Read more: See hereLondon, with its rich architectural tapestry, offers a myriad of sights from the historic Tower of London to modern marvels like The Shard. Yet, some historical gems are hidden in plain sight, only to be discovered by the most observant or well-informed.
Managed by Transport for London (TfL), two 'houses' in Central London serve not as residences but as camouflage for a piece of the London Underground's history. Nestled on Bayswater Road, a stone's throw away from Hyde Park, is Leinster Gardens.
At first glance, it appears to be a row of ordinary terraced houses, but behind a mere six inches of wall, a unique slice of London's past is concealed.
The street, lined with mid-Victorian era terraced houses, forms an elite enclave within the city. Many of these buildings are historically listed, adding to the area's charm.
However, the middle section of this terrace holds a surprising secret - two false houses, reports MyLondon .
Under TfL's management, houses number 23 and 24 are nothing more than facades. Behind their thin, deceptive exteriors lies an old Metropolitan line railway dating back to the 1860s.
Before the advent of electric power, London's tube line trains were equipped with condensers to minimise the smoke emitted by each vehicle. The accumulated smoke and condensation were then released in open-air sections of the track.
The walls are approximately 1.5m thick, and at certain points, these imitation homes are a mere six inches thin - particularly where the windows are located.
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