Big Ben's secret banishment room and more amazing hidden spaces

Covert spaces we bet you've never heard of

The world's most famous landmarks, skylines and buildings aren't always what they seem. Hiding in plain sight, these recognisable structures conceal some impressively discreet homes, apartments and rooms. So discreet, in fact, that even the most eagle-eyed would struggle to spot them.

From the covert residence once hidden within the UN headquarters to the concealed suite in Disneyland's Cinderella Castle, read on to discover the stories behind these fascinating secret spaces.

Secret Mall Apartment, Rhode Island, USA

Rhode Island's largest shopping mall, Providence Palace, became the unlikely backdrop for an especially audacious venture in 2003 when eight Rhode Island artists built a secret apartment in the centre, where they lived for four years.

Immortalised in a documentary directed by Jeremy Workman, Secret Mall Apartment has taken the film festival circuit by storm since its release in March 2024. The footage, filmed by the young artists, chronicles their lives in the mall as they carve out an unconventional living space in one of the state's busiest commercial buildings – a symbol of defiance against the area's growing gentrification.

Secret Mall Apartment, Rhode Island, USA

A gargantuan structure, Providence Palace spans nine stories and 13 acres (5.2ha). Four years after the mall opened its doors, the artists discovered an opening in the exterior that led to 750 square feet (70sqm) of undeveloped space. Piece by piece, they began to make the forgotten corner their home. Cinderblocks were smuggled in to construct a wall and they rigged the space to run off the mall's electricity. Items of furniture, from sofas, a TV and a PlayStation to lamps and even a china cabinet, were brought in to make the place more inviting.

The makeshift home was finally exposed in 2007 when a security guard stumbled upon the covert space. Nevertheless, the artists remember the apartment as a groundbreaking piece of art that railed against the forces of local capitalism.

Director’s hidden home in the Lyceum Theatre, New York, USA

Some of the most eminent names in entertainment have tread the broads at New York City's Lyceum Theatre, from Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart to Whoopi Goldberg and Matthew Broderick. In fact, the historic venue, which was built in 1903, is the oldest continuously operating theatre on Broadway.

The man behind the construction of the magnificent Beaux Arts building was legendary theatre producer Daniel Frohman. Designed by architects Henry Herts and Hugh Tallant, the extraordinary theatre is still a sight to behold with its sculptural façade and exquisite interior ornamentation. But one of the most intriguing aspects of the building's design was tucked away at the very top of the structure – Frohman's personal apartment.

Director’s hidden home in the Lyceum Theatre, New York, USA

The theatre impresario established a secret residence in the Lyceum so he could oversee his productions. The apartment even featured a covert door that provided a bird's eye view of the stage below. According to local legend, Frohman would watch his shows from this door and when his wife, actress Margaret Illington, was overacting, he would wave a white handkerchief to catch her attention.

In 1950, the Shubert brothers, producers and pioneers of American theatre, took ownership of the Lyceum and their organisation still oversees the running of the venue today. Frohman's apartment has since been sensitively converted into the Shubert Archive.

The Secretary-General's covert UN apartment, New York, USA

Encompassing a staggering 39 floors, the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City is a behemoth of the Big Apple skyline, encased in a sleek glass skin. The building is a meeting place for world leaders and provides a forum for solving some of the most complex international problems facing our planet today. It's no surprise then that the organisation's headquarters are shrouded in secrecy, however, some of the building's more intriguing facets have come to light in recent years.

When construction began on the Manhattan complex in 1949, plans were outlined to create a secret space on the 38th floor. Alongside the offices of the Secretary-General, the highest role in the organisation, there was to be a private apartment built for the use of the UN's chief.

The Secretary-General's covert UN apartment, New York, USA

Images from the UN's archive from the 1950s reveal the scale of the covert residence, which included a large living room lined with windows, a compact kitchen, a single bedroom, a tiled bathroom fitted with a bathtub and a private conference room.

Throughout the decades, the apartment was reportedly the backdrop of numerous secret meetings between world leaders and delegates and each Secretary-General is said to have made the space their own. Most notably, Dag Hammarskjöld, who held the position from 1953 to 1961, is said to have adorned the home with borrowed masterpieces from the likes of Picasso and Matisse.

The apartment was eventually converted into offices as part of the Capital Master Plan, a £1.6 million ($2.1bn) renovation of the headquarters, which began in the mid-2000s.

Marie Antoinette's secret quarters, Versailles, France

Deep inside the Palace of Versailles, France, lies a complex of clandestine rooms which once offered the infamous French queen, Marie Antoinette, a rare moment of privacy. Accessed via a hidden door in the official bed chamber (can you spot it?), the secret space encompasses her private boudoir, a library, dining room and billiards room, spread across two floors and overlooking an interior courtyard.

Marie Antoinette was only 14 years old when she moved to France to marry the future King Louis XVI. She was crowned in 1774 and immediately began the renovation of her private apartment in Versailles. The project lasted 14 years until 1788, just one year before she and her husband were expelled from the palace by their revolutionary citizens.

Marie Antoinette's secret quarters, Versailles, France

The young Queen commissioned the King’s head architect, Ange-Jacques Gabriel, reportedly without asking her husband’s permission, to design the apartment. Much to the architect’s irritation, she oversaw the decoration of the apartment in her own “audacious” style, with glittering gold leaf applied from floor to ceiling and swathes of lush satins and brocades.

Access to the hidden rooms is provided by a hidden door to the side of the bed, which blends almost imperceptibly with the wall panelling when closed. In this private apartment, the Queen could withdraw from court life to be alone with her children, or select members of her entourage. Today, Marie Antoinette’s secret apartment is open to the public following a seven-year renovation.

Big Ben's banishment quarters, London, UK

A well-known fixture in the skyline of London, Big Ben is more than just the UK's most recognisable clock tower. The landmark, which is also known as Elizabeth Tower, conceals a little-known room in its base. The covert space was originally used as the office of the Serjeant at Arms, an officer tasked with keeping order at the House of Commons. The Serjeant at Arms has been able to make arrests in the Commons since 1415.

Following a fire that devastated the Palace of Westminster in 1834, a new design was commissioned that included the Elizabeth Tower as we know it today. It was agreed that the clock tower should include a special banishment room or holding cell for anyone arrested in parliament.

Big Ben's banishment quarters, London, UK

Pictured here is an engraving of the room made in 1880. As you can see, it's more akin to a guest lodge than a prison of the era, with its grand fireplace, wood-panelled walls and dining table.

This image captures the space in its final year of use as an imprisonment cell. The last person to be held in the room was Charles Bradlaugh, a former MP for Northampton, a town in England's East Midlands region. Bradlaugh was an ardent atheist, however, his request to swear a non-religious oath of allegiance to the crown when he was elected got him in hot water with his peers. Barred from taking the oath, Bradlaugh returned to the Commons and refused to leave. He was consequently held overnight in the cell of the Elizabeth Tower. Today, the space has been repurposed as an office for the Petitions Committee.

Radio City Music Hall's secret suite, New York, USA

With its dazzling neon lights and palatial Art Deco architecture, Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall is a beloved landmark of the Big Apple and home to the world-renowned Rockettes dance troupe. Yet despite its glitz and glamour, this is one building that likes to keep its secrets close to its chest.

Tucked away on the fifth floor lies a hidden apartment designed for Samuel 'Roxy' Rothafel, the esteemed theatre impresario who orchestrated the venue's opening night. Virtually untouched since the 1930s, the time capsule is now fittingly dubbed the Roxy Suite.

Radio City Music Hall's secret suite, New York, USA

From its 20-foot-high (6m) ceilings adorned in gold leaf to the exquisite cherry wood-panelled walls, the space was made for entertaining. The floor plan includes a luxurious lounge, a kitchen and a bedroom on an elevated platform. The pièce de résistance, however, has to be the dining room, which features a domed ceiling designed for enhanced acoustics to aid dinner party conversation. Unsurprisingly, the suite attracted a host of VIP guests in its heyday, including Judy Garland, Walt Disney and famed film producer Samuel Goldwyn.

After Rothafel's death in 1936, the apartment was shuttered and forgotten about, but in recent years it's opened its doors for private rentals, though it remains one of the city's best-kept secrets.

The Louvre's hidden apartments, Paris, France

The Louvre is one of the most iconic structures in Paris, however, it harbours a little-known secret. Long before it became a celebrated museum, the historic building was a grand palace and vestiges of its former life are still visible today.

Sequestered away in the Louvre's Richelieu Wing lie the Napoleon III apartments. Despite their name, the spaces were never actually occupied by the French emperor, who served as France's first president before ascending the throne. Rather, they were created as part of the leader's expansion and renovation of the Louvre in the 1850s.

The Louvre's hidden apartments, Paris, France

Situated on the Richelieu Wing's first floor, the apartments comprise a number of lavish staterooms for entertaining dignitaries, as well as private rooms where Napoleon III's Minister of State resided with his family. The wing was later used as a base by the Ministry of Finance until 1989 when the palace was repurposed as a museum.

Imbued with exquisite architectural flourishes typical of the Second Empire, the apartments encompass 11 rooms and span almost 10,760 square feet (1,000sqm). The immaculately preserved spaces are adorned with intricate stucco, gilded mouldings, frescoed ceilings and rich velvet upholstery. It's not hard to imagine this palatial dining room filled with Parisian high society.

Covert Carnegie library apartments, New York, USA

Libraries are usually spaces of quiet contemplation and study. But in New York City, a handful of public libraries are living a double life. 30 such buildings funded by industrialist Andrew Carnegie in the early 20th century were constructed with hidden apartments in their upper levels. Heated by coal, the spaces required caretakers to keep a constant eye and many resided just above their places of work with their families.

Photographed here is one such branch in Washington Heights, Manhattan. According to CBC, there were only 13 of the apartments left in the New York Public Library system as of August 2017.

Covert Carnegie library apartments, New York, USA

News and talk show Chasing News, broadcast by New York City's WWOR-TV, took a look inside an abandoned custodial apartment within the Washington Heights Library back in 2017. Once a bustling, family home, the derelict space had been stripped of its plumbing and electrics in preparation for renovation.

Like many of the apartments, it has since been converted into additional library facilities, classrooms and offices following a £76.2 million ($100m) city-wide project to overhaul five Carnegie libraries in the area.

Hidden Cinderella Castle suite at Walt Disney World, Florida, USA

The Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World, Florida has become the iconic symbol of Walt Disney’s magical world of fairy tales and make-believe.

Built in 1971, it was inspired by a number of real and fictional fairy-tale castles, including the Palace of Versailles, Fontainebleau and the original castle design for Disney’s Cinderella. It contains a historic hall, restaurant, boutiques and a very secret apartment suite...

Hidden Cinderella castle suite at Walt Disney World, Florida, USA

The suite was originally designed to be a holiday home for Walt Disney and his family, although it was sadly left incomplete after his passing in 1966.

Today, it functions as a luxury apartment for VIP guests and prize winners. There’s absolutely no way you can book this fairytale suite for a holiday stay – try if you will!

St Pancras clock tower apartment, London, UK

St. Pancras International railway station in London is considered to be one of the finest examples of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in Britain. Redeveloped in 2007, the station contains a five-star hotel, a luxury shopping complex and a Champagne lounge, but not many people know that it also houses a number of private flats, including one right inside the iconic clock tower.

Originally used by the railway’s Board of Directors to conduct meetings, the hidden two-bedroom apartment has been beautifully restored and retains a number of original, 19th-century features.

St Pancras clock tower apartment, London, UK

With impressive 15-foot (4.6m) ceilings, the apartment contains some of the grandest rooms in the building, including a spacious master bedroom. The room sits in the base of the clock tower and boasts an open-air ensuite, located on a mezzanine level.

Upstairs, there’s a large kitchen and dining room and the clock tower room, which lies immediately beneath the clock chamber. A rickety metal staircase leads directly up to the clock maintenance rooms, where the original winding room for the mechanical clock still sits.

Its important features include a fireplace, ceiling decorations and pointed arch windows, each of which is intricately decorated with Gothic Revival tracery. You can take a tour of the apartment on YouTube.

Moulin Rouge Windmill, Paris, France

Thanks, in part, to Baz Luhrmann's 2001 movie, the Moulin Rouge is one of Paris' most iconic landmarks. The historic cabaret venue is situated in the heart of Montmartre and was established in 1889, but the original property was destroyed by fire in 1915.

To this day it remains a popular attraction with locals and tourists alike, but did you know that the building's world-famous rooftop windmill actually contains an amazing home? Let's look inside the real-life movie house...

Moulin Rouge Windmill, Paris, France

In early 2022, the legendary Parisian landmark was transformed into a secretive holiday home, meticulously designed to capture the romance of the Belle Époque era.

Airbnb worked with renowned 19th-century French historian, Jean-Claude Yon, to authentically renovate the windmill and inside you'll find a sumptuous boudoir, decked out with flowers, plush fabrics and antique furnishings, as well as vintage costumes, fragrant perfumes and love letters from admirers. There's even an incredible rooftop deck underneath the windmill's iconic blades.

The Speaker's secret apartment, Ottawa, Canada

Known as Centre Block, the main building on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill has a well-kept secret – a hidden apartment called 202N. Before the building was closed up for a planned 10-year renovation, the speaker opened the doors for a video tour in 2018.

The tiny room is minimally furnished, with a fold-down Murphy bed and some simple living room staples. Along an extremely narrow hallway, there's also a small dining room.

The Speaker's secret apartment, Ottawa, Canada

“This is the Speaker’s bed”, Regan said, as he pulled down a Murphy bed-style retractable mattress. “Sometimes the House sits until midnight or later and it’s a place where you can get a little shut-eye before the morning comes too quickly."

It was designed as a place for the Speaker of the House of Commons to stay overnight – the only person authorised to sleep in Centre Block – when sessions run so late there is little point in going home.

Gustave Eiffel’s tower apartment, Paris, France

When the Eiffel Tower opened in 1889, it left the world in awe. Never before had a seemingly functionless structure been attempted at such a grand scale.

Little did the Parisians know that Gustave Eiffel’s modern masterpiece would soon leave the city in envy, as it was later revealed he had built a tiny private studio apartment at the top of the tower, ensuring Eiffel the most spectacular views of his beloved Paris.

Gustave Eiffel’s tower apartment, Paris, France

On the third floor of the tower, Gustave’s secret apartment was small and simply furnished to the tastes of the time. It wasn’t long until the engineer started receiving requests for overnight stays at his fantastical place. However, it was only ever used to entertain family and friends.

Today, the apartment has been transformed into a mini-museum, containing mannequins of Monsieur Eiffel and his most notable guests.

The Queen’s House at the Tower of London, London, UK

Dating back to 1078, the Tower of London is undeniably one of the world's most iconic buildings. The UNESCO World Heritage Site sits on the bank of the River Thames and over the years has served a variety of purposes.

As well as being an armoury, a treasury and a public record office, the iconic property was, and still is, home of the Crown Jewels of England. But that isn't all this incredible historic building is harbouring...

The Queen’s House at the Tower of London, London, UK

This timber-framed Tudor building stands out among the fortress-like structures of the Tower of London. Built in 1530 under Henry VIII, the royal residence is believed to have belonged to Queen Anne Boleyn, who stayed there prior to her coronation and at the time of her execution.

Today, the structure still functions as a house and is home to the current Resident Governor of the Tower of London. Sadly, you can't step inside, but you can admire it from the tower's idyllic courtyard.

Hidden rooftop cottage, New York, USA

They're impossible to spot from street level, but a number of New York City townhouses and apartment blocks are host to secret rooftop homes – and this amazing shingled cottage is one of the best.

Perched atop a property in Manhattan's sought-after East Village, the Cape Cod-style retreat sits above a luxurious duplex penthouse and is an added bonus for the lucky owner.

Hidden rooftop cottage, New York, USA

Covering almost 3,000 square feet (278sqm), the cottage and duplex below date back to 1910. Inside, you'll find spacious rooms with high ceilings, exposed wooden beams and lots of windows. The sky-high residence also features four bedrooms, an artist’s studio and a recessed lounge, while the cottage contains a full bathroom and kitchenette. Yet the best part has to be the home's beautiful outdoor garden and private wraparound terrace.

The remarkable property was listed for sale in January 2024 and was on the market for just 15 days. The buyer paid £6.7 million ($8.8m) and the property was sold by Compass listing agent, Nick Gavin, who was the seller's exclusive broker.

Coco Chanel’s Ritz suite, Paris, France

In 1937, Gabrielle Coco Chanel took up residence in a suite at the Ritz Paris, overlooking her beloved Place Vandôme. Little did she know at the time she would end up staying for 34 years.

A pioneer in both fashion and design, Chanel was particular about the way in which her luxurious apartment was styled. Over the years, she would bring in her own furniture, until the space was completely transformed to suit her personal tastes.

Coco Chanel’s Ritz suite, Paris, France

As a designer who appreciated a subtle mix of simplicity and splendour, Chanel decorated her apartment in a minimalist palette of monochromes, grand gilded mirrors and Coromandel Chinese lacquerware furniture.

The apartment is now open to the public and is available for overnight stays. However, you'll need deep pockets because prices start from €40,000 a night. That's £33,700 ($44k).

Apartment inside a San Francisco clock tower, California, USA

There are plenty of live-in landmarks around the world and this is just one of them. This iconic 1920s clock tower in San Francisco has been transformed into a stylish apartment.

The tower forms part of a former factory, which has also been renovated and converted into luxury live/work spaces. Towering above the San Francisco skyline, expect epic views from its spacious rooftop terrace.

Apartment inside a San Francisco clock tower, California, USA

Original red brick and concrete walls dominate the property, while a magnificent ‘clock room’ containing the tower’s vintage clock faces and their exposed gears continue to function.

The 3,000-square-foot (279sqm), two-bedroom property features soaring ceilings, skylights, and exposed steel structural beams that give it a vintage factory feel, while a minimalist open-plan living room/kitchen and contemporary furnishings transform it into a space that’s perfectly suited to a contemporary lifestyle.

Police building clock tower penthouse, New York, USA

New York is full of spectacular hidden homes, as this property clearly proves. Built in 1905, the striking Edwardian Baroque building once served as the New York City Police Headquarters until the 1970s.

Today it contains 55 luxury homes, including a secret penthouse apartment, situated in its domed clock tower.

Police building clock tower penthouse, New York, USA

The three-bedroom penthouse apartment is divided into four levels, all of which can be accessed via an elegant spiral staircase. The living room contains the tower’s six-foot-tall (1.8m) clock faces, as well as an exposed wood beam ceiling that supports the building’s iconic dome structure.

Amazingly, the penthouse was on the market in 2016 for just shy of £30.5 million ($40m) and sold in June 2021 for a substantially discounted £7.6 million ($10m).