The Game of Mornington Crescent

C19th, one-way design around busy Euston - made into Cabbie joke

Location: Near Euston, NW1

Description: The game of Mornington Crescent was invented in the late nineteenth century by the drivers of Hackney carriages as a serious attempt to design a one-way system around the increasingly busy area of Euston in London. It is variously credited to Arthur Mowe, a Cockney, and Horstmann Ure, a second generation Silesian immigrant.

A simple, but profitable, variation on the game is still played by London taxi drivers, because their motto is He was a stranger, and I took him in. Cabbies try to include Mornington Crescent in every journey. This helps to maximise fares for journeys which would not naturally contain a diversion via the Euston district.

Tours: Curios

Themes: Quirky Quirky Theme