Buzz
London, with its population of nearly nine million, sees over 31.5 million visitors annually. Yet, most only experience a tiny fraction of the city’s strange and fascinating history. A deeper exploration reveals that beneath the streets lie some of the most gruesome and startling revelations of modern times...
10. A Mutated Mosquito in the Underground
On the surface of London, mosquitoes act like those in any major city: feeding on birds, hibernating in the winter, and needing ample space to reproduce. However, delve into the London Underground, and you may encounter a far more terrifying species. First documented just after World War II, the Underground mosquito adapted to the unique conditions of the tunnels and trains, developing a preference for human blood. Additionally, this mosquito doesn't hibernate in winter and can reproduce in confined spaces.
These mutant mosquitoes have been the subject of intense research by doctoral students, who discovered that these tiny bloodsuckers have evolved at a startling pace. So, next time you’re riding the ‘tube,’ keep an eye out for that faint buzzing sound near your ear.
9. Plague Victim Burial Pits
In the mid-17th century, London was devastated by the bubonic plague, a disease that claimed the lives of many in a painful and gruesome manner. Over the span of two years, a horrifying 15 percent of London’s population perished from the plague, and all of them had to be buried somewhere.
The death toll rose so quickly that mass graves and makeshift burial pits were dug throughout the city and its outskirts. Due to the passage of time, there’s no precise record of where all these burial sites are located, which means that every time construction begins in the city, a grisly relic of London’s plague-ridden history is likely to be uncovered.
8. The Phantom of an Egyptian Deity
Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, the numerous reports surrounding this eerie phenomenon might make you rethink venturing into the Underground after nightfall. A surprising number of people claim that the abandoned British Museum stop on the London Underground has been haunted by the spirit of the Egyptian god Amun-ra since the 1930s.
While many might dismiss this tale, the mysterious disappearance of two women from Holborn Station in 1935 caused many skeptics to reconsider. Speculation about a hidden tunnel between the station and the Egyptian Room at the museum has only fueled the belief that the eerie sounds and occasional glimpses of a figure in a loincloth are more than just legends.
7. A 10-Ton Heap of Fat
Chelsea, a highly sought-after area in West London, was home to a grotesque discovery in 2015. Beneath its streets, a monstrous mass had formed—40 meters (130 ft) long and weighing a shocking 10 tons. This repulsive lump, made up of congealed fat and wet-wipes, had accumulated in the sewer system over several years. It is thought that local restaurants contributed to this mess by dumping cooking oil down their drains, which combined with an overwhelming number of wet-wipes to create this foul creation. The mixture grew larger over time as it continued to trap more waste.
The so-called 'fatberg' didn’t pose a threat to any ships, but its removal was no small feat. The local council had to spend a staggering £400,000 to clear it and fix the damaged sewer.
6. A Graveyard of Gangster Victims
In the 1960s, the gangsters of London's East End earned a notorious reputation for their brutal violence and their knack for making rivals vanish. While the cockney criminal world isn’t as explosive today, there’s still enough shady activity to keep the police on their toes. For decades, Epping Forest, located in the northeast of the city, has been the preferred location for gangsters to dispose of their victims. Its vast expanse, dense trees, and isolated nature make it almost impossible for authorities to properly patrol. As a result, the exact number of bodies buried there remains unknown, with new corpses being discovered at an alarming frequency.
In fact, the Corporation of London, which oversees the forest, admits it has no way of preventing bodies from being dumped there. Despite the grisly history, Epping Forest remains a popular spot for dog-walkers and hikers, though they might want to be cautious if they venture off the beaten path.
5. Graffiti Left by Medieval Torture Victims
The Tower of London, built in the 11th century, once housed high-profile prisoners like Anne Boleyn, King John Balliol, and Guy Fawkes. Many of those imprisoned within its walls were eventually executed, but the Tower also became infamous as a site of torture. Medieval torturers, with their sadistic methods, often used devices like “the Rack,” a machine that stretched victims by pulling their limbs apart with ropes, leaving them to endure unimaginable pain.
The pain and suffering endured by many prisoners in the Tower of London led them to inscribe their thoughts into its massive stone walls, and some of these haunting messages can still be seen today. In 1559, William Rame, driven by unimaginable hardship, wrote, 'The day of death is better than the day of birth.' Similarly, medieval prisoner Thomas Bawdewin carved, 'As virtue maketh life, so sin causeth death.' These grim writings stand as chilling reminders of the brutal history beneath the streets of London.
4. Nazi Weapons From World War II
During the 1940s, London was ravaged night after night as German bombers unleashed devastating explosives during the Blitz. While the damage has been repaired and rebuilt over time, some remnants from that terrifying period of war still remain, offering a silent reminder of the global conflict that engulfed Europe.
In 1976, a chilling piece of history resurfaced when a Nazi dagger, etched with 'Alles Fur Deutschland,' was found in the River Thames. It remains a mystery whether the weapon fell from a German plane or was brought back by a victorious Allied soldier, only to be discarded into the river. Or could there be a darker reason behind the discovery of this enemy weapon in the heart of London?
3. Bloodsucking Lampreys
London’s pollution history stretches from the smoky haze of Victorian factory chimneys to the modern-day petrol fumes of the iconic black cabs. Yet, it was in the 1960s that pollution in the River Thames reached such extreme levels that many species believed to inhabit the river were declared extinct. Among these was the sea lamprey, an eel-like creature notorious for attaching to larger animals and draining their blood. This sinister creature, little changed over millions of years, lived alongside the dinosaurs.
Although presumed extinct in the area, a sea lamprey was discovered in the heart of London’s Thames River in 2009. A 13-year-old boy made the unexpected find. Fortunately, the 38-centimeter (15 in) specimen he encountered was already dead, as lampreys die after spawning. Nevertheless, the discovery suggests that more of these ugly bloodsuckers might still be lurking in the river’s depths.
2. A US Cargo Ship Full of Explosives
This one may not be strictly within London, but it’s so potentially dangerous that it deserves a mention. Heading along the River Thames toward the estuary where it meets the sea, you’ll spot three masts protruding from the calm waters just offshore. These belong to the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery, a 134-meter (441 ft) cargo vessel that ran aground during a storm in 1944.
However, the cargo aboard the 'Monty' wasn’t just any ordinary shipment. It had been sent from the United States to aid the war effort, and it was carrying a massive 1,440 tons of munitions, including large bombs. Experts are still unsure whether the deadly cargo will ever detonate, but if it does, it would trigger a tidal wave and shatter every window in nearby Sheerness. Despite this threat, the residents of Sheerness aren’t living in fear—they’ve actually embraced their risky hometown, with the welcoming sign reading: 'Welcome to Sheerness, you’ll have a blast.'
1. Giant Poop Cannons
While the Great Fire of London often takes the spotlight as the city’s most infamous disaster, another calamity is sometimes overlooked. The Great Stink of 1858 shut down London as an extreme heatwave turned the flow of raw human waste in the Thames into a smelly, steaming river of sewage. The Sun’s rays were literally baking the filth, and the stench grew so overpowering that members of Parliament had to leave their chambers.
The foul stench of the Great Stink led to the creation of a new sewage system along the River Thames. However, when the Houses of Parliament were rebuilt following the 1834 fire, they were designed to dispose of waste directly into the river rather than into the newly established sewage pipes. To address this, a series of pneumatic sewage ejectors were installed, using blasts of compressed air to lift the waste from Westminster to the underground sewage pipes. Remarkably, this system still operates today, meaning that if things go awry in Parliament, it might not be as catastrophic as it sounds.
