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Elephant and Castle

Acting as a hub for central South London, dividing traffic to the City and the West End and bordering the Congestion Charge zone, Elephant and Castle’s rather odd name is thought to have originally stemmed from a pub of the same name which has been there since at least the middle of the 18th century. The pub itself got it’s name from a visiting Spanish princess, or Infanta de Castile, corrupted to Elephant and Castle; that, at least, is how the story goes.

The place itself is a road junction, made up of two roundabouts surrounding a housing complex and shopping centre both of which have been frequently slammed for their architectural unsightliness.

£1.5 billion redevelopment plans for the future, alongside it’s proximity to employment in both the City and West End, mean the area certainly looks set to move up in the world in the coming years, though.