27 Astonishing Things You Didn't Know About London

By Mike Morgan /

10. Shoreditch Is Named After The Place King Edward's Mistress Died

Shoreditch is arguably most famous for being the east London home of Doctor Who's fictional Coal Hill School, the first location seen in the long-running BBC series. But Shoreditch has many other fascinating features. For a start, even the origin of its name is interesting. Legend has it that Shoreditch is named after King Edward IV€™s mistress, Jane Shore. Tragically, she died penniless in a ditch in the East End, giving her name to the place where her body was found.