Walk Two - Bond Street to the Houses of Parliament
Bond Street
Exit Bond Street Tube station via the shopping centre. Head east along Oxford Street before turning right into Bond Street. Actually two streets, New Bond Street in the north it becomes Old Bond Street in the south, and is home to the most expensive shops and boutiques in town, most especially: international fashion designers and jewellers. At the south end, the street leads into.Piccadilly
Turn right into Piccadilly heading away from Piccadilly Circus. On the left you will pass Fortnum and Mason, London's oldest department store and further along, The Ritz Hotel. Piccadilly was so named after the fortune amassed by a tailor called Robert Baker, from selling piccadills (a kind of scalloped collar), which were highly fashionable in the seventeenth century. He bought the land in this district (open country at the time) and built a large house named Piccadilly Hall. Just beyond the Ritz, you will see.Green Park
Turn south into Green Park. A park consisting of meadows and walkways lined with trees. It was absorbed into the Crown estates in the late 17th century at a time when this area of London was isolated and a known haunt for highwaymen and thieves. It also served as a popular duelling location and for public firework displays. Handel's - Music for the Royal Fireworks was composed for a display held here in 1749. At the south entrance to the park you will find Canada Gate, which leads onto the Mall in front of.
Buckingham Palace
Constructed around the core of Buckingham House, built in 1703, it was extended by John Nash in the early nineteenth century. It became the official seat of the monarchy with the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. The garden at the rear, originally conceived by Capability Brown, was remodelled by Nash and is still the largest private garden in the capital. Changing of the Guard is daily at 11am from April to July and alternate days from August to March. Across the Mall and heading south-east you pass through.St. James’s Park
The park was originally acquired by Henry VIIIth, but was not drained and landscaped until the accession of James I (hence the name). At that time exotic animals were kept in the park including crocodiles, camels and an elephant, with purpose built aviaries of exotic birds. Shortly after the opening of the park to the public, by Charles II, it was noted for playing host to acts of public degeneracy. At the same time he was working on the expansion and redesign of Buckingham Palace, Nash also oversaw the remodelling of the original straight canal into the curved and more natural looking lake which can be seen today. Cross the park continuing south to Birdcage Walk and turn left (heading east) which leads directly to the.
Palace of Westminster
AKA the Houses of Parliament. Built by Barry and Pugin after the old palace was destroyed by fire. It originated as the seat of parliament since the orignal Palace of Westminster was the Royal seat where the Curia Regis (Royal Council) of advisers met. Despite the council following the monarch to the Palace at Whitehall when that palace was acquired by Henry VIIIth and became his principle residence, the two houses of parliament and law court remained at Westminster. After the fire, commissions were sought and despite neo-Classical being the style of the day (as seen at the White House and Capitol Hill in the United States) Gothic-revivalism was selected for embodying conservative values (and avoiding 'revolutionary' connotations from across the 'Pond'). It was struck by bombs 14 times during the Second World War, with much of the reconstruction work not completed until five years after the end of the war. Directly opposite is Portcullis House, completed in 2000, which permitted all Members of Parliament to have access to office space in Westminster.
The nearest Tube is Westminster station
Approximate time - 60-75 minutes depending on foot traffic.
