I visited London's infamous Mound - an $8 million fake hill that's being called the city's worst attraction

Anna CoobanAug 22, 2021, 15:21 IST

The structure has been criticized as a drain on taxpayers' money.Insider

The Marble Arch Mound opened in July and was intended to attract people to London's retail center.
The project's boss quit after costs spiralled to $8.25 million - $3.7 million more than planned.
The local council said that it "wasn't ready for visitors when it opened" and offered refunds.

The Marble Arch Mound did not quite go to plan.

The 25-meter-high artificial hill, built in the middle of London's busy shopping district, was supposed to attract 280,000 visitors to the city's retail center after the pandemic flattened sales.

But as soon as it opened on July 26, visitors ridiculed the temporary structure, with one comparing it with a piece of scenery from a low-fi 90's video game. And, after costs ballooned $3.7 million (£2.7 million) beyond its expected price tag to $8.25 million, a local politician resigned.

Opposition political party, Labour, criticized the mound as a drain on taxpayers' money.

I went to check out the mound for myself to see if it really was as underwhelming as people said.

The mound is located right next to London's famous Marble Arch. It looked a bit strange from the ground view and as if it was only half-finished.

The mound was intended as a novelty experience, according to its designers. Insider

I could see mostly scaffolding as I walked up the mound's 134 steps, and few trees and plants on the hill's surface.

Stuart Love, Westminster City Council's chief executive, said that the attraction wasn't ready when it opened in late July. Insider

I paid $6.19 for a ticket, although I was promptly offered a refund by the ticket company.

Westminster City Council has offered visitors refunds and free tickets for the rest of August. Insider

At the top, I got some good views of London's Oxford Street, Mayfair, and Hyde Park areas - but could have seen much more from a taller building.

The 25-meter-high mound gives visitors views over London's Oxford Street, Mayfair, and Hyde Park. Insider

Westminster City Council wanted the mound to help revitalize London's retail district, and initially cost $2.8 million to build.

Westminster City Council's thought that improving the area's landscaping would attract more visitors. Insider

After costs later ballooned to $8.25 million, a local politician resigned. His boss said that the spiralling costs were "totally unacceptable."

The mound is located right next to London's 188-year-old Marble Arch. Insider

There were very few trees dotted on the mound's surface and some looked a little worse for wear.

The mound was meant to give visitors a taste of the great outdoors but had very few trees on its surface. Insider

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