The Encyclopedia of the Weird and Wonderful

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A picnic on the banks of Hyde Park’s Serpentine lake is a quintessential summer pastime – but we can do better than that. the practice of registering well-known names as Internet domain names, in the hope of reselling them at a profit If you’re thinking that it sounds a bit familiar – the park actually features in the film Closer. Natalie Portman’s character takes her pseudonym from a plaque on the memorial at the beginning of the film. the search for and study of animals whose existence is unproven, such as the Loch Ness monster and the yeti The box (which, in truth isn’t a police station but an observation post made from a hollowed out lamppost), gives the officer inside a view across the whole of the square – an important feature in the days when Trafalgar Square was used as a frequent spot for protesters.

It's become a common notion that paper is always a better choice than plastic. In fact, bans on plastic bags are regularly being enacted. The house is an artistic recreation of the life of a Huguenot weavers family from the 18th to the 20th centuries. to reduce the staff numbers of a company to such low levels that work can no longer be carried out effectively computer software which is free for a trial period and thereafter frequently reminds the user to pay for it

Every pawn on a chessboard was given the name of a commoner’s occupation in medieval chess; these included the likes of Gambler, Innkeeper, Doctor, and many others. Bold and striking, the murals are one of London’s quirkier sights. You’ll find them in the Church of Notre Dame de France. Ride the Mail Rail the action or habit of estimating something as worthless (a word generally only quoted as a curiosity) a punishment or torture in which the victim was hoisted in the air on a rope and then allowed to fall almost to the ground before being stopped with an abrupt jerk

Landseer requested a dead lion from London Zoo to use a study for the sculptures – unfortunately, it started to rot away before he’d finished them. That’s why they have the paws of a cat – in truth, their faces look a bit odd too. Take a close look the next time you visit. Walk Alongside the Old London Wall In 1997, an orange cat named Stubbs became honorary mayor of the Alaskan town of Talkeetna. With a population of 772 in 2000, it would not have taken too many votes to earn the position (and the small town did not actually have a real, human mayor anyway), but Stubbs proved adept at the role, gaining fans from around the world and "serving" in the position for years. The House of Minalima is brainchild of Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, the creators of the graphic universe in the Harry Potter films. The store features all kinds of graphic works that appear in the film – including some that have come straight from the Harry Potter Studios. These days it’s a Buzz Bingo and without a doubt, it’s the most beautiful space you’ll ever play bingo in – and one of the most unusual places to visit in London to boot.

As time has passed, stations have been closed or repurposed – meaning that if you keep your eyes open, you can spot more than a few of the so-called “Ghost Stations” of the London Underground. The Bascule Chamber is a cavernous space that is situated beneath the bridge’s towers – the huge counterweights swing into the chamber when the bridge opens, but the rest of the time this cave beneath the river sits empty. There are 26 bones in each foot. That's 52 bones in both feet, out of 206 total bones in your whole body, which is more than 25 percent. the dark formal clothing worn for examinations and ceremonial or formal occasions at some universities. This gorgeous experience begins right by the historic Tower of London and takes you past sights including the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge. There’s even an entertaining commentary that’ll give you a brief history as you cruise.

You can also attend the monthly Vigil for the Outcasts – a service meant to remember outcasts living and dead. Pull Some Teeth at The British Dental Association Museum

A Harry Potter walking tour is great if you’re looking for alternative things to do in London Try A Futuristic Gaming Experience The four lions, sitting towards the front of the square are pretty famous in themselves – not to mention subject to a never-ending stream of prancing, posing airheads seemingly incapable of obeying the sign telling them not to climb on them. There’s a preponderance of skeuomorphs in my collection, that it is to say of things that look like something other than what they are. Not that it should really be called a collection, as that might imply more direction than is actually present. An accumulation would be a better word.