1 Canada Square
Canary Wharf E14 5DYT020-7418 2000 Wwww.canarywharf.com
Also known as ‘Canary Wharf’, the steel and glass skyscraper is the tallest structure in London and the tallest habitable building in the UK
30 St Mary Axe
EC3A 8EPWwww.30stmaryaxe.com
Completed in 2004 and commonly known as the
‘Gherkin’, it is the second-tallest building in the City of London
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green N22 7AY T020-8365 2121Wwww.alexandrapalace.com The Victorian palace was severely damaged byfire in 1980 but was restored, and reopened in 1988.
Alexandra Palace now provides modern facilities for exhibitions, conferences, banquets and leisure activities.
There is a winter ice rink, a boating lake, the Phoenix Bar and a conservation area
Barbican Centre
Silk Street EC2Y 8DST020-7638 4141 Wwww.barbican.org.uk
Owned, funded and managed by the Corporation of London, the Barbican Centre opened in 1982 and houses the Barbican Theatre, a studio theatre called The Pit and the Barbican Hall; it is also home to the London Symphony Orchestra. There are three cinemas, seven conference rooms, two art galleries, a sculpture court, a lending library, trade and banqueting facilities, a conservatory, shops, restaurants, cafes and bars British Library
St Pancras, 96 Euston Road NW1 2DB T0843-208 1144 Wwww.bl.uk
The largest building constructed in the UK in the 20th century with basements extending 24.5m underground. Holdings include theMagna Carta, the Lindisfarne Gospels, Mozart manuscripts and the world’s 532 Conservation and Heritage
earliest dated printed book, theDiamond Sutra.Holds temporary exhibitions on a range of topics
Central Criminal Court
Old Bailey EC4M 7EHT020-7248 3277 Wwww.cityoflondon.gov.uk
The highest criminal court in the UK, the ‘Old Bailey’
is located on the site of the old Newgate Prison. Trials held here have included those of Oscar Wilde, Dr Crippen and the Yorkshire Ripper. The courthouse has been rebuilt several times since 1674; Edward VII officially opened the current neo-baroque building in 1907
Charterhouse
Charterhouse Square EC1M 6ANT020-7253 9503 Wwww.thecharterhouse.org
A Carthusian monastery from 1371 to 1538, purchased in 1611 by Thomas Sutton, who endowed it as a residence for aged men ‘of gentle birth’ and a school for poor scholars (removed to Godalming in 1872)
Cutty Sark
Greenwich SE10T020-8858 2698Wwww.cuttysark.org.uk The last of the famous tea clippers, it was moved into a specially constructed dry dock in 1954 and opened to the public in 1957. Damaged byfire in 2007, the ship is closed to the public and restoration work is ongoing Downing Street SW1
Number 10 Downing Street is the official town residence of the Prime Minister, number 11 of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and number 12 is the office of the Government Whips. The street was named after Sir George Downing, Bt., soldier and diplomat, who was MP for Morpeth 1660–84
George Inn
Borough High Street SE1 1NHT020-7407 2056 Wwww.nationaltrust.org.uk
The last galleried inn in London, built in 1677. Now owned by the National Trust and run as an ordinary public house
Horse Guards,Whitehall, SW1
Archway and offices built about 1753. The changing of the guard takes place daily at 11am (10am on Sundays) and the inspection at 4pm. Only those with the Queen’s permission may drive through the gates and archway into Horse Guards’ Parade, where the colour is ‘trooped’ on the Queen’s official birthday HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
House of Commons,Westminster SW1A 0AAT020-7219 4272 Wwww.parliament.uk
House of Lords,Westminster SW1A 0PWT020-7219 3107 Wwww.parliament.uk
The royal palace of Westminster, originally built by Edward the Confessor, was the normal meeting place of Parliament from about 1340. St Stephen’s Chapel was used from about 1550 for the meetings of the House of Commons, which had previously been held in the Chapter House or Refectory of Westminster Abbey. The House of Lords met in an apartment of the royal palace. Thefire of 1834 destroyed much of the palace, and the present Houses of Parliament were erected on the site from the designs of Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin between 1840 and 1867. The chamber of the House of Commons was destroyed by bombing in 1941, and a new chamber designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott was used for the first time in 1950.Westminster Hall and the Crypt Chapel was the only part of the old palace of Westminster to survive thefire of 1834. It was built by William II from
1097 to 1099 and altered by Richard II between 1394 and 1399. The hammerbeam roof of carved oak dates from 1396–8. The Hall was the scene of the trial of Charles I.The Victoria Towerof the House of Lords is 98.5m (323ft) high, and when Parliament is sitting, the Unionflag flies by day from itsflagstaff.The Clock Towerof the House of Commons is 96.3m (316ft) high and contains ‘Big Ben’, the hour bell said to be named after Sir Benjamin Hall, First Commissioner of Works when the original bell was cast in 1856. This bell, which weighed 16 tons 11 cwt, was found to be cracked in 1857. The present bell (13.5 tons) is a recasting of the original and wasfirst brought into use in 1859. The dials of the clock are 7m (23ft) in diameter, the hands being 2.7m (9ft) and 4.3m (14ft) long (including balance piece). A light is displayed from the Clock Tower at night when parliament is sitting.
During session, tours of the Houses of Parliament are only available to UK residents who have made advance arrangements through an MP or peer. Overseas visitors are no longer provided with permits to tour the Houses of Parliament during session, although they can tour during the summer opening and attend debates for both houses in the Strangers’ Galleries. During the summer recess tickets for tours of the Houses of Parliament can be booked by telephone (T0870-906 3773) or bought on site at the ticket office on Abingdon Green opposite Parliament and the Victoria Tower Gardens. The Strangers’ Gallery of the House of Commons is open to the public when the house is sitting. To acquire tickets in advance UK residents should write to their local MP and overseas visitors should apply to their embassy or high commission in the UK for a permit. If none of these arrangements has been made, visitors should join the public queue outside St Stephen’s Entrance, where there is also a queue for entry to the House of Lords Gallery
INNS OF COURT
The Inns of Court are ancient unincorporated bodies of lawyers which for more thanfive centuries have had the power to call to the Bar those of their members who have qualified for the rank or degree of Barrister-at-Law. There are four Inns of Court as well as many lesser inns
Lincoln’s Inn, Chancery Lane/Lincoln’s Inn Fields WC2A 3TLT020-7405 1393Wwww.lincolnsinn.org.uk The most ancient of the inns with records dating back to 1422. The hall and library buildings are from 1845, although the library isfirst mentioned in 1474; the old hall (late 15th century) and the chapel were rebuilt c.1619–23
Inner Temple,King’s Bench Walk EC4Y 7HL T020-7797 8250Wwww.innertemple.org.uk
Middle Temple,Middle Temple Lane EC4Y 9AT T020-7427 4800Wwww.middletemple.org.uk Records for the Middle and Inner Temple date back to the beginning of the 16th century. The site was originally occupied by the Order of Knights Templar c.1160–1312. The two inns have separate halls thought to have been formed c.1350. The division between the two societies was formalised in 1732 with Temple Church and the Masters House remaining in common. The Inner Temple Garden is normally open to the public on weekdays between 12.30pm and 3pm
Temple Church,EC4Y 7BBT020-7353 8559 Wwww.templechurch.com
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The nave forms one offive remaining round churches in England
Gray’s Inn,South Square WC1R 5ETT020-7458 7800 Wwww.graysinn.info
Founded early 14th century; Hall 1556–8
No other ‘Inns’ are active, but there are remains of Staple Inn,a gabled front onHolborn(oppositeGray’s Inn Road).Clement’s Inn(near St Clement Danes Church), Clifford’s Inn, Fleet Street, and Thavies Inn, Holborn Circus, are all rebuilt. Serjeants’ Inn, Fleet Street, and another (demolished 1910) of the same name in Chancery Lane, were composed of Serjeants-at-Law, the last of whom died in 1922
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Mall SW1Y 5AHT020-7930 3647Wwww.ica.org.uk Exhibitions of modern art in thefields offilm, theatre, new media and the visual arts
Lloyd’s
Lime Street EC3M 7HAT020-7327 1000 Wwww.lloyds.com
International insurance market which evolved during the 17th century from Lloyd’s Coffee House. The present building was opened for business in May 1986, and houses the Lutine Bell. Underwriting is on three floors with a total area of 10,591 sq. m (114,000 sq.
ft). The Lloyd’s building is not open to the general public
London Central Mosque and the Islamic Cultural Centre
Park Road NW8 7RGT020-7725 2213Wwww.iccuk.org The focus for London’s Muslims; established in 1944 but not completed until 1977, the mosque can accommodate about 5,000 worshippers; guided tours are available
London Eye
South Bank SE1 7PBT0870-990 8883 Wwww.londoneye.com
Opened in March 2000 as London’s millennium landmark, this 450ft observation wheel is the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in the world. The wheel provides a 30-minute ride offering panoramic views of the capital
London Zoo
Regent’s Park NW1 4RYT020-7722 3333 Wwww.londonzoo.org
Madame Tussauds
Marylebone Road NW1 5LRT0871-894 3000 Wwww.madametussauds.com
Waxwork exhibition Marlborough House
Pall Mall SW1Y 5HXT020-7747 6500 Wwww.thecommonwealth.org
Built by Wren for thefirst Duke of Marlborough and completed in 1711, the house reverted to the Crown in 1835. In 1863 it became the London house of the Prince of Wales and was the London home of Queen Mary until her death in 1953. In 1959 Marlborough House was given by the Queen as the headquarters for the Commonwealth Secretariat and it was opened as such in 1965. The Queen’s Chapel, Marlborough Gate, was begun in 1623 from the designs of Inigo Jones for the Infanta Maria of Spain, and completed for Queen Henrietta Maria. Marlborough House is not open to the public
Mansion House
Cannon Street EC4N 8BHT020-7626 2500 Wwww.cityoflondon.gov.uk
The official residence of the Lord Mayor. Built in the
18th century in the Palladian style. Open to groups by appointment only
Neasden Temple
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, 105–119 Brentfield Road, Neasden NW10 8LDT020-8965 2651Wwww.mandir.org Thefirst and largest traditional Hindu Mandir outside of India; opened in 1995
Port of London
Port of London Authority, Bakers’ Hall, 7 Harp Lane EC3R 6LBT01474-562200Wwww.pla.co.uk
The Port of London covers the tidal section of the river Thames from Teddington to the seaward limit (the outer Tongue buoy and the Sunk light vessel), a distance of 150km. The governing body is the Port of London Authority (PLA). Cargo is handled at privately operated riverside terminals between Fulham and Canvey Island, including the enclosed dock at Tilbury, 40km below London Bridge. Passenger vessels and cruise liners can be handled at moorings at Greenwich, Tower Bridge and Tilbury
Roman Remains
The city wall of RomanLondiniumwas largely rebuilt during the medieval period but sections may be seen near the White Tower in the Tower of London; at Tower Hill; at Coopers’ Row; at All Hallows, London Wall, its vestry being built on the remains of a semi-circular Roman bastion; at St Alphage, London Wall, showing a succession of building repairs from the Roman until the late medieval period; and at St Giles, Cripplegate. Sections of the great forum and basilica, more than 165 sq. m, have been encountered during excavations in the area of Leadenhall, Gracechurch Street and Lombard Street. Traces of Roman activity along the river include a massive riverside wall built in the late Roman period, and a succession of Roman timber quays along Lower and Upper Thames Street.
Finds from these sites can be seen at the Museum of London.
Other major buildings are the amphitheatre at Guildhall, remains of bath-buildings in Upper and Lower Thames Street, and the temple of Mithras in Walbrook
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore SW7 2APT020-7589 8212 Wwww.royalalberthall.com
The elliptical hall, one of the largest in the world, was completed in 1871; since 1941 it has been the venue each summer for the Promenade Concerts founded in 1895 by Sir Henry Wood. Other events include pop and classical music concerts, dance, opera, sporting events, conferences and banquets
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand WC2A 2LLT020-7947 6000 Wwww.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
Victorian Gothic building that is home to the high court. Visitors are free to watch proceedings Royal Hospital, Chelsea
Royal Hospital Road SW3 4SRT020-7881 5200 Wwww.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk
Founded by Charles II in 1682, and built by Wren;
opened in 1692 for old and disabled soldiers. The extensive grounds include the former Ranelagh Gardens and are the venue for the Chelsea Flower Show each May
Royal Naval College
Greenwich SE10 9LWT020-8269 4747 Wwww.oldroyalnavalcollege.org
The building was the Greenwich Hospital until 1869.
534 Conservation and Heritage
It was built by Charles II, largely from designs by John Webb, and by Queen Mary II and William III, from designs by Wren. It stands on the site of an ancient abbey, a royal house and Greenwich Palace, which was constructed by Henry VII. Henry VIII, Mary I and Elizabeth I were born in the royal palace and Edward VI died there
Royal Opera House
Covent Garden WC2E 9DDT020-7240 1200 Wwww.roh.org.uk
Home of The Royal Ballet (1931) and The Royal Opera (1946). The Royal Opera House is the third theatre to be built on the site, opening 1858; thefirst was opened in 1732
St James’s Palace
Pall Mall SW1A 1BQT020-7930 4832 Wwww.royal.gov.uk
Built by Henry VIII, only the Gatehouse and Presence Chamber remain; later alterations were made by Wren and Kent. Representatives of foreign powers are still accredited ‘to the Court of St James’s’.Clarence House (1825), the official London residence of the Prince of Wales and his sons, stands within the St James’s Palace estate
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Churchyard EC4M 8ADT020-7236 4128 Echapter@stpaulscathedral.org.ukWwww.stpauls.co.uk Built 1675–1710. The cross on the dome is 111m (365ft) above ground level, the inner cupola 66.4m (218ft) above thefloor. ‘Great Paul’ in the south-west tower weighs nearly 17 tons. The organ by Father Smith (enlarged by Willis and rebuilt by Mander) is in a case carved by Grinling Gibbons, who also carved the choir stalls
Somerset House
Strand WC2R 1LAT020 7845 4600 Wwww.somersethouse.org.uk
The river facade (183m/600ft long) was built in 1776–1801 from the designs of Sir William Chambers; the eastern extension, which houses part of King’s College, was built by Smirke in 1829–35.
Somerset House was the property of Lord Protector Somerset, at whose attainder in 1552 the palace passed to the Crown, and it was a royal residence until 1692.
Somerset House has recently undergone extensive renovation and is home to the Gilbert Collection, Embankment Galleries and the Courtauld Institute Gallery. Open-air concerts and ice-skating (Dec–Jan) are held in the courtyard
SOUTH BANK, SE1
Arts complex on the south bank of the river Thames which consists of:
TheRoyal Festival HallT020-7960 4200 Wwww.southbankcentre.co.uk
Opened in 1951 for the Festival of Britain, adjacent are the Queen Elizabeth Hall, thePurcell Room, and the Hayward Gallery
BFI SouthbankT020-7633 0274Wwww.bfi.org.uk Opened in 1952 and is administered by the British Film Institute, has three auditoria and an IMAX cinema.
The London Film Festival is held here every November TheRoyal National Theatre,T020-7452 3000 Wwww.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Opened in 1976; comprises the Olivier, the Lyttelton and the Cottesloe theatres
Southwark Cathedral
London Bridge SE1 9DAT020-7367 6700 Wwww.cathedral.southwark.anglican.org
Mainly 13th century, but the nave is largely rebuilt.
The tomb of John Gower (1330–1408) is between the Bunyan and Chaucer memorial windows in the north aisle; Shakespeare’s effigy, backed by a view of Southwark and the Globe Theatre, is in the south aisle;
the tomb of Bishop Andrewes (d.1626) is near the screen. The Lady Chapel was the scene of the consistory courts of the reign of Mary (Gardiner and Bonner) and is still used as a consistory court. John Harvard, after whom Harvard University is named, was baptised here in 1607, and the chapel by the north choir aisle is his memorial chapel
Thames Embankments
Sir Joseph Bazalgette (1819–91) constructed the Victoria Embankment, on the north side from Westminster to Blackfriars for the Metropolitan Board of Works, 1864–70; (the seats, of which the supports of some are a kneeling camel, laden with spicery, and of others a winged sphinx, were presented by the Grocers’ Company and by W. H. Smith, MP, in 1874);
the Albert Embankment, on the south side from Westminster Bridge to Vauxhall, 1866–9, and the Chelsea Embankment, 1871–4. The total cost exceeded £2m. Bazalgette also inaugurated the London main drainage system, 1858–65. A medallion(Flumini vincula posuit)has been placed on a pier of theVictoria Embankmentto commemorate the engineer
Thames Flood Barrier
Wwww.environment-agency.gov.uk
Officially opened in May 1984, thoughfirst used in February 1983, the barrier consists of ten rising sector gates which span approximately 570 yards from bank to bank of the Thames at Woolwich Reach. When not in use the gates lie horizontally, allowing shipping to navigate the river normally; when the barrier is closed, the gates turn through 90 degrees to stand vertically more than 50 feet above the river bed. The barrier took eight years to complete and can be raised within about 30 minutes
Trafalgar Tavern
Park Row, Greenwich SE10 9NWT020-8858 2909 Wwww.trafalgartavern.co.uk
Regency-period riverside public house built in 1837.
Charles Dickens and William Gladstone were patrons Westminster Abbey
Broad Sanctuary SW1P 3PAT020-7222 5152 Einfo@westminster-abbey.org
Wwww.westminster-abbey.org
Founded as a Benedictine monastery over 1,000 years ago, the church was rebuilt by Edward the Confessor in 1065 and again by Henry III in the 13th century. The abbey is the resting place for monarchs including Edward I, Henry III, Henry V, Henry VII, Elizabeth I, Mary I and Mary Queen of Scots, and has been the setting of coronations since that of William the Conqueror in 1066. In Poets’ Corner there are memorials to many literaryfigures, and many scientists and musicians are also remembered here. The grave of the Unknown Warrior is to be found in the nave Westminster Cathedral
Francis Street SW1P 1QWT020-7798 9055 Wwww.westminstercathedral.org.uk
Roman Catholic cathedral built 1895–1903 from the designs of J. F. Bentley. The campanile is 284ft high
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