Page 103 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

PIC C ADILL Y , M A Y F AIR AND ST JA MES ’ S  101

The Rehearsal and Performance Room at the Handel & Hendrix in London
Benjamin Dean Wyatt to provide series of prestigious squares, in an intimate perform ance
a grand home for the Duke of originally laid out in the early space. In 1968, Jimi Hendrix
Wellington. His dual career as 18th century and still retaining moved into the attic apartment
soldier and politician brought many Georgian buildings. next door. These rooms were then
him victory against his arch- Grosvenor Square is the largest, used as offices by the museum,
enemy Napoleon at Waterloo and has long had connections but have now also been lovingly
(1815) and two terms as prime with the USA, ever since John restored to resemble Hendrix’s
minister (1828–30 and 1834). Adams lived at No. 9 between former apartment, complete
Against sumptuous silk hangings 1785 and 1789. The west side with 1960s decor.
and gilt decoration is the duke’s is dominated by what was the
art collection: works by Goya, US Embassy until 2017, when
Velázquez, Titian and Rubens embassy staff moved to brand g Faraday Museum
hang alongside displays of new headquarters south of the The Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle St
porcelain, silver and furniture. river. The Brutalist building, with W1. Map 12 F3. Tel 020 7409 2992.
Ironically, the duke’s memorabilia its stone grid façade, was 1 Green Park. Open 9am–6pm Mon–
is dominated by Canova’s designed by US architect Eero Fri. Closed 24 Dec–3 Jan. 9 0 -
colossal statue of Napoleon. Saarinen. A handsome statue of 8 phone first. Lectures. ∑ rigb.org
Franklin D. Roosevelt stands at
the centre of the square. Michael Faraday was a 19th-
s Shepherd Market century pioneer of the uses
of electricity. Part of the Royal
W1. Map 12 E4. 1 Green Park. f Handel & Hendrix
∑ shepherdmarket.co.uk Institution, a body dedicated
in London to scientific study, the museum
This attractive and bijou includes a re-creation of Faraday’s
pedestrianized enclave of small 25 Brook St W1. Map 12 E2. laboratory and some of his
shops, restaurants and outdoor Tel 020 7495 1685. 1 Bond Street. scientific apparatus and personal
cafés, between Piccadilly and Open 11am–6pm Mon–Sat (to 8pm effects, as well as exhibits on the
Curzon Street, was named after occasional Fri), noon–6pm Sun. & work of other great scientists.
7 ∑ handelhendrix.org
Edward Shepherd, who built it
in the mid-18th century. During
the 17th century, the annual A pair of Georgian houses on
15-day May Fair (from which the Brook Street have a couple of
name of the area is derived) notable, very different, musical
took place on this site, and connections. The composer
today Shepherd Market is still George Frideric Handel lived at
very much the centre of Mayfair. No. 25 from 1723 until his death
in 1759, and his rooms have been
restored to the early Georgian
d Grosvenor Square appearance they would have
had during the composer’s
W1. Map 12 D2. 1 Bond Street.
time, with portraits and musical
Mayfair has long been home to instruments on display. The
some of the grandest addresses museum hosts changing
in London, most notably in a exhibitions and regular recitals Michael Faraday

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