Stage
2 - Whitehall
We left the Westminster part of our walk, Stage 1 at
the northern end of Storeys Gate at a T junction with Great George
Street. Turn left, then immediately right into Horse Guards Road.
Keep on the right hand side of the road, St James's Park on the other
side we will visit later.
Cabinet War Rooms
After just 100m you will come to the Cabinet War Rooms on your right.
This is where in the 2nd World War Churchill directed the war from
deep underground. This museum (admission charge) shows you the facility
much as it was, with map room, cabinet room where government sat and
Churchill's own private quarters.
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Cenotaph
Whitehall |
By
the Cabinet War Rooms are steps up to King Charles Street. You are
now surrounded by imposing government buildings on either side, all
along to the end of the street. On your right is the Treasury, on
your left the Foreign Office.
Cenotaph
Turn left at the end of King Charles Street, you are now in Whitehall.
Immediately on your right in the centre of the road is the Cenotaph,
pictured above. Built in 1920, the monument is the centre of the nation
on Remembrance Sunday, the nearest Sunday to 11th November. Royalty,
politicians and war veterans meet and the monarch lies a wreath in
memory of war dead. If you are in the UK around this time you will
see many people wearing red poppy's and volunteers selling them, proceeds
go to the welfare of ex-military. There are similar memorials all
over the country. |
Map Key
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1 -
Big Ben/Parliament
2 - St Margarets
3 - Jewel Tower
4 - Deans Yard
5 - Westminster Abbey
6 - Central Hall
7 - Cabinet War Rooms
8 - Cenotaph
9 - Downing Street
10 - Banqueting House
11 - Horseguards
12 - Buckingham Palace
13 - Duke Yorks Column
14 - ICA
15 - The Citadel
16 - Admiralty Arch
17 - Trafalgar Square
18 - National Gallery
19 - Portrait Gallery
20 - St Martins
21 - Festival Hall
22 - London Eye
23 - County Hall
24 - Florence Nightingale Museum
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Downing
Street
Next turning on your left is Downing Street. You've seen the Houses
of Parliament and the home of government agencies all around you,
this is where the Prime Minister lives and works at number 10, with
his chancellor responsible for finance next door in number 11.
Until 1989, you could walk right up to the front doors of number 10.
Because of security there are now big black iron gates barring public
entrance to Downing Street.
Horseguards
Past more government buildings including the Cabinet Office and next
on your left is Horseguards. There will be invariably a crowd around
the entrance, where two costumed soldiers on horseback offer a premier
picture opportunity, (see right).
Built on land where jousting had taken place, this imposing guard
house was built between 1750 and 1758. Only members of the royal family
are allowed to ride through the arch.
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Horseguards
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| Changing
of the guard is held here at 11:00 (10:00, Sundays). Many people find
this location much more satisfying than the more famous Changing of
the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Here crowds are much, much smaller
and you are much closer and get uninterupted close up pictures. |
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