Page 231 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

REGENT ’ S P ARK AND M AR Y LEBONE  229

was determined that the same 6 Broadcasting
should not happen to his new House
church – so everything is on a
grand scale. Portland Place W1. Map 12 E1.
1 Oxford Circus. Open to TV
audience members only. Pre-booking
essential, via the website bbc.co.uk/
showsandtours/shows.
& 7 ∑ bbc.co.uk
Broadcasting House was built
in 1931 as a suitably modern
Art Deco setting for the new Relief on the Royal Institute of British
medium of broadcasting. Its Architects building, Portland Place
front, curving with the street,
is dominated by Eric Gill’s 7 All Souls,
stylized relief of Shakespeare’s Langham Place
Prospero and Ariel. As the
invisible spirit of the air, Ariel Langham Place W1. Map 12 F1.
Commemorative window in was considered an appropriate Tel 020 7580 3522. 1 Oxford Circus.
St Marylebone Parish Church personification of broadcasting. Open 9:30am–5:30pm Mon–Fri,
9am–3pm & 5:30–8:30pm Sun.
The character appears in two 5 9:30am, 11:30am, 6:30pm Sun. 7
other sculptures on the western
4 Harley Street frontage, and again over the ∑ allsouls.org
eastern entrance in “Ariel Piping John Nash designed this church
W1. Map 4 E5. 1 Regent’s Park,
Oxford Circus, Bond St, Great to Children”. in 1824. Its quirky round
Portland St. Broadcasting House is now frontage is best seen from
the London headquarters of Regent Street. When it was
The large houses on this late BBC news, radio, television and first built, the spire was ridiculed
18th-century street were online departments. as it appeared too slender
popular with successful doctors The only way to get a look and flimsy.
and specialists in the middle of inside the building is to The only Nash church in
the 19th century, when it was book yourself a place London, it had close links with
a wealthy residential area. The on one of the BBC’s the BBC, based across the street
medical practices stayed and shows as a studio at Broadcasting House; the daily
lend the street an air of hushed audience member. service, a stalwart of the radio
order, unusual in central London. A new wing added schedule, was broadcast from
William Gladstone lived at in 2005 was named here for many years.
No. 73 from 1876 to 1882 but after the disc jockey
there are very few private houses John Peel Wing.
of apartments here now. Further refurbish- 8 Langham Hotel
ment in 2011 1 Portland Place W1. Map 12 E1.
created a public
5 Portland Place piazza, a BBC Tel 020 7636 1000. 1 Oxford Circus.
∑ langhamhotels.com
shop and a
W1. Map 4 E5. 1 Regent’s Park,
Oxford Circus. café that This was London’s grandest
overlooks hotel on opening in 1865.
The Adam Brothers, Robert and the central The writers Oscar Wilde and
James, laid this street out in newsroom. Mark Twain, and composer
1773. Only a few of the original Antonin Dvořák were among
houses remain, the best being its many distinguished guests.
Nos. 27 to 47 on the west side, It was, for a time, used
south of Devonshire Street. by the BBC as a
John Nash added the street to record library and
his processional route from as a venue for
Carlton House to Regent’s Park recording shows.
and sealed its northern end It has since been
with Park Crescent. restored, bringing
The headquarters of the Royal it boldly into the
Institute of British Architects 21st century with
(1934) at No. 66 is adorned with its luxurious rooms,
symbolic statues and reliefs. chic Artesian bar
Its bronze front doors depict and fine-dining
London’s buildings and the restaurant, Roux
River Thames. All Souls, Langham Place (1824) at the Landau.

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