1. Big Ben is not actually called Big Ben.
Big Ben is arguably London’s most famous landmark. Surprisingly, it is actually meant to go by the name «The Clock Tower», while «Big Ben» is the name of the bell.
2. The London Underground could have been water-based.
When the London Underground was first proposed, engineers suggested filling the tunnels with water and using barges to float people from station to station, or getting an army of horses to pull the carriages around in the dark. Evidently, they decided to opt for trains.
3. Black cab drivers are tested.
In order for a person to become a black cab driver, they must complete a rigorous test called ‘The Knowledge’, which involves memorising every single street in the capital. Cab drivers can spend years trying to learn it all. Some even walk around every part of the city as a way of lodging all the side streets and back alleys in their brains.
4. London has an official smallest statue.
In a city filled with grand monuments and huge statues, it’s nice to know London has an official smallest statue. Located on Philpot Lane, the statue of two tiny mice eating cheese is dedicated to two builders who fell during construction of The Monument after an argument over a missing sandwich, that they blamed on each other but was actually the fault of a mice infestation.
5. London has over 170 Museums.
The amount of museums in the capital adds to the culture of this city. London boasts over 170 museums, from the massive British Museum, London’s most popular tourist attraction, to the tiny Fan Museum in Greenwich.
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