Monopoly
Monopoly is an economic simulation board game with its origins in the early 20th century and nowadays played the world over. The standard version of the game consists of properties based on real-life locations. The most common version in North America is based on the streets of Atlantic City, New Jersey, while the most common version in Commonwealth countries except for Canada is based on the streets of London.
- For the Southern Italian town, see Monopoli.
Understand
Monopoly is a popular board game with a significant element of luck. The original design was created during the Great Depression and leaned into the political theme that corporate monopolies harmed the average family business. Its designer, Charles Darrow, adapted an older, and more explicitly anti-monopolist, game called The Landlord's Game. He used street names and railroad companies from Atlantic City, a beach town reachable from his hometown on the Pennsylvania Railroad.
In 1935, Parker Brothers published Darrow's game, which became a runaway hit. Since then, more than a quarter billion copies have been sold. The game is sold in dozens of languages and more than 100 countries. Localized versions replace the original street names and dollar bills with the local currency and important streets and businesses in that area.
Destinations
Atlantic City
- 🌍 Mediterranean Avenue. One of the most boring properties in Monopoly, this street has few attractions. It is less than a mile long.
- 🌍 Baltic Avenue. The Atlantic City Expressway enters the city at this street, which includes a large outlet mall and is close to the convention center. The street turns into Madison Ave. from Ocean Beach Blvd. to the Boardwalk.
- 🌍 Oriental Avenue (AC3 bus route). With a large, popular parking lot by the casinos at one end, and the ocean at the other, the biggest nighttime attractions might be the concert venue, Ovation Hall.
- 🌍 Reading Railroad. Named for Reading (pronounced like the color "red") in Pennsylvania, the best sights to see for this railroad are 60–120 miles northwest of Atlantic City. The Reading Railroad Heritage Museum is in the small town of Hamburg, just north of Reading.
- 🌍 Vermont Avenue. One of the more boring streets in town, with empty lots near the beach. At the far northern end, you'll be one block east of Fisherman's Park, where you can see some boats.
- 🌍 Connecticut Avenue. Connecticut Avenue turns into Ocean Beach Blvd as you head south. Up at the north end, where it's still called Connecticut Avenue, it's a residential area tucked in between Snug Harbor and Gardners Basin, just east of Fisherman's Park.
- 🌍 St Charles Place. One of the shortest streets in the city, St Charles Place is near the Oscar E. McClinton Waterfront Park, on the north end of town.
- 🌍 States Avenue. Only one block next to the Showboat Hotel, a former casino that now has a large arcade and sports bar.
- 🌍 Virginia Avenue. If you're driving into town, there's an exit from Abescon (Highway 30) onto Virginia. The street dead-ends in the Hard Rock Café. On the other side of the building, you'll find the Steel Pier amusement park.
- 🌍 St James Place. About a quarter-mile long, at the beach end of St James Place are Boardwalk Bathrooms, Ripley's Believe It or Not museum, and a pier.
- 🌍 Pennsylvania Railroad, 1 Atlantic City Expwy. The Pennsylvania Railroad operated several lines, and in 1906, one of them had a famous wreck in Atlantic City, on the last bridge before what's now the transit center at the convention center. If you want, you can take New Jersey Transit bus 551 to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from here (about two hours each way).
- 🌍 Tennessee Avenue. A short block over from St James Place, if you go a little inland to Pacific Avenue, you can see the St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church building, which was 30 years old when Monopoly was first released. If you go all the way to Atlantic Avenue, then you'll find the modern home of the Atlantic City Free Public Library, near the hospital and the city hall.
- 🌍 New York Avenue. A good street to turn down if you're looking for a place to park near the water.
- 🌍 Kentucky Avenue. A block west of New York Avenue, Kentucky Avenue has a number of businesses, apartment buildings, and parking lots, plus a park named for a Black resident who died during World War II and the local community college.
- 🌍 Indiana Avenue. The Claridge Hotel was built in 1929 and known then as "The Skyscraper by the Sea". It has a comedy club and a rooftop bar overlooking Brighton Park and the Boardwalk.
- 🌍 Illinois Avenue. Renamed to Dr. Martin Luther King Avenue. Stockton University has refurbished and expanded the historic Carnegie Library, a 1904 Beaux-Arts building at Pacific Avenue. It is next to a Civil Rights Garden with ginkgo trees and granite columns reflecting key people and events of the civil rights movement.
- 🌍 B&O Railroad. The only railroad on the board that isn't in Atlantic City, the B&O (Baltimore and Ohio) Railroad ran to Pennsylvania. One of their routes ran near parts of the modern-day Schuylkill River Trail, and ended a little north of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
- 🌍 Atlantic Avenue. The main street near the Boardwalk. A bit longer than 8 miles, much of this street runs within a block or so of the shore. Along the southern stretch, look for Lucy the Elephant, the oceanside Longport Playground and multiple beaches. If you decide to drive the length, expect it to take at least half an hour one way.
- 🌍 Ventnor Avenue. Ventnor parallels Atlantic Avenue, just one block further from the water. Start your exploration at the top of the O'Donnell Memorial Park, at the end of US Highway 40, and follow it southwest for five miles to the John F. Kennedy Bridge. If you cross the bridge, you'll find yourself in the Malibu Beach Wildlife Management Area, and beyond that at the Longport Dog Beach. If you instead leave Ventnor Avenue but continue traveling in the same direction, you'll end up at The Point, a small scenic outlook over the water. Consider being there in time for sunset.
- 🌍 Marvin Gardens. A neighborhood between Margate City and Ventnor City – and the only original Monopoly location that is outside the Atlantic City's official boundaries – this 16-acre walkable historic housing area has flower gardens blooming in the spring and summer.
- 🌍 Short Line (Shore Fast Line). The Short Line Railroad was an electric trolley route between Ocean City and Atlantic City. About half of the original route has been turned into the Somers Point Bike Path, also called the Linwood Bike Path. The southwestern end is in Somers Point about a block away from the Somers Historical Museum. It mostly runs along Atlantic Avenue, which turns into Wabash Avenue in Linwood. Just on the north side of Highway 322 in Pleasantville, the bike path turns sharply to the left, and becomes the Atlantic County Bikeway for one more mile.
- 🌍 Pacific Avenue. Pacific Avenue runs parallel to Atlantic Avenue, just one long block closer to the beach for its length. Where it intersects with Vermont Ave., you can visit the Abescon Lighthouse and climb the 228 steps to the top for $10. Right down at the beach, the city's Altman Playground offers kids and dogs a free place to run around.
- 🌍 North Carolina Avenue. Two short blocks west of Pennsylvania Avenue, S North Carolina Avenue has a cluster of parking lots near the beach.
- 🌍 Pennsylvania Avenue. South Pennsylvania Avenue runs from Atlantic Avenue straight down to the water, past the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and other iconic luxury destinations. The Steel Pier Amusement Park is at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue, on Boardwalk Avenue.
- 🌍 Park Place (0.5 mi (1 km) southeast of the city's main bus terminal). A short street, not even three blocks long, that ends at the Boardwalk. Half the length is taken up by Brighton Park.
- 🌍 Boardwalk. The first and longest boardwalk in the United States, it runs for 5 mi (8.0 km) from northwest to southeast along the beach. The boardwalk consists of casinos, restaurants, hotels and arcades.
London
- 🌍 Old Kent Road (Tube: Elephant & Castle BAK NOR , Rail: South Bermondsey ). The first and cheapest property square on the British Monopoly board, Old Kent Road is the only location south of the Thames. Originally a working-class neighbourhood, it has since been gentrified. £60.
- 🌍 Whitechapel Road (tube: Whitechapel DIS H&C WND ELI ). Whitechapel Road has been a hub for many ethnic minorities in London. In the 1840s, many Irish fleeing the Great Famine came here. From the 1850s, Jewish communities began settling on Whitechapel Road and were the focal point until the 1930s. Nowadays, it is the centre of the British Bangladeshi community. £60.
- 🌍 The Angel, Islington (Tube: Angel NOR ). One of the few properties that were not based on a road but a pub. In the late 1970s, the building was renovated and is now used for office space. However, in 1998 a pub called "The Angel" was opened adjacent to the former pub building. £100.
- 🌍 Euston Road (Rail/Tube: London Euston NOR VIC LIO or Euston Square CIR H&C MET ). Along with the rest of the light blue set, Euston Road is part of the London Inner Ring Road. A heavily congested road, it was narrower in the 1930s but likely to be just as congested. Notable landmarks include the neoclassical Camden Town Hall, the British Library and the Wellcome Trust, which contains a museum holding ancient medical manuscripts. £100.
- 🌍 Pentonville Road (Tube/rail: King's Cross St. Pancras CIR H&C MET NOR PIC VIC or Angel NOR ). The road connecting the adjacent King's Cross and St. Pancras International train stations to Angel. £120.
- 🌍 Pall Mall. £140.
- 🌍 Whitehall. £140.
- 🌍 Northumberland Avenue. Northumberland Avenue is a road that connects Westminster to Camden Town. All three of the Pink Monopoly properties, Pall Mall, Whitehall and Northumberland Avenue connect at Trafalgar Square. £160.
- 🌍 Bow Street (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ). Famous for the Royal Opera House. £180.
- 🌍 Marlborough Street (Tube: Oxford Circus CEN BAK VIC or Tottenham Court Road CEN NOR ELI ). Great Marlborough Street is a short street that is parallel to Oxford St and connects to Regent St. It is famous for the Liberty department store with its Mock-Tudor facade, as well as the headquarters for Diageo and Sony PlayStation. The Marlborough Street Courthouse where the Monopoly property took its name is now a hotel. £180.
- 🌍 Vine Street (tube: Piccadilly Circus BAK PIC or Hyde Park Corner PIC ). At just 21 metres long, Vine Street is the shortest street on the Monopoly board in real life and is behind The Dilly 5-star hotel on the Piccadilly road. £200.
- 🌍 Strand (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ).
- 🌍 Fleet Street (Tube: Embankment BAK CIR DIS NOR or Charing Cross BAK NOR ). Street in the City of London that is famous for news media and the Sweeney Todd story. £220.
- 🌍 Trafalgar Square (Tube: Charing Cross BAK NOR ). Famous for Nelson's Column with the four fountains at its base, the National Gallery and St Martin-in-the-Fields church. £240.
- 🌍 Leicester Square (Tube: Leicester Square NOR PIC ). The first of the three yellow localities, all of which are entertainment-themed. Leicester Square in particular is renowned for its commercial and arthouse cinemas, theatres and Chinese New Year celebrations.
- 🌍 Coventry Street (Tube: Piccadilly Circus BAK PIC or Leicester Square NOR PIC ). A short east-west road connecting Regent Street to Swiss Court and Leicester Square. Swiss Court has the M&M and LEGO stores.
- 🌍 Piccadilly (Tube: Piccadilly Circus BAK PIC or Hyde Park Corner PIC ). A western road which goes from Hyde Park to Piccadilly Circus (with its famous Piccadilly Lights billboard and the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain). Piccadilly itself is famous for its two 5-star hotels: The Ritz and The Dilly. As well as the Waterstones (formerly Simpson's department store) and Maison Assouline flagship stores and the St. James' Church. Piccadilly Circus station notably has a Grade II-listed ticket hall with a roundel honouring Frank Pick.
- 🌍 Regent Street (Tube: Oxford Circus BAK CEN VIC ). A major shopping street connecting Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus which is known for brands such as Apple, Liberty, Hamleys, Jaeger and Burberry.
- 🌍 Oxford Street (Tube: Marble Arch CEN , Oxford Circus BAK CEN VIC , Tottenham Court Rd CEN NOR ELI ). Famous thoroughfare and major shopping street which has (from west to east): Selfridges, John Lewis, Microsoft, Nike, Flannels, Sports Direct, Next and Primark.
- 🌍 Bond Street (Tube: Bond Street CEN JUB ELI ). Both Old Bond Street and New Bond Street are famous for their antique stores and auction houses, as well as luxury retailers. £320.
- 🌍 Park Lane (Tube: Hyde Park Corner PIC ). An affluent lane that is part of the Mayfair area overlooking the east side of Hyde Park. £350.
- 🌍 Mayfair. The most expensive property of them all. £400.
Railway stations
All were termini under the control of the LNER after the Grouping. Both King's Cross and Liverpool Street have seen extensive redevelopment in their vicinity.
- 🌍 Marylebone (Tube: Marylebone BAK , Rail: London Marylebone ). The smallest and quietest of the four Monopoly train stations, as well as being one of the best-preserved examples of Victorian architecture. £200.
- 🌍 King's Cross (Tube: King's Cross St. Pancras CIR H&C MET NOR PIC VIC Rail: London King's Cross ). £200.
- 🌍 Fenchurch Street (Tube: Tower Hill CIR DIS , DLR: Tower Gateway DLR , Rail: London Fenchurch Street ). £200.
- 🌍 Liverpool Street (Tube: Liverpool Street CEN CIR H&C MET Rail: London Liverpool Street WEA ELI ). £200.
Electric Company
- 🌍 Battersea Power Station (Tube: Battersea Power Station NOR ). Former Victorian-era power station that was used for powering the London Underground. Although no longer used for generating power, Battersea Power Station has seen extensive property redevelopment. £150.
- 🌍 Bankside Power Station (Tube: Blackfriars DIS or St Paul's CEN ). Former power station, now the home of the Tate Modern art gallery. Before you enter the art gallery, you walk through a huge high-ceiling room which would have housed the turbines. £150.
Go to Jail?
Whilst you should not get into trouble for viewing Monopoly locations from public streets, many richer residents and property owners in London value their privacy and take 'security' seriously.
Chance
Some of the locations on the Monopoly board represent prime locations in London. You might see a glimpse of prominent figures (be they from commerce, politics or media) as they are whisked away in secured vehicles.
Large-scale game boards and attractions
- Monopoly Lifesized, 213-215 Tottenham Court Rd, London W1T 7PS (Tube: Goodge Street NOR or Tottenham Court Road CEN NOR ELI ). An escape room-style attraction using the Monopoly game board. Move from room to room completing challenges to buy properties. There are four boards with different themes and challenges: the classic board (based on the London Monopoly board), city board (with attractions of modern London), a luxury board, and a children's board for groups with ages 5-8. A restaurant and bar, also themed to the London board, serves British small plates and cocktails.
- Monopoly Dreams, Hong Kong. Four-dimensional ride and interactive museum based on the Hong Kong Monopoly board.
- Monopoly in the Park, San Jose (California). Permanent installation in city park. Visiting is free, but there is a fee for reservations and renting their true-to-scale tokens and dice to play the game. $300+ per group.
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