L is for London » C

Getting away with it …

Hogs Back Books — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:57:01 +0000

The Crown Jewels were stolen in 1671 by Colonel Blood but he was caught and then mysteriously pardoned.

Victoria Embankment

Hogs Back Books — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:08:46 +0000

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.

Careful what you say

Hogs Back Books — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:32:47 +0000

The dome of St Paul’s Cathedral is the second biggest dome in the world, after St Peter’s in Rome. At its base is the Whispering Gallery, a circular walkway halfway up the inside of the dome. Due to the acoustics of the curved surface, a phrase whispered against one wall can be heard against the far wall 112 feet away.

St Paul’s

Hogs Back Books — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:29:19 +0000

St Paul’s Cathedral was built between 1675 and 1711 by Sir Christopher Wren. The foundation stone was laid in 1675 when Wren was 43 years old, and the last stone was put in lace by his son 35 years later. It was the fifth cathedral on the site. The previous Norman one was even larger than Wren’s building and had the tallest ever spire. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of London of 1666.

Canary Wharf

Hogs Back Books — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:27:07 +0000

The tallest building in London and the UK is Canary Wharf Tower, which is part of the London Docklands. It is 244 m or 800 ft high and was built in 1991.

Hickory dickory dock …

Hogs Back Books — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:22:55 +0000

…. a flock of starlings stopped the clock. They landed on the minute hand of Big Ben in 1945 and moved it back by five minutes.

London’s largest clock

Hogs Back Books — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:21:27 +0000

The largest clock in London is not situated on the Clock Tower, but on Shell Mex House on The Strand.