Unbound · Places · London

London audio guide: the stories of its sights

The Tower, Tower Bridge, Big Ben and the British Museum: Unbound knows more than 18,000 places in and around London and tells you on the way what happened at them.

More than 18,000 places in London, told on the way. Get the app →

Stories to listen to

This is how Unbound tells them on the way, in the app's voice. Every story is researched from Wikipedia and other sources.

Tower of London

The princes in the Tower

Two young brothers went to live at the Tower of London, and then they vanished.

The last time anyone saw them in public was in June 1483. The Tower of London is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames. It was founded towards the end of 1066, as part of the Norman Conquest. The boys, who became known as the Princes in the Tower, were housed here when they mysteriously disappeared. They were presumed murdered. The story did not end there.

In 1674, workers demolished a forebuilding at the entrance to the White Tower. Inside they found bones, and these were thought to belong to the princes. One more trace of the tale lives on in a name. The Bloody Tower is said to have got its name in the 16th century, because people believed the murder happened there. Today the Tower is a World Heritage Site, cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces.

It is also home to the Crown Jewels, on display since 1994 in the Jewel House. You will find 23,578 gemstones there, and the 800-year-old Coronation Spoon.

One of more than 18,000 places in London. On the way, Unbound tells you their stories as you pass by. Get the app →

Tower Bridge

The bus that jumped the bridge

A double-decker bus once flew off the edge of Tower Bridge in London, and the driver was given 10 pounds for it.

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames. It was built between 1886 and 1894, and the Prince of Wales and his wife opened it on 30 June 1894. Its deck is open to vehicles and pedestrians alike. Now imagine the moment. A bus is crossing when the bridge begins to rise. The system that should have stopped the traffic had failed, because a relief watchman was on duty.

The southern leaf was already lifting. The driver, Albert Edward Gunter, had a split second to decide. He put his foot down. The bus leapt across the gap and landed on the northern leaf, which had not yet been raised. The conductor broke his leg, and 12 of the 20 passengers had minor injuries. For his quick thinking, the driver received a 10 pound bonus.

Today you can walk the high-level walkways from tower to tower. They give views over the city, the Tower of London and the Pool of London. Two glass floors let you look straight down to the road and the river below.

One of more than 18,000 places in London. On the way, Unbound tells you their stories as you pass by. Get the app →

British Museum

A doctor's gift of his collection to the nation

The British Museum exists because one doctor did not want his life's collection to be scattered after his death.

That doctor was Hans Sloane. He left everything to King George II, for the nation. His heirs were paid a sum, but it was intentionally far less than the estimated value of what he had gathered. And what he had gathered was vast. Around 71,000 objects, including some 40,000 printed books and 7,000 manuscripts. From this came the British Museum in Bloomsbury, a public museum of human history, art and culture.

It was founded in 1753 and was the world's first public national museum. The idea was new. It was national, it belonged to neither church nor king, it was freely open to the public, and it aimed to collect everything. Today, entry is still free, apart from special exhibitions. The Egyptian galleries show a selection of 140 mummies and coffins, the largest collection outside Cairo.

The mummies remain among the exhibits visitors most eagerly seek out.

One of more than 18,000 places in London. On the way, Unbound tells you their stories as you pass by. Get the app →

Big Ben

The cracked bell

Big Ben cracked before it ever rang out over London.

The first great bell split during testing, and it was beyond repair. Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell, and also of the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster. The tower was finished in 1859 and stands 96 metres tall. Since 2012 its official name has been the Elizabeth Tower. So a second bell had to be made. It travelled from the foundry to the tower on a trolley drawn by 16 horses, and crowds cheered it along the way.

But this bell cracked too. The foundry manager blamed the hammer, which was more than twice the maximum weight specified. The crack was never repaired. Ever since, the bell has chimed with a slightly different tone, and it is still in use today. After its restoration, the clock faces shine again in their original Prussian blue. And the chimes are carried live by microphone from the tower to BBC radio, so that cracked, famous voice can reach you almost anywhere.

One of more than 18,000 places in London. On the way, Unbound tells you their stories as you pass by. Get the app →

Hear every story on the way

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Questions about the audio guide in London

Is there an audio guide for London?
Yes. Unbound knows more than 18,000 places in London and tells you their stories on the way, as soon as you pass by, on foot, by bike or by car. You don't need to plan a route: start a tour and just set off.
Which sights in London does Unbound tell you about?
The famous ones like Tower of London, Tower Bridge, British Museum, and just as much the inconspicuous places where something happened: a church in a backyard, a fountain, a street with a past.
How much does the audio guide cost?
You can try Unbound for free. After that there are passes for a weekend or two weeks and a yearly subscription.

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