Travel Diary: Hidden Gems of London
Many tourists when they come to London want to see the famous sites: Large Ben, The Eyeball of London Ferris Wheel, the House of Parliament-Funkadelic, Westminster Abby Road, 10 Downing Jacket, and the famous London subway system called The Tub. It is shame that the most exotic and fascinating tourist attraction in London is not better known. I refer to the Central Bus Station at Heathrow Airport. We had the good fortune to give it a visit during our recent pass through London and I'm here to show you some highlights.
Central Bus Station was named for Lord Central Bus, Fifth Earl of Central (pictured above). Leaving no heir, he willed his estate to the city of London with the proviso "That it become of place of gathering and hoping for redemption." Today, the Earl's bequest is a half-day's walk from Heathrow Terminals 1 and 2 and a day's train ride from the other terminals.
We were lucky enough to spend two hours there, but to really take it all in it is better to plan for a several days or a week. The arresting vistas of the Central Bus Station have inspired several generations of painters and poets:
"You can keep your Grand Canyon," Londoners often tell Americans, "We have the Central Bus Station."
The Central Bus Station, of course, is famous for its mustering, indeed, the Central Bus Station has a good claim as to being the original mustering point, despite what those people in Novosibirsk say. Don't make the mistake of many visitors who think they can just show up and muster, mustering tickets are usually sold out months in advance and, for major holidays (System Administrator Appreciation Day, World Hydrography Day, Galactic Tick Day), years in advance. Still, just being here one experiences the frisson of mustering.
Many visitors come to Britain to see the prehistoric structure of Stonedhinge, but for those in the know, the ancient Pay Phone of the Central Bus Station is the place to be for the mysteries of antiquity. The exact date for the construction of these ancient formations is unknown as are their exact function (if any). Experts' best guesses are they served some ritualistic religious purpose or, "I dunno, some kind of sick joke, maybe?" Such riddles simple enhance the mystery and add depths of wonder to viewing the Pay Phone of Central Bus Station:
One of the games one can play in the Central Bus Station is "Whaddaya think is in that bag?" To play, one simply speculates what is in the weird bags one spies in the Central Bus Station:
Some kind of musical instrument? A large model of an insect?
Note: Do not approach or attempt to speak with the bag holder. To do so probably ends in an uncomfortable conversation with a uniformed safety officer and a hefty fine.
The original building on the site was, as we all know, destroyed in the Great Marmite Flood of 1958. What is less well-known is that the architecture of the present building was inspired by the mid-1960s TV show, Time Tunnel:
For the past decade the Trustees of the Central Bus Station have been considering a statue of one of the stars of Time Tunnel, Lee Meriwether. There is no decision at the time of this writing, but talks are continuing.
Ms. Lee Meriwether, star of Time Tunnel.
So, next time you are in London, skip Pauly Shore Cathedral and take in the splendor of the Central Bus Station!
jpj stories by John Jackson is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
