London is one of the world’s most historic cities, with roots stretching back almost 2,000 years. In 50 CE, the occupying Romans chose this spot near the mouth of the Thames to set up the capital of their territory known as Britannia. Even to this day, remnants of Roman buildings remain in London.
Over the years London grew into the vast metropolis that it is today, and the capital boasts buildings from every ensuing historical period. Despite damage from wars and natural disasters, the architectural heritage of the city remains intact. Here we take a look at four of the oldest structures and landmarks that are well worth a visit, whether you are a London native or a day tripper.
1. Temple of Mithras
Little remains of the Temple of Mithras, estimated to have been built by the Romans between 240-250 AD. equally lost to time is the mythology relating to the deity Mithras, with very little information remaining about the mysterious god. Followers of Mithraism are known to have performed esoteric rituals in the building during the several centuries that the religious cult was active, until the fourth century when it vanished completely. After this time, the temple became a site dedicated to the god Bacchus, known as Dionysus to the Greeks.
In 1954, with much of London still in ruins after the war, the remains of the temple were rediscovered by chance. Along with the temple ruins were many ancient artefacts including more than 400 fragments of Roman writing tablets. Today, the temple is located within the Bloomberg headquarters in the City of London, and includes a museum where many of the excavated artefacts can be viewed.
2. Westminster Hall
Westminster Hall, completed in 1099 CE, is the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster. The palace is instantly recognisable as one of London’s most iconic landmarks, containing both Britain’s Parliament and the renowned clock tower that houses Big Ben. The hall itself is notable for having the country’s biggest unsupported mediaeval roof.
Today the hall is used for parliamentary purposes, and world leaders such as Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela have spoken there. When it was originally built the hall was the principal residence of the royal family, who also made use of a number of smaller buildings close by. In 1834 a devastating fire swept through the Houses of Parliament, with Westminster Hall being the only building to survive.
3. Crockfords
The oldest casino in London has a fascinating and often colourful history. When it was founded as St James’s Club in 1823 by Willian Crockford, the establishment was frequented by men from all echelons of society including aristocracy. The opulent and decadent gentlemen’s club was not officially a casino, but gambling was one of the most prominent activities that took place there. Guests were treated to some of the finest cuisine in the city, and all food and drinks were free after midnight. Crockford, a man who had reportedly first made his money from gambling, became a very wealthy man from running the club, becoming one of the first millionaires in the country.
Closed down and reopened several times over the years, today’s Crockfords bears very little resemblance to the original St James’s Club. It is one of London’s most eminent casinos, but the only thing it really retains is the founder’s name. Even the building itself is not the same as the St James’s St establishment, with the modern casino located on nearby Curzon St. True to the spirit of the original club, Crockfords is glamorous and exclusive – only members can play at the tables and a formal dress code applies. For those who prefer real money online casinos, or simply don’t want to pay the membership fee, the parent company also runs a casino site. Otherwise, there’s plenty of alternative when it comes to online casinos with real money games in the UK, which you can find listed and rated here.
4. The Tower of London
The original structure that makes up part of the Tower of London, the White Tower, was built by William the Conqueror in 1066 CE, the same year that he took control of England. The fortified castle continued to be built up into the sixteenth century, but the White Tower stands as one of the best preserved pieces of eleventh century architecture in Europe and the oldest complete building in London.
The tower complex has served many purposes over the years, but most famously as a place where people were incarcerated and quite often executed. Anne Boleyn was held in the tower and later beheaded there, and Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess was also imprisoned there in 1941. The very last prisoners of the tower were the infamous Kray twins in 1952, although the offence was unrelated to their later organised crime empire.
Visitors to the tower are often keen to catch a glimpse of the resident ravens, upon whom the fate of the nation is said to rest. Nobody is sure where the myth arose, but the story goes that the tower and the monarch will both fall if any fewer than six ravens reside there.
