Leadenhall Wunderkammer

Translated from German, Wunderkammer means “room of wonder”, and the tiny shops tucked inside No. 27¼ at Leadenhall Market certainly live up to the name.

Hidden among the grand Victorian architecture and bustling passages of the market, this whimsical installation is a miniature world of its own. Inspired by the cabinets of curiosities that once brought together strange, beautiful, and intriguing objects for the delight of their owners, this Wunderkammer invites visitors to stop, peer through its tiny windows, and discover the stories concealed in Leadenhall’s history.

Inside are three miniature storefronts, each with its own connection to London and the market. Referencing the small stature of the storefronts is Lilliput Cards, named for the island of tiny people in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, which sells Lilliputian-sized postcards depicting famous London landmarks.

Next door is Tronage Yarns, a tiny wool shop inspired by Leadenhall’s medieval past. During the 15th century, wool merchants visiting the market paid a tax known as the wool tronage to have their goods weighed.

The Leadenhall Film Library turns another of the market’s modern connections into miniature form. Peering through its windows reveals references to films and television productions shot in and around Leadenhall, including Slow Horses and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, to which Leadenhall provided the exterior entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in the latter.

Above the tiny storefronts, the non-Lilliputian sized visitors can find a serving hatch inspired by the wine windows of Florence. The hatch serves sweets, coffee, wine, and other exclusive products.

Inspired in part by the miniature theatres of the Victorian era, the tiny storefronts reward close inspection, encouraging visitors to look beyond the grand spectacle of Leadenhall Market and notice the smaller details hidden not just within the Wunderkammer, but the market as a whole. While the ornate Victorian architecture of the market inspires visitors to look around and take it all in, No. 27¼ is all about reminding you of the little details.

The Wunderkammer is ultimately a celebration of the idea that wonderful things can be found in the smallest of places. And once you’ve finished exploring its miniature world, you may find yourself looking at Leadenhall Market a little differently. Take a look at its grand arches, painted details, shopfronts, and hidden corners and maybe you'll find a few more wonders of your own.