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Banqueting House

Designed and built in 1619-1622 by the Neo-Classical architect Inigo Jones, The Banqueting House is now all that remains of Whitehall Palace, the sovereign's principal residence from 1530-1698 when most of it was destroyed by fire. Renowned for its architecture and paintings (by Rubens, among others), the building is also famous for being the scene of Charles I's execution in 1649 at the end of the English Civil War.

Address: Whitehall SW1A 2ER
Getting there: tube:
Hours: Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM, closed Sun, Bank Holidays and 24 Dec-1 Jan (inclusive); The Banqueting House is liable to close at short notice for government functions, telephone to check before you travel
Price: £4, students (with ID) and seniors (60+) £3.00, children 5-16 £2.60, under 5 free
Website: hrp.org.uk (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: London/Westminster, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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SeeWestminster
Whitehall
This street runs between Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square, and is the site of several British government buildings. Horseguards Parade, and the heavily guarded entrance to Downing Street (see above) are on the west side. Banqueting House is on the east side. In the centre of the street sits the Cenotaph, a war memorial erected following World War I, which is the centre of the annual Remembrance Day ceremony on 11 November.
SeeWestminster
Household Cavalry Museum
Horse Guards, Whitehall, SW1A 2AX
Apr–Oct: daily 10AM–6PM; Nov–Mar: daily 10AM–5PM£7 adults; £5 concessions
DoWestminster
Trooping the Colour
The King's Birthday Parade
A ceremony performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies to mark the official birthday of the King. The King and his family travel by carriage down The Mall from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, where they inspect the troops and then the entire Household Division performs a march past the King as he receives their salute. Tickets to Horse Guards Parade are awarded by ballot but the parade along the rest of the route can be watched for free. Up to three tickets can be requested by sending a letter (this is by post only), enclosing a self-addressed envelope, to the Brigade Major of the Headquarters Household Division, in January or February; these will be entered into the ballot and those chosen will be sent offer letters which contain payment details. Those without a ticket can get their best view by standing on The Mall, along the edge of the parade, or on the edge of St James's Park by Horse Guards Parade. Arriving before 09:00 is recommended.
Held annually on a Sat in June, beginning around 10AMAbout £20 if successful in the ballot
SeeWestminster
Downing Street
Site of the London residences for the Prime Minister (No. 10) and the Chancellor (No. 11).