A-Z of woodblocks

There are many more remnants of wood block surfaces in London than I'd expected when I first wrote about them in April 2021. 

I have now taken photos of more than 45 instances  [April 2025] and been made aware of others that I have yet to investigate and verify. 

Often it's a case of looking in the right places as when you see one you'll likely find another further along the street. 

I have therefore compiled this A-Z. Please do let me know if you find any more – simply add a comment below or send an email to jane@janeslondon.com

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Bold with links are those I have already written about inc photos. 
The ones in italics are as yet unverified for the reasons given. 

Alaska Street, Waterloo SE1 – Post Office manhole cover

Belvedere Rd, LCC offices, County Hall, SE1 – many patches of rectangular blocks in grid pattern.  

169 Bermondsey High Street – elliptical manhole cover in side alley 

Bermondsey Leather Market, 11-13 Weston Street, SE1 – manhole cover within cobbled entrance 

Brentford High Street – set within the pavement. More info needed.  

Brixton Village Market, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 – manhole cover within access 

2-4 Camden Road, NW1 –  manhole cover cover in the road at kerb edge

221 Chalk Farm Rd, Camden NW1 (corner Inverness St) – manhole cover in pavement 

259 Chalk Farm Rd, Camden NW1 (opposite Buck's Head) – manhole cover in pavement  

285 Chalk Farm Rd, Camden NW1 (south of canal) – manhole cover in pavement 

Chalk Farm Rd, Camden Lock, NW1, 217 Place (north of canal) – manhole cover 

Chalk Farm Rd, Regent's Park Rd, NW1– manhole cover in the pavement

Chequer St, Bunhill Row – large repaved area of rectangular blocks

64 Clerkenwell Rd, Leo Yard, EC1N – square blocks within rectangular manhole 

83 Clerkenwell Rd, near Hatton Garden – manhole cover in the pavement 

Colliers Wood – new/modern square blocks at various locations – tbc 

Crooked Billet Yard, Hoxton, under the railway bridge – manhole cover 

Farringdon Street – an IanVisits sighting – unable to locate this myself. Any advice welcome. 

243 Gray’s Inn Rd / Acton Street – manhole cover in the middle of the road 

Hampstead, Murray Terrace – as spotted by IanVisits – pics to source.

Hampstead Village, Windmill Hill, Upper Terrace, NW3 – manhole cover 

Hampstead Village, Windmill Hill, 14 Willow Cottages, NW3 – manhole cover 

Hankey Street, Bermondsey, SE1 – manhole cover made by Bird & Co.

326 Holloway Rd, N7 – manhole cover in the centre of the road 

405 Holloway Rd, N7 – manhole cover near the central reservation   

335 Islington High St – manhole cover within the pavement  

90 Islington High St – manhole cover behind the electricity/tram station 

Islington High St – manhole cover near The York pub

111 Kentish Town Rd – manhole cover opposite the old hat factory 

315 Kentish Town Rd – manhole cover by the crossing 

King Street, Twickenham – more info needed re the specific location

Kingsway Tunnel, Holborn – oblong woodblocks 

Langley Street, Covent Garden – manhole cover

Mora Street / Nelson Passage, EC1 – manhole cover 

New North Rd, Royal Mail depot, N1 (Eagle Wharf Rd) – manhole cover within vehicle access 

130 Old St, EC1N – manhole cover in the bus lane

1 Old Street, Goswell Rd junction – manhole cover 

90-92 Pentonville Rd, N1 – large private forecourt, many patches visible

Pentonville Rd – manhole in bus lane in front of Grimaldi Church 

29-31 Powis St, Woolwich – manhole cover 

Southwark St, Redcross Way junction – manhole cover 

St James’s Place, W1 – rectangular manhole cover near the Stafford Hotel

St James’s Street – utility cover reported to be at the Piccadilly end – unconfirmed (Oct2023)

292 St John Street, Spencer Street junction – manhole in the road

377 St John Street, Rosebery Ave junction – manhole near kerb

44 and 48 Scrutton St, EC2 – two manhole covers

38 Shepherdess Walk / Underwood Row – manhole cover 

44-48 Shepherdess Walk / Micawber St – manhole cover 

104 Shepherdess Walk / Shaftesbury Street (pillar box) – manhole cover 

Spa Road, Bermondsey SE1 – LCC manhole cover - 

Spa Road - I’m told there’s another one at the junction with Thurland Rd 

Sumatra Rd / 229 West Hampstead (rear of Oddbins) – manhole cover 

West Square, Lambeth, SE11 – manhole covers, at least two 

Outside Greater London

Waltham Abbey – man hole cover in the road near the church 

Whitstable castle – large paved area within the covered entrance