Thought you knew London? 37 amazing facts about the British capital, from a bridge that was a wonder of the world to a bizarre floating police station and Britain's first McDonald's

London – one of the largest cities in the world and so known to almost everyone.

Yet so few know its secrets and hidden gems.

Author Christopher Winn lifts the veil in a fascinating book I never knew that about London (Ebury).

The publisher says: '[The book] reveals the hidden gems of legends, scoops, inventions, adventures and birthplaces that shape the city's compelling and sometimes turbulent past.'

Here we reveal some of the fascinating facts inside… courtesy of the author and Ebury Publishing.

LONDON BRIDGE – A FORMER WONDER OF THE WORLD

“London Bridge is where London began,” Winn explains. 'The first bridge was built around AD 52 by the invading Roman army of Emperor Claudius, somewhere near the site of the current bridge.

'The first stone bridge was started in 1176, during the reign of Henry II. When completed in 1209, it was 6 meters wide, 274 meters long and had twenty arches. This bridge became one of the wonders of the world and would last 600 years.

'By the 15th century there were buildings along the entire length of the bridge, some of which were seven or eight stories high and touched each other at the top, turning the bridge into a tunnel.

'In 1722 the mayor ordered bridge traffic to keep to the left, the first time this rule was officially made mandatory in Britain.'

Winn explains that in the 1960s, a replacement bridge, built in 1831, was purchased by Robert McCulloch of Arizona for $2,460,000. He had it shipped to Lake Havasu City on the Colorado River. It was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as “the largest antique ever sold,” Winn notes.

THE BURIAL HEART OF RICHARD THE LION HEART

“The heart of Richard I (the Lionheart) is said to be buried somewhere in the northern part of the churchyard of All Hallows by the Tower, under a chapel that Richard built there in the 12th century,” explains Winn, who adds: “ The chapel is long gone.”

THE OLDEST CONTEST

“The oldest annually contested sporting event in Britain, The Doggett's Coat and Badge Race, is a 4.5 mile rowing race from London Bridge to Chelsea,” Winn reveals.

MARX HAS MADE HIS MARK

Winn explains that Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto was first printed by JE Burghard at 46 Liverpool Street in 1848.

ENGLAND'S FIRST THEATRE

Actor James Burbage built England's first theater in 1576 in Shoreditch, Winn notes. His name? The theater.

FIRST LOTTERY

England's first state lottery was held at the west door of St Paul's Cathedral in 1569, Winn reveals.

HELLOOG'S STATUE

The only cross-eyed statue in London is that of political commentator John Wilkes (1725-1797). It is, Winn explains, on the corner of Fetter Lane and New Fetter Lane in the City.

FIRST MOVING PHOTOS EVER

Some of the very first moving pictures were taken at Hyde Park Corner in 1888 by William Friese-Greene, inventor of the cinematographer, Winn reveals.

NAOMI CAMPBELL DISCOVERED

“Supermodel Naomi Campbell was 'discovered' at the age of 15 while shopping in Covent Garden,” Winn explains.

FIRST GRAPE FRUIT

Winn reveals: 'Jack Smith introduced the first grapefruit to England at his market stall in Berwick Street in 1890.'

RITZ HOTEL HAS MADE ENSUITE HISTORY

Opened in 1906, the Ritz hotel was the first hotel in London to have all en suite rooms, Winn reveals.

THE OLDEST CHEESE SHOP IN GREAT BRITAIN

At number 93 Jermyn Street is Paxton and Whitfield, Britain's oldest cheese shop, Winn reveals. It was founded in 1742. The author explains that Stilton cheese was first sold here in London.

THE FIRST TRAFFIC ISLAND

St James's Street is home to what is believed to be London's oldest traffic island. It dates back to the early 1700s, Winn reveals.

DOWNING STREET – HUE GOING THERE?

“The houses in Downing Street were originally built of yellow brick, which turned black over two centuries due to pollution,” says Winn. 'The bricks were painted black after restoration work in the early 1960s.'

THE ORIGIN OF THE PHRASE 'TOE THE LINE'

“Along the aisle carpet dividing the two sides of the House of Commons,” Winn writes, “two red lines run exactly two sword lengths and one step apart. No member may put his foot out of line on his own side – this is to prevent members from pleading their case with swords and gives us the expression 'keeping the line', which means 'behavior'.”

FANG-TASTIC PLACE TO LIVE

St George's Square in Victoria is the only London square built overlooking the river, reveals Winn, who adds: 'Bram Stoker (1847-1912), the author of Dracula, died at No. 26.'

LIME HOUSE IN THE LIST

Limehouse is a celebrity hotspot and attracts residents including Lawrence of Arabia director Sir David Lean, Sir Ian McKellen and Steven Berkoff.

FLOATING POLICE STATION

Waterloo Pier was formerly home to Britain's only floating police station, says the author.

OXFORD STREET

The first of the famous shops to appear on Oxford Street, Winn reveals, was John Lewis, which opened in 1864. Selfridges opened in 1909 and was run according to American founder Harry Gordon Selfridge's mantra: 'the customer is always right'.

Winn added: 'The first HMV store was opened in 1921 by Sir Edward Elgar at 363 Oxford Street. And it was here, in 1961, that The Beatles made their first demonstration disc.”

MEGA INTERESTING

Sir Samuel Morland (1625-95), inventor of the megaphone, lived on Hammersmith Terrace.

WATER SCREEN MOMENT FOR CARRIERS

On the railway bridge at Putney Bridge station, Winn reveals, there is a plaque commemorating motoring pioneer Frederick Simms (1863-1944), whose first workshop was located there. He founded the Daimler Motor Syndicate, one of Britain's first car companies, and founded the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) in 1897.

BATTERSEA SQUEEZE

With a width of just 12 metres, the Battersea Bridge is, according to Winn, the narrowest road bridge in London.

CELEBRITY TENANT

French philosopher Voltaire (1694-1778) lived at Sword House in Wandsworth for three years, the author explains.

BREAKING GAS STATION NEWS

Britain's first self-service petrol station opened on the south side of Southwark Bridge in November 1961, Winn reveals.

THE LONDON HERITAGE OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN

Charlie Chaplin was born in East Lane, Walworth, on April 16, 1889, the author reveals, and grew up on Kennington Road.

DEPTFORD – BIRTHPLACE OF THE ROYAL NAVY

'The “deep ford” at the mouth of the Ravensbourne [river] is the birthplace of the Royal Navy,” Winn explains. 'The first royal dockyard was built here in 1513 for Henry VIII, who lived in nearby Greenwich. Within twenty years Deptford had become Britain's leading shipyard.'

MORE DEPTFORD CLAIMS FAME

Band Dire Straits formed in Deptford in 1977, Winn notes.

FIRST MCDONALD'S

The first McDonald's fast food restaurant in Britain opened in Woolwich in 1975.

MORE WOOLWICH CLAIMS FAMOUS

“Britain's first permanent building society, The Woolwich, was founded in the upstairs room of a Woolwich pub around 1844,” Winn explains.

HARRODS HISTORY

Harrods opened in Knightsbridge in 1849. It was a wholesale grocery business owned, Winn explains, by Charles Henry Harrod (1799-1885).

Winn continues: 'The first escalators in Britain were installed at Harrods in 1898. Ladies who reached the top were offered brandy to calm the fumes.”

ST JAMES' STREET – LOTS OF HISTORY

St James's Street has had a major impact on history.

Winn reveals that at number 3 is Britain's oldest wine merchant, Berry Bros and Rudd, founded as a grocer in 1698.

Next to Berry Bros is Pickering Place, the smallest public square in Britain.

At number 9 is John Lobb, Britain's oldest shoemaker.

At number 71 are Truefitt & Hill, Britain's oldest hairdressers.

I Never Knew That About London, by Christopher Winn, is available at Amazon and elsewhere.