Today Wembley is synonymous with high profile sporting events and gigs by the most renowned bands and artists in the world. It has been integral to London’s culture for over a century, but there is still plenty that many residents and visitors to the district don’t know about it. Here are seven fun facts you may have missed.
1. Wembley’s name is over 1,000 years old
Wembley is one of London’s most historic names, dating back to Anglo Saxon times. ‘Wemba’ was the name of a local landholder, while ‘lea’ is Old English and means clearing or meadow. The first record of the name ‘Wemba lea’ is in a charter of 825AD – over 1,000 years ago.
2. Wembley Park came later
Wembley Park came much later when the wealthy Page family, owners of an estate in the area, employed Humphrey Repton to landscape it. In 1792, he converted the farmland into wooded parkland, creating Wembley Park and calling it “a most beautiful spot near Harrow”.
3. Wembley was once home to an Eiffel Tower rival
By the late 1800s Wembley Park was owned by the Metropolitan Railway. Chairman Sir Edward Watkin had been impressed by the newly constructed Eiffel Tower in Paris, and wanted to build a rival. Had it been finished, it would have stood at 358 metres tall, but only the first base was completed before the foundations began to sink and funds for it dried up.
4. Wembley has been attracting thousands for over a century
When Wembley Park station was opened in 1894, thousands flocked to these so-called ‘pleasure grounds’. There were sports facilities, refreshment rooms, a music hall and a boating lake. It was so popular that 120,000 people visited in 1895 alone.
5. The old Wembley Stadium was recycled
The Empire Stadium (later renamed Wembley Stadium) was opened in 1923 for the FA Cup Final, and stood until 2003 when it was demolished to make way for the stadium that we know today. The rubble was taken to nearby Northolt, where it now forms four artificial hills.
6. Wembley has hosted superheroes
Fans of the Marvel films will be familiar with the scene in Avengers: Age of Ultron where Iron Man and the Hulk engage in an action-packed and highly destructive battle. Although the fight takes place in Johannesburg, parts of it were filmed at the Brent Civic Centre, just across the road from Wembley Stadium.
7. Wembley boasted the first wave machine
In 1934, the Empire Pool was built in Wembley for the Empire Games – now called the Commonwealth Games. This 61m pool boasted Europe’s first wave machine and had adjustable wave heights that enabled people to try out the increasingly popular sport of ‘surf bathing’, or what is now known as bellyboarding. Bathers didn’t even have to go far to find Wembley places to eat, as there were restaurants on the first-floor gallery.
Discover the best places to eat in Wembley Park
Today, Wembley is frequented by shoppers, theatre-goers, music fans and sports enthusiasts looking for a memorable day out. If you’re looking for the best places to eat in Wembley Park, look no further than Studio Five, located at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. With a contemporary menu and relaxed vibe, our Wembley restaurant is the perfect place to stop for a meal.
