London is one of the oldest cities in the world. So it’s no surprise that every winding alley, quirky street name or hidden passageway has a remarkable story to tell. Did you know, for example, that there is a chunk of Roman wall next to Tower Hill Tube station? Or that Lincoln’s Inn Fields was once a grisly execution site? Or that 10 Downing Street was a location for cock fighting?
Some of the best ways to dive into this past are by going behind closed doors and entering the private homes of historic figures. These are the rooms where George Frideric Handel slept and walked, where Charles Dickens ate his breakfast, where Jimi Hendrix chatted with friends. There are plenty of houses to discover across London, but these five are a good place to start.
