London is a very big city, with 32 boroughs. Along with two other ‘cities’. One is the financial district, and the other is the City of Westminster. Mostly known as being home to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, it also incorporates many other famous landmarks. Running from the River Thames to Oxford Street, it also houses the West End (with 39 theatres – a higher concentration than anywhere bar New York’s Broadway).
There are two big churches in Westminster. The Catholic one is Westminster Cathedral and the Church of England one is Westminster Abbey. The latter is where monarchs are crowned, and the former (one of the biggest Catholic churches on the planet) was built in a neo-Byzantine red brick style, which caused embarrassment a few years back for a right-wing political party, which complained that the BBC was ‘showing liberal bias’ by featuring a London mosque as its backdrop! Actor/writer Alex Andreou began a Twitter feed of ‘ThingsThatAreNotMosques’ (posting images say of the Eiffel Tower) to gently chastise those who seek to divide, rather than unite us in the most tolerant of nationals. Another ‘English’ political party made a similar mistake, thinking that Brighton Pavilion was a mosque. And these are people who seek to run our country?
the great striking clock of Westminster
Big Ben is one of London’s iconic landmarks, with five bells situated at the north end of the Houses of Parliament, where MPs meet to debate and shout at each other. Built in 1859, it has 334 steps to the belfry and at the time of being installed, was the most accurate chiming clock in the world. Even today, News at 10 uses its ‘bongs’ to present the TV headlines. Its nickname is likely named after someone called Benjamin, but there are debates as to who.
The tower also has an oak-panelled Prison Room, where in 1880 newly-elected MP Charles Bradlaugh was placed, after he refused to swear a religious oath of allegiance to Queen Victoria, due to being an atheist. By-elections were called in Northampton but he won every one (four times) so eventually he was allowed to take his seat by ‘affirming’ instead. His daughter later became a prominent peace activist. But the clock just keeps chiming through all the political fallouts. It has stopped a few times due to heavy snow (or cleaning and repair) but not often.
the city that houses Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is of course the seat of our monarchy, controversial due to the huge expense (when homeless people live within walking distance on the streets). Originally a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, the palace has 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, 73 bathrooms, 52 private bedrooms, 19 state rooms, a swimming pool, doctor surgery, cinema, post office and jeweller’s workshop. The garden covers 42 acres and includes a lake, tennis court and landing area for helicopters. Next door are the Royal Mews that house cars used by the Monarchy, and coach horses used for ceremonial processions.
The palace was bombed 9 times during the Second World War, which destroyed the chapel. In modern times, some rooms are open to the public to raise funds (after a claim to heat the palace from public community energy funds was rejected), due to fears on public opinion, when many people can’t afford to heat their homes).
A surprising part of history was that as recently as the last few decades, the Palace tried to exempt the palace from the Race Relations Act 1968, so complaints of racism for not employing people of colour for clerical jobs, would be kept out of the legal system (only employing black people as domestic servants). Things have thankfully moved on, but it does give strong arguments against a system where rules are exempt for certain people based on their birth (the Monarch still has right to appoint Bishops and pardon anyone in prison). Of course, King Charles would never release a serial killer, but he could if he wanted.
other major landmarks in Westminster City
Trafalgar Square runs through London’s West End, home to the famed stone lions and Nelson’s Column. Each year, a gifted tree arrives from Oslo, although campaigners now say it would be better to grow a local one and then replant it after Christmas. Also Trafalgar Square used to be home to thousands of feral pigeons, until people were banned from feeding them. It’s good to often leave wildlife alone, but sudden stopping can cause starvation, so the councils should have worked more with pigeon experts, rather than some that sent in hawks that would rip pigeons apart in front of terrified children.
Trafalgar Square is also home to England’s smallest police station. As the square has often been used for peaceful protests, the station housed a discreet police officer, who could quickly call Scotland Yard for help, if protests got out of hand.
Each year, a Norway spruce is presented from Oslo to be the city Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, to thank for help during World War II. The tree is shipped across the North Sea to the Suffolk port of Felixstowe (protestors say it would better to just enjoy ‘good relations’ with Norway and plant a locally grown tree instead). Read more on the greenest Christmas tree choices.
a London market (once owned by monks)
Covent Garden is known for its flowers and mime artists, but used to be owned by the monks of Westminster Abbey. The market building still houses pineapple-shaped lamps, due to being the first place you could buy tropical fruits, back in the day. Many flowers are unsafe near animal friends, read more on how to make your garden safe for pets, to know flowers to avoid if you live with pets (or gift to people who live with them). Avoid displaying foliage near gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
The monks lost the garden after property was seized during Henry VIII’s Reformation (when he replaced himself as head of the church, over the Catholic Pope in Rome). This area is also home to London’s oldest theatre (Drury Lane) and the Royal Opera House (students at the Royal Ballet School can reach it over the concertina-like Bridge of Aspiration).
Other well-known districts of the City of Westminster are:
- Soho was originally a destination for aristocrats, but today is more known for entertainment and other certain professions (back in 1854, the area was hit with a bad outbreak of cholera).
- St James (home to a famous park and many handmade shirt shops for rich gentlemen).
- Victoria was named after Victoria Station, built to ferry people from London to Chatham or the seaside at Brighton, and remains a major transport hub to the southeast.
- Knightsbridge (shared with Kensington) is home to the exclusive stores like Harrods and Harvey Nichols (singer Leona Lewis declined the offer of turning on the Christmas lights, due to selling of real fur).
- Green spaces include Green Park, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park (home to an IRA bombing that killed not just humans but 7 innocent horses).
the ‘Westminster vs Westminster’ court case
Pimlico is south of Belgravia, known for its beautiful Regency architecture (with over 350 Grade 2 listed buildings). Most of this area (and around half of neighbouring Mayfair, the most expensive property on the Monopoly board) are owned by the Duke of Westminster. The previous Duke went to court (‘Westminster vs Westminster’) after being told to sell 750,000 properties to leaseholders at a fair price, due to long-term tenancy. He resigned from the Conservative party in protest, despite owning up to 300 acres of exclusive London districts with an estimated worth of 3.5 billion pounds.
Since his death, the empire has transferred to the young shoulders of his son, who despite being born with ‘the longest silver spoon anyone could have’ is at least using some of his wealth to help the less fortunate in society. However there are calls for him to ban hunting on estates he owns (one creature was actually killed in someone’s garden, after the hunt pursued it onto private land).
The trial about leaseholds a few years back, opened up a can of worms on what ‘upper class, middle class and working class’ people were entitled to. The Sunday Correspondent offered a crate of brown ale for the best description of working class, and the winner wrote:
Wearing overalls on weekdays and painting somebody else’s house to earn money? You’re working-class. Wearing overalls at weekends, painting your own own to save money? You’re middle class.
Barrister John Mortimer (who wrote ‘Rumpole of the Bailey‘ said that Margaret Thatcher had already abolished the working class, so now you were either ‘middle class or sleeping in a cardboard box’.
The City of Westminster is also home to one of England’s major public schools. This is not the same as a comprehensive, rather a private school open to people of any background and not run for profit of the owner (although fees a whopping £30K or so a year). Famous pupils include Louis Theroux, Helena Bonham-Carter, John Gielgud, Tony Benn, and Gary Holton (who you may remember from the TV series Aufwiedersen Pet, who sadly died after drug and alcohol problems at just 33).
