theatre, as the name suggests, so you would also be able to see where 19th century surgeons operated on their patients. The museum also tells the story of traditional herbal medicine.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum is a must-go for every fan of the witty detective from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels. The museum is located on the streets mentioned in the detective series and it’s one of the most famous addresses in pop culture.
The residence is of typical Victorian style and it features many of Holmes’ most prized possessions. It also retells the story of his most notable cases.
The Leighton House Museum was previously the home of British painter Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton (1830–1896). Leighton was a famous and wealthy painter in his lifetime, choosing to mainly depict classical, biblical and historical events in the academic style of painting.
Leighton was also an avid traveller and collector of antiques, so he commissioned architect George Aitchison to build him a combined residence and studio where he could both create new paintings and store his prized antiques that came mainly from the Middle East. The result was a fascinating building in an Orientalist style that captures the opulence of his era.
You can visit his former home and enjoy the vast collection of his paintings and collected valuable items.
Everyone needs a little magic in their life, so don’t hesitate to visit the Magic Circle in London. This peculiar museum is dedicated to the history and practice of magic. It’s home to the British magic society and it features numerous fun and interesting events that you can go to.
It also exhibits important works of the magic arts, such as Harry Houdini’s handcuffs and possessions that belonged to other famous magicians. The Magic Circle, however, requires you to book a visit in advance. You can also book a ticket for one of the magic shows that they often put on.
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]]>Previous kings and queens lived in other palaces, but perhaps due to the shape that they are in today (some in ruins or non-existent), not that many people visit these sights. If you’re an avid history buff though, we bet you’re gonna love exploring the forgotten palaces of London.
Greenwich Palace, also known as Palace of Placentia, was a royal residence in the late medieval age and the early Renaissance. Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, built the first residence there in 1443. Later, Henry VII expanded the original building and added massive courtyards, eventually turning it into one of his main residences.
His son and successor, Henry VIII, was born in Greenwich Palace, and his two granddaughters, future Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I, were also born. Greenwich Palace was a lavish residence that reflected the new architectural movement in England, known as the Tudor style, which broke away with earlier medieval tradition.
James I, built an additional building there in 1635 for his queen, Anne of Denmark, known as Queen’s House, which was the first building to be consciously built in the classical style by architect Inigo Jones.
Both the Tudor and the Stuart buildings are important to English history and architecture, but unfortunately, only Queen’s House remains untouched today. Charles II demolished the palace to make way for a new one, which was never built. Instead, the Old Royal Navy College and the Royal Observatory were built on the site.
Tourists can visit Queen’s House, but they can also see some the remains of the Tudor palace, which were unearthed recently.
The Palace of Whitehall was another royal residence, the main residence for kings and queens between 1530 and 1698, which has been mostly destroyed. The palace was originally commissioned by the Archbishop of York Walter de Grey in 1240. Later, Cardinal Wolsey expanded York Palace, which Henry VIII later confiscated and renamed to Whitehall.
Henry VIII expanded it even more and made it his primal residence in 1530. Stuart kings built additional buildings, most famously the Banqueting Hall (another Inigo Jones masterpiece) in 1622. Whitehall became the largest palace in Europe at the time.
Two fires, one in 1691 and another in 1698, destroyed most of the castle and its precious artworks. Nowadays, only the Banqueting Hall, the site of Charles I’s beheading, remains intact. However, one can also see the remains of Henry VIII’s tennis courts and certain small constructions at 70 Whitehall that houses the Cabinet Office today.
Richmond Palace was the only Tudor-commissioned royal residence in London. Built by Henry VII on the site of a destroyed old palace called Sheen, Richmond Palace was the peak of Tudor architecture with its red bricks and sophisticated towers. The palace was the favourite residence of Henry VII and his granddaughter Elizabeth I, and they later both died there.
After Charles I was deposed and beheaded in 1649, the palace was sold by Parliament and later demolished with the materials being used for newer constructions. Nowadays, only Gate House serves as a reminder of the previously gorgeous palace. Gate House is inhabited though, so you can only see it from the outside.
Westminster Palace was likely built in 1016 by Cnut the Great, the Danish king who conquered England. Later, Edward the Confessor and William I expanded the palace. Westminster Palace was the main royal residence until a fire destroyed the privy chambers and Henry VIII moved his court to Whitehall.
Henry’s parliament, however, continued meeting at Westminster Palace as the parliament chambers were untouched by the fire. Another great fire of 1834 though destroyed the old palace and a new one was built on its place.
Westminster Palace is still the building housing Parliament. This is a popular tourist attraction, but not that many people know what parts of the original old palace remain. The parts in question are Westminster Hall (built in 1097), the Jewel Tower (built around 1365), the Undercroft Chapel (a Saxon relic), and parts of St. Stephen’s Chapel and the Cloisters (built around 1297).
Although it wasn’t a royal residence, Winchester Palace was a formidable building that houses the Bishops of Winchester for centuries. Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester, built the original palace in the early 12th century, so he could be close to the king whom he often advised.
Winchester Palace has been remodelled many times over the next centuries, most notably in the 14th and 17th centuries. The palace was, however, converted into tenements and warehouses in the early 18th century. Later, in 1814, most of it was destroyed in a great fire.
Nowadays, only parts of the original great hall remain.
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]]>We decided to dedicate our first post to London itself and to tell you some fun facts about the tourist industry in the city, which is visited by millions of people every day. We hope you enjoy reading our first post and that you come back for more!
London is among the oldest still-standing cities in the world. In fact, there still exists a bridge (in ruins) from the Bronze Era, dating back to 1750–1285 BCE. In 47 AD, after the Romans invaded the island, they created a settlement that they called Londinium; the name was likely derived from Brittonic. Londinium thus became Britannia’s capital.
Later, when the Romans left Britannia, the Anglo-Saxons conquered the lands in the early 6th century and created a settlement close to Londinium that they named Lundenwic. King Alfred the Great, however, moved the settlement, now referred to as London, back to its Roman site.
Despite the fact that the capital of Anglo-Saxon England was Winchester, London became the biggest city and attracted foreign traders due to its geographical position.
The Normans, led by William the Conqueror, expanded London significantly and turned it into the capital of their newly conquered country. William became the first monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey in 1066, starting a tradition that lives on today.
Today, the City of London (not to be confused with London) remains the same size as its Middle Age counterpart. During the age of the British Empire, London also became the capital of the biggest empire to ever exist.
Ever since 1066, London has been the capital of England, and later the United Kingdom. What started as a small settlement is now a city with a population of almost 9 million people and sites that put many other cities to shame.
You already know that London is among the most visited cities in the world, but you perhaps don’t know how many people exactly visit it each day and year. You can learn this and many more interesting facts about London and its tourist industry in this section:
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