Hidden UK beach has oldest riverside pub with very gruesome past
The Prospect of Whitby in Wapping is believed to be the oldest pub on the Thames with a sandy secret hidden out back.
If you fancy a pint with a side of history, then the Prospect of Whitby in Wapping is the place to be. This London pub, reputed to be the city's oldest riverside establishment dating back to 1520, offers more than just a refreshing drink.
With its original flagstone floor and pewter-topped bar, it's like stepping into a time machine.
Nestled between modern apartment blocks, this historic pub has a colourful past. It was once a popular spot for smugglers and pirates and has seen famous patrons such as Charles Dickens, Samuel Pepys, Judge Jeffries, and artists James McNeill Whistler and J.M.W.Turner, reports the Mirror.
The pub's maritime history is evident in its decor, with old barrels and ships' masts adding to its unique charm. But it's not just the cosy, traditional London pub atmosphere that draws people in.
There's also a hidden sandy secret out back.
Next to the pub, a small passageway signposted Pelican Stairs leads visitors down to the river. Here, they'll find an unexpected stretch of sand and a breathtaking view across The Thames.
While swimming in the murky river water isn't recommended, there are plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the view, including a well-maintained pub garden with different levels.
London's indisputably vibrant history takes a dark turn at a site known as Execution Dock, where sounds of lapping waves echo the city's chilling maritime past.
Over 400 years, this spot on the Thames bore witness to the executions of pirates, smugglers, and mutineers, who met their demise under Admiralty law.
The notorious "dock" was not one of ships and cargo, but a grim scaffold where death came slowly through suffocation, the result of a deliberately short noose. The macabre scene was completed by leaving the bodies swinging until the rising tides had claimed them thrice.
It was only on December 16, 1830, that Execution Dock saw its final act of morbid ceremony. Today, while the dock's precise origins remain shrouded in mystery, a nod to its history stands behind the Prospect of Whitby pub replica noose a haunting reminder of the brutality once dispensed there.
But the infamy of the site is now part of its allure. The Prospect of Whitby, with its proximity to Execution Dock, has become a beacon for tourists and Londoners, drawing crowds to its unique setting.
And for many, the pub and adjacent Pelican Stairs may trigger a sense of deja vu, having featured in the classic British comedy Only Fools and Horses, as well as in the gripping BBC crime drama Whitechapel, where it framed a grisly fictional discovery that echoed the area's sinister heritage.
The Prospect of Whitby now offers a variety of beers, centuries in the making, a hearty Sunday lunch and a selection of cocktails to enjoy while soaking up the history.
