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Blackhorse Road

The name Blackhorse is a corruption of Black House, a mansion house that once stood nearby

Brompton Cemetery

Two long colonnades embrace the Great Circle, reputedly inspired by the piazza of St. Peter's in Rome, and shelter catacombs beneath. Narrower paths run like aisles parallel to main axis, shaded by an array of mature trees. Many of these, like the limes on Central Avenues, are as old as the cemetery itself

Former Salvation Army Chapel

The Salvation Army has had 25 halls, citadels or temples across Newham as centres for evangelism or social care. You could find them in Canning Town in Bradley Street, off the Beckton Road until 1964. Plaistow had the Upper Road building from 1875-you can still see the abandoned building

Hainault

The name Hainault was recorded as 'Henehout' in 1221 and 'Hyneholt' in 1239. It is Old English and means 'wood belonging to a religious community', referring to the ownership of Hainault Forest, part of the larger Epping Forest, by Barking Abbey. The spelling was altered from the 17th century because of a false connection to Philippa of Hainault, the wife of Edward III

Stephen’s House & Gardens

The house and grounds were left to the 'people of Finchley' by Stephens in his will in 1918, with a condition that they be always open for the use and enjoyment of the public. The gardens today feature a number of different habitats, including a bog garden, rockery and the 'Bothy'

Camden Lock

The yard and former warehouses, an area known as Camden Lock, are on the north side of the canal, at the junction with Chalk Farm Road. This area is adjacent to a canal basin and holds Camden Lock Market, one of the group of markets often called collectively Camden Market

Westminster Abbey

According to a tradition first reported by Sulcard in about 1080, a church was founded at the site (then known as Thorn Ey (Thorn Island)) in the 7th century, at the time of Mellitus, a Bishop of London. Construction of the present church began in 1245, on the orders of King Henry III

Sexy Metal Pants

“They’ve got sort of sex stuff from years ago, they’ve got like, these metal pants that they used to wear. I just think they’re sort of like sexy metal pants. It’s just something I remember seeing”

– Karl Pilkington

Belsize Walk

It is a lovely stroll on a summers day, although you can't help but feel eyes following you if you lower yourself to such undignified activities as taking photos or consulting a map

"King Edward VII" (1911)

Queen Victoria did not hold her son Edward VII in high esteem because she blamed him for the death of Albert. Dear Albert had gone to rescue Edward from visiting a lady, worse than philandering - oh dear, say no more. If you don't know, look it up.

So, if you feel prudish and disapproving like Queen Victoria, you can toot in Tooting at Dirty Bertie

St. Mary the Virgin

Originally a Catholic church in the form of a simple barn-like structure erected in 1135, the Anglican church of St. Mary the Virgin is the most charming in the area. The current structure is from c. 1250 and there is a Tudor font dating from 1495

Chorleywood Common

This is one of the most important wildlife sites in Hertfordshire, combining acid heathland, neutral grassland and chalk meadow all on one site, together with a series of ponds supporting rare plants and amphibians and secondary woodland which has grown up since commoners’ cattle ceased grazing after World War I

Hogarth's House

Two floors of the house are open to visitors and effort has been made to present the House as a home, as well as a celebration of Hogarth's life and work. Prints of some of his best known engravings are on display, including the series The Harlot's Progress, A Rake's Progress and Marriage à-la-mode

Stone of Free Speech

Said to be at least 200 years old, it has been described variously as a historic focal point for political and religious debate, North London equivalent of Speakers Corner or simply a waymarker post, it continues to attract attention

Golders Hill Park

Its main characteristic is an expanse of grass, but it also has a formal, beautifully tended, flower garden next to a duck pond with a small humpback bridge, a separate water garden, which leads onto a larger pond with both black and white swans, a separate area for fallow deer, near to a recently renovated small zoo

North Greenwich

The peninsula was drained by Dutch engineers in the 16th century, allowing it to be used as pasture land. In the 17th century, Blackwall Point (the northern tip of the peninsula, opposite Blackwall) gained notoriety as a location where pirates' corpses were hung in cages as a deterrent to other would-be pirates

Acton Town

Acton means "oak farm" or "farm by oak trees", and is derived from the Old English āc (oak) and tūn (farm). Originally an ancient village, as London expanded, Acton became absorbed into the city. By the 17th century Acton's proximity to London had made it a summer retreat for courtiers and lawyers. Lauded as "blessed with very sweet air", the fashion for medicinal waters then brought a brief period of fame, with the exploitation of the wells at Old Oak common, when East Acton and Friars Place were said to be thronged with summer visitors

The Gravestone of George Edward Doney

George Edward Doney is believed to have been born around 1758 in Gambia. He was transported to Virginia as a young boy and sold into slavery. He is believed to have come to Watford in around 1765. He achieved respect and status at Cassiobury House and was included in a painting of Cassiobury Park at around 1748

The Dell

Heavyweight champion Daniel Mendoza came to the Dell to defend his title in 1795. The fight was won by Mendoza’s opponent, 'Gentleman' John Jackson. Jackson secured victory by seizing Mendoza by his long hair with one hand while he pounded his head with the other. Mendoza was pummelled into submission in around ten minutes. Since this date boxers have worn their hair short

Spaced House

Spaced (1999) was a 14 episode Channel 4 sitcom written by and starring Jessica Stevenson and Simon Pegg, and directed by Edgar Wright. 

“Spacious two bedroom apartment, fully furnished, £90 a week!” Tim says incredulously, before Daisy notices that the room is for “professional couples only”, leading the pair to pretend they are in a relationship.

"Torsion II"

Torsion II, cast iron, by Charles Hadcock is an example of the artist’s practice of revisiting his sculptures over time, transforming them in the process, part of his strategy to kick-start new ideas and new sources of inspiration

"The Bobby Moore Sculpture" (2007)

Henry Winter of The Daily Telegraph, writing in 2009, described how the statue "captures Moore's dignity", and is the place where everyone on their way into Wembley pauses for a moment to admire "this magnificent likeness of the most important figure in the history of English sport and [give] thanks for 1966"

Putney School of Art

The great bonus of a Victorian Design for the building, is the superb Life Drawing Studio on the first floor, with its vast north-facing windows and vaulted wooden ceiling

Ruislip Lido

The reservoir was opened in 1811 as one of the feeder reservoirs for the Grand Junction Canal. The reservoir was developed as a lido in 1933, with an Art Deco style main building together with an area reserved for swimming

"The Meeting Place" (2009)

The eternal couple (modelled after the sculptor and his wife Catherine) stand frozen in time underneath the famous St Pancras clock at the apex of the great arch of the Barlow shed. Around the base is a wonderfully sculptured frieze of striking composition

The Freud Museum

When Freud wrote "We have it incomparably better than at Berggasse and even than Grinzing", he wasn’t just comparing favourably the spacious rooms with large windows to the dark small apartments in Vienna. Both Sigmund and Anna Freud loved the garden, which is still meticulously maintained

"Welcome" Mural

Aside from this charming 'Welcome to Burnt Oak' mosaic, the area has several other murals and public artworks

Job Henry Charles Drain VC

One was quickly shot down, but the other got to the gun position, wheeled round, limbered-up and brought one of the howitzers out of action, one of the drivers being hit in the process. Reynolds and Drivers Frederick Luke and Job Drain all received the Victoria Cross

A Study in Scarlet

“And what may your address be?” I inquired, taking up a pencil.

“13, Duncan Street, Houndsditch. A weary way from here.”

“The Brixton Road does not lie between any circus and Houndsditch,” said Sherlock Holmes sharply.”

"Clove" (2007)

It's one of the first things visitors to the Paddington Regional Centre will notice – a 7m high abstract sculpture, loosely based on a tree. The work of sculptor Bryan Kneale, "Clove" stands outside the building in a paved area to the east, flanked by live topiary

Dollis Valley Greenwalk

It’s hard not be impressed passing under the vast Victorian viaduct, built in 1863 and, at 60 feet above ground level, the highest point on the London underground, with trains rattling along above the trees

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

“From his window he covered most of the approaches: eight or nine unequal roads and alleys which for no good reason had chosen Cambridge Circus as their meeting point. Between them, the buildings were gimcrack, cheaply fitted out with bits of empire: a Roman bank, a theatre like a vast desecrated mosque”

– John le Carré

"Carry On Constable" (1960)

South Ealing Road Park (as well as many other South Ealing locations) forms the backdrop to the antics in Carry On Constable (1960), the fourth film in the series (out of a total of 31)

Queens Park Rangers FC

They obtained the name of Queens Park Rangers when they merged with a team called Christ Church Rangers in 1886. They called themselves Queens Park Rangers because most of the players came from the district of Queen’s Park

Eastcote

Eastcote was originally recorded as Ascot, one of the three medieval tithings of the parish of Ruislip, along with Westcot and Norwood. Norwood, in the north of the parish, became Northwood; Westcot, in the west became Westcote, and Ascot, in the east, became what is now Eastcote

"Newton" (1995)

The choice of Blake's engraving of Newton as the model for the sculpture caused some controversy, as Blake was known to be deeply anti-scientific and displayed profound antagonism to Newtonian rationalism. Paolozzi was inspired by the union between two British geniuses, both representing nature, poetry, art, and architecture

The Temple

Inspired by what he had seen on a tour of Europe, John 2nd Earl Tylney (1712-1784) wanted to replicate the remains of ancient Rome in Wanstead, and duly started planning his architectural ode to classical civilisation. Originally a poultry house, the Temple was promoted to an exotic aviary in the 1760s

Kyoto Garden

The original design of the garden was dictated by the world's oldest gardening manual - a Japanese text written sometime between 785 and 1184 AD. It subscribes to a series of principles including those of Buddhism and geomancy; which most of us will be more familiar with in its popular form of feng shui

Tower of London

The Tower was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used as a prison from 1100 until 1952. The peak period of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures who had fallen into disgrace, such as Elizabeth I (before she became queen) were held within its walls

Lord Arthur Savile's Crime

“In the flickering green of the square below some children were flitting about like white butterflies, and the pavement was crowded with people on their way to the Park. Never had life seemed lovelier to him, never had the things of evil seemed more remote”

– Oscar Wilde

“Baseball Cap Girl”

Located just along Tooting High Street, this collaborative work by Nick Flatt & Seeds One is a depiction of a hyper-realistic portrait of a woman dressed in hoodie and baseball cap with a rather mischievous looking cat resting along her shoulders

Queen Elizabeth's School

The school was founded in 1573 by Queen Elizabeth I under the charter:

“A grammar school which shall be called The Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth for the education, bringing up and instruction of boys and youth, to be brought up in grammar and other learning, and the same to continue for ever”

Finsbury Park

Unusually for London, the park hosts two facilities for "American" sports: an American football field, home to the 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 national champions London Blitz, and diamonds for softball and baseball, home to the 2007 and 2008 national champions the London Mets

St Anne's Church

The whole church was left burned out on the night of 24 September 1940 during the Blitz, it was then rebuilt single handed by the legend that is Dennis "gramps" Stringer. apart from the tower, which was left derelict

Shenley Park Mural

As part of a £1.8 million improvement scheme appealingly 'retro' murals have been used to add interest and also provide signage to Shenley Park and the library

Harrow Lodge Park

Harrow Lodge Park is an extensive rolling park, formerly the manor of Maylards Green and Wybridge. The original name is derived from the Mayloor family who held the manor in the C13th and C14th

Haverstock School

The project involved the replacement of an existing collection of Victorian to 1960’s buildings which housed a 1500-pupil secondary school while keeping the school open and functioning. The school is designed as a low-energy building and incorporates high performance façades and natural stack cross-ventilators

Nelson Gardens

Nelson Gardens Recreation Ground was created on a parcel of land donated by the great nephew of Rear Admiral Isaac Smith, to mark the centenary of Nelson’s death. The site holds a commemorative plaque and a fine pair of 12 pounder guns, once thought to have adorned the Merton Place estate where they supposedly sat to either side of the front door

Marylebone

Marylebone gets its name from a church dedicated to St Mary, the original church was built on the bank of a small stream or "bourne". The church and the surrounding area later became known as St Mary at the Bourne which, over time, became shortened to its present form, Marylebone

Grand Union Canal

The main line of the Grand Union Canal starts in London and ends in Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks. It branches off to Leicester, Slough, Aylesbury, Wendover and Northampton. Originally constructed to improve communication between Birmingham, the Midlands and London, and carry freight such as coal

Westbourne Park

The hamlet of Westbourne, was a High Middle Ages (mid-mediaeval) settlement, centred on Westbourne Green. It included a mansion house and a farmhouse. It is recorded as Westeburn in 1222 and as Westborn in 1294. The green is recorded as Westborne Grene in 1548, Washborne Green in 1680 and Wesborn Green in 1754

Angel Clock Tower

The Angel Clock Tower is one of the best recognised landmarks at the centre of Angel, close to the underground station. The clock tower was built by J. Smith & Sons, a clock making company established in 1780 and donated to the community as a public timepiece - as well as a lasting advert for the local company

Boston Manor

The earliest reference to Boston (or Bordwadestone as it was then spelled) was around the 1170s. It may mean Bord's tun or farm by the stone. It was situated towards the northern end of the Manor Boston

Hammersmith Park

It’s completely integrated into Hammersmith Park as a place where children can play and their parents sit on shady benches to watch them, with none of the formality you see in other Japanese gardens. It’s all that remains of a much larger garden which was one of the main attractions of the Japan-British Exhibition at White City in 1910

Arsenal Legends

The statue is based on the classic image of the former Holland striker controlling the ball in the air against Newcastle in 2003. Sculptures of Henry, Adams and Chapman were erected in 2001

Colliers Wood Tower

Almost as if it popped out of the mind of George Orwell, its vast size and gloomy appearance is oppressive and menacing, and while a plan exists to (somehow) transform it into an attractive apartment block, surely it would’ve been better to have just knocked the thing down years ago?

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

“Outside, the stars were shining coldly in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors’ quarter, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Oxford Street”

– Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

"Traffic Light Tree" (1998)

The Sculpture imitates the natural landscape of the adjacent London Plane Trees, while the changing pattern of the lights reveals and reflects the never ending rhythm of the surrounding domestic, financial and commercial activities

Hitchcock Mosaics

Alfred Hitchcock was born at 517 High Road, Leytonstone, in the east of London on 13th August 1899. To mark 100 years since this event, and to commemorate the director's link with the area, 17 mosaics have been installed in the entrance corridors of Leytonstone tube station

The DollHouse

This extravagant domed orientalist edifice topped by the crescent moon is what you see above ground in the churchyard of St Botolph’s Bishopsgate, but it is the mere portal to a secret subterranean world beneath your feet

Motifs & Shying Horses

There are two distinct works of art at the station, both depicting black horses, in reference to the station's name: the 1968 stallion mural by David McFall outside the station's entrance, and the tile motif by Hans Unger depicting a black horse on a white cameo against a light blue background (the colour of the Victoria line)

Franklin's Ponds

Benjamin Franklin used the ponds for scientific experiments:

“I fetched out a cruet of oil, and drop a little of it on the water. I saw it spread itself with surprising swiftness on the surface […] the oil, though not more than a tea-spoonful, produced an instant calm over a space of several yards square, which spread amazingly, and extended itself gradually till it reached the lee side, making all that quarter of the pond, perhaps half an acre, as smooth as a looking glass”

Regent's Canal

Regent's Canal is over 200 years old and 13.8 km long, cutting through some of the most well known parts of the capital, for example the towpath route allows visitors to stroll (or cycle) from Victoria Park to Regent's Park