London's Roman Amphitheatre

London’s Roman Amphitheatre is housed underneath Guildhall Art Gallery. The Roman Amphitheatre was open to the public in 2002 after 2,000 years of when it was first erected.

It was a complete mystery to Historians as to where the Roman Amphitheatre was or if there even was one, especially the fact that London was known to the Romans as “Londinium”. It was not until 1988 that the Amphitheatre was found after it was dug up following the plans to expand the Art Gallery, with excavations finally completed in 1996.

It was originally built in AD 70 as a timber structure, raised by wooden bench seating, with a calculation of the size round about 100m by 85m. It was improved in the 2nd century with rebuilt walls and the surfaces of the arena were laid soft sand on a bed of gravel mixed together with mortar. It is estimated that the arena can hold up to 6,000 spectators.

The arena was used for public entertainment, gladiatorial battles and public executions. There was a chamber with an altar, so that gladiators were able to pray before the battle for the lives began. In the chamber running opposite them held the ferocious animal, usually a lion, that they would be pit against. Gladiatorial combat came to end at the end of the 4th century possibly due to the rise of the religion of Christianity.

Public executions were done and the timber drains can still be found at the structure. The timber drains washed away the blood with heavier items dropping into a crevice. Coins adorned with the face of the Emperor were found in the pit as well, which could be viewed at the Museum of London.

The Roman Amphitheatre along with the Art Gallery is free to visit and a 360 degrees tour can also be viewed online as part of visitlondon’s series of virtual tours.

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Shaun in the City - Shirley's Trail

Shirley’s Trail is a trail as part of Shaun in the City, exploring landmarks starting from Tate Modern, heading into the areas around St. Pauls and ending off at the Barbican Centre. There are in total 13 sculptures on this trail which covers 3km.

19. Br-ewe-nel - Tate Modern - Bankside

20. To Sheep Perchance to Dream - The Globe Theatre - Peter's Hill

21. Sheep Shape & Bristol Fashion - Peter's Hill - Gavin Strange

22. Out of this World - City of London Information Centre - Josh & Aimee Williams

23. Baa-roque - St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Paul’s Churchyard - Sadie Butler

 

24. Literary Lamb - Temple Bar - P J Crook

 

25. Hamish - Paternoster Square - Ros Franklin

26. Chelsea Pen-Shaun-er - The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Gardens, St. Paul’s Cathedral - in honour of The Chelsea Pensioners

27. A Capital View - Festival Gardens - Laura Cramer

28. Fine & Gandy - One New Change Passage - David Gandy

29. Woolly Wiggle - One New Change Lower Level - Zandra Rhodes

30. The Guardian – Guildhall, Aldermanbury - Vivi Cuevas

31. Counting Sheep - Barbican Centre, Silk Street Entrance - Gerald Scarfe

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Camley Street Natural Park

Camley Street Natural Park can be found at King’s Cross which bridges the gap between the city and nature, where you can escape the hustle and the bustle of the city life and seek haven in this nature reserve.

The park was initially created as an old railway coal yard in 1984, which was saved by campaigns run by local nature enthusiasts. The park now is a habitat a myriad of animals and a beating heart for the London Wildlife Trust volunteers. The park, covering 2 acres, is home to different birds, insects and many other animals within habitats of grassland, wetland and woodland.

There is much to explore and lose yourself in marshlands, shrubberies, meadows, ponds, ascending and descending stairs. There are many sights to see such hazel fencing which is made from hazel wood woven together and spaces for private growing.

The park itself is by Regent’s Canal which can be seen from the banks running alongside the park. The Viewpoint is another platform to view the canal from inspired by the rocky islands of the Nordic Coastline encouraging people to take in the views of nature in conjunction with architecture. Viewpoint is designed by Erko Aarti, Arto Ollila and Mikki Ristola and commissioned by the Finnish Institute in London and the Architecture Foundation.

The Park is free to access and is around the corner from Granary Square, which is something else very much worth seeing.

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