Page 96 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

94  L ONDON AREA B Y AREA

1940, but it maintains its essen-
tial features from 1684 – the
tall, arched windows, thin spire
(a 1966 replica of the original)
and a light, dignified interior.
The ornate screen behind the
altar is one of the finest works of
the 17th-century master carver
Grinling Gibbons, who also
made the exquisite marble font,
with a scene depicting Adam
and Eve standing by the Tree of
Life. Artist and poet William Blake Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child
and Prime Minister Pitt the Elder
were both baptized here. More merchandise inspired by the
of Gibbons’ carvings can be seen current exhibitions, as well as
above the grandiose organ, a great range of art books.
Alfred Gilbert’s statue of Eros takes aim made for Whitehall Palace chapel The RA is currently
down Lower Regent Street but installed here in 1691. The undergoing redevelopment
church now has a full calendar work, led by architect Sir David
1 Piccadilly Circus of events, and houses a popular Chipperfield, in celebration of
café. A small market operates in its 250th anniversary.
W1. Map 13 A3. 1 Piccadilly Circus.
the outer courtyard.
For years people have congreg-
ated beneath the symbolic figure 4 Burlington
of Eros, originally intended as an 3 Royal Academy Arcade
angel of mercy but renamed of Arts
after the Greek god of love. Piccadilly W1. Map 12 F3. 1 Green
Poised delicately with his bow, Burlington House, Piccadilly W1. Park, Piccadilly Circus.
Eros has become almost a trade- Map 12 F3. Tel 020 7300 8000.
mark for the capital. It was erec- 1 Piccadilly Circus, Green Park. This is one of four 19th-century
ted in 1892 as a memorial to the Open 10am–6pm Sun–Thu, arcades of small shops that sell
10am–10pm Fri & Sat. Closed Good
Earl of Shaftesbury, the Victorian Fri, 24–26 Dec. & for temporary traditional British luxuries. (The
philanthropist. Part of Nash’s exhibitions. ^ 7 8 0 - = Princes and Piccadilly Arcades
master plan for Regent Street, ∑ royalacademy.org.uk are on the south side of Piccadilly,
Piccadilly Circus has been while the Royal Opera Arcade
considerably altered over the The courtyard in front of Burling- is off Pall Mall.) It was built for
years and consists for the most ton House, one of the West End’s Lord Cavendish in 1819, who
part of shops. The London few surviving mansions from the lived in Burlington House next
Pavilion (1885), once a popular early 18th century, is often door, to stop rubbish being
music hall, now houses Ripley’s crammed with people waiting to thrown into what was then his
Believe It or Not! museum. get into one of the prestigious side garden. The arcade is still
Piccadilly Circus has London’s visiting art exhibitions on show patrolled by beadles, who make
gaudiest array of neon advert- at the Royal Academy (founded sure an atmosphere of refine-
ising signs, marking the entrance 1768). Every summer, its famous ment is maintained. They have
to the city’s lively entertainment annual exhibition, which has authority to eject anyone who
district with its cinemas, theatres, now been held for over 200 sings, whistles, runs or opens an
nightclubs, restaurants and pubs. years, shows around 1,200 new umbrella; those powers are
works. Any artist, established or infrequently invoked now,
unknown, may submit work. perhaps because the dictates
2 St James’s Church The airy Sackler Galleries (1991), of commerce take precedence
designed by Sir Norman Foster, over those of decorum.
197 Piccadilly W1. Map 13 A3. hold visiting exhibitions. There
Tel 020 7734 4511. 1 Piccadilly Circus.
Open 8am–7pm daily. Food market are permanent items in the sculp- 5 Ritz Hotel
11am–5pm Mon & Tue, craft mar ket ture prom enade out side the
10am–6pm Wed–Sat, antiques market galleries, notably a Michelangelo Piccadilly W1. Map 12 F3. Tel 020 7493
10am–6pm Tue. 7 - Concerts, relief of the Madonna and Child 8181. 1 Green Park. Open to non-
talks, events. ∑ sjp.org.uk (1505). The exceptional perm an- residents for tea or restaurant (book
ent collect ion (not all on display) ahead). 7 (See p288).
Among the many churches Wren includes one work by each ∑ theritzlondon.com
designed (see p51), this is said to current and former Academician;
be one of his favourites. It has the high lights are displayed in the César Ritz, the famed Swiss
been altered over the years and Madejski Rooms. Two shops hotelier who inspired the
was half-wrecked by a bomb in adjacent to the gallery exits sell adjec tive “ritzy”, had virtually

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