Page 122 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

120  L ONDON AREA B Y AREA

0 Wyndham’s w Savoy Hotel
Theatre Strand WC2. Map 13 C2. Tel 020 7836
32 Charing Cross Rd, WC2. Map 13 B2. 4343. 1 Charing Cross, Embankment.
Tel 0871 976 0072. 1 Leicester ∑ fairmont.com/savoy
Square. Open for performances only. Pioneer of en-suite bathrooms
7 ∑ wyndhamstheatre.co.uk and electric lighting, the grand
See Entertainment pp340–41.
Savoy was built in 1889 on the
Wyndham’s Theatre opened site of the medieval Savoy
its doors in 1899 and takes its Palace. A £100 million lavish
name from Charles Wyndham refurbish ment took place in
(1837–1919) – lauded as one of 2008–2010, incorporating both
the greatest actors of his day. the original Edwardian and
Designed by the architect the later Art Deco style. The
William Sprague, the Wyndham forecourt is the only street in
was the first of seven theatres Britain where traffic drives on
Entrance to Thomas Neal’s he completed that year. the right. Attached to the hotel
It boasts a Portland stone are the Savoy Theatre built
8 Thomas Neal’s exterior and a turquoise, cream for the D’Oyly Carte opera,
and gold interior decorated in famed for performing the
Earlham St WC2. Map 13 B2.
1 Covent Garden, Leicester Sq. Louis XVI style, with a ceiling operas of Gilbert and Sullivan,
Open 10am–7pm Mon–Sat (till 8pm painted in the style of Boucher. and the Simpson’s-in-the-Strand
Thu), noon–6pm Sun (individual shop Many greats of British theatre English restaurant.
times vary). 7 ground floor only. have graced the stage since
Wyndham himself: Vanessa
Located in an old converted Redgrave, Sir Alec Guinness and
banana warehouse, this upscale Sir John Gielgud among them.
shopping complex offers an It has also seen such talents as
interesting range of shops, Dame Judi Dench in Madame de
selling designer streetwear, Sade and Jude Law as Hamlet.
cosmetics, jewellery and
accessories. The Donmar
Warehouse theatre (see p342) q Adelphi Theatre
is also part of the complex, Strand WC2. Map 13 C3. Tel 020 3725
staging must-see productions 7060. 1 Charing Cross, Embankment.
such as Coriolanus. Open perform ances only. 7
∑ reallyusefultheatres.co.uk
See Entertainment pp340–41.
9 Seven Dials
There has been a theatre on this Strand entrance to the Savoy Hotel
Monmouth St WC2. Map 13 B2.
1 Covent Garden, Leicester Sq. site since 1806, when the Sans
Pareil Theatre opened here.
The pillar at this junction of seven It was set up by John Scott, a e Savoy Chapel
streets incorporates six sundials wealthy tradesman, who was Strand WC2. Map 13 C2. Tel 020
(the central spike acted as a helping to launch his daughter 7836 7221. 1 Charing Cross,
seventh). It was installed in 1989 on the stage. After several Embankment. Open 9am–4pm
and is a copy of a 17th-century refurbishments and name Mon–Thu. Closed Aug–Sep. 5 11am
monument. The original was changes, the current Adelphi Sun. ^ 8 phone to book. ∑
removed in the 19th century Theatre was remodelled in 1930 royalchapelsavoy.org
because it had become a in Art Deco style by Ernest
notorious meeting place for Schaufelburg. His modernist The first Savoy Chapel was
criminals, who operated in an “straight-line” design resulted in founded in the 16th century as the
area that had become one of a building without curves. Note chapel for the hospital set up by
London’s most infamous slums. the highly distinctive lettering Henry VII on the site of the old
Today Seven Dials is a vibrant on the frontage, and the well- Savoy Palace. Parts of the outside
shopping and dining area. The kept lobby and auditorium, walls date from 1512, but most of
cobbled streets and charming with their stylized motifs. the present building dates from
hidden courtyards make the The Adelphi now stages a the mid-19th century. In 1890, it
neighbourhood particularly variety of plays and musicals was London’s first church to be
attractive to wander around. from The Bodyguard, featuring electrically lit. It became the chapel
Its streets and alleyways are the music of the late Whitney of the Royal Victorian Order in
known for one-off shops, Houston, to Kinky Boots, with 1937, and is the Queen’s private
boutiques, high-end cosmetics a muscial score by pop legend chapel now. Nearby on Savoy Hill
stores, restaurants and bars. Cyndi Lauper. were the first studios of the BBC.

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