A Hidden Gem in London: What Do a Winged Lion, an iPhone and Swiss Chocolate Have in Common?

When I turn my taxi off Oxford Street and into Regent Street at Oxford Circus, two things immediately catch my eye.

The first is the magnificent sweep of one of London’s grandest streets.

The second is Läderach, my wife’s favourite chocolate shop. As a married man, I’m not necessarily saying which one is more important.

But while thousands of people visit Regent Street every day, most completely miss one of its greatest treasures.

It isn’t hidden down a mysterious alleyway or behind a locked door. It is directly above one of the busiest shops in London.

And remarkably, it has been sitting there for more than 125 years.

The magnificent Regent Street

From the driver’s seat of my London taxi, Regent Street always looks magnificent. Its sweeping curve, grand Portland stone buildings and beautifully balanced architecture create one of the finest street views in central London.

Regent Street was planned in the early 19th century by architect John Nash and property developer James Burton. Named after the Prince Regent, who later became King George IV, it formed part of a grand route connecting Carlton House with Regent’s Park.

Although Nash’s famous street layout survives, almost all his original Regent Street buildings were replaced between 1895 and 1927. All Souls Church, at the northern end, is the notable survivor.

The replacement buildings were carefully designed to work together, creating the impressive and unified Regent Street architecture we see today.

However, some of the most unusual things to see in London aren’t directly in front of us. They are above us.

Statues, decorations, old signs and extraordinary pieces of architecture often sit directly above the shopfronts. Thousands of people walk beneath them every day without ever looking up.

One of the best examples is just a short distance from Oxford Circus.

There’s more to the Apple Store than iPhones

Most people immediately recognise the Apple Store at 235 Regent Street.

Apple opened here on 20 November 2004 as the company’s first retail store in Europe.

That is an interesting piece of Regent Street history, but it isn’t the main reason I point out the building during my private London taxi tours.

The best part isn’t inside the shop.

It is sitting high above it.

The hidden Apple Store Regent Street mosaics

Look above the Apple Store and you will discover a series of beautiful Victorian mosaics.

From street level, they can easily be mistaken for old paintings. In reality, they are made from thousands of tiny pieces of coloured Venetian glass.

The central building at 235–241 Regent Street was designed by George Dennis Martin and completed in 1898. It once housed the London showroom of Salviati & Co., a celebrated Venetian glass and mosaic company associated with Murano.

Salviati decorated the outside of its own showroom with examples of the company’s craftsmanship.

In other words, this extraordinary artwork was really a giant Victorian advertisement. Advertising was clearly a little more elegant before flashing digital screens arrived.

The mosaics include magnificent lions, coats of arms, decorative designs and references to international cities where Salviati conducted business, including Paris, New York, Berlin and St Petersburg.

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  London Photo Taxi Tour

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  London Photo Taxi Tour

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  British lion Victorian mosaic on Regent Street

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  British lion Victorian mosaic on Regent Street

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  London Photo Taxi Tour

Salviati’s work can also be found at some of London’s most famous landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the Albert Memorial.

Today, one of the world’s best-known technology companies occupies the ground floor, while this magnificent example of 19th-century craftsmanship survives directly above it.

The latest Apple technology downstairs and Victorian Venetian glass upstairs.

Best of all, the mosaics have survived for more than 125 years without requiring a software update.

One of London’s hidden gems

This is one of my favourite unusual buildings in London because its greatest feature is completely hidden in plain sight.

People visit Regent Street for its famous shops, but London becomes far more interesting when you slow down and look above the shopfronts. Some of the best hidden details of London are directly over our heads.

The next time you pass through Oxford Circus, enjoy the magnificent view along Regent Street. Then stop outside the Apple Store and look up.

You might discover that one of the most fascinating hidden gems in London has been sitting above you all along.

These unusual buildings, overlooked details and fun facts about London are exactly the things I enjoy sharing during my private London taxi and photography tours.

And what about the Swiss chocolate?

If a birthday, anniversary or apology is approaching, Läderach is directly opposite. That is where I buy chocolates for my wife on special occasions.

Purely because I appreciate fine Swiss craftsmanship, obviously.

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  London Photo Taxi Tour

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  London Photo Taxi Tour