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Art Historical London

Secret London

Imperial Standards of Length On the bottom of steps from Trafalgar Square to the NATIONAL GALLERY are the imperial measures detailing the official measurements of inches, feet, yards, links, chains, perches and poles. Installed in 1876. Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN	Statue of Sekhmet Sekhmet was the divine consort of Ptah, chief god of Memphis in Lower Egypt. And this sculpture from 1320 BC was placed above the main entrance to SOTHEBY'S after it sold at auction in 1880, but was never collected. Sotheby's, 34-35 New Bond St, London W1A 2AA	Tracey Emin's Mitten The UK’s first children’s charity and first public art gallery the FOUNDLING MUSEUM is situated on a lovely garden square in Bloomsbury. Outside on the railings, easy to miss, is a little white baby mitten (Tracey Emin, Baby Things [Mitten], 2008), the remnants of an exhibitions at the museum in 2010. 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ
Chelsea Pensioners @ Royal Hospital Just behind the SAATCHI GALLERY you will find the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home of the Chelsea Pensioners, where you can book tours and visit their gift shop. Founded by King Charles II in 1682 as a retreat for British army veterans. Royal Hospital Rd, London SW3 4SR	'Roman' Bath at the Strand When you walk from Temple tube station towards the COURTAULD GALLERY, you will pass a bath which during Victorian times was believed to be Roman. 5 Strand Lane, London WC2R 2NA (Admission by appointment only with Westminster council.)	Lenin lived in London! When you visit the BRITISH MUSEUM next time, walk past 36 (formerly 21) Tavistock Place, Bloomsbury. This is where Vladimir Lenin wrote the final details of his revolutionary philosophy, while doing research at the British Library. 36, Tavistock Place, Holburn, London, WC1H 9RE
The Black Friar Pub Not that far from St PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, this traditional pub with Henry Poole's Art Nouveau reliefs reflects the friary that stood there in 1279. 174 Queen Victoria St, London EC4V 4EG	Victorian Loo / Coffee bar The Attendant serves a delicious coffee and offers a fun (and very clean) alternative to all the high street chains in a restored Victorian public convenience! Between Oxford Circus and the WELLCOME COLLECTION. 27A Foley St, London W1W 6DY	Prototype 1st telephone box This very first prototype of the telephone box submitted by the winning designer, George Gilbert Scott in 1924, became the standardised design throughout the UK. You can find it inside the gates to the ROYAL ACADEMY. Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD
The Nose at Admiralty Arch Just been to the NATIONAL GALLERY or NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY? Cross Trafalgar Square and see if you can spot this nose! The Mall, London SW1A 2WH	11 secrets near London Landmarks The Londonist put together a list of hidden features at London landmarks, you probably never noticed before!

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