The great organ in the Royal Albert Hall was the largest in the world when it was built in 1871. It was rebuilt in 1933 and has an amazing 9,997 pipes …
… but the Grand Organ in Liverpool Cathedral has more.
Pipe down
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Two sticks and apple, say the bells at Whitechapel …
Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement’s.
You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin’s.
When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.
When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.
When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.
I do not know,
Says the great bell of Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
Diamonds are forever, forever, forever …
Stars can be seen treading the red carpet at Leicester Square’s film premiers. The Square is the heart of the West End entertainment district like Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, it is surrounded by floor-mounted plaques with film stars names and cast handprints.
But Leicester Square hasn’t t always been a glamorous location and in1979, when rubbish collectors went on strike, it was used as an overflow dump, earning it the nickname of ‘Fester Square’.
Remember, remember the fifth of November …
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow
By God’s providence he was catched
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holloa boys, holloa boys
God save the King!
Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!
A penny loaf to feed ol’ Pope
A farthing cheese to choke him
A pint of beer to rinse it down
A faggot of sticks to burn him
Burn him in a tub of tar
Burn him like a blazing star
Burn his body from his head
Then we’ll say ol’ Pope is dead.
Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!
Grand designs
Christopher Wren’s plans to knock down and rebuild the old St Pauls cathedral had been rejected. Six days later it burned down in the Great Fire anyway.
Would you Adam and Eve it?
Bow arches in the crypt gave their name to St Mary-Le-Bow. Cockneys are born within the sound of Bow Bells.
Trooping the Colour
The Queen’s birthday is celebrated each year with the Trooping the Colour at Horseguards parade. Jousting took place here in the time of Henry VIII.
God save the Queen!
Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria are the two longest reigning monarchs but Lady Jane Grey reigned for just 9 days.
Telegraph and Nelson’s column
Naval ships used flags to ‘telegraph’ messages to each other. Nelson ignored orders he didn’t like by putting his telescope to his blind eye.
Getting away with it …
The Crown Jewels were stolen in 1671 by Colonel Blood but he was caught and then mysteriously pardoned.
Trafalgar Square
Lord Nelson joined the Royal Navy as a boy and lost an eye and an arm in battle. He led Britain to victory at the Battle of Trafalgar but died in the fight.
Victoria Embankment
Cleopatra’s Needle in more than 3,000 years old. It was a gift from the Eyptian ruler, but nearly sank on its voyage to London in 1877. It was one of a pair found in Heliopolis and given to the British as a gift in 1819 by the Egyptian ruler Mohammed Ali. Its partner is in Central Park in New York.
Squiffy Your Honour?
Lawyers at Lincoln’s Inn sit while toasting guests to commemorate a visit by King Charles II when everyone was too drunk to stand up.
Raising standards
When the Queen is at home, you can see her flag, the Royal Standard, flying from the pole on top of Buckingham Palace. In flag protocol, the Royal Standard is supreme. It must only be flown from buildings where the Queen is present. It flies above the Union Jack, Standards of other Royal Family members, and other British flags. It never flies at half staff (although an exception was made following the death of Princess Diana).
We’re not amused …
The only house in England that the Queen may not enter is the House of Commons, because she is not a commoner.
The Lion King …
King John kept lions and bears at the Tower of London in 1204. The animals were finally moved to London Zoo in 1831.
Ghosts, buskers … on the tube
There are around 40 ghost tube stations in London. These are abandoned or relocated tube stations that are no longer used by London Underground.
Julian Lloyd Webber was London Underground’s first official busker.
Don’t forget the gravy!
The OXO Tower was once a meat factory and now houses shops and restaurants.
The Oxo Tower was originally constructed as a power station for the Post Office, built towards the end of the 19th century. It was subsequently acquired by the Liebig Extract of Meat company, manufacturers of OXO beef stock cubes, for conversion into a cold store.
The building was largely rebuilt to an Art Deco design by company architect Albert Moore between 1928 and 1929. Much of the original power station was demolished, but the river facing facade was retained and extended. Liebig wanted to include a tower featuring illuminated signs advertising the name of their product. When permission for the advertisements was refused, the tower was built with four sets of three vertically-aligned windows, each of which “coincidentally” happened to be in the shapes of a circle, a cross and a circle
The building now houses restaurants, design shops and galleries.
We’re going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo …
… do you want to come too, too, too?
London Zoo was the first scientific zoo. It was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles, who is better known for founding Singapore (the Lion City). It opened in 1827 in Regents Park and is probably the first place where the word “zoo” was coined.
The animals were evacuated during air raids in World War II, and taken to the animal park in Whipsnade. They were brought back to Regents Park to help with public morale after the war.
Yeoman Warders
Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters, guard the Tower of London and look after the ravens. The monarchy and Tower will crumble if the ravens ever leave.
Yeomen Warders are best known for their scarlet and gold uniforms which date from 1552 and are worn on state occasions. One of their main ceremonial functions is the daily Ceremony of the Keys, where the gates of the Tower of London are secured each night shortly before 10pm by the Chief Yeoman Warder, escorted by an armed guard of four men.