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London is an ancient city, having served as a settlement for the ancient Romans, when they invaded England close to two thousand years ago. As a consequence it has a diverse and rich history, which is evident by the numerous attractions and landmarks to be found in the city. All of this makes it very appealing to tourists who flock to city in the millions every year.
Another benefit of staying at the Kensington Hotel London is its location in the heart of the city, which places it in close proximity to most of the prominent attractions nearby. Once you are done with visiting all the major attractions and want to try something new, how about exploring the spookier side of London? Yes, London being an ancient city does have a hidden dark past with events like plagues, the Great Fire of London, serial-killers, mad monarchs and executions being part of the seamier part of the city’s ghastly history. If you are up to the challenge then visit some of the spookier parts of London, which include the following……….
Visit a historical horror: When we speak about some of the scariest spots in the city, a mention of the Tower of London is an absolute must. The Tower has served a number of purposes over the years, as a royal residence, a mint, a prison, an armoury and of course as a site for gruesome executions. The Tower has the ignoble reputation of having served as one of the most notorious prisons in the country, where executions and torture were commonplace. The young princely siblings Richard and Edward V were allegedly murdered here at the behest of their uncle. Similarly two of Henry VIII’s wives were beheaded at the Tower, as were Arabella Stuart among other famous names. It is said that number of such ghostly souls and apparitions of those executed still haunt areas of the Tower.
Frightful and unusual museums: London is home to some of the greatest museums in the world, which are also out of the most visited attractions in the city. Apart from the better known museums the city is home to some rather unusual and weird museums, which are not for the faint hearted to tour. There is the Welcome Collection, which is a place to see some really weird yet fascinating exhibits which include a Peruvian mummy, a bone chandelier, shrunken heads and Leonardo Da Vinci’s anatomical drawings etc. among a host of other quirky exhibits. Then there is the Grant Museum that is famous for its vast collection of animal specimens, which are in excess of 68,000 exhibits. Right at the entrance is its peculiar albeit interesting collection of brains of primates, mammals, amphibians and reptiles etc.
Royal apparitions: While the city is home to some of the most beautiful palaces and castles, many of them come with a price. Hampton Court Palace is one such place, as it is rumoured to be haunted by Catherine Howard’s ghost (she was the fourth wife of Henry VIII), and her screams are said to be still heard in the dark hours of the night.
The London Dungeons: When we talk about the scarier sections of London its infamous underbelly comes to mind. The London dungeon has played a prominent role in the city’s seamier section of history for more than a millennium, and the past is recreated through realistic performances for visitors. With bone-chilling rides, realistic models and some superb actors come together to recreate London’s grimy past with horrifying surprises to be found around every nook and corner.
Watch a horror show: The West End is known as the theatre capital of the world and for good reason too! It hosts some of the finest theatrical performances in the city ranging from musicals to classic Shakespearean plays. And of course there a number of dark thrillers that have thrilled audiences over the years. One such suspense filled dark thriller that has captivated the audience’s imagination for more than 26 years, is The Woman in Black. It was adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt and has audiences still hooked for more a quarter of a century. And then theatre land has its own resident ghosts that add to the air of suspense and spookiness. Joseph Grimaldi, who was known as the King of Clowns, still puts in a special cameo appearance from time to time within the wings of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which is enough to tend a chill down anyone’s spine!
Visit the city’s haunted pubs: Pub culture has been an essential part of British society since time immemorial. London is still home to some of the oldest and most well known pubs in the country. Having been around for so long many of the pubs have their own weird and spooky visitors who still haunt their favourite watering holes in spirit, like when they visited the place when alive. There is The Ten Bells which was allegedly a favourite of Jack the Ripper and is known to still be a place where a lot of paranormal activity occurs. Both staff at the bar as well as customers have reported of experiencing inexplicable cold spots in certain areas and the sound of footsteps along empty corridors. Then there is the Spaniard’s Inn, which is one of the oldest pubs within the city of London and is rumoured to have been a favourite drinking joint of Dick Turpin, the infamous highwayman. It is said that both he as well his horse’s ghost still haunt the pub and even a bar has been names to honour him! In fact the pub has also earned a mention in Bram Stoker’s famous novel Dracula.
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Source: pommietravels.com