London Monopoly
Although an American invention, Monopoly is a popular board game the world over. In the United Kingdom there are a number of Monopoly games available, but easily the most popular version is set in the capital: London. The majority of properties represented on the Monopoly board are still in existence today and can be visited by the general public. Visiting all the spaces on the Monopoly board is a relatively common experience that many Londoners turn into an evening out, taking part in what we call a ‘Monopoly Pub Crawl.’ But with or without the drink, a journey across London’s Monopoly Board is an interesting and unique way to visit London. From those who love to travel, to those who love the game, keep up with our trip around the Monopoly Board and experience London in an entirely new way!
Part 6 – Yellows
The Yellows represent London’s West End and Theatre District, occupying spaces where great mansions would have stood in what was, centuries ago, the countryside
Top Tourist Tip: Visit the Royal Academy on Piccadilly to see London’s first prototype design of the famous red telephone box, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott in 1926 [Located just inside the entrance gates]
Leicester Square (£260)
Named after the 2nd Earl of Leicester, who bought property here in 1630, Leicester Square is an entirely pedestrianised square in the centre of the West End. The Square has been a popular site for tourists since the 19th century when many hotels were built there. Today it holds a number of restaurants and movie theatres and plays host to world premiers of many films, such as both the Harry Potter and James Bond franchises. The square is also currently home to the MTV UK studios, as well as broadcasting centres for numerous radio stations including Capital FM, Classic FM, LBC, and Heart. Read our full post on Leicester Square.
Coventry Street (£260)
This London thoroughfare links Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square in the West End.
The Prince of Wales Theatre is located on the street, which connects The Haymarket, Shaftesbury
Avenue and Regent Street.
Piccadilly (£280)
Running from Hyde Park Corner to Piccadilly Circus, it’s believed the street owes its’ name to a wealthy merchant who bought a house here in 1612 with the money he made selling Elizabethan and Jacobean ruffs called piccadills. For hundreds of years, the largest and grandest mansions in London were built on Piccadilly, including Apsley House, Burlington House, Clarendon House, and Berekely House (Now Devonshire House). Radical changes to street layouts in the early 20th century meant many of the homes were demolished and Apsley House (Home to the Duke of Wellington and his family) is no longer connected to Piccadilly itself. The Ritz Hotel can be found on Piccadilly as can Fortnum & Mason. The most famous feature of the street is likely The Shaftesbury Monument Memorial Fountain topped by an angel designed by Alfred Gilbert, which was the first statue in history to be cast in aluminium.
