London’s Alleys and Passages - Archive Articles

Pickering Place, SW1 – London’s Alleys and Passages

This is one of London's oldest and more famous alleys, with a foreign embassy, the occasional duel, brothels, famous authors and gambling all packed into a tiny space.

London’s Alleys – Honey Lane, EC2

The Cheapside area of London is replete with names of former trades, and Honey Lane shouldn't need any explanation, yet it does.

London’s Alley’s – Cotton’s Gardens, E2

This probably shouldn't be in the list, as it's a bit too wide for an alley, but it has a former alley at the end, and a very nice bit of heritage in the road.

London’s Alleys – Steelyard Passage, EC4

This Victorian era brick arch underneath Cannon Street station looks mundane, but rich in hidden history.

London’s Alleys – Whitechurch Passage, E1

This is a short alley with a curious habit of changing its name, having had at least three in its recorded existence.

London’s Alleys – Fleur de Lis Street

Although called a street, this is in fact an alleyway, or at least, enough of it is to qualify.

London’s Alleys – Parliament Court

A very narrow little alley offers a mix of rubbish, polite flats, graffiti and the back door to a historic synagogue.

London’s Alleys – Golden Fleece Court

Dare you go on a quest for the Golden Fleece? For in Aldgate it is to be found, in an alley dark and treacherous.

London’s Alleys – Fruiterers Passage

One of the smartest looking alleys in London is a passage underneath the northern side of Southwark Bridge, with ornate tiling, decorative panels and delightful lighting.

London’s Alleys – Coleman Street Buildings

This alley is structurally modern, but has the air of an old church undercroft in its design, and lies on the site of a much older alley.

London’s Alleys – St Stephen’s Row

The majestic imposing bulk of Mansion House conceals a charming alley hidden behind its walls, and splitting the secular home of the Lord Mayor of London from the ancient church behind.

London Alleys – Essex Street Steps

This is probably the grandest entrance that has ever been constructed to what is just a short set of steps between two roads.

London Alleys – The Nameless Alley

There is a nameless alley in London. It wont appear on any maps. It appears and vanishes seemingly randomly, moving without moving.

London’s Alleys – Spital Yard

Just off the busy main road running between Liverpool Street and Shoreditch is a short little alleyway with a small dose of history about it.

London’s Alleys – Prudent Passage

This is a rather curious little alley, offering a convenient if easy to miss passage between two side streets.

London’s Alleys – Lovers Walk

There's a wooded pathway that is not called Lovers Walk, but that's what everyone other than the original planner now calls it.

London’s Alleys – Post Office Court

You wont be surprised to learn that this alley is named after the actual Post Office, as this site used to be its headquarters.

London’s Alleys – Lumley Court

If you walk along the north side of The Strand you cannot help but notice a number of small alleys, some rather delightful, but this is Lumley Court, where you are exhorted to speak with hushed tones.

London’s Alleys – Talbot Court

This is one of the larger alleys in London, and one which is very heavily used, thanks to hosting a number of businesses, and a rather fine pub.

London’s Alleys – Nicholas Passage

Running, not inappropriately, from Nicholas Lane, can be found this rather short little alleyway that takes you between a single block of offices over to Abchurch Lane.

London’s Alleys – Pope’s Head Alley

This alley has the distinction of being involved indirectly in King Henry's break from Rome and appeared in Pepy's Diary.

London’s Alleys – Great Eastern Walkway

Hidden behind the tall offices that run along Liverpool Street Station can be found a surprising hidden walkway.

London’s Alleys – Fitzroy Court

If you were to head up Tottenham Court Road towards Warren Street tube station, you might notice a small alley way.

Goodwin’s Court – London’s “real” Diagon Alley

In the world of Harry Potter is a place - a magical place full of Dickensian shops for the convenience of magicians and students - a place called Diagon Alley. Would it amaze you to learn that such a place actually exists in London?