There are many moments in Londoners' lives where we get very annoyed at the little things: people who stand on the left rather than the right of escalators for example (very annoying). However spending a few minutes in Postman's Park with the Watts Memorial will make any cynical Londoner re-evaluate the important things in life.
Unveiled at the beginning of the 20th century, the Watts Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice is a haunting collection of ceramic tablets commemorating those people who sacrificed their lives for others. Along with the names of the heroes, the plaques record the stories of how they sacrificed themselves - often for total strangers. Some people drowned to save others, while others perished by fire or were trampled by runaway horses.
The park itself is quite small and easily overlooked by tourists rushing to St. Paul's or the London Wall. Personally, I think spending a half hour for reflection here will have more impact than many tourist destinations London can offer.
Little Britain and King Edward Street
£
free
Find your way with 222 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
From focaccia to pasta, coffee to cake, this one-stop shop is as much a place to buy your brew and bread as it is to have a lunchtime bite of pasta...
by
The people of Bonnington Square really know how to foster a vibe with leafy exotic plants spraying scattered shadows as you sit and eat...
by
Birds sing while trains rumble along atop the parallel railway arches, old men play boule in the shade and planes skim overhead on approach to Heathrow.
by
Of all the reasons why you have to check out this idyllic boozer, perhaps the most important is that this is the home of the finest scotch egg in London.
by
From the run-down chic aesthetic to the strong beer selection and excellent pub garden, there are no chinks in the Dog House's armour...
by
Inside, the bar is a welcoming, tightly-packed vibe with old-fashioned, old-world decor with gorgeous bare wood surfaces & countless pictures on the walls.
by
With a rustic French feel, Pierre offers dishes with rich red-wine sauces and tasty meats from much of the spectrum of the French culinary roster.
by
The unassuming, retro signage outside amidst the noise & din of Waterloo might pull you in, but what makes you stay is the genuine town tavern feel inside.
by
With old-fashioned vintage Guinness branding adoring just about every surface, this is the ideal spot to take a moment and enjoy a perfectly-poured pint.
by
Built back in 2010 on the site of a disused railway line, it’s a local secret: a quiet, forest-like space to retreat to when city life becomes overwhelming.
by
Inside, the rooms have distinctly different decorative styles. This is to give an idea of how the house would have looked at each stage in its history.
by
222 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 222 Insider Tips