The Best of Westminster: Private Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey

An unusual historyPopularly known as ‘Buck House,’ this extraordinary building was built in 1702 as the Duke of Buckingham’s city residence - scandalously, the site was constructed over the site of an infamous brothel. After some political shenanigans and a little regal manipulation, the building has been the official royal home from the time of Queen Victoria in the early 1800s. Here’s another peculiar fact: the lovely Queen Elizabeth doesn’t actually own the palace – the state does. Fortunately for good Queen Liz, most British people have a soft spot for the monarchy and so it remains her home. Watch for the flagWhen visiting the palace, it’s worth standing before The Forecourt, which is the site of the Changing of the Guard – a popular tourist attraction in the summer. During the sometimes-sunny summer season, when the Queen is up in Scotland, it’s possible to visit some of the palace’s 660 rooms. The flagpole will let you know whether the Queen is ‘at home’ or not. If you can see the flag, then you’ll know she’s inside doing whatever Queens do best – sipping tea, eating scones, and talking to other important dignitaries. If the flag isn’t flying, then Her Royal Highness and her entourage are off on important matters of state elsewhere.

What’s in a name?For years this iconic timepiece had no official title and was known simply as Clock Tower, which is probably why it quickly earned a nickname - and a good thing it did, too: ‘Clock Tower’ doesn’t exactly cut it as the name of a world-famous landmark. There are two people from the 1850s who may be the source of the name: either First Commissioner for Works Benjamin Hall, or champion boxer Ben Caunt. Its official name is now the Elizabeth Tower, after the current Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 for her Diamond Jubilee. The nickname Big Ben was originally given only to the Great Bell of the clock, but now the whole tower has come to be known fondly as Big Ben. Tells more than the timeToday, Big Ben is one of the most iconic emblems of London and a crucial part of its skyline. Indeed, it is one of the first images that comes to mind when you think of the great city. It is located on the north side of the Palace of Westminster which is the headquarters of Parliament in England. Construction was completed in 1859, and followed a tradition of nicknamed clock towers on Parliament’s grounds. The first was built in the 13th century by Edward I, and its bell named ‘Edward of Westminster’; it later became known as Great Tom. After a fire destroyed the Palace of Westminster in 1834 the palace was redesigned and the clock tower we know today as Big Ben was included in the project by Charles Barry. The neo-Gothic clock itself was expertly designed by Edmund Beckett Denison (who managed to steal the commission away from the Queen’s own clock maker) and is the second largest four-faced chiming clock in the world. A grand emblem of London history, Big Ben is without doubt on the must-see list for anyone visiting.

A seat of powerDowning Street is known the world over as home to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom: ‘Number 10’ has been the official ministerial residence for almost 300 years. Less famously, the Chancellor of the Exchequer lives just next door at Number 11; other senior members of the Cabinet, like the Chief Whip, frequently reside there in Number 9 or Number 12. Downing Street was built in the 1680s and named after its Anglo-Irish creator Sir George Downing, 1st Baronet, who had amassed a substantial fortune as a soldier and spy for Oliver Cromwell and later King Charles II. He purchased the land near St. James’s Park which once held the Hampden Mansion, a townhouse and a cottage, which he tore down in order to build a set of townhouses for esteemed British noblemen – or ‘persons of good quality’. In later years the houses served not only as official residences but also as the offices of certain branches of government such as the Treasury Office, the War Office, the Privy Council Office and the Colonial Office. Number 10 has always been home to the First Lord of the Treasury, which since 1735 has been a role fulfilled by the Prime Minister (though before 1787 it was actually Number 5). A ‘vast, awkward house’The modest front edifice of this Georgian building - unchanged since the 18th century - belies an interior of around one hundred rooms. A portrait of Sir George Downing hangs inside the door of Number 10, though the Baronet probably never actually lived on the street at all, spending his remaining years in Cambridge. The building’s longest-standing resident, William Pitt the Younger, fondly called it ‘my vast, awkward house.’ As the residence of the Prime Minister it serves an important political function, and the beautiful state rooms have received some of the most important figures in world history as guests - though its status as a seat of power has also attracted protestors. In recent years it has been adopted as the official Twitter handle of David Cameron’s office, @Number10gov. Interestingly, the door to Number 10 cannot be opened from the outside, so there is always someone waiting indoors to open it, as well as at least one policeman posted outside the door at all times. The distinctive white lettering of Number 10 has featured in many films, including Love Actually, where Hugh Grant’s down-to-earth Prime Minister dances his way through its halls and finds love (actually!). Today, Downing Street is gated and there are armed security guards standing by; yet you will always see tourists peering through the iron bars at this famous London cul-de-sac. A visit provides a thrilling glimpse at the heart of the English Government - and, of course, at one of of the most famous doors in the world.

Trafalgar where?Trafalgar Square is one of the most celebrated spots in London for its history and architectural beauty. Located in the centre of London near Charing Cross, this huge open space is one of the prettiest and most popular squares in town with loads to offer the curious tourist. The location of the Square is of symbolic importance as it was once the location of the Royal Mews (grand stables), and it is named after the British victory in the 1805 naval battle off the Cape of Trafalgar. In the centre of the plaza is a huge Corinthian column dedicated to Admiral Horatio Nelson, who was killed in the Battle’s victory, and topped with a statue of the man himself. It is surrounded by four lions made from the bronze cannons of the Spanish and French ships which were melted down after the battle. To either side of Nelson’s Column are two large and beautiful fountains which replaced smaller ones in 1937. The square is surrounded by many impressive buildings. The National Gallery is located on the north side, with the National Portrait Gallery just a stone’s throw further in St. Martin’s Place; the Saint Martin-in-the-Fields Church is situated in the east corner, and the Square is also home to South Africa House and Canada House. Heroic statureThe Square holds a number of other statues of important figures in British history, including four main plinths for the most important statues – those of King George IV, General Charles James Napier and Major-General Henry Havelock. The ‘Fourth Plinth’ is special as it remained empty for over 100 years until 1988; today, it is a coveted pedestal that displays commissioned works for 18-month stints. Its current resident is Hans Haacke’s skeletal Gift Horse, a wry comment on austerity and City excess. A bustling site where Londons old and new collide, Trafalgar Square is a vital stop for any visitor.

Crowning gloryWestminster Abbey is perhaps the most important church in England. It is traditionally the one most associated with the monarch, as royal coronations have been held here since the arrival of William the Conqueror from Normandy in 1066. It has also held at least 16 royal weddings, including the recent nuptials of Prince William and Kate. The church of Westminster had already existed prior to the Norman Conquest, as the Abbey of St. Peter. According to legend a fisherman witnessed a vision of St. Peter on Thorny Island (the old name for the site) and a church was built in his honour. To this day, the Fishmongers Company traditionally gives a salmon to the Abbey every year. St. Dunstan is said to have set up an order of Benedictine monks at the abbey in the 900s and this church was rebuilt by the sainted Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Confessor in the 11th century for his burial. Henry III, idolising the Confessor, had the church rebuilt once more in 1245 as a lavish shrine to Edward. While additions and alterations have been made, the imposing Gothic building we see today is Henry’s original 13th century abbey. Many of the earliest English churches were dismantled and destroyed during the Reformation of Henry VIII; however, given the long-standing and ritual association of the Abbey and the Crown, the King granted Westminster Abbey temporary cathedral status in order to avoid sacking this particularly special site. His daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, later established the Abbey as a ‘Royal Peculiar’ and until the 19th century it was the third seat of learning in the country after Oxford and Cambridge; it was here that the first third of the King James Bible was translated. Fabulous treasuresThe interior of the building is awesome in size and grandeur. The ceiling of the nave is an incredible 100 feet high, and the many chapels and sanctified spaces are richly decorated with architectural embellishments and religious objects. The West Window is the oldest in the Abbey and depicts Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with 14 other prophets as well as the coats of arms of some of England’s most prominent monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth I. Underneath this window is the Grave of an Unknown Soldier in remembrance of the unnamed dead in WWI, and Waterford Crystal chandeliers have adorned the ceiling above since 1965 when they were gifted to the Abbey by Guinness family for its 900th anniversary. Near the entrance to St. George’s Chapel is the oldest known painting of an English King, depicting Richard II in 1395. Inside the Chapel is the ancient Coronation Chair. In the Sanctuary in the heart of the Abbey is where you will find the High Altar dating from 1867. This is decorated with a Last Supper mosaic and is flanked by four statues of Saints Peter and Paul, Moses and King David. In front of the altar is a fabulous marble pavement decorated with a Cosmati style inlay of precious stone and glass, dating from 1268. Illustrious tombsThe Shrine of St. Edward the Confessor is in an eastern chapel of the Abbey and screened by a 15th century stone wall carved with scenes from his life. Henry III had the shrine decorated with exquisite Cosmati work, bringing over artists from Italy, and installed a gold feretory to hold Edward's relics. Sadly, the monks dismantled and hid the feretory during the Reformation and thus the shrine lost some of its lustre. Nonetheless, pilgrims would come from all over the country to pray at the Confessor’s shrine. Visitors can still see where the stones have been worn down by their knees. One of the most spectacular parts of the Abbey is Henry VII’s Lady Chapel. It is a beautiful example of late medieval architecture, lined round with 95 statues and featuring a fan-vaulted carved roof. Here lie the tombs of Henry VII and his Queen Elizabeth of York. Other important royals buried here include Henry’s indomitable mother Lady Margaret Beaufort, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, and Charles II. The chapel in Poets' Corner is a resting place of renowned poets, artists and musicians. It was established after the famous English poet Geoffrey Chaucer was buried here due to his association with the Abbey. After him many other artists and writers were honoured by being entombed close to Chaucer, or simply commemorated by stone memorials - other famous names include Edmund Spencer, Lord Byron and William Shakespeare. With an impressive lineage and a royal reputation, Westminster Abbey is one of the most magnificent churches in England. It is packed with grand spectacle and fascinating details alike.

As London’s most central park, St. James’ is an ideal spot to come for a couple of hours’ rest and relaxation in the middle of a busy day of sightseeing. Buckingham Palace stands proudly at its western tip, Downing Street on the opposite side, St. James’ Palace to the north and the Imperial War Museum at its most southeasterly corner. Continuing in that direction, it’s a five-minute walk to Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge and the London Eye beyond. The French ConnectionIt is no small compliment to the park itself, then, that it is able to hold its own in the face of such prestigious company. It was originally laid out by Charles II, who sought to mimic the world-famous gardens of the Palace of Versailles that he had seen during his exile in France. It was during this time that the long lake, the park’s centrepiece, was dug out of a former marsh. The lake is now home to fifteen different species of waterfowl, including pelicans, which were a gift from the Russian ambassador in the 17th century. A Romantic RedesignThe park you can see today is largely the result of John Nash’s extensive 1828 redesign, which made it less grandiose and more romantic, with winding paths, shady copses of trees and pretty little flowerbeds. Overlooking the Horse Guards parade ground on the park’s eastern edge is the impressive Guards Division Memorial, which commemorates soldiers of the Guards regiments who lost their lives during the first and second world wars.

More commonly known as the Houses of Parliament, the Palace of Westminster is one of London’s most recognisable and visited attractions. Marked by Big Ben at its northern edge, and sitting across the water from the London Eye, the palace sits at the epicentre of London’s sightseeing scene, but also has a more profound importance for the nation as a whole, and is often referred to as “the heart of British politics”. Medieval BeginningsThe Palace of Westminster has been the seat of the English government since the middle of the 11th century. When the two-house parliament was created in 1265, it was at first only the House of Lords which sat in the palace, and it was not until 1547 that the House of Commons moved here permanently, thus cementing the palace’s importance to the national government. Out of the AshesA devastating 1834 fire destroyed most of the palace, and Sir Charles Barry was commissioned to draw up its replacement. The new structure took almost thirty years to complete, but Barry’s neo-Gothic design was widely admired, with his new clock tower, now known as Big Ben, being a particular favourite. The sharply-fluted formal structure particularly impressed Claude Monet, who painted a series of canvases of the palace in different lighting conditions.If you’re interested in the Palace’s interior, there are several intriguing areas inside which are open to the public. Besides the debating chambers of the Lords and the Commons, you can explore the wonderfully historic Westminster Hall, one of the few parts of the palace to survive the fire, which has a stunning vaulted ceiling.

Located in the West End of London, Covent Garden has become a world-class destination for tourists and Londoners alike who are looking for great food, luxury brands, and award-winning restaurants and theatres. In Covent Garden, you can:- Explore Neil's Yard, one of the most colourful and prettiest streets in London;- See the best of Banksy's artworks at ‘The Art of Banksy’;- Taste all the food you can eat at the 'Seven Dials Market'- Shop until you drop in quirky or luxurious stores and so much more! Explore London with Travel Curious!

Recognised as the centre of Her Majesty's Government and the seat of power for the United Kingdom.