The Sights Along Whitehall

In honor of Prince George’s birth, furrylittlegnome will keep her readers in London.  This week, we take a walk along Whitehall – a grand, historical road full of sights and sounds.
We begin at the Westminster Tube Stop – take the Circle or District Line to get there. Once you step outside, it is magic. Your first glimpses are of The London Eye and of County Hall – now home to the London Aquarium. Looking in a different direction, you will see the Palace of Westminster – better known as the British Parliament. Go over Bridge Street to get this decent shot.
An added bonus is to hear Big Ben chime at the top of the hour from the Elizabeth Tower. In back of these impressive structures is Westminster Abbey. On this tour, we will skip this historical Anglican church and head towards Trafalgar Square. Now is the time we honor Sir Winston Churchill.  A statue is erected in Parliament Square in his honor and below the magnificent marble buildings at the beginning of Whitehall is a museum dedicated to his life and work.  The museum is in the exact place where Churchill stayed during World War II.  It is full of personal and professional artifacts, including his famous top hat.
Continuing up Whitehall, we pass The Cenotaph (empty tomb). This war monument honors Britain’s war dead and as you can see by all of the poppies, it is a very sacred place. Up ahead, on the left, is Downing Street – home to the British Prime Minister. The street entrance is heavily guarded and with nothing to see, just a quick look is enough.
A nice surprise? Take a look at the below photo. Dedicated in 2005, the women of World War II received recognition with this memorial just north of The Cenotaph. Continuing on our journey, we pass the Household Cavalary, and remember, friends, pay attention to the sign next to the horse!
We have now just about made it to the top of Whitehall. In front of us is Trafalgar Square.  Here, we find Nelson’s Column – a monument for Admiral Horatio Nelson – a decorated British Officer.  In the background, you will find the National Gallery – a free museum that is, according to Wikipedia, the fifth most visited art museum in the world.At this point, we come to a crossroads. Do we head over to Piccadilly Circus or do we veer left and head down the mall? Stop by next week…

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