Tour Overview
Focus: The Westminster and Lambeth areas, with suggested side excursions to the London Eye, Victoria Station area, Tate Britain, Imperial War Museum, and St.George Cathedral.
Historical Context
- Medieval Times: During the medieval era there were basically three centers of population in London: the City (the financial center of trade and commerce), Southwark (just across the river from the city), and Westminster, the political and religious center—symbolized by Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Lambeth Palace.
- Tudor Times:Often at odds with each other, the City and the Crown/Church remained largely separate and apart geographically until the time of Henry VIII, who seized all the land of the church between the two centers, and sold most of it to the highest bidder to bring additional revenue into the royal coffers, thus opening the way for expansion from both ends of London, and ultimately, the connection of the two centers.
- Victorian Times: In 1834, three years before Victoria ascended the throne, the major part of Westminster Palace burned to the ground. The palace (more commonly known as the House of Parliament), as we view it today, is the result of the rebuilding that occurred during the early years of Victoria’s reign.
- Modern Times:Parliament is currently the seat of government, housing both the Lords and the Commons. Here the monarch presides at the opening of Parliament in the fall and delivers the speech laying out the projected agenda of the Prime Minister and his cabinet for the coming year. Westminster Abbey continues to be the scene of the major religious pageantry of the nation for coronations, weddings, funerals, etc. Lambeth Palace is the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leading primate of the Church of England.
Places to Visit in This Area When You Have More Time
Westminster Abbey, Westminster Palace (Parliament), Victoria Station area, Westminster Cathedral, Tate Britain, the London Eye, the London Aquarium.
Stops
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Introduction
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#1 Notting Hill to London Eye
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#2 Westminster Bridge
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#3 Parliament side to St. Margaret's/Abingdon Street
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#4 St. Margaret's Street/Abingdon Street
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#5 Parliament Park to Westminster Abbey
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#6 Westminster Abbey
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#7 Broad Sanctuary to Parliament
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#8 Abingdon Road to Victoria Tower Gardens
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#9 Victoria Gardens to Thames
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#10 Lambeth Palace
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#11 Lambeth Palace Road
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# 12 Archbishop's Park
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#13 Cross Lambeth Palace Road
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#14 The End: Return to the BYU Centre
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#15 Other Places to Visit Nearby When You Have Time
Map
