walk/tour
Supreme Court, Parliament Square, SW1P 3BD
Behind the façade of power of Westminster lies a maze of backstreets, brimming with history from a medieval English village, prisons, slums, plague pits to birth of English printing and world of espionage… Trace the footsteps of suffragette and spies, and uncover the fascinating stories, people and events shaped British history.
Westminster
Victoria
The ending point is St James's Park. The closed stations are Westminster or St James's Park station
This walking tour explores the lesser-known backstreets of historic Westminster, uncovering the lost and often forgotten past of a fascinating corner at the heart of Britain's royal and political power.
Travel through time, from the medieval village of 'Merrie Westminster', where maypole dances once took place in the shadow of notorious prisons, through the infamous 'Devil's Acre' slums, to the hub of Victorian engineering and, later, the epicentre of global espionage during the World Wars.
Along the way, you'll discover remarkable stories, from the birthplace of England's printing revolution to Churchill's secret weapon SOE; meet some amazing characters, from a polymath and former Black slave to suffragettes, philosophers, poets, musicians, reformers and spies, whose lives helped shape Britain's history. You'll also wander along elegant Queen Anne streets and admire striking 1920s modernist landmarks, revealing how centuries of history coexist within just a few hidden streets.
Drop in
community/cultural, military
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
