One of London’s biggest (and smallest) secrets is the teeny tiny alleyway tucked away in the heart of the West End. Nestled between the Coliseum and a cute little coffee shop; Brydges Place links St Martin’s Lane to Bedfordbury and – much like Gretchen Weiners’ hair – it’s full of secrets.
With a width of just 15 inches at its narrowest point (that’s 38cm for anyone who – like me – still compares everything to the length of a ruler), it’s considered by many to be the narrowest alleyway in the city. Now, rumour has it that there is, in fact, an even slimmer passageway hiding in Holborn, but that’s a discussion for another day.
Despite the ongoing evolution of London’s streets; Brydges Place has stood the test of time, dating all the way back to the 17th century. Although the alleyway itself hasn’t changed in almost 400 years, its name certainly has. Starting out as Dawson’s Alley, then later becoming Taylor’s Buildings; it wasn’t until some point in the late 19th century that the passageway secured its current name of Brydges Place.
Perhaps not for the faint-of-heart but certainly worth a peek; if you can face squeezing yourself down the 200-yard alleyway, you’ll discover a few hidden gems along the way. Local boozer (and regular hangout of Charles Dickens, The Marquis, backs onto the alleyway and you’ll often find a huddle of people sipping, smoking and setting the world to rights.
Brydges Place is also home to a super fancy private members club and the – perhaps even more fancy – secret backdoors of the London Coliseum. The doors supposedly lead directly to the ‘Royal Retiring Room’ and are used as a hidden entry and exit point for royal folk attending the theatre, not wanting to draw a crowd. Ooh la la, indeed.
If nothing else, Brydges Place is certainly a great shortcut between two bustling streets, if you want to avoid crowds and look in-the-know to your out-of-town friends. Be prepared to have to walk in single file, though.
đź“Ť Brydges Place, London, WC2N 4HP.