Lesser Known London Gems.

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There’s far more to London than just shopping, bus tours and the changing of the guard, it’s also home to some truly fascinating treasures. Next time you visit the capital for a London show, why not skip Oxford Street, bypass Buckingham Palace and seek out a little bit of sparkling magic in the city; it’s there if you know where to look!

The British Museum’s Crystal Skull

Photo by tEdits via Flickr.

The latest Indiana Jones film may have been a total disaster, but it did bring the mystery of the crystal skulls to public attention. The British Museum’s example is a life-size carving of a human skull, hewn from a single block of rock crystal. Some have accredited the skull with mystical healing powers or the ability to convey and store information, but there’s little evidence for this. Magical or not, the skull joined the British Museum’s collection in 1897 and at first it was thought to be an ancient Mexican trinket. Skulls are a prominent feature of Aztec art, although they almost certainly didn’t have the tools or skills necessary to work such a large piece. Others suspect that the citizens of the legendary city of Atlantis made it, and a few assume that the skulls are the work of aliens. Of course, most just assume that it’s a modern fake.

John Dee’s Magic Mirror

Photo by rvacapinta via Flickr.

John Dee was Queen Elizabeth I’s advisor and occultist. He cast horoscopes and spoke to spirits and angels with the aid of crystal-gazer named Edward Kelly. Kelly used polished objects such as crystal balls and mirrors to communicate with beings from beyond the veil, while Dee interpreted the visions and took copious notes. One such mirror is still on display in the British Museum. Crafted from highly-polished obsidian, it is believed that it is actually of Aztec or Mayan origin. The mirror is accompanied by several wax discs inscribed with occult symbols, a golden talisman and a small crystal ball, through which Dee is said to have communicated with the other side. Why not visit the British Museum while on your London break and have a good hard stare into John Dee’s magic mirror?

The Legendary Koh-i-Noor Diamond

One of Britain’s greatest and most controversial treasures, the Koh-i-Noor was presented to Queen Victoria by the East India Company in 1877. Since then it has remained in the hands of the British monarchy despite several calls for the 105 carat diamond to be returned to India. Like all the best giant gemstones, the Koh-i-Noor is said to be cursed. The stone has reportedly been in circulation since at least the early 14th century and all who have owned it have suffered grave misfortune. It is said that the only way to circumvent the curse is if the stone’s owner is female. The stone’s curse is currently being foiled by Queen Elizabeth II. Why not add some dazzle to your weekend theatre break in London by viewing the stone among the other crown jewels at the Tower of London?

The London Stone

Photo by suprise truck via Flickr.

The London Stone may not look all that impressive, but if the legends are to be believed then it is vital to the continued success of the city from which it takes its name. The Stone is said to be the altar-stone of a circle which once stood on or near the site of St Paul’s Cathedral. Other legends suggest that is the very stone from which King Arthur took Excalibur. Wherever it came from, the London Stone has been a landmark in the city for at least 1000 years and, like the ravens at the Tower of London, is tied inexorably to the fate of the our fair capital. A doom-laden proverb states “so long as the stone is safe, so long shall London flourish”. It can currently be viewed in a surprisingly drab little alcove on Cannon Street, but there are reportedly plans to move it. Hopefully London survives the stone’s relocation.

The Blasted Amethyst

The Blasted Amethyst is famous not for its record-breaking size or its beauty, but for its dark history. The stone has been implicated in all manner of disasters since it was stolen during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. The officer who brought it back from India lost everything, including his health, and when his son inherited the stone, he suffered such a terrible run of bad luck that he gave the stone to a friend in the hope of escaping the curse. It was then returned to him when his friend committed suicide. Eventually it passed into the hands of Edward Heron-Allen, who also suffered the effects of the curse and, in an attempt to escape its malign influence, threw the stone into the Thames. Incredibly, the stone — which only measures a few inches in length — was later recovered by a dredger, sold to a dealer, and returned to Heron-Allen! Disturbed, Heron-Allen packed the stone in a box, packed that box inside a larger box, and continued until there were seven layers between him and the purple peril (seven being a powerful magical number). The stone was then locked in a bank with orders for the box not to be opened until three years after his death. It was then donated to the Natural History Museum by his very sensible daughter, where it can still be seen today. If you see it, be sure to have a good look at its setting; it was specially designed by one of the stone’s owners to try and lessen the impact of the curse.

If you’re still looking for a bit of sparkle after all this, why not visit the glitzy West End as part of your theatre break?

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