Cock Lane

In the junction between Snow Hill and Cock Lane, a road where the brothels were legal, we can find a terracota’s shopfront dedicated to John J. Royle. 

Born in Manchester in 1850, in the late Victorian epoch, this engineer became famous because of his many inventions: the egg beater, the timed egg boiler, the smokeless fuel irons... but it was the self-pouring teapot (patent no. 6327 of 1886) for which “J.J” became most well known.

The Olympic Park Reopens

Could you not come to see the Olympics? Now, although it’s not the same, you can visit the Park where the Games took place. (Tickets: £15 for adults and £7 for children.)

The Park in Progress tours will receive visitors from 29th March until 23rd June, on weekends and during school holidays. For now, 20,000 tickets have been sold.

Visitors will go up into the top, 115-metres-tall, of the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower, designed by artist Anish Kapoor and architect Cecil Balmond. From this observatory they will see the Olympic Stadium, cycle track and Copper Box. Sadly the basketball and hockey's arena and the world’s biggest McDonald’s were demolished. However, the view from the Orbit is the best place to see the transformation.

With the ticket you will see, as well, the two viewing galleries. The exhibition rooms include a group of displays and activities to tell the history, past and future, of the Park.

On 27th July it will be the London 2012 Olympics Games first anniversary. Concerts and more attractions will be waiting for you.

Dragon Boundary Marks

Tourists who are visiting London think that they are seeing one city. But the true is very different. What we believe is London, is actually Greater London. This area, conceived in 1965, is formed by the City of London and 32 boroughs surrounding it. But we can’t confuse this two terms. 

The City of London, with 2.90 km² and a population of 7000, has a city status in its own and is the smallest ceremonial county of England because of the population and expansion. In addition, it is the richest square mile in the world. However, Greater London has 1,572 km2 and more than 8 millions inhabitants. This structure holds two cities: the City of London and the City of Westminster.          

Small Dragon at High Holborn

Small Dragon at High Holborn

It’s easy to know when you are in the City of London and when you are in Westminster but, if you are lost, the dragon boundary marks will help you. These statues, for hundreds of years, have protected the main entrances to the City. The silver dragons have wings and a red tongue and they are holding the City of London’s shield, that it's bearing the red cross of St George and the sword of St Paul.

The fierce dragon in Temple Bar Memorial on Fleet Street, nowadays restored and installed by St Paul's Cathedral, served in 1964 as a model to create the two originals boundary marks, established in Victoria Embankment. There are a couple of replicas in London Bridge and High Holborn and single replicas in Bishopsgate, Aldgate High Street, Aldersgate, Moorgate, Farringdom Street and Blackfriars Bridge.