Westminster - Westminster

Disambiguation - For toponyms of identical name, see Westminster (disambiguation).

Westminster is a district of the city of London.

To know

Westminter is a city in its own right, the twin of the ancient City of London located further east with which, historically, they formed the center of what we now consider London. Westminster Palace became the main royal residence after the Normans conquered England in 1066. It later housed England's parliament and court of justice. Nearby Westminster Abbey became the traditional site for the coronation of English rulers. As a result, Westminster has been the seat of power, the royal government, then parliamentary for 900 years.

As a result many of the attractions have a great cultural and historical variety.

Geographical notes

It is important for travelers to understand that the borough of Westminster borders north with Trafalgar Square is Mayfair, to the east with Covent Garden and to the west with Knightsbridge and Chelsea.

St. James's it is the area that embraces Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Westminster and the park of the same name. It is a very busy area and has a lot to offer visitors. West of Buckingham Palace is the area of Belgravia, the largest residential area in the whole of the UK. Victoria is Pimlico in the south-east, they occupy a smaller part but still have a lot to offer, including the Tate Britain museum and many beautiful royal architecture, as well as various offers of affordable accommodation.

How to orient yourself

How to get

By bus

The bus station Victoria Bus Station, is located in front of the train station and consists of many stops concentrated in the area around the station. Consequently, many routes pass through this station and then head to other parts of the city.

By subway

The district is served by the following stations:

• 51.50113-0.125191 Westminster (lines: Circle, District and Jubilee). 
• 51.50721-0.122242 Embankment (lines: Bakerloo, Circle, District and Jubilee). 
• 51.50662-0.142713 Green Park (lines: Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria). 
• 51.50272-0.154334 Hyde Park Corner (lines: Piccadilly). 
• 51.48919-0.133535 Pimlico (line: Victoria). 
• 51.49929-0.134596 St. James's Park (lines: Circle and District). 
• 51.49638-0.143147 Victoria (lines: Circle, District and Victoria). 

Metro lines passing through Westminster

Notting Hill and North Kensington ← South Kensington and Chelsea ←	OR  IS	→ Covent Garden → City of London
Wimbledon / West London ← South Kensington and Chelsea ←	OR  IS	→ Covent Garden → City of London
North London ← Mayfair and Marylebone ←	OR  IS	→ South Bank → East London
West London ← South Kensington and Chelsea ←	OR  IS	→ Leicester Square → Bloomsbury
Terminus ← Lambeth Town Hall ←	S.  No.	→ Mayfair and Marylebone → Bloomsbury

On the train

The nearest train stations are 51.4952-0.14418 London Waterloo is 51.5031-0.11329 London Victoria.

On the bus

The bus station Victoria Coach Station it is not far from the train and bus station. Coaches arrive here from all over the country and from Europe. Many lines also stop not far away on Colonnade Walk.

On boat

• 51.50172-0.1231610 Westminster Pier (lines: Circle, District and Victoria). Circular cruises depart from here. 

How to get around

What see

Westminster Palace

• 51.499444-0.1241671 Westminster Palace (Palace of Westminster, also known as Houses of Parliament), Parliament Square (Tube station: Westminster). Part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Palace of Westminster is the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is often referred to as the "Mother of All Parliaments" which sounds rather exaggerated. The current building is largely from the 19th century in the Victorian style, rebuilt following a fire. The House of Commons, in which elected Members of Parliament are seated, is located in the northern part of the building and is furnished with green leather upholstery, while the House of Lords (House of Lords), which are the unelected Lords, is located in the southern part, furnished with red leather upholstery.  

Attend committees and debates

While the Chamber meets for much of the year, visitors can assist by sitting in the "Strangers' Gallery" located within both chambers. You don't have to pay to get in, you have to queue at the entrance to St. Stephen's (opposite Westminster Abbey). Depending on the popularity of the debates, the queues can be over 30 minutes long. It is advisable to avoid the Wednesday lunchtime (Wednesday lunchtime) when the Prime Minister listens to questions, as it is virtually impossible to find a seat, unless you have a ticket given by a Member of Parliament. If you do not want to visit the House of Commons, you must notify the policemen on guard at the entrance, saying that you only want to visit the House of Lords and in this case access is immediate.

• St. Stephen's Hall. After entering you pass under a metal detector and after a thorough search. After that we proceed inside the room St. Stephen's Hall where it is required to sit down to wait to be admitted. A representative of the "Sergeant-at-Arms" will distribute a paper on which to write your name and address.

• House of Commons Strangers' Gallery. When called, proceed from "St. Stephen's Hall" to "Central Hall" and then continue upstairs. Leave any items outside (bags, cameras, telephones, writing and writing materials) and proceed to the "Strangers' Gallery". After entering you can get a copy of today's discussion program. One must remain very quiet because any noise above a sigh can cause a request to leave the building. After exiting the House of Commons, you return to the Central Hall.

• House of Lords Strangers' Gallery. If you leave the House of Commons, you cross a corridor that leads to the House of Lords. If you ask to visit the Strangers' Gallery, a representative of the "Black Rods" will ask you to fill in another sheet with your name and address, after which you proceed up a flight of steps leading to the gallery. Again, all items must be left out. Of the two chambers, that of the Lords is the most impressive, furnished with a beautiful throne from which the queen annually announces the government's plans for the coming year during the "State opening". . In addition, the queue to enter this gallery is usually very fast.

• Westminster Hall. After having visited the two "Houses", the visitors pass by St. Stephen's Hall and Westminster Hall. The second room is one of the few areas of the parliament where photography is allowed and is very impressive, built around the 9th century. Plaques on the floor mark the spots where the bodies of the royal family members lie and significant events that occurred in that room (such as the trial of King Charles I).

Visit of the Parliament

• Summer opening, ☎ 44 870 9063773. £ 7. Jul 28 - Sep 27, Mon-Sat. When the Houses are on hiatus, the Palace of Westminster is generally closed, except during the long summer break, during which visits cover the whole building, assisted by parliamentary employees. Due to the popularity of these guided tours it is recommended that you book in advance. A small house on the lawn in front of the Palace of Westminster on Millibank sells tickets during the summer. 
• 51.50066-0.124592 Elizabethan Tower (Elizabeth Tower or more commonly Big Ben). Free. Only A limited number of tickets are available to climb the Elizabethan Tower, which until 2012 bore the mere name of the Clock Tower. Inside is the Great Bell known throughout the world as Big Ben. British visitors should write to their member of parliament to request tickets and unfortunately foreigners cannot have access.  
• 51.4986-0.126543 The jewel tower (The Jewel Tower), Abingdon Street, SW1P 3JX (in front of the Parliament), ☎ 44 20 7222 2219. adults £ 3.90, children £ 2.30, concessions £ 3.50. This small tower across the street from the Houses of Parlament is the only element of the original Palace of Westminster that survives to this day. Although covered by the surrounding buildings, it is well worth a visit and has a nice exhibit on the history of Westminster.  
• UK Parliament Opening Ceremony (State Opening of Parliament). Probably the most picturesque event on the English legislative calendar, it takes place in May or June or after a general election. During this ceremony the queen goes to the Houses of Paliament to open the new parliamentary session. During the event the Lords and their clerical assistants don ceremonial attire and an elaborate procession takes place as the Queen moves from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament. Many traditions of this ceremony have roots in a turbulent past, when relations between the monarchs and the parliament were conflicting. Particularly after the English Civil War, the monarch is forbidden to enter the House of Commons, where a representative goes to call the members of parliament in the House of Lords during the Queen's prayer.  

Buckingham Palace

• 51.501-0.1424 Buckingham Palace (Tube station: St James's Park, Green Park or Victoria). £8.75-15.50. Summer opening: 31 Jul-29 Sep 09: 45-15: 45. The main residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (who has reigned since 1952 and was crowned in 1953). Other residences include Sandringham House, Windsor Castle, Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh and Balmoral Castle (also in Edinburgh). The other residences are easier to visit (open for several days and with fewer queues). It is also interesting to visit the royal yacht Britannia, in which you can see the queen's room. In the Buckingham Palace in the summer you can visit 19 rooms open to the public when the queen stays in Edinburgh. Admissions are very limited, so it's hard to get same-day tickets if you don't book. The famous also takes place here changing of the guard, which takes place every day from April to July or every other day in autumn / winter at 11.30.  

• 51.5047-0.13795 St James's Palace (Tube station: Green Park). The oldest royal palace in London (built between 1531 and 1536). Official seat of the reigning monarch.  
• 51.5003-0.13826 Museum of the Guards (The Guards Museum), Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, SW1E 6HQ (Tube station: St James's Park or Victoria), ☎ 44 20 7414 3428, @[email protected]. £ 5 adults; £ 2.50 concessions; £ 1 persons in military service. Mon-Sun 10.00–16: 00.  

Parliament Square

• 51.4994-0.12747 Westminster Abbey (Westminster Abbey), 20 Deans Yard, SW1P 3PA (Tube station: Westminster. Visitors enter from the West Gate on the North Garden), ☎ 44 20 7654 4900, fax: 44 20 7654 4894, @[email protected]. Adults £ 22, concessions £ 17 (seniors over 60, children 11-16, students), family tickets £ 45 (two adults and two children under 18), children under 11 get in free (with a maximum of two children per paying adult); Half price admission, Wed 16: 30-19: 00, last admission 18:00. Opatija: Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 09: 30-15: 45, Wed 09: 30-19: 00, Sat 09: 30-13: 45 (in summer until 15:45), Sun open only for mass; Chapter House: Mon-Sun 10: 30-16: 00; Westminster Abbey Museum: Mon-Sun 10: 30-16: 00; Pyx Chamber: Mon-Sun 10: 30-16: 00; Cloisters: Mon-Sun 08: 00-18: 00. Note that the abbey charges tourists but not devotees, so you can attend mass for free and enjoy the best choral music in London. The evening choral mass is on Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm or 5pm during the week. The Abbey has traditionally been the coronation site of British monarchs and the place where kings and queens are buried. There is also a good souvenir shop here and the Cellarium café, whose history dates back to the 14th century and is a good place to have lunch.  
• 51.4993-0.12668 Henry VII Lady Chapel (Tube station: Westminster). Described as the "wonder of the whole world", this chapel on the east side of Westminster Abbey is a breathtaking masterpiece of medieval architecture.  
• 51.4998-0.12679 Church of Santa Margherita (St. Margaret's Church), St Margaret Street, SW1P 3JX (Tube station: Westminster. Close to Westminster Abbey, within Parliament Square). Mon-Fri 09: 30-15: 45, Sat 09: 30-13: 45, Sun 14: 00-17: 00. This is the church of the British Parliament, more specifically it is the parish of the House of Commons.  

Pimlico

• 51.4908-0.127210 Tate Britain, Millbank (Tube station: Pimlico). Free but the temporary exhibitions are subject to a fee. Mon-Sun 10: 00-17: 50. This gallery houses the Tate collection of British art from the 1500s to the present day. A side wing brings together various works by Turner. The temporary exhibitions are very varied and excellent, the most famous of which is the "Turner Prize" which consists of the exhibition of works by 4 artists competing for the award, exhibited every year from late October to January.  

Royal parks

• 51.5042-0.143611 Green Park (Tube station: Green Park). In contrast to the royal parks in the area, Green Park looks a bit bare. There are no lakes or buildings and it has few monuments. Despite this it is still a pleasant, slightly wooded park, close to two other parks and Buckingham Palace.  
• 51.5024-0.134812 St. James's Park (Tube station: St James's Park or Westminster), @[email protected]. The oldest royal park in the city.  

Statues and monuments

As a government center with a thousand-year history, Westminster has no shortage of commemorative statues.

• 51.5025-0.150813 Wellington Arch (Wellington Arch), Apsley Way, Hyde Park Corner, W1J 7JZ (Tube station: Hyde Park Corner; at the center of the Hyde Park Corner roundabout). £ 4.20 adults, £ 3.80 concessions, £ 2.50 children. The interior can be accessed Mon-Sun: Apr – Sep 10: 00-18: 00; Oct 10: 00–17: 00; Nov – Mar 10: 00-16: 00. The arch was designed in the 1820s by Decimus Burton, in Roman triumphal style, to celebrate the victory in the Napoleonic wars and the funds ran out before the work was completed. The statue of Adrian Jones at the top titled "Peace Descends on the Chariot of War" was added in 1912. The original equestrian statue, added in 1846 was not very popular and is now in Aldershot. Owned by the English Heritage company and is open to the public. Inside, exhibits about the arch itself and English history are exhibited. The view from the top is impressive.  

In the same roundabout there are many other celebratory sculptures:

• 51.50293-0.1514414 Duke of Wellington (Duke of Wellington) (north side of the roundabout). Equestrian statue of the "Iron Duke" with four soldiers on each side of the pedestal representing the regiments that fought under his command: a grenadier, a Socco highlander, an Irish dragon and a Welsh rifleman. The bronze to build it was recovered by melting the French cannons, spoils of war.  
• 51.50256-0.1519515 Royal Artillery Memorial (Royal Artillery Memorial) (West side of the roundabout). A World War II vetarno howitzer, Charles Sargeant Jagger.  
• 51.50206-0.1515116 Australian War Memorial (Australian War Memorial) (South west side). Created by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Janet Laurence in memory of the Australians who perished in both world wars. Made of Australian granite.  
• 51.50317-0.1507417 Memorial of the gunners corps (Machine Gun Corps Memorial) (Northeast side). Represents David holding the sword of Goliath. Designed by Francis Derwent Wood to commemorate the deaths of various army corps in the First World War.  
• 51.50302-0.1501118 New Zealand Memorial (East side). Sixteen cruciform pillars designed by Paul Dibble and John Hardwick-Smith  
• 51.4992-0.1524219 Simón Bolívar, Belgrave Square (Tube station: Hyde Park Corner, on the southeast side of the square).  
• 51.48849-0.138720 Thomas Cubitt (Tube station: Pimlico. On the corner of Denbigh Street and St. George's Drive). 

Victoria

• 51.49616-0.1396821 Westminster Cathedral (Westminster Cathedral), 42 Francis Street, SW1P 1QW. Cathedral: Free. Tower: £ 6 adults, £ 3 concessions, Treasures exhibition £ 5, £ 2.50 concessions. Mon-Sun 9.30 to 17.00. The stone and brick cathedral (not to be confused with the more famous Westminster Abbey) is located near Victoria Station, just off Victoria Street. Construction work began in 1895 and the interior is not yet finished.  

Whitehall

• 51.5045-0.12622 Banquet house (Banqueting House), Whitehall SW1A 2ER (Tube station: Westminster), ☎ 44 870 751 5178. £ 4, students (with ID) and seniors over 60 £ 3.00, children 5-16 £ 2.60, under 5s free. Mon-Sat 10 am-5pm, Closed Sun, Bank Holiday and from 24 Dec to 1 Jan; the Banqueting House is subject to sudden closures for government functions, it is therefore advisable to call before going there. Designed and built between 1619 and 1622 by the neo-classical architect Inigo Jones, it is what remains of the Palace of Whitehall, the main residence of the monarch from 1530 to 1698 when it was largely destroyed by fire. Renowned for its architecture and paintings, this building is also famous for being the site of the execution of King Charles I in 1649 at the end of the English Civil War.  
• 51.5021-0.128623 Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum, Clive Steps, King Charles Street, SW1A 2AQ (Tube station: Westminster). Adults £ 19; children 5-15 £ 9.50, under 5s free; seniors and students £ 15.20;. Mon-Sun 09: 30-19: 00 (last admission 17:45), closed 24-26 Dec. It is one of the headquarters of the "Imperial War Museum". Inside are the corridors and rooms in which Churchill and the cabinet ran the war against Hitler and the Nazis, kept as they were left in 1945. The rooms were opened to the public for the first time in 1984. In the price of the ticket they are including audio guides. There is no wardrobe. The coffee shop is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 and hot food is served until 15:00.  
• 51.5032-0.127524 Downing Street (Tube station: Westminster). Site of the residence of the Prime Minister (No.10) and of the Chancellor (No.11).  
• 51.5047-0.127225 Royal Guard Cavalry Museum (Household Cavalry Museum), Horse Guards, Whitehall, SW1A 2AX (Tube station: Charing Cross or Westminster), ☎ 44 20 7930 3070, @[email protected]. £ 7 adults; £ 5 concessions. Apr – Oct: daily 10: 00-18: 00; Nov – Mar: daily 10: 00-17: 00. 
• 51.5042-0.126426 Whitehall (Tube station: Westminster, Charing Cross). This street runs between Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square and is home to many government buildings. The parade of the royal cavalry and the super-safe Downing Street are located on the west side. The Banquet House is located on the east side. In the center of the street is the Cenotaph, a war memorial erected after the First World War, used as the main symbol of the annual Remembrance Day, November 11th.  

Museums

• 51.503472-0.15605427 Apsley House (Wellington Museum), 149 Piccadilly, W1J 7NT, ☎ 44 20 7499 5676. 

What to do

Guards

Thanks to the large number of government buildings, palaces and barracks in the area, there are plenty of opportunities to see guards (with such varied names as to sound like an American sports league) and related ceremonies. Buckingham Palace and other royal residences are guarded by the Queen's Guard while the Queen's Life Guard are on duty on the other side of St. James's Park, at the Guards Parade in Horse near Whitehall. There are also less conspicuous armed police guarding Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament, but they do not perform any ceremony.

The Queen's Guards are made up of one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the English Army and their uniforms are made up of red robes and a bearskin headdress (or a gray overcoat when the weather is not good). Sometimes soldiers from other regiments take over as guards. When the Queen is inside the residence there are four guards on duty outside Buckingham Palace; other times they are only two. There are also guards on duty outside St. James's Palace.

The Queen's Life Protection Guards are chosen by the Royal Guard Cavalry, made up of two regiments: the Life Guards (life-saving guards) and the Blues & Royals (blue and royal). These guards are the official body protecting the queen. When the Queen is at Buckingham Palace, there are fifteen guards on duty otherwise only twelve. Both regiments have similar uniforms but the Life Guards wear red tunics, while the Blues & Royals obviously wear blue tunics.

The five regiments that make up the Queen's Guards wear very similar uniforms and are distinguished only by the details, in particular the shoulder and neck insignia. In addition to these other details are the buttons on the tunic and the feathers on the side of the bear skin. Each regiment organizes buttons into groups with a different number of buttons per group in each regiment. The colors of the feathers are different and the Scots Guards have none.

Recognize the Queen's Guards

Regiment	Group of Buttons	Feathers
Grenadier Guards	Single	Blank (left)
Coldstream Guards	Couple	Red (right)
Scots Guards	Triplet	None
Irish Guards	Quatern	Blue (right)
Welsh Guards	Fifty	Green and white (left)

Although the Queen's guards may seem harmless, picturesque or ridiculous and may not react to any stimulus or joke that passing tourists may throw, it must be remembered that they are real guards and not tourist ceremonials. The rifles they carry are real and have real bullets inserted. If you get too close there is the risk of triggering a "high there who goes there" resulting in a pointed bayonet. If you don't believe it, just take a look at the various Youtube videos.

• 51.50159-0.141161 Changing of the guard (Changing of the Guard), Buckingham Palace (Tube station: Green Park or St James's Park). Free. May-Jul, Mon-Sun 11:30 am;. Guards change outside Buckingham Palace every day between May and July at 11:30 am. The rest of the year the guard changes every other day, depending on the weather. A blackboard is displayed in the morning outside the palace on which it is written whether the ceremony will take place or not. There is no cost to see, just stand in front of the fence, so arrive early to find a spot. 
• 51.5047-0.12752 Changing of the guard (Changing of the Guard), Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall (Tube station: Charing Cross or Westminster). Mon-Sat 11:00; Sun 10:00. Every morning the guard also changes at the Horse Guards Parade. This changing of the guard is less famous than the one at Buckingham Palace and consequently there are fewer people besides not having a railing to obstruct the view. The ceremony is not performed when it rains. The cavalry is based at Hyde Park Barracks, so can be seen traversing the park under the Wellington Arch, along Constitution Hill and The Mall. 
• Ceremony of the descent from horse (Dismounting Ceremony, Four O'Clock Parade), Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall (Tube station: Charing Cross or Westminster). Mon-Sun 16:00. In the late afternoon, where the Horse Guards reside, an officer inspects the guards, then the sentries take the horses back to the stables for a night's rest. They are replaced by two horseless sentries. This ceremony began as a punishment in 1894 but then kept as a tradition when the 100-year punishment ended. 
• 51.5046-0.12833 Trooping the Color (The Queen's Birthday Parade), Horseguards Parade, Whitehall (Tube station: Charing Cross or Westminster). Around £ 20 if you are lucky enough to have been caught. Held annually on a Saturday in June, beginning around 10:00. Ceremony put in place by the British and Commonwealth armies to mark the Queen's official birthday. The Queen rides through The Mall in a carriage, from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, where she inspects the troops, after which the Royal Guard division marches past the Queen. Tickets are distributed by lot but the parade along the rest of the route is visible for free. You can request up to three tickets by sending a letter including a letter envelope with your address written on it, to the Brigade Major of the Royal Guard Cavalry, between January and February; these letters will become part of the ballot and the lucky ones will be sent a letter containing payment instructions. For those without a ticket you can enjoy the parade along The Mall and it is recommended to arrive before 09:00.  

There are two dress rehearsals for the "Trooping the Color" parade:

• Review by the Major General (Major General's Review). Free but tickets are still required. The Saturday two weeks before the parade, usually in May. Tickets are available following the same selection as Trooping the Color. 
• Review of the Colonel (Colonel's Review). £10. The Saturday before the parade. Tickets are available following the same selection as Trooping the Color. 
• Withdrawal swing (Beating Retreat), Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall (Tube station: Charing Cross or Westminster). £15–40. It is held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings before the ceremony. Originally this was a 16th century tradition to call troops inside the castle before sunset. Today the ceremony has evolved into a music-filled military parade that serves as rehearsal for military bands. Ticket earnings go to charity. 

Cinema

• 51.5088-0.13424 Vue Piccadilly, 19 Lower Regent Street, SW1Y 4LR, ☎ 44 8712 240 240 (paid number). Multiplex cinema of the Vue chain, near Piccadilly Circus. 

Theaters

Outside of Leicester Square and Covent Garden there are many major theaters in Westminster, especially near Victoria station. For current programs it is recommended that you check the website of the relevant theaters or the official list of London theaters. Low-budget travelers can find last-minute tickets and out-of-hours show tickets. The phone numbers listed only work if you are calling from the UK, otherwise we recommend using the websites.

• 51.4956-0.14265 Apollo Victoria Theater, 17 Wilton Road, SW1V 1LG (Tube station: Victoria), ☎ 44 844 826 8000. 
• 51.5066-0.12766 Trafalgar Studios (Whitehall Theater), 14 Whitehall, SW1A 2DY (Tube station: Charing Cross or Westminster). 
• 51.4969-0.14257 Victoria Palace Theater, Victoria Street, SW1E 5EA (Tube station: Victoria), ☎ 44 844 871 7618. 

Music

• 51.496011-0.1270388 St John's Smith Square (SJSS), St John's Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HA, ☎ 44 20 7222 2168, @[email protected]. Mon-Fri, 10 am-175pm. An old, disused Baroque church, built by Thomas Archer. Since the 1960s it has been converted into a concert hall where world-class classical music is performed with daily concerts from September to July. 

Guided tours

• Free guided tours (Free Walking Tours), Arch of the Duke of Wellington (Tube station: Hyde Park Corner, exit 2). Free / donation. Mon-Sun 11:00 and 13:00. There are various free guided tours in London but the most famous depart from the Duke of Wellington's arch twice a day and pass many of Westminster's important sights. It lasts about two and a half hours. 

Shopping

Much of the area of ​​this district is owned by a small number of entities. Much of Belgravia is owned by the Duke of Westminster through the family company Grosvernor Group and the remainder is owned by the Crown Estate, the Royal Parks or the central government. Residents here love exclusivity, so the big chains are kept out of the way in the north. In Victoria, on the other hand, there are most of the chain stores found elsewhere, as well as in Pimlico and Millbank.

• 51.4973-0.14021 Cardinal Place, Victoria Street (Tube station: Victoria or St. James's Park). Here you will find chain stores such as Marks & Spencer and various restaurants. 
• 51.49381-0.151452 Les Senteurs, 71 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9PJ (Tube station: Victoria or Sloane Square), ☎ 44 20 7730 2322, fax: 44 20 7259 9145, @[email protected]. Specialized perfumery. 
• 51.4933-0.13993 Retromania, 6 Upper Tachbrook Street, SW1V 1SH (Tube station: Victoria), ☎ 44 20 7630 7406, @[email protected]. "Charity shop" specializing in vintage and retro clothing. 

Garments

Perhaps the most famous shirts are made in Jermyn Street, SW1, just south of Saville Row. The resident shirt manufacturers are:

• 51.5078-0.1394 New & Lingwood, 53 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6LX, ☎ 44 20 7493 9621. Mon-Wed 09: 00-18: 00; Thu 09: 00–19: 00; Fri 09: 00–18: 00; Sat 10: 00-18: 00. 
• 51.5075-0.13925 Turnbull & Asser, 71 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6PF, ☎ 44 20 7808 3000. 
• 51.5083-0.13746 Hilditch & Key, 37 Jermyn Street, SW1 6DT, ☎ 44 20 7734 4707, fax: 44 20 7434 0704. There is another venue up there too 51.5076-0.138911 73 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6NP 
• 51.5077-0.13857 Harvie & Hudson, 77 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6NP, ☎ 44 20 7930 3949. Mon-Sat 09: 30-18: 00;. 
• 51.5083-0.1378 Charles Tyrwhitt, 100 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6EE, ☎ 44 20 7839 6060. Mon-Sat 08: 00-20: 00; Sun 12: 00-18: 00. 
• 51.5074-0.13959 Emma Willis, 66 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6NY, ☎ 44 20 7930 9980, fax: 44 20 7930-9072, @[email protected]. Mon-Sat 10: 00-18: 00; Sun closed. 

How to have fun

Drinking

Belgravia

Like nearby Knightsbridge, Belgravia was built so that the pubs were out of sight of the wealthy, in more remote alleys, as they were open for servants and not for bosses who did not want to see the lower classes on the street.

• 51.5014-0.15491 The Grenadier, 18 Wilton Row, SW1X 7NR (Tube station: Knightsbridge or Hyde Park Corner), ☎ 44 20 7235 3074. Mon Sun 12: 00-23: 00. Quiet and secluded pub in the middle of the city, thanks to the fact that it is well hidden in a side street. Built in 1720 as a refectory for officers of the 1st Foot Guards Regiment, then converted to a pub in 1818. It is said to be possessed by the ghost of a simple officer, found cheating during a game of cards and beaten to death. 
• 51.4984-0.15592 The Star Tavern, 6 Belgrave Mews WeStreet, SW1X 8HT (Tube station: Knightsbridge or Hyde Park Corner), ☎ 44 20 7235 3019, @[email protected]. Mon-Fri 11: 00-23: 00; Sat 12: 00-23: 00; Sun 12: 00-22: 30. One of two London pubs (seven across the UK) to feature in every edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide since first printing. The other is the Buckingham Arms. The pub has a decadent past: it was famous for being the meeting place for thugs, gang leaders and crime lords in the 1950s and 1960s. The Great Train Robbery was planned here. Celebrities of the time came here to mingle with criminals. Today, however, it is safer and more peaceful; it is also comfortable as it has been refurbished. 

Pimlico and Millbank

• 51.4911-0.13733 CASK Pub & Kitchen, 6 Charlwood Street, SW1V 2EE (tubeː Victoria or Pimlico), ☎ 44 20 7630 7225, @[email protected]. Mon 16: 00-23: 00; Tue-Sat 12: 00-23: 00; Sun 12: 00-22: 30. One of the 50 best bars in the world according to RateBeer. Only two appear on the list and the other is The Craft Beer Company in Clerkenwell. A specialized brewery with a continuous rotation of "ale" and cascading beers, as well as a large assortment of bottled beers. Quality hamburgers made by Forty Burgers are served from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays they serve the traditional roast. 
• 51.4893-0.128644 Morpeth Arms, 58 Millbank, SW1P 4RW (Tube station: Pimlico), ☎ 44 20 7834 6442, @[email protected]. Pub vittoriano costruito sul luogo delle celle della prigione di Millbank, che è stata per breve tempo il penitenziario nazionale per poi essere declassato a struttura di raccolta per coloro ai quali era stata data la sentenza di esilio in Australia. Si dice che questo pub è posseduto dai fantasmi che non ressero il viaggio. 

Victoria

• 51.4977-0.13555 The Albert, 52 Victoria Street, SW1H 0NP (Stazione tube: St. James Park), ☎ 44 20 7222 5577. Lun-Mer 10:00–23:00; Gio-Sab 10:00–00:00; Dom 10:00–22:30. Pub tradizionale molto carino e frequentato, costruito nel 1860. Il nome onora il marito della regina Victoria. Al suo interno si possono vedere ritratti di Primi Ministri, molti dei quali autografati. 
• 51.4992-0.1376 The Buckingham Arms, 62 Petty France, SW1H 9EU (Stazione tube: St. James's Park), ☎ 44 20 7222 3386, @[email protected]. Lun-Ven 11:00–23:00; Sab 11:00–18:00;. Uno dei due pub a Londra a comparire nella guida Good Beer Guide sin dalla prima edizione. L'altro è lo Star Tavern. L'edificio è un pub vittoriano riarredato. 
• 51.4986-0.14047 The Cask and Glass, 39–41 Palace Street, SW1E 5HN (Stazione tube: Victoria), ☎ 44 20 7834 7630, @[email protected]. Lun-Ven 11:00–23:00; Sab 00:00–20:00. Piccolo pub tradizionale (uno dei più piccoli della Londra centrale). Buone birre e arredamento pittoresco. 
• 51.495-0.14438 Wetherspoons, 1F, Victoria Station Concourse, SW1V 1JT (all'interno della stazione di Victoria Train Station, al centro, sopra l'isola dei negozi), ☎ 44 20 7931 0445. Lun-Gio 07:00–23:00; Ven-Sab 07:00–00:00; Dom 07:00–23:00. Pub cella catena di negozi omonima e ignorato dalla gran parte delle 220.000 persone che ogni giorno passano da questa stazione ogni giorno. Serve delle buone birre e ci sono posti a sedere anche sui balconi ai lati del pub. Ci sono schermi che mostrano la partenza dei treni. 
• 51.495-0.14259 The Willow Walk, 25 Wilton Road, SW1V 1LW (Stazione tube: Victoria), ☎ 44 20 7828 2953. Lun-Ven 07:00–00:00; Sab 08:00–00:00; Dom 08:00–23:00. Parte della catena J D Wetherspoon, appena fuori dal lato est della staione di Victoria Station, poco più giù rispetto al teatro Apollo Victoria Theatre. Serve birre "ale" e buon cibo. Gli ingressi sono su Wilton Road e Vauxhall Bridge Road. 

Westminster

• 51.5064-0.127310 The Lord Moon of the Mall, 16-18 Whitehall, SW1A 2DY (Stazione tube: Charing Cross), ☎ 44 20 7839 7701. Dom-Gio 08:00–23:00; Ven-Sab 08:00–00:00. Della catena J D Wetherspoon in cima a Whitehall, vicino a Trafalgar Square. Serve molte buone birre a cascata. 
• 51.5021-0.125811 The Red Lion (The Prime Minister's Local), 48 Parliament Street, Whitehall, SW1A 2NH (A metà strada tra Parliament Square e Downing Street; tube: Westminster), ☎ 44 20 7930-5826, @[email protected]. Lun-Sab 11:00–23:00; Dom 00:00–21:00. Un buon posto dove vedere politici e commentatori politici. I televisori del pub mostrano dibattiti della Camera dei Comuni. 
• 51.4969-0.132312 The Speaker, 46 Great Peter Street, SW1P 2HA (Stazione tube: St James's Park), ☎ 44 20 7222 1749. Un pub per i lavoratori della zona, oltre a impiegati statali e parlamentari. Sulle pareti sono esposte caricature di vari politici. Si autodefinisce un vero pub, senza slot machine, musica o schermi. Le birre provvisorie cambiano ogni mese. 
• 51.5011-0.125613 St Stephen's Tavern Pub, 10 Bridge Street, SW1A 2JR (Stazione tube: Westminster,), ☎ 44 20 7295 2286, @[email protected]. Lun-Gio 10:00–23:30; Ven 10:00–00:00; Sab 10:00–23:30; Dom 10:00–22:30. Pub vittoriano aperto nel 1875 di fronte al Palazzo di Westminster e il più vicino al Big Ben. Il nome del pub arriva infatti dal soprannome "St. Stephen Tower" che i giornalisti vittoriani dettero all'odierna Elizabeth Tower. Molto frequentato da turisti. 

Where to eat

Moderate prices

• 51.4928-0.14931 A R M Chicken, 15 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9RP (Stazione tube: Victoria o Sloane Square), ☎ 44 20 7730 7742. £3.90 kebab; £4.40 piatto con hamburger. Negozio di kebab halal tradizionale, economico e poco salutare vicino alla stazione dei pullman Victoria Coach Station. 
• 51.493-0.14992 Friar's Inn, 21 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9RP (Stazione tube: Victoria o Sloane Square), ☎ 44 20 7730 1990. "Fish and chips" vicino alla stazione dei pullman Victoria Coach Station. Diviso in due: la parte ristorante e la parte a portar via. 
• 51.49548-0.139253 Westminster Cathedral Cafe, 42 Francis Street, SW1P 1QW. Lun-Ven 10.00-16.00. La caffetteria si trova nel piano interrato della Cattedrale di Westminster ed è uno dei posti più economici della zona. Piatti pronti caldi e poco costosi. 
• 51.496483-0.1425354 The Laughing Halibut, 38 Strutton Ground, Westminster, London SW1P 2HR, ☎ 44 20 7799 2844. Lun-Ven 11:15–20:00; Sab 11:15–16:00. "Fish and chips" classico. 
• 51.50191-0.14075 Pickles Sandwich Bar, 6 Old Queen Street, Westminster, London SW1H 9HP, ☎ 44 20 7222 8749. Lun-Ven 6:30-16:00; Sab–Dom 8:00–15:00. Caffetteria alla vecchia maniera dove fare colazione o prendere un panino. Ci sono anche buone opzioni vegetariane. 

Average prices

• 51.49701-0.140976 Cardinal Place, Victoria Street (Stazione tube: Victoria o St. James's Park). Una selezione di catene di ristoranti racchiuse all'interno del centro commerciale. Qui si trovano Browns Bar & Brasserie, La Tasca, Leon, Nandos, Royal Quarter Café, Wagamama, and Zizzi. 
• 51.4933-0.14997 The Ebury Restaurant and Wine Bar, 139 Ebury Street, SW1W 8NA (Stazione tube: Victoria), ☎ 44 20 7730 5447, fax: 44 20 7823 6053, @[email protected]. Lun-Sab 11:00–23:00; Dom 12:00–22:30. Ristorante francese. 
• 51.4925-0.14018 Seafresh, 80–81 Wilton Road, SW1V 1DL (Stazione tube:Victoria o Pimlico), ☎ 44 20 7828 0747, fax: 44 20 7828 8873. Lun-Ven 12:00–15:00/17:00–22:30; Sab 12:00–22:30. Ristorante "Fish and chips" anche a portar via. 
• 51.4964-0.14749 Oliviomare, 10 Lower Belgrave Street, SW1W 0LJ (Stazione tube: Victoria), ☎ 44 20 7730 9022, @[email protected]. £17–30 piatti principali. Lun-Ven 12:00–14:30/19:00–23:00; Sab 12:00–15:00/19:00–23:00; Dom 12:00–15:00/19:00–22:30. Ristorante sardo specializzato in pesce. Fa parte di una piccola catena di negozi che si trovano solo in questa zona. 
• 51.4905-0.152310 The Orange, 37 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8NE (Stazione tube: Sloane Square), ☎ 44 20 7881 9844, @[email protected]. Lun-Gio 08:00–23:30; Ven-Sab 08:00–00:00; Dom 08:00–22:30. Gastropub moderno. Ci sono anche delle stanze con bagno che si possono prenotare. 
• 51.5074-0.138911 Quaglinos, 16 Bury Street, SW1Y 6AJ (Stazione tube: Green Park), ☎ 44 20 7930 6767. Di proprietà del progettista Terence Conrad. Il menu cambia spesso. Ogni sera e la domenica sera ci sono concerti di musica jazz. 

High prices

• 51.4975-0.129612 The Cinnamon Club, The Old Westminster Library, 30–32 Great Smith Street, SW1P 3BU (Stazione tube: Westminster), ☎ 44 20 7222 2555, @[email protected]. Ristorante indiano pluripremiato. Situato all'interno di una vecchia libreria convertita; l'edificio è iscritto alla lista degli edifici storici con grado II. 
• 51.4905-0.152613 Hunan, 51 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8NE (Stazione tube: Sloane Square), ☎ 44 20 7730 5712. Lun-Sab 12:30–14:00/18:30–23:00. Ristorante cinese senza menu. I clienti comunicano ai camerieri cosa non mangiano e quanto piccante vogliono i piatti e la cucina prepara le portate su misura che vengono serviti in una lunga sequenza di piccole porzioni. 
• 51.5077-0.139414 Wiltons, 55 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6LX (Stazione tube: Green Park), ☎ 44 20 7629 9955. Lun-Ven 12:00–14:30/18:00–22:30. Ristorante di pesce, ostriche e cacciagione. Piatti tradizionali inglesi all'intenro di un ristorante aperto dal 1742. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

Ci sono molti piccoli B&B nelle zone di Pimlico e Victoria che sono un buon affare per questa parte di Londra.

• 51.4944-0.13621 The Wellington, 71 Vincent Square, SW1P 2PA (Stazione tube: Pimlico). Da £30. Situato in una zona tranquilla. I prezzi per il soggiorno includono una colazione semplice. Collegamento a internet disponibile. A 10 minuti a piedi dalla stazione di Victoria Station. 

Average prices

• 51.4934-0.142 Belle Cour Hotel & SPA, 4 Upper Tachbrook Street, SW1V 1SH (Stazione tube: Victoria), @[email protected]. Da £125. Piacevole albergo a 4 stelle vicino alla stazione di Victoria Station. 
• 51.4932-0.1273 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London—Westminster, 30 John Islip Street, SW1P 4DD (Stazione tube: Pimlico), ☎ 44 20 7630 1000, fax: 44 20 7233-7575, @[email protected]. Da £150. Check in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Al suo interno si trova un ristorante, un bar e un centro congressi. 
• 51.5062-0.1242334 Corinthia Hotel London, 10 Whitehall Place, SW1A 2BD. Check in: 15.00, check-out: 12:00. Albergo comodo con una selezione di stanze, suite e attici 
• 51.4988-0.13425 St Ermin's Hotel, 2 Caxton Street, SW1H 0QW (Stazione tube: St James's Park), ☎ 44 20 7222 7888, @[email protected]. Da £115. Piccolo ma con stanze ben arredate, situato in una posizione comoda vicino all'Abbazia di Westminter. 
• 51.4908-0.13876 Luna & Simone Hotel, 47/49 Belgrave Road, SW1V 2BB (Stazione tube: Pimlico o Victoria), ☎ 44 20 7834 5897, fax: 44 20 7828 2474, @[email protected]. Stanza doppia con bagno £70-90. Piccolo ma comodo e con personale gentile. 
• 51.4996-0.13197 Sanctuary House Hotel, 33 Tothill Street, SW1H 9LA (Stazione tube: St James's Park), ☎ 44 20 7799 4044, @[email protected]. Da £195. Piccolo albergo in un edificio carino vicino all'Abbazia di Westminster. Fa parte di un pub Fullers. 

High prices

• 51.4985-0.13748 St James Court Hotel, 55 Buckingham Gate, SW1E 6AF (Stazione tube: St James's Park o Victoria), ☎ 44 20 7834 6655. £150. Check in: 14:00, check-out: 13:00. Albergo a quattro stelle vicino al Buckingham Palace e The Houses of Parliament. Al suo interno ci sono tre ristoranti, un centro benessere e una palestra. 
• 51.4957-0.14539 The Grosvenor, 101 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0SJ (Stazione tube: Victoria), ☎ 44 871 376 9038, fax: 44 871 376 9138, @[email protected]. Vicino alla stazione di Victoria Station. 
• 51.506765-0.1405910 St. James’s Hotel & Club, 7-8 Park Place, SW1A 1LS (Stazione tube: Green Park, appena fuori da James’s Street vicino Mayfair), ☎ 44 20 7316 1600, fax: 44 20 7316 1603, @[email protected]. From £215. Check-out: 12:00. Albergo a schiera di lusso. 

How to keep in touch

Useful information

Bagni pubblici

Per un costo di £0.25 a messaggio, i visitatori possono usare un servizio per trovare i bagni più vicini, chiamato SatLav. Si deve mandare un messagio di testo con scritto "toilet" al 80097 che risponderà con le indicazioni per raggingere il bagno più vicino.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Westminster
• Commons contains images or other files on Westminster

Guide : the article respects the characteristics of a usable article but in addition it contains a lot of information and allows a visit to the district without problems. The article contains an adequate number of images, a fair number of listings. There are no style errors.