Watercolour of one of London's early shopping arcades and perhaps the most colourful.
 
The Royal Arcade runs between New Bond Street and Old Bond Street in Mayfair, and is one of the city's surviving Victorian shopping arcades. Opened in 1879, it was designed to provide a sheltered, elegant route for shoppers, with a glazed roof, decorative ironwork and boutique units.
 
Unlike some grander arcades, it is compact and intimate, with an emphasis on specialist shops and traditional trades. Inside, it feels like a preserved fragment of 19th-century retail London.
 
Interesting facts…
The arcade is famous for its clock featuring the mythical figures Gog and Magog, who strike the bells every hour.
 
Location: Royal Arcade, 26–28 Old Bond Street, Mayfair, London W1S 4QX, United Kingdom