I’m on a mission to uncover some of London’s hidden gems, to encourage you to stray from well-trodden tourist trails and discover some overlooked corners of London. Just wandering a few minutes off a main road and you can stumble across something completely surprising….

Let’s start with Postman’s Park, a little patch of greenery squished between buildings where Clerkenwell merges into the City of London. It’s very easy to walk past without even realising it is there. But if you step inside the gates you will find a peaceful escape from the city – with some unusual features.

The park is built on the site of a burial ground – you can still see the gravestones around the edge of the park. But the main reason for visiting should be to read the plaques on the “Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice” which are housed under a loggia in a corner of the park. The memorial was built in 1900 by George Frederic Watts, a painter and sculptor who wanted to record stories of heroism in everyday life. The plaques commemorate people who died saving the lives of others – mostly in the late 1800s and early 1900s, although one plaque was added in 2009. The plaques offer an unusual snapshot of life in London about 100 – 150 years ago, sad tales of fires and drownings and runaway horses. The stories are kind of depressing and life affirming at the same time and make Postman’s Park definitely worth a visit.