Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for a phenomenal book! As part of the blog tour, I am sharing a blog from author Sam Hay all about Secret London! My review is under Sam’s blog!
Secret London
With its history —and mystery! There’s always an adventure waiting to happen in London. For Tom Friday, in Questers Academy, it begins when he explores the hidden parts of the Natural History Museum… But you don’t need to join a secret summer school to enjoy some of the lesser-known, intriguingplaces in London – check out these exciting locations:
– The spooky Temple of Mithras. Roman remains dedicated to the strange and mystical cult of Mithras, with atmospheric lighting, chanting, footsteps and whispers, transporting you back to London AD 240. It’s located beneath the Bloomberg building and entrance is free. https://www.londonmithraeum.com/visit/
– Highgate Cemetery. With its gothic mausoleums, tumbledown gravestones and mysterious Egyptian Avenue of the dead, a visit to Highgate is an unforgettable experience. There are lots of famous people buried here, as well as some eye-catching monuments. Don’t miss Victorian zookeeper George Wombwell’s grave with a giant lion on top. The sleeping dog on boxer Tom Sayer’s tomb. And the large grand piano atop musician Harry Thornton’s grave. https://highgatecemetery.org/
– Go back in time at the Docklands Museum. Located in a two-hundred-year-old warehouse, the museum recreates a typical Victorian ‘sailortown’ with its dark, dingy streets, rickety old shops, exotic animals and dangers lurking around every corner! https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/docklands/free-galleries/
– St Ghastly Grim. St Olave’s church in Hart Street, is a medieval church, named after a viking warrior turned saint. See if you can spot the stone skulls above the graveyard gate, which inspired Charles Dickens to call it ‘St Ghastly Grim!’ The first victim of the London plague is buried here. While Samuel Pepys, the famous diarist, who wrote about the Great Fire of London is buried inside the church. https://saintolave.com/
– Victoria Embankment. This is the walkway down the side of the Thames, where Tom, Leesha and Finn in Questers Academy, discover the secret tunnel into Big Ben. Look out for Cleopatra’s Needle – a sixty-foot granite obelisk, guarded by two giant Sphinxes. And the benches shaped like camels and sphinx, and the fishy looking lampposts, designed by Victorian architect George John Vulliamy.
– A Musical grave! A strange one this… Close to the grave of Victorian clown Joseph Grimalidi, in Joseph Grimaldi Park, Islington, is a musical memorial, shaped like two flat, brass coffins which you can step on, and make a tune! Entitled ‘An Invitation to Dance on the grave…’ it was designed to be able to play Grimaldi’s trademark song Hot Codlins!
– All Hallows by the Tower. The City of London’s oldest church, with bags of atmosphere and incredible history, dates back to AD675. There’s an interesting museum in its underground crypt, with an original roman floor, roman gravestones, and a tiny subterranean chapel. Look out for the model ships in the church. And the original crow’s nest from Shackleton’s ship! https://www.ahbtt.org.uk/
– Chislehurst Caves. Haunted chalk mines, twenty-two miles long, where thousands of people sheltered from the bombs of WW2 with their own cinema, hospital and cafes! A ghost of a white lady is said to stalk the chambers. While not actually in London, they’re close by, in Bromley. https://chislehurst-caves.co.uk/plan-your-visit/
My Review!
This is such a fast paced book with memorable characters and a brilliant plot. Tom is able to recognise people, even if only spotting them quickly. This skill comes in quite handy as he is drawn into a mystery and a secret club!
A chance encounter at the Natural History Museum leads Tom to Leesha and Finn. The trio find themselves at the epicentre of solving an ancient mystery using their incredible skills and talents.
It’s an edge of your seat countdown with short chapters and an exciting ending- which hopefully leads to more from this series!
Questers Academy, The Box of Locks is an absolute top pick for me this year!
My Shelves Are Full 