Monopoly London
A walk around the board
A trip around the monopoly board allows an exploration of London's diverse neighbourhoods, rich history, and evolving identity. From Old Kent Road to Mayfair, every stop on the monopoly board tells a unique story. It's a long walk but it does offer a new way to appreciate the landmarks, architecture and hidden corners of the city.
History
The game of monopoly traces its origins back to the early 1900s when Elizabeth Magie, a progressive writer and inventor, patented The Landlord's Game to illustrate the dangers of monopolies and land inequality. The game was intended to promote wealth-sharing and highlight the problems of rewarding monopolistic practices.
From Atlantic City to Parker Brothers
The game spread informally over the following decades until Charles Darrow, an unemployed salesman during the Great Depression, encountered and refined a version of the game with Atlantic City-inspired locations similar to that we know and love. In 1935, he sold his version to Parker Brothers, who mass-produced it as Monopoly.
From Old Kent Road to Mayfair — the cheapest square and the priciest, walked end to end.
Choosing the London streets
The UK version used a Leeds-based printing company known for board games and playing cards. The street names for the UK version were chosen by Victor Watson, managing director of John Waddington Ltd who took his secretary, Marjory Phillips, on a day-trip to scout out suitable locations for the London-based version of the game.
The Monopoly London video
Press play to open the playlist on YouTube.
