Charles Dickens visited the underbelly of Westminster which he described as the ‘Devil’s Acre’, and so can you ... walk the streets he described as ‘the blackest tide of moral turpitude’ . Do not be put off, very different today, but you can still get a feel of what Dicken's experienced on this walking tour.

Various architects, 1862

A Grade II listed building that is home to the NAO, the UK’s independent public spending watchdog. We support Parliament in holding government to account and help improve public services through our audits. Opened in 1939 by Imperial Airways, subsequently BOAC and then British Airways as an airport terminal. The NAO has occupied the building since 1986.

Albert Lakeman, 1939

Petty France is a short street with a long history. This walk will time travel from the medieval origins of Petty France through its sensational history to its present distinguished profile. We shall study Charles Holden's 1927 Grade 1 listed London Underground HQ, upstaged in 1976 by Sir Basil Spence's 1976 brutalist monument to modernism, and where the original Queen Anne house was born.

A Grade 2 listed former Territorial Army Drill Hall featuring restored elements of the original 1882 design. It has a triple height central hall with the restored wrought iron balconies and roofing. Notable Neo-Georgian design brickwork. It is also unique in being the last ever military drill hall built in the UK.

Oliver Hill RIBA, 1952

Lillington Gardens in Pimlico, Westminster, was built from 1961 to 1971 by Darbourne & Darke. It set a new standard in high-density public housing with medium-rise structures and private gardens. Blending well with nearby Victorian surroundings, the modernist design won multiple awards and was praised by Nikolaus Pevsner as 'the most interesting recent housing in inner London'.

Darbourne and Darke, 1961

Completed in 1929, 55 Broadway is an art-deco, Grade I listed 'cathedral to modernity' and London’s ‘first skyscraper’ - formerly, the Headquarters of Transport for London.

Charles Holden, 1927

Built in Neoclassical style for Hugh Morrison (1868-1931), this was the last mansion house of its kind to be built in London. The club, founded in 1891, moved to the premises in 1946.

Detmar Blow, 1908

During the Open House Festival people will have the unique opportunity to explore the historic mansion that is the home of the Argentine Embassy in the UK. Opening its doors on this special occasion, visitors will enjoy unprecedented access to the home of Argentineans in the UK and explore a glimpse of our culture through an art exposition of different Argentine artists.

Thomas Cubitt, 1851

Situated in one of the largest and grandest 19th century squares in London, 1 Belgrave Square was acquired by Romania in 1936 and is now home to the Romanian Cultural Institute.

Thomas Cubitt, 1828

Early English style, full of Pre-Raphaelite decoration. Important works by Bodley, Comper and Cundy and windows by Kempe and Tower. First Oxford Movement church. Recently restored 10 bell peal

Thomas Cundy, 1850

Whatever happened to the historic River Tyburn? Victor Keegan, author of Vic Keegan’s Lost London (1) and Vic Keegan’s Lost London (2) will chart the history of this extraordinary river which still springs from the Hampstead Hills but leaves experts arguing over if and where it reaches the Thames.