London

The treasure hunt map of the West End (click to enlarge)

West End
33 British Museum
Founded in 1753 with the aim of preserving a collection ‘for the use and benefit of the publick, who may have free access to view and peruse the same’, this sprawling building is worthy of a treasure hunt of its own. Grab a map from the room to the left of the front door, and then head into the museum’s innards to gawp at the breathtaking Great Court. Walk west out of here towards the ancient exhibits – lined with imposing Egyptian and Assyrian stone edifices. You’re looking for the Nereid Monument, a tomb built around 380BC by Greek architects and sculptors. The Nereids themselves were the nymph-like daughters of the sea-god Nereus and his (more prosaically named) wife Doris. They were believed to be personifications of the waves of the ocean. You’ll find three of them here (without heads, unfortunately) standing in-situ between the pillars of the monument, but look instead at the trio at the opposite side of the room. One of them is standing on a sea bird– but what type of animal are the other two supported by?
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34 National Gallery
Head south down Shaftesbury Avenue, then Charing Cross Road, to Trafalgar Square, where you’ll find the National Gallery. This collection of more than 2,300 paintings belongs to us, the British public, so if you haven’t visited recently it’s about time you took a stock check. Founded in 1824, the Gallery isn’t exactly noted for it’s modern art, but its collection of works from the Italian and Dutch schools are essential viewing for any Londoner. We’re here to solve a whodunnit this time; nab a map from the front desk, and play detective. Somewhere on the east side of Level Two, a cockatoo has met an unfortunate end in a science experiment. The scene was captured by an artist from Derby – we want his surname.
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35 Leicester Square
Hardly the first place you’d look for cultural reference points, but bear with us. Robert Sidney, the second Earl of Leicester, bought the four acres of land in 1630, and built himself a large house on the northern side before enclosing the square itself. Locals objected to this annexing of previously-public land, and Charles I compelled Sidney to keep part of it open. Among the tourists, you’ll find several statues in the square, including a bust of the First President of the Royal Academy of Arts. In what year did he take up this title?
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36 Chinatown
Until the twentieth century, London’s Chinese population was based in Limehouse, where businesses catered to the sailors coming to the docks from the East. The area was heavily bombed in World War II, and the combination of an influx of immigrants from Hong Kong and the increasing popularity of Chinese cuisine led to the creation of a new cultural centre here. If you’ve worked up an appetite, there’s no shortage of restaurants, but it’s the theatrical heritage of the area that we’re here to uncover. Head for the western end of Gerrard Street, and look around. Near to a large timepiece, you’ll find a reference to a famous theatrical wigmaker and costumier who worked at the turn of the twentieth century. What’s his first name?
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37 Marshall Street
Head up Wardour Street, and left into Broadwick Street. Continue along until you spot a blue plaque at No 54, the home of Charles Bridgeman, responsible for tending the greenery of the Royal gardens in the eighteenth century. The next right should be Marshall Street. A visionary Londoner was born on this unassuming street, and you’ll have to search the walls carefully to find out who. You’ll also notice that the wording isn’t intact – what’s the missing letter?
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38 Carnaby Street
Walk along Ganton Street, and turn left on to Carnaby Street. This passageway of consumerism was named after Karnaby House, a building to the east that was built in 1683 in the wake of the Great Fire. Keep strolling north until you spot a gentleman leaning out of a window, above a corner pub that bears his name. His bald head is a rather shocking white, but what colour is his tunic?
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39 Eastcastle Street
Go across the zebra crossing at the top of Carnaby Street, and head up Argyle Street. Turn right on to Oxford Street, and nip up Great Titchfield Street on your left, and then turn right onto Eastcastle Street. You’re looking for a taste of Wales here, a stone-pillared building that looks distinctly out of place. The foundation stone to the left of the steps as you look at them was laid by Mrs Griffith Rowlands, on June 25 1889. On the same date, somebody laid the right-hand stone – Mrs Whom?
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