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London’s mysterious and mystical sites

By CW Contributor on 16/10/2019

London has a long history of occult circles and gatherings. And you can still find a trace of this mystic past, if you know where to look. From occult bookshops and curious musuems, to tarot classes and astrology centres, Culture Whisper shares the most mystical and magical sites in London

By Romain Roch

Treadwell's Bookshop

Treadwell’s is one of the finest esoteric bookshops in London, with tomes on psychology, western and occidental philosophy, spiritualism and mythology. It also sells ointments, candles, sculptures and all the requisite accessories for rituals and spells.

Curious about the future? Book yourself a tarot reading. Or peruse the upcoming events for talks such as Women’s Suffrage and the Occult, a variety of tarot-reading classes (beginners welcome) and introductions to practical candle magic.

WHERE

33 Store Street, Fitzrovia, London WC1E 7BS

Highgate Cemetery tours

London’s cemeteries are home to ghosts and spirits, along with imposing monuments, tombs and the invading wildlife and plants. Head to Highgate for a gothic atmosphere, with plenty of fascinating stories to discover when you take the time to read inscriptions. And keep an eye out for famous inhabitants including Karl Marx and George Eliot.

WHERE

Highgate Cemetery, Swain’s Lane, Highgate, London N6 6PJ

The Astrology Shop

Head to The Astrology Shop if you are interested in horoscopes, cosmology, or just want to find a gift out of the norm. The purple and gold exterior contains a multitude of gems, stones, pendants, oils, compasses, cards, sundials, bracelets, interesting zodiac and and of course horoscopes and astrology books. The personalised birth charts can deepen your own astrological knowledge or make for a thoughtful present for that friend who’s obsessed with her horoscope.

WHERE

78 Neal Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9PA

Atlantis Bookshop

As London’s oldest independent occult bookshop, Atlantis boasts an impressive heritage. Along with a vast array of new and antiquarian books about magic it also stocsk eclectic objects such as statues and handmade jewellery. But it’s the events that really draw in the crowds. Keep an eye out for conferences on modern magic, tarot readings and talks with authors.

WHERE

49a Museum Street, Holborn, London WC1A 1LY

Victor Wynd Museum

This small museum in Bethnal Green is a treasure trove of all the oddities collected by the eccentric Victor Wynd. The Cabinet of Curiosities holds an indescribable amount of strange sculptures, artefacts, skeletons, diverse creations and artworks, puppets, animals and visual displays that mix art and gripping grotesque. It‘s more than worth a visit, but note that that under-18s are not allowed.

WHERE

11 Mare Street, Hackney, London E8 4RP

Mysteries Shop

This New Age supply store stands just a couple of streets away from both Atlantis and Watkins, and is the perfect place for the apprentice witch or wizard. In the Aladdin’s Cave of wonders you will find wind chimes, pendulums and other esoteric decorations for your home. Their psychic reading have a particularly good reputation, so to get an insight into your future, book ahead here.

WHERE

34 Short's Gardens, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9PX

Clink Prison Museum

The Clink Prison Museum takes visitors back to a grisly past that we all love hearing about, while rejoicing that we weren’t alive back then. It’s about a 10-minute walk from London Bridge and the London Dungeon, and provides a rich history of the infamous prison, without omitting any details or skeletal displays.

WHERE

1 Clink Street, Borough, London SE1 9DG

Watkins Books

Watkins Books is situated on Covent Garden’s Cecil Court, a mecca of rare books and fine art prints. The topics range from astrology to black arts, passing by masonry, mythology, Wicca, paganism, Celts, taoism, buddhism, Zen, Christianity, Judaism, yoga, hermeticism, hermeneutics, philosophy, fables, and countless other occult and religious texts. On the ground floor you will find a bric-à-brac of gemstones, crystals, talismans and jewellery. Downstairs is the cheaper books section downstairs where you can acquire an absolute treasure for as little as 50p.

WHERE

19-21 Cecil Court, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4EZ

St Bride's Crypt

The crypt in St Bride’s Church was rediscovered after the building above it was heavily bombed during the Second World War. The crypts are of one of the largest in Europe, and seeing the huge amounts of bones, coffins and gravestones is a definitive glimpse into London’s sinister and formidable past. Guided tours are every Tuesday at 12:15pm, for £6 per person.

WHERE

Fleet Street, London EC4Y 8AU

The Magic Circle Museum

The Magic Circle Museum was built to expose the history and magical artefacts of the London Magic Circle next door. It hosts objects and tells stories from the most fascinating performers and magicians, and is a treat for magic geeks and kids.

WHERE

Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way, King's Cross, London NW1 2HD

Chislehurst Caves

Dug around the time of Celts and Druids, occupied by Saxons and medieval witches, used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War, Chislehurst Caves have a long and spooky history. The strange carvings and eerie atmosphere make it well worth the trip to this southeast London suburb. There are approximately 35 km of tunnels and there are guided tours Wednesdays to Sundays.

WHERE

Caveside Close, Old Hill, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5NL