Metropolitan Police Coat Hook
a hook with a hidden history
An ordinary-looking hook fixed to a City wall, said to have been installed so point-duty police could hang their heavy capes.
Free to visit · City of London · St Paul's · EC4M 8AD
Opening: Viewable any time
Among the everyday street fittings of the City is a small iron hook that comes with a charming bit of policing folklore. The story goes that it was put there for the use of point-duty officers, the policemen who once stood directing traffic at busy junctions, giving them somewhere to hang their heavy waterproof capes when the weather turned.
Whether every detail is gospel or polished by retelling, it is exactly the sort of overlooked oddity this guide loves, an ordinary object with an extraordinary backstory. It is free to find, a tiny reward for anyone who enjoys reading the hidden history in London's street furniture.
Getting there: On a wall in the City near St Paul's, easy to walk past without noticing.
Best time to go: Daytime, on a curiosity-hunting walk through the City.
Insider tip: This is a true look-closely curiosity, an unremarkable hook unless you know its story. Make it part of a wider hunt for the City's small oddities like the Cornhill Devils and the Panyer Boy nearby.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide