Underneath Central London lies Thorney Island, a mysterious island that was inhabited for thousands of years.
Westminster has been an essential landmark in English history for millennia. It was home to Westminster Abbey, the old royal palace, Westminster School and Parliament.
During the medieval period, Westminster became a centre of considerable wealth and power. King Edgar established a monastic community here and also built what is now known as Westminster Abbey, an impressive piece of architecture still standing today.
Many of England's greatest monarchs had their coronations at College Garden - Edward the Confessor, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and James I included. There are still remnants of this history today, such as Edward's creation: College Garden.
At high tide, the island was cut off from the mainland; however, a plane crash in 1933 caught the attention of the Air Ministry and saw potential for an airbase. Throughout World War II, this base played an essential role for RAF aircraft and airmen during bombing missions over the Channel and France.
Now a nature reserve, remnants of the former Royal Air Force station remain.
Thorney Island boasts an intriguing history that makes it worth visiting. You can easily get there by bus or train from London Bridge and it makes for a great base for walking, plus in winter there's usually a fortnightly game shoot where you can go pheasant or partridge shooting!
