Page 54 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

52  BRIT AIN AND IRELAND

Street by Street: Whitehall
and Westminster

Westminster has been at the center of political and
religious power in England since the 11th century,
when King Canute built a palace here and Edward the Downing Street
Confessor founded Westminster Abbey. Whitehall is No. 10 has been the
synonymous with the ministries concentrated around prime minister’s official
residence since 1732,
it. On weekdays, the streets are crowded with civil when Sir Robert
servants going about their business, replaced at Walpole was given the
weekends by a steady house by George II.
flow of tourists.
The Cabinet War Rooms, DOWNING STREET
now open to the public,
were Winston Churchill’s
World War II headquarters.

St. Margaret’s Church K I N G C H A R L E S S T R E E T
is a favorite venue for
political and society
weddings.

. Westminster Abbey S T O R E Y  S G A T E G R E A T G E O R G E S T R E E T P A R L I A M E N T S T R E E T
The abbey (see pp54–5) is
London’s oldest and most
important church. The north
facade is a Victorian addition.
Central Hall was built in 1911 as a B R I D G E
Methodist meeting hall. In 1946, it
hosted the first General Assembly B R O A D S A N C T U A R Y PA R L I A M E N T S Q U A R E
of the United Nations.
S T . M A R G A R E T S T R E E T

T
E
E
G R E A T C O
L
L
E
G A B I N G D O N S T R
Dean’s Yard Statue of Richard the E S T R E E T
Lionheart (1860)
This secluded grassy square is
surrounded by picturesque
buildings from different periods, The Burghers of Calais is a
many used by Westminster School. cast of Auguste Rodin’s 1886
original sculpture in France.
For hotels and restaurants see pp104–6 and pp107–9

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