Marvelous Marvels Quirky Historical Sites in London

Departure Point I will meet you at the flower stand at the exit to the park. Return Details I will leave you to enjoy your drink at the Blackfriars pub or to catch the Underground to your next destination. Duration 3 hours Points of Interest Stop At: Cleopatra's Needle Thames Embankment London Cleopatra's Needle and the Sphinx that guards it are situated on the banks of the river Thames. This magnificent 3500 years old obelisk was given by the Egyptian government to Queen Victoria in 1877. A marvellous treasure. Duration: 15 minutes Stop At: Britain's Smallest Police Station Trafalgar Square London Trafalgar Square is home to a small hidden gem. Built in the interior of an ornate light fixture is Britain's smallest police station. Original built for the police to keep a watchful eye on demonstrations in the square it has enough space for two policemen. It is no longer in use. Duration: 15 minutes Stop At: Covent Garden Covent Garden London Covent Garden is one of the prettiest areas in town. Originally a fruit and vegetable market it is now a bustling area great for shopping and dining We will visit the Opera House and a banana warehouse that is now a food court. Duration: 25 minutes Stop At: Bow Street bow street Duration: 15 minutes Stop At: Freemasons' Hall 60 Great Queen Street Wild St. London Freemasons’ Hall stands on Great Queen Street in Covent Garden on a site that has been used to hold meetings for Freemasons since 1775. It is one of the finest Art Deco buildings in London built during 1927-33 to commerate the thousands of masons that lost their lives in the WW1.Freemasonry is one of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world. Its roots lie in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built our cathedrals and castles.Freemasons use four important guiding principles to help define their path through life: Integrity Friendship Respect and Charity. Membership is open to people from all backgrounds and the organisation’s aim is to empower members to be the best they can be – it’s about building character supporting members as individuals and helping them make a positive contribution to society. Duration: 10 minutes Stop At: Lincoln's Inn Lincoln's Inn Fields London Lincoln’s Inn is a professional institution for barristers in England and Wales. A barrister is a lawyer who specializes in representing clients in court and providing legal advice. The Inn has been established for 600 years its primary aim is the education and training of student members and practising members.The Ostler's Hut in Lincoln's Inn is widely considered to be London's smallest listed building.The hut is a small cabin that was built in 1860 to provide a place for the ostler to rest.The ostler was responsible for caring for the horses of visitors to Lincoln's Inn.Together we will visit this magnificent site which is like a little village tucked away inside London. This historical area is a glorious mishmash of eras and architectural styles. Duration: 20 minutes Stop At: The Old Bank of England Pub 194 Fleet Street London The Old Bank is one of the most stunning pub interiors in the city of London. The pub resides in the old Law Court’s branch of the previous Bank of England which operated from 1888 to 1975. It is filled with memorabilia from the days when it was a bank. Its hidden treasure is a vintage Routemaster red bus where you can relax and enjoy a drink. Duration: 30 minutes Stop At: Temple Church Temple King's Bench Walk London The Temple Church is one of the most historic and beautiful churches in London.The Knights Templar were a religious military order who built the Temple Church. The church was modelled after the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem The Knights Templar were founded in 1118 to protect pilgrims in Jerusalem.They came to England in the mid-12th century and were dissolved in 1312 however their legend lives on.We will explore this truly beautiful area filled with historical buildings lawns and squares. Duration: 20 minutes Stop At: Two Temple Place 2 Temple Place London William Waldorf Astor founder of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel NYC owned Two Temple Place and was known for many years as Astor House. Astor commissioned the construction of Two Temple Place in the 1890s as his office and home away from the United States. It is a Neo-Gothic building situated near Victoria Embankment and is known for its architecture. It is now used as a public gallery and home to the charity the Bulldog Trust. Duration: 10 minutes Stop At: Blackfriars 179 Queen Victoria Street London England EC4V 4DY The Blackfriar is a historic and unique public house in Blackfriars. It was built in about 1875 on the site of a former medieval Dominican friary and then remodelled in about 1905. It is one of London's most famous pubs and you'll see why before you ever step in the door. This wonderful building is an art nouveau