Architectural Oddities in London – What Catches Your Eye in London

Given that the city of London has been the capital of the United Kingdom since time immemorial and that it has been an important and busy economic and social hub of the world, maintaining law and order in the town has been pivotal. Police constables had to endure harsh weather conditions in order to maintain a smooth flow of traffic and control the day to day operations of the city. The Coat Hook, as its name implies is a wrought iron hook that is sturdily driven in to the wall of a building adjacent to the entrance to No. 4, right opposite the Agatha Christie Memorial. The hook bears the name 'Metropolitan Police' and is said to be used to this day by the police officers on duty to hang their heavy woolen coats. What had begun as a casual nail haphazardly jammed in to the wall of the building during construction had disappeared upon completion of the building and the authorities had taken action to put in place a proper coat hook.

Ever since its construction was completed in the year 1440, Guildhall has been the centre for government functions and banquets. The yard of Guildhall is itself a major attraction with even the marathon of the 2012 Olympics passing through same. Excavators were dumbfounded when they stumbled upon an amphitheatre built during the Roman era precisely beneath the yard of Guildhall. In fact, there is even a circular outline in the yard denoting the amphitheatre's periphery.

During the Roman era, the area which is now known as London, was considered Londinium. In order to protect this city, a wall was built somewhere in 200AD. Much of the wall was erected parallel to the River Thames and then engulfed an area that was of strategic importance. During the medieval period, the importance of the wall diminished and the area that fell under the scope of the London city expanded. The wall was solid, had tactically smart bastions positioned and well built towers. If you happen to see dark coloured boulders, pillars or jagged edged structures, it is most likely that what beholds your gaze is a remnant of the once ostentatious London Wall. People run in to these ruins at the most unexpected places along alleyways and foot paths. Inquire from the locals and they would tell you how some hotels are actually built on the foundation of this wall, though the same cannot probably be said about a luxury Mayfair hotel.

While many of these obscure architectural wonders lie to the north of the River Thames and not too far from exquisite locations such as the Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and COMO Metropolitan London, the Michael Farraday Memorial lies to the south of the River but is still not too far from the other elite addresses. The discoverer of electromagnetic induction happens to be a local and a perplexing stainless steel box with hundreds of perfect squares forming a part of the structure pays tribute to this great man, namely Michael Faraday. The legendary Faraday's memorial was built in the year 1959, yet has a distinctly modern flavor thanks to the squares made of steel.