London - A Walking Tour of Westminster

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A tour of Westminster could only start at Trafalgar Square. Nelson's Column dominates the square, commemorating Horatio Nelson's service to his country. Nelson, measuring only 5'4" in real life and having suffered from seasickness, definitely cut an interesting figure as an admiral. He finally lost his life at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, having already lost his right arm and left eye in battle. The column, erected in 1843, is over fifty metres high. The sword alone measures over seven feet--a lot bigger than Admiral Nelson ever was in the flesh.

To the north of the square are The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, which house some of the nation's most prized treasures and some 2000 remarkable works of fine art. Note the unimposing church on the square's east side: St Martin-in-the-Field. This provided shelter to many Londoners during the Blitz when London came under fire from Germany's Luftwaffe during WWII.

Set off southwards along the grand boulevard of Whitehall, towards the Houses of Parliament. Whitehall is home to the headquarters of most of Britain's governmental ministries and you'll pass the statue of Charles I, who was executed as an enemy of the realm by Oliver Cromwell in 1649. On the left-hand side of the road is the Old Admiralty building, still in use to this day, opposite which you will find the imposing structure that is the Ministry of Defence.

On your right you will pass the Horse Guards, in all their plumed glory. Don't miss this opportunity to take the compulsory London photograph with a mounted horse guard, and, yes, they really aren't allowed to smile!

10 Downing Street provides the next photo opportunity. It's been the official residence of the Prime Minister since 1732, but Tony Blair, the current Prime Minister, has broken with tradition. Deciding that number 10 was too small for his growing family, he swapped houses with the Chancellor of the Exchequer who normally resides at the more family-friendly house at number 11. You will have to be satisfied with a mere glimpse through the railings as increased security threats in recent times have meant that public access to Downing Street is no longer possible.

To your left, in the middle of the boulevard, is the Cenotaph, the monument commemorating Britain's war dead. Remembrance Day (the second Sunday in November), sees a parade along Whitehall by representatives of people who fought in both World Wars, the Falklands and the Gulf. The Queen and Prime Minister lay wreaths to commemorate the fallen.

Continue along Whitehall until you reach Parliament Square, which is adorned with statues of some of Britain's greatest parliamentary figures, including Winston Churchill and Benjamin Disraeli. Cross the square to Westminster Abbey where sovereigns are crowned and buried. This imposing building is over 900 years old, and is a wonderful example of Gothic architecture.

Poets' Corner pays tribute to, among many others, Shakespeare, Shelley, Keats, Byron and Dickens. Whether the remains in Shakespeare's tomb are his or not is still being debated by historians and scholars, as is the answer to the question of his true identity. In among the tombs of various heads of state and leading political and cultural figures is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, who lost his life in WWI. Kids will lap up the opportunity to take brass rubbings of some of the inscriptions, allowed on certain, less famous, tombs. Meanwhile, take a break and have a coffee from the coffee stand inside the Abbey.

Walk over to the Houses of Parliament--the seat of British government--which stand on the site of the original palace built for Edward the Confessor, which burned down in 1834. Designed by Charles Barry, the current structure is an excellent example of Gothic Revival, incorporating Gothic and Elizabethan styles. Wednesdays occasionally afford a glimpse of Tony Blair cycling to Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Commons. Try and time it so that you're here on the hour to hear Big Ben strike. The name 'Big Ben' is actually refers not to the tower but to the 13-ton bell inside it.

Head straight for Westminster Bridge for your perfect photo opportunity--the Thames, the Houses of Parliament and a red double-decker bus--ample proof that you were in London. The big white building on the opposite bank is County Hall, home to the London Aquarium in the basement, loved by kids and adults alike, as well as a restaurant and 24-hour gym. You'll also see the London Eye.

Now that you're on the south side of the river, amble along the embankment of the Thames (postcard view of the Houses of Parliament) passing the London Eye. You will soon come across a concrete complex built in the 1960s, and once described by Prince Charles as being London's greatest eyesore--known collectively as the South Bank. The South Bank includes: the Royal Festival Hall (home to The London Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra), the Hayward Gallery, the National Film Theatre (NFT) and the Royal National Theatre (simply called 'The National'), which houses the Olivier, Lyttelton and Cottesloe Theatres. There is always something exciting on here--the South Bank also provides the finishing-line to the grueling 26.2 miles of the annual London Marathon.







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South Bank
London
South Bank
Flora London Marathon


30,000 Runners Take To The London Streets
 Starts on Blackheath, Greenwich Park
Finishes on the Mall, Central London
London, London SE3
+44 20 7902 0200
http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/
Flora London Marathon
London Eye (Millennium Wheel)


21st Century Landmark
 Westminster Bridge Road
(Riverside Building County Hall)
London SE1 9TA
+44 870 500 0600
http://www.londoneye.com
London Eye (Millennium Wheel)
National Theatre Cottesloe


Part of the revered National Theatre
 South Bank
London, London SE1 9PX
+44 20 7452 3000 / +44 20 7452 3400
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=1554
National Theatre Cottesloe
National Theatre Lyttelton


High-quality productions
 South Bank
Waterloo
London, London SE1 9PX
+44 20 7452 3000 / +44 20 7452 3400
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=1543
National Theatre Lyttelton
National Theatre Olivier


Large contemporary theatre
 South Bank
Waterloo
London, London SE1 9PX
+44 20 7452 3000 / +44 20 7452 3400
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=1541
National Theatre Olivier
Royal Festival Hall


Multi-arts venue on the South Bank
 Belvedere Road
South Bank Centre
London, London SE1 8XX
+44 (0)870 380 4300
http://www.rfh.org.uk/
Royal Festival Hall
Royal National Theatre


Three auditoria
 South Bank Centre
Waterloo
London, London SE1 9QA
+44 20 7452 3000
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/
Royal National Theatre
National Portrait Gallery


Portraits of the famous
 Saint Martin's Place
(Trafalgar Square)
London, London WC2H 0HE
+44 20 7306 0055
http://www.npg.org.uk
National Portrait Gallery
Westminster Abbey


Britain's national shrine
 20 Dean's Yard
The Chapter Office
London, London SW1P 3PA
+44 20 7222 5152
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/
Westminster Abbey
Big Ben


Most famous clock in the world
 Parliament Square
London SW1A 2NE
http://www.whitechapelbellfoundry.co.uk/bigben.htm
Big Ben
Trafalgar Square


Home of Nelson's Column
 Trafalgar Square
London, London
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/trafalgar_square/index.jsp
Trafalgar Square
National Film Theatre


Cinephiles unite
 Belvedere Road
Southbank, Waterloo
London, London SE1 8XT
+44 20 7928 3535
http://www.bfi.org.uk
National Film Theatre
Number 10 Downing Street


The Prime Minister's official residence
 10 Downing Street
Whitehall
London, London SW1A 2AA
http://www.number-10.gov.uk
Number 10 Downing Street
Houses of Parliament


Seat of Power
 Parliament Street
London SW1A 2AN
+44 20 7219 4272
http://www.parliament.uk
Houses of Parliament
London Aquarium


Underwater Wonders
 Westminster Bridge Road
Westminster Bridge Road
London, London SE1 7PB
+44 20 7967 8000
http://www.londonaquarium.co.uk
London Aquarium
National Gallery


Art treasures overlooked by Newson
 Pall Mall East
(Trafalgar Square)
London WC2N 5DN
+44 20 7747 2885
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk
National Gallery
Hayward Gallery


Art on the South Bank
 Belvedere Road
(South Bank, Concert Hall Avenue)
London, London SE1 8XZ
+44 20 7960 4242
http://www.hayward-gallery.org.uk
Hayward Gallery
St Martin-in-the-Fields


Church in the Heart of the West End
 Trafalgar Square
London WC2N 4JJ
+44 20 7766 1100
http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org
St Martin-in-the-Fields
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