This month’s quiz is about London numbers. As before the correct answer will turn green when it’s clicked upon and expanded to give more information. The incorrect answers will turn red giving the correct explanation.
1. What were the ‘seven sisters’ from which Seven Sisters Road takes its name?
Seven spinsters
WRONG Hundreds of years ago seven elm trees were planted around a walnut tree for reasons which have been lost in time. The trees appear on a map of 1619 though some believe that the original seven trees were planted as long ago as 1350. The seven trees have been replanted a number of times, always by seven sisters but they are now in a slightly different location to the earliest plantings.
Seven elm trees
CORRECT Hundreds of years ago seven elm trees were planted around a walnut tree for reasons which have been lost in time. The trees appear on a map of 1619 though some believe that the original seven trees were planted as long ago as 1350. The seven trees have been replanted a number of times, always by seven sisters but they are now in a slightly different location to the earliest plantings.
Seven churches
WRONG Hundreds of years ago seven elm trees were planted around a walnut tree for reasons which have been lost in time. The trees appear on a map of 1619 though some believe that the original seven trees were planted as long ago as 1350. The seven trees have been replanted a number of times, always by seven sisters but they are now in a slightly different location to the earliest plantings.
2. The sign at Belsize Park Underground Station says that there are 219 steps at the station. It is wrong, how many are there?
179 steps
WRONG Belsize Park Station has a sign claiming there are 219 steps when there are in fact just 189. Does Transport for London have a step counter who can’t count? Do they want to put people off using the stairs.
189 steps
CORRECT Belsize Park Station has a sign claiming there are 219 steps when there are in fact just 189. Does Transport for London have a step counter who can’t count? Do they want to put people off using the stairs.
199 steps
WRONG Belsize Park Station has a sign claiming there are 219 steps when there are in fact just 189. Does Transport for London have a step counter who can’t count? Do they want to put people off using the stairs.
3. The Prime Meridian famously passes through Greenwich. How many European countries (including the UK) does it run through?
Three
CORRECT Three (UK, France and Spain) this imaginary line which runs from the North Pole to the South Pole also passes through Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana and Antarctica.
Five
WRONG Three (UK, France and Spain) this imaginary line which runs from the North Pole to the South Pole also passes through Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana and Antarctica.
Seven
WRONG Three (UK, France and Spain) this imaginary line which runs from the North Pole to the South Pole also passes through Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana and Antarctica.
4. How many times does The Elizabeth Line cross under the Thames?
One
CORRECT A new tunnel was bored underneath the Thames between Plumstead and North Woolwich, stretching for almost 2 miles, the Thames Tunnel lays about 50ft below the existing river bed.
Two
WRONG A new tunnel was bored underneath the Thames between Plumstead and North Woolwich, stretching for almost 2 miles, the Thames Tunnel lays about 50ft below the existing river bed.
Three
WRONG A new tunnel was bored underneath the Thames between Plumstead and North Woolwich, stretching for almost 2 miles, the Thames Tunnel lays about 50ft below the existing river bed.
5. Number 133 High Holborn was better known by what name until 1933?
British Museum tube station
CORRECT The British Museum Station was opened by the Central London Railway known the Twopenny Tube in 1900. In 1933, with the expansion of Holborn Station less than 100 yards away, British Museum station was permanently closed. It was subsequently utilised as a military office and command post, but in 1989 the surface building was demolished.
Gamages
WRONG The British Museum Station was opened by the Central London Railway known the Twopenny Tube in 1900. In 1933, with the expansion of Holborn Station less than 100 yards away, British Museum station was permanently closed. It was subsequently utilised as a military office and command post, but in 1989 the surface building was demolished.
The Prudential Insurance Headquarters
WRONG The British Museum Station was opened by the Central London Railway known the Twopenny Tube in 1900. In 1933, with the expansion of Holborn Station less than 100 yards away, British Museum station was permanently closed. It was subsequently utilised as a military office and command post, but in 1989 the surface building was demolished.
6. Whose house, now a museum, was popularly known as Number 1, London in the 19th century?
Robert Peel
WRONG The original house was built on the site in 1778, for Lord Apsley, and the house was the first one on the north side of Piccadilly. At the time, it was next to the main turnpike or toll into central London, so became known as ‘Number 1, London’, because it was the first house you came to when you entered London. The property’s official address today is 149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, London W1J 7NT, but rumours still abound that if you posted a letter to ‘Number 1, London’ it would reach this address.
Duke of Wellington
CORRECT The original house was built on the site in 1778, for Lord Apsley, and the house was the first one on the north side of Piccadilly. At the time, it was next to the main turnpike or toll into central London, so became known as ‘Number 1, London’, because it was the first house you came to when you entered London. The property’s official address today is 149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, London W1J 7NT, but rumours still abound that if you posted a letter to ‘Number 1, London’ it would reach this address.
Benjamin Disraeli
WRONG The original house was built on the site in 1778, for Lord Apsley, and the house was the first one on the north side of Piccadilly. At the time, it was next to the main turnpike or toll into central London, so became known as ‘Number 1, London’, because it was the first house you came to when you entered London. The property’s official address today is 149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, London W1J 7NT, but rumours still abound that if you posted a letter to ‘Number 1, London’ it would reach this address.
7. There are 32 London boroughs. How many begin with the letter H?
Three
WRONG Seven (unless you’re a Cockney who drops their Hs, in which case it’s zero). They are Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon and Hounslow.
Five
WRONG Seven (unless you’re a Cockney who drops their Hs, in which case it’s zero). They are Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon and Hounslow.
Seven
CORRECT Seven (unless you’re a Cockney who drops their Hs, in which case it’s zero). They are Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon and Hounslow.
8. In 1977, Londoner Marie White became the first woman to do what?
Become Lord-lieutenant of The Tower of London
WRONG Remarkably the first woman to have completed the modern Knowledge of London to become an All London Green Badge driver was not until 1977 when Marie White (badge 25292) passed. She would regularly be seen on the St. Pancras rank with her little border terrier dog in the luggage compartment.
Drive a London Underground train
WRONG Remarkably the first woman to have completed the modern Knowledge of London to become an All London Green Badge driver was not until 1977 when Marie White (badge 25292) passed. She would regularly be seen on the St. Pancras rank with her little border terrier dog in the luggage compartment.
Qualify as a black cabbie
CORRECT Remarkably the first woman to have completed the modern Knowledge of London to become an All London Green Badge driver was not until 1977 when Marie White (badge 25292) passed. She would regularly be seen on the St. Pancras rank with her little border terrier dog in the luggage compartment.
9. How many floors are underground in the MI6 Headquarters?
Five
CORRECT The MI6 headquarters was blown up in two James Bond films (The World is Not Enough and Skyfall), and then demolished in Spectre. The exterior used in the movies is actually the real MI6 building, which is pretty safe since the main part of the building has five floors underground.
Three
WRONG The MI6 headquarters was blown up in two James Bond films (The World is Not Enough and Skyfall), and then demolished in Spectre. The exterior used in the movies is actually the real MI6 building, which is pretty safe since the main part of the building has five floors underground.
One
WRONG The MI6 headquarters was blown up in two James Bond films (The World is Not Enough and Skyfall), and then demolished in Spectre. The exterior used in the movies is actually the real MI6 building, which is pretty safe since the main part of the building has five floors underground.
10. How many rooms are there in Buckingham Palace?
575
WRONG Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
775
CORRECT Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
675
WRONG Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
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