Whitehall

Whitehall

Whitehall, also translated as White Hall, is a road in Westminster, London, the capital of the United Kingdom. It lies between the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square. The name Whitehall comes from the Palace of Whitehall (also known as White Hall Palace), which was destroyed in a fire in 1698. This grand palace used to stand where Whitehall is today, and the road was originally a thoroughfare leading to the palace’s front gates.

Whitehall stretches approximately 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) from Trafalgar Square (built in the 19th century) in the north to the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) in the south. The central section of the road is lined with a range of British defence and military institutions, including the Ministry of Defence headquarters, former headquarters of the British Army and Royal Navy, the Horse Guards headquarters, and the Admiralty. As the hub of the UK government, it is often seen as synonymous with the British government itself. Along the northern section of Whitehall, the only remaining part of the original Palace of Whitehall is preserved: the Banqueting House, designed by architect Inigo Jones and built in 1622. It is said that during the English Civil War, King Charles I stepped out from a second-floor window of the Banqueting House on 30 January 1649, onto a temporary scaffold erected outside, and was publicly executed. To commemorate this event, Royalists still hold memorial events here every year.

Whitehall is not only the centre of government but also a popular tourist attraction. Several war memorials and statues honouring heroes and fallen soldiers stand along the road. On Remembrance Sunday each year, solemn commemorative ceremonies are held here.

Whitehall

Must-visit reason: One of London's most famous tourist attractions

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Britain[Britain]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Greater London [Greater London]

City where the attraction is located: London [London]