3 Things to Love About Leadenhall Market
A Must-See Shopping Stop in Merry Ol’ London
I’ve got lots of favorite places to visit in London. Museums. Bookstores. Inns and pubs. But another thing I love to do is go shopping. Borough Market is my favorite haunt when I’m hungry, but for nosing about in unique shops, I never miss Leadenhall Market.
Here are 3 things to love about Leadenhall Market.
The History
Outwardly, Leadenhall impresses with its lovely Victorian façade, but don’t let all the intricate beauty fool you. This place dates way back to Roman times when it held a market, basilica, and forum of Londinium. It was an important meeting place and center of civic administration. Today it’s hard to imagine toga wearing Romans walking those same streets…maybe because those Roman streets were at least nine feet below where the roads are today. It wasn’t until the early 1800s when the market was being remodeled that workers discovered a section of Roman mosaic artwork so far below street level.
Old Tom
Local poulterers used to bring their fowl to market where countless geese and chickens were slaughtered. In the early 1800s, one sly goose escaped his fate, and in fact was such an impossible goose to catch, it was eventually decided to let “Old Tom” live in peace. He soon became one of Leadenhall’s most famous and beloved residents. He lived there 38 years, and when he died in 1835, he was featured in the obituary section of a local newspaper. Today Old Tom’s burial place is marked by the Old Tom’s Bar where you can toss back a pint in his honor.
A Mecca for Harry Potter Fans
Not one but two Harry Potter movies were filmed here. Leadenhall Market represented the area of London that secretly leads magical folk to Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Also, the blue door at 42 Bull’s Head Passage was the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
And as a bonus, I’ll toss in one extra reason to love Leadenhall Market. This place is featured in one of the scenes of my upcoming release, The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane.
You can pre-order yours HERE or try your hand at winning one of the signed copies I’m giving away.