Would you rank it so highly? (Picture: Getty Images)
London often conjures up visions of Oxford Street,Whitehall,Tower Bridge Road,and the like.
If you’re a local,you might raise your eyebrows at such touristy hotspots,and instead favour a waltz down Crouch End Broadway,Islington’s Camden Passage,or Camberwell Church Street.
Now,one particularly tourist-ridden destination in the capital has topped a list of the world’s must-visit streets.
Any guesses? It’s the Strand,which,according to The Telegraph,is one of the 20 streets you need to walk down in your lifetime.
Sure,it’s right in the heart of the West End,but the selection might raise a few eyebrows.
The Strand has featured on a list of the world’s must-walk streets (Picture: Getty Images)
Whenever I’ve walked down the Strand,it’s purely been for practical reasons – on my way to Charing Cross,or dipping into Covent Garden. I’ve never stopped to nip into the shops there (mainly just a load of chains,like Boots and Mountain Warehouse),or suggested it’s coffee houses to friends as a meeting point (there’s a GAIL’s and a Blank Street).
And,frankly,I’ll never be able to afford to check into The Savoy,no matter how fun it is to sneak a peek at the guests and wonder what they do for a living.
Win a dreamy trip to Rome for you and a friend (Picture: Getty Images)Unlimited pasta,world-class shopping,thousands of years of history on every street corner... who wouldn't want to be in Rome?We’ve teamed up with Wowcher to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a city break for two in Rome,including return flights from your chosen UK airport (Bristol,Edinburgh,Manchester,London Gatwick or London Stansted) and a stay in a four-star hotel walking distance of iconic spots such as the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain.Armed with travel tips from our exclusive new newsletter The Getaway Expert,this is your chance to explore the Eternal City like a real Roman. Good luck!Enter now Open to UK (excluding Northern Ireland) residents aged 18 or over. Closes 11:59pm on 29 March 2029. Full T&Cs apply.That said,the Strand does have plenty of history running through its veins.
The Strand’s name comes from the Old English (Picture: Getty Images)With a length running at just over three-quarters of a mile,it’s the major connection between Fleet Street (the traditional home of the printing press),Trafalgar Square,and Temple Bar,which still stands directly opposite the Royal Courts of Justice.The Strand’s name comes from the Old English word,strond,meaning the shore of a large river or sea. Fun fact: it was formerly the closest water-side road to the Thames,before the building of Embankment.In the 17th century,the street slowly started to become home to London’s upper classes,with historic mansions including the likes of Savoy Palace and Old Somerset House.These days,though,neither of these buildings has survived,so they’re not exactly adding to the Strand’s current street cred.
It’s true,the Strand is steeped in history (Picture: Getty Images)Fast forward to the 19th century,and the Strand started to build up a bit of a music hall scene – and many of these venues,including the Adelphi Theatre and The Savoy Theatre. Later on,in 1909,a song was even written in tribute to the street’s strong music scene – Let’s All Go Down The Strand.It’s also been home to a few famous names in literature,including Charles Dickens and Samuel Taylor Coleridge,and still houses King’s College London’s Strand Campus,which was founded in 1829.Do you have a story to share?
United News - unews.co.za