Someone Had One Job: From Incorrect Signs to Heavy Metal Errors

London is packed with subtle quirks and mistakes that most people pass by without a second glance. From historic plaques and public art installations to hand-painted pub signs, errors are hidden all over the city if you know where to look.

Here are four notable mistakes hiding in plain sight:

Prospect of Whitby (Wapping Wall, E1W)

Dating back to 1520, the Prospect of Whitby initially opened as "The Pelican" before becoming "The Devil's Tavern" and eventually adopting its current name in the 18th century. Over the centuries, the pub has hosted smugglers, pirates, judges, boxers, royalty, and Hollywood stars. According to a handwritten sign in the upstairs bar, past patrons include Richard Burton, Kirk Douglas, Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman, Judy Garland, Muhammad Ali, Princess Margaret, and "Rob Steiger."

While actor Rod Steiger won an Oscar for 'In the Heat of the Night' and starred in 'Waterloo', 

history has no record of a famous "Rob."

Nancy's Steps (London Bridge, SE1)

The stone steps on the southwest side of London Bridge are often called "Nancy's Steps," referencing the doomed character from Charles Dickens's novel 'Oliver Twist'. In Dickens's original story, Bill Sikes murders Nancy in a secluded room while his dog, Bull's-Eye, watches. 

However, in the 1968 film adaptation Oliver!, Sikes kills her on the steps of London Bridge instead. 

This cinematic alteration makes the Blue Plaque attached to the surviving arch

 of John Rennie's London Bridge factually incorrect.

Monument to the Unknown Artist (Summer Street, SE1)

Created by the art collective Greyworld, this installation looks like a standard bronze sculpture until someone poses in front of its hidden camera. At that moment, the figure's loose-fitting suit and neck scarf appear to flutter as the "Unknown Artist" attempts to mimic the passerby's pose.

Inscribed on its plinth is the Latin phrase:

“Non Plaudite Modo Pecuniam Jacite”

Using "non" directly before the imperative verb plaudite is considered colloquial styling or "bad Latin" rather than strict classical grammar. To be grammatically correct, the phrase should read:

"Nolite plaudere, modo pecuniam jacite"

Translated, it means: "Do not applaud, just throw money."

Cart & Horses (Maryland Point, E15)

Inside the hallowed walls of the Cart & Horses pub, widely recognised as the birthplace of heavy metal band Iron Maiden, lies a major geographical blunder. During an extensive refurbishment between 2019 and 2022, the owners purchased a large metal map of London. It was carefully measured and cut to fit around the bar's existing fixtures before being permanently mounted. 

While the floor-to-ceiling map is impressively detailed, it has one major flaw: 

it was installed completely upside down.