If we had a nickel for every blog post (even books) urging us to look up above eye level in London, we'd have...well, whatever a nickel is worth, times about a thousand. But all clichés have some truth to them. One place where it's easy to forget to raise the gaze is Gerrard Street. The constant thong throng of visitors, from seekers of exotic ingredients to noodley clumps of tourists don't make it easy. However, we managed to find a rainy spring day when the footfall was light enough to allow leisurely exploration. The heart of Chinatown has a rich history, played out in a series of plaques along the street. Click through the gallery above to learn more about some illustrious former residents and patrons of Gerrard Street.