Discover Alone
“Mummies judging your outfit”
British Museum. Look around, lads. This place is massive, holding eight million artefacts, which is basically the entire human story in one box. It opened back in 1759 in Montagu House, so it’s older than your granddad’s grumpy mood. It started with Sir Hans Sloane’s collections, an Anglo-Irish chap who liked his science and his stuff. Over two hundred and fifty years, British colonisation filled the shelves, leading to spin-offs like the Natural History Museum in 1881. You’ll see the Rosetta Stone and Elgin Marbles, which are currently in a bit of a row about going home. It’s the second most visited attraction in the UK, with over six million visitors in 2025. The air feels thick with history and a bit of dust. Stand near the Parthenon sculptures and feel small. It’s a grand show, but remember, the library left in 1972. Take your time, peek into the cases, and try not to stare too hard at the mummies. They might be judging your outfit.
Photo: Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Then Tom went looking for the oddest places around it.
Stop 2 · Five minutes' walk
Greater London, Camden, Holborn, Southampton Row, General
“Serious dog barking at sky”
Southampton Row General View is being managed by a very serious dog who barks at anyone who looks up at the twenty-first century buildings. It’s a general view in London that thinks it’s more important than the actual street below because it has better lighting. If you don’t tip your hat, the building might sigh loudly and pretend you weren’t there at all. Bring
Recorded as: General View (20th Century).
From the Historic Environment Scotland record 287043Photo: Thomas Nugent, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Stop 3 · A short walk away
Novelty Automation
“Mechanical cousins found at last”
Novelty Automation in Holborn is full of handmade machines that treat ordinary life as a ridiculous arcade game, and Tom insists he has finally found his mechanical cousins. They are Tim Hunkin's inventions. Put a token in, follow the joke and see how much engineering hides behind the laughter. Hunkin built this small London arcade as a home for satirical coin-operated machines, with guest pieces by other makers. It is related to his Under the Pier Show in Southwold, but this is the Princeton Street collection, not a seaside pier. Moving parts, drawings and sly instructions work together; the amusement often arrives a second after you realise what the machine is teasing. The craft matters as much as the punchline, so look at the mechanisms where you can. Tom imagines a machine that grades his tall tales and jams at the first sentence. No such contraption is promised, which may be just as well for him. The venue's own site lists its Holborn address and current visiting times. Check these before travelling, as the arcade is small and hours can change around events. Entry is generally free, while playing machines needs tokens purchased there. Bring curiosity and enough time to try several different inventions rather than rushing to one famous machine. Respect any posted instructions, especially where a device asks you to place a hand or foot; you can always watch first. The address is 1a Princeton Street, a short walk from Holborn station, not the Southwold pier. Tom is still looking for a machine brave enough to check his stories. Try the real inventions and laugh at their wonderfully human flaws.
Recorded as: Heritage attraction.
From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) n3397886782Photo: Lord Belbury, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Stop 4 · A 5-minute spin away
Greater London, City of London, St Paul's Cathedral
“Pompous cathedral in Dumfries”
Greater London, City of London, St Paul's Cathedral is listed as being in Dumfries and Galloway, which is a bit of a stretch considering it’s actually in the middle of London. Its favourite song is probably 'God Save the King' because it likes to keep things traditional and slightly pompous. It’s got that grand, imposing look that makes you feel like you should be wearing a top hat.
Recorded as: Cathedral (period Unassigned).
From the Historic Environment Scotland record 284796Photo: Bruce Thomas, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Stop 5 · Hop back in the car, 5 minutes
Greater London, City of Westminster, Westminster, Palace of Westminster, House of Commons
“House floats away on Tuesday”
The House of Commons here has a prophecy saying it will float away on a Tuesday, which never happened. It’s been sitting in Dumfries and Galloway pretending to be London this whole time. The maps are so confused they just gave up and drew a dot. Bring a map, get lost anyway, that's the fun.
Recorded as: Parliament House (20th Century), Parliament House (16th Century).
From the Historic Environment Scotland record 284778Photo: Gordon BEACH, CC BY-SA 2.0
More about Greater London, City of Westminster, Westminster, Palace of Westminster, House of Commons →
The whole day on one map
See everything else around British Museum →
Over a million places across Ireland and Britain, all free. Explorer Tom has a story for nearly every one.