War Time London
[Up to 4 hours excluding lunch]
This year we commemorate 80 years since D Day - the allied invasion of Normandy in 1944. This was the largest seaborne invasion in history and marked the beginning of the liberation of France. All over the UK and the continent, celebrations take place to mark this historic event and here in London we are blessed with a wealth of sites where visitors and Londoners alike can get a full understanding of the significance, not only of D Day but of the role the UK played in World War Two. This Inspiration Itinerary focuses on Wartime London starting at Churchill War Rooms through Whitehall and finishing at the Battle of Britain Monument.
Churchill War Rooms
Your walk starts outside a perfectly ordinary looking Government Building. However, once you go inside you realise this is anything but ordinary. Originally a collection of basement rooms underneath the Office of Works and the Board of Trade, this location was chosen for its central position. All who worked there were sworn to secrecy and the identity of this underground bunker didn’t come to light until after the war. Nowhere captures the indefatigable spirit or work ethic of Sir Winston Churchill, who was persuaded to move underground after narrowly escaping a bombing raid on 10 Downing Street. He proceeded to hold 115 War Cabinets here and you can marvel at the original interiors, complete with war-time rationed sugar cubes, where momentous decisions were taken.
As you leave the Churchill War Rooms, turn right up King Charles Street through the Foreign & Commonwealth Offices and you arrive on Whitehall. Named after the Tudor Palace that originally stood here, all that remains today is the Banqueting House with its magnificent Rubens ceiling and was where the execution of King Charles I took place in 1649. From here you will also see a number of sombre War Memorials, to the Women of World War II and perhaps most importantly The Cenotaph. Originating from Greek – meaning ‘empty tomb’ - it represents and commemorates all those who lost their lives in war. It is here that each November, the King and senior Royals along with representatives of the armed forces and the government come to commemorate the dead. Take a moment to reflect upon the tributes laid at the base.
Whitehall & The Cenotaph
The Battle of Britain Monument
From The Cenotaph, walk toward the iconic Houses of Parliament and take a look at the imposing statue of Sir Winston Churchill, leaning on his cane and dressed in a great overcoat. He looks towards the House of Commons which were severely damaged by a series of incendiary bombs that fell in May 1941, as it was Churchill who oversaw much of the reconstruction of the Commons Chamber. From here proceed along the banks of the River Thames until you come to the final stop: The Battle of Britain Monument. Opened in 2005 by the then Prince of Wales, it commemorates ‘The Few’ - those airmen who partook in the arial defence of Britain during the War.
To book this itinerary with one of our expert guides, please get in touch