Hidden just a stone’s throw from St Paul’s Cathedral and surrounded by investment banks is one of London’s secret sights. Postman’s Park is a green oasis on the site of a former burial ground and home to the George Frederic Watt’s Memorial to Heroic Self-sacrifice. The name’s a bit of a mouthful, but this unassuming pagoda contains a collection of beautifully painted tiles commemorating ordinary people who died saving the lives of others.

The concise yet poetic language with which the heart-wrenching tales are told is really touching and strangely compelling. Some of the stories described could be from yesterday’s newspapers, while others offer a historical snapshot of the hazards of living and working in Victorian London.

If you’re in the St Paul’s area with a few minutes to spare the memorial is definitely worth visiting for a short while to think and ponder. It’s one of those London sites that not many people know is there so feels extra special. Find it nestling between Little Britain, Angel Street and King Edward St in EC1.

Photo courtesy of Decorator’s Notebook