Cycle tours developed by Open House Volunteers, Robin Key and Peter Bury

All directions from Google Maps and accurate as of 11 September 2020

1. 'Classical' Westminster

Somerset House
Benjamin Franklin House (& 42 Craven St)
Canada House
Carlton House Terrace (6-9 & 10-11)
Reform Club
Mark Masons’ Hall
Berry Bros & Rudd
The London Library
Royal Overseas League
Spencer House
Dartmouth House
Savile Row
Portland Place (42 & 21)

7.5km (4.5 miles)

Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA, Grade I listed restored building of five wings, four of which surround a large courtyard. Built to accommodate public offices, learned societies and naval administrators. Construction began in 1775 to the design of Sir William Chambers. New Wing, overlooking Waterloo Bridge, dates from 1850 by Sir James Pennethorne.

Head north towards Strand/A4 > Turn left onto Strand/A4 > Parts of this road may be closed at certain times or on certain days > Turn left onto Craven St > Turn left onto Hungerford Ln > Turn right onto Craven Passage > Walk your bicycle > Turn right onto Craven St > Walk your bicycle, destination will be on the right
4 min (0.6 mi)

Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven St, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5NF. Grade I listed Georgian house, the only surviving home of Benjamin Franklin, retaining many original features, including central staircase, lathing, 18th Century panelling, stoves windows, fittings and beams. Architect: Baron William Craven the Younger, 1732; restored by Patrick Dillon 1998. Open 19th and 20th 12-4pm book in advance at https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/event/open-house-london-2020/

Head south-east on Craven St towards Craven Passage > Turn right onto Northumberland Ave > At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Trafalgar Square/A4 > Take the zebra crossing > Walk your bicycle, destination will be on the right
3 min (0.3 mi)

Canada House, Trafalgar Square, SW1Y 5BJ. Canada House was built between 1824 and 1827 to accommodate the Union Club and the Royal College of Physicians. Its bold neo-hellenic lines were the precursor for the new architectural style adopted in Trafalgar Square, and were a complete transformation from the Regency style of the time. Canada bought the Union Club in 1923 and subsequently took over the whole block. Fully refurbished in 2014 Canada House serves as a true showcase of the country in the 21st century. Architect: Sir Robert Smirke, 1823. Virtual tour of the interior available at 11am on Saturday 19th and on Canada High Commission social media.

Head east > Continue onto Cockspur St/A4 > Continue to follow A4 > At the roundabout, take the 5th exit onto Trafalgar Square/A4 > Continue to follow A4 > Turn left onto Waterloo Pl > Turn right onto Carlton House Terrace
3 min (0.4 mi)

Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG. Designed by John Nash and Decimus Burton and built in 1829 it comprises two grand blocks separated by the Duke of York’s Column (Benjamin Wyatt 1834) which closes the grand vista of Lower Regent St. Imposing façades along the Mall with more modest fronts on the Terrace. No 9 (on the corner of the Duke of York’s Steps) was the Prussian, then German Embassy 1849-1939 and there is a touching memorial to German dogs at the top of the Steps. It is now the home of the Royal Society - online tour https://royalsociety.org/open-house/?utm_source=open-house-website&utm_medium=weblink&utm_campaign=open-house-2020

Head north-west on Waterloo Pl towards Pall Mall/A4 > Turn left onto Pall Mall/A4, destination will be on the left
53 s (0.1 mi)

The Reform Club, 104 Pall Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5EW. Built as a Whig gentlemen’s club and inspired by Italian Renaissance palaces, notably the Palazzo Farnese at Rome. The lobby leads to an enclosed colonnaded courtyard with glazed roof and tesselated floor. Tunnelled staircase leads to upper floor. Architect: Sir Charles Barry 1841. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head south-west on Pall Mall/A4 towards St James's Square > Turn right onto St James's St/A4, destination will be on the left
2 min (0.2 mi)

Mark Masons' Hall, 86 St James's St, St. James's, London SW1A 1PL. Built as a gentlemen’s club this stunning Victorian building and its grand interiors were adapted for Masonic use in the 1970s. Fronted in stone, the style is ‘Grosvenor Hotel Italianate’. Coarse foliage ornament fronts the building. Architect: James Knowles Jr 1868. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head north-west on St James's St/A4 towards Pickering Pl > Turn right onto Pickering Pl > Make a U-turn > Turn left onto St James's St/A4 > Turn left, destination will be on the left
2 min (0.1 mi)

Berry Bros. & Rudd, 63 Pall Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5HZ. Founded as a general grocer in 1698, the company has been specialising in wines and spirits since the 1810s. The street front and main shop are little changed from the early 19th Century, including the ‘sign of the coffee-mill’ over the main door, recalling its origins as a grocer.

Head north-east on Pall Mall/A4 towards St James's Square > Turn left onto St James's Square, destination will be on the left
1 min (0.2 mi)

The London Library, 14 St James's Square, St. James's, London SW1Y 4LG. Founded in 1841 this is one of the world’s great lending libraries. An extraordinary history, a vast borrowing collection and an outstanding building make this a unique place to think, to write and to be inspired. In 1896–98 the premises were completely rebuilt to the designs of James Osborne Smith, and this building survives as the front part of the present library, with a complex set of interconnected buildings behind holding the Library’s collection of over 1 million books. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head north-east on St James's Square towards Duke of York St > Turn left onto Duke of York St > Turn left onto Jermyn St > Turn left onto St James's St/A4 > Turn right onto Park Pl
3 min (0.4 mi)

The Royal Over-Seas League, Over-Seas House, Park Pl, St James's St, London SW1A 1LR. Over-Seas House is formed of three buildings, two of which are grade I listed; Rutland House, designed by James Gibbs and completed in 1736; and Vernon House rebuilt in 1835 after a fire. These, along with the 1937 Westminster Wing each offer distinct architectural styles and furnishings of their era, and include many unique original interior features. The clubhouse backs onto a beautiful garden overlooking Green Park. Open for tours 19th and 20th September 9am-6pm. Must be pre-booked at https://www.rosl.org.uk/events/event/1148-open-house-london

Head north-east towards St James's St/A4 > Turn right onto St James's St/A4 > Turn right onto St James's Pl, destination will be on the left
3 min (0.2 mi)

Spencer House, 27 St James's Pl, St. James's, London SW1A 1NR. London’s finest surviving 18th Century town house. Built for the 1st Earl Spencer, the original build took 10 years to complete. the State Rooms are amongst the earliest and finest neo-classical interiors in Europe. The house has been leased since 1927, currently to Lord Rothschild’s RIT Capital Holdings plc, and has regained the full splendour of its late eighteenth-century appearance after a ten year programme of restoration. Architects: John Vardy and James Stuart 1756. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head north-east on St James's Pl towards A4 > Turn left onto St James's St/A4 > Turn left onto Piccadilly/A4 > Turn right onto Half Moon St > Turn left onto Curzon St > Slight right to stay on Curzon St > Sharp right onto Queen St > Slight right onto Charles St, destination will be on the right
5 min (0.6 mi)

Dartmouth House, 37 Charles St, Mayfair, London W1J 5ED. Grade II* listed town house with a marble courtyard, fine panelling and a Robert Adam fireplace. Home to the English Speaking Union. Architect: William Cubitt & Co 1890. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head north-east on Charles St towards Hay's Mews > Turn left onto Hay's Mews > Turn right onto Hill St > Turn left onto Berkeley Square > Turn right to stay on Berkeley Square > Turn right to stay on Berkeley Square > Turn left onto Jones St > Turn right onto Bourdon St > Turn right onto Bloomfield Pl > Turn right onto New Bond St > Turn left onto Conduit St/B406 > Turn right onto Savile Row
3 min (0.7 mi)

Savile Row, London W1S 3PJ. Famous today for its tailoring businesses, Savile Row’s original architectural plan in the 1730s was as a residential street - by Colen Campbell, with Henry Flitcroft, Daniel Garrett and William Kent designing individual buildings all under the influence of Lord Burlington's interpretation of Palladian architecture. As tailoring moved into the street, the house frontages were altered though No. 14 still retains much of the original external features.

Head north-west on Savile Row towards New Burlington St > Turn right onto New Burlington St > Turn left onto Regent St/A4201 > Continue to follow A4201 > Make a U-turn at Weymouth St, destination will be on the left
7 min (0.8 mi)

42 Portland Pl, Marylebone, London W1B 1NB. Grade II* listed 5-storey Georgian town house originally designed in the late 18th Century as a gentleman’s residence. The building is currently occupied by Christie’s Education. Architect: James Adam 1776. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

2. Early Twentieth Century Westminster

Australia House
RAC Club
55 Broadway
National Audit Office
RIBA

10km (6.2 miles)

Australia House, 71 Aldwych, Holborn, London WC2B 4HN. Grade II listed building opened by King George V in August 1918. Much of the interior marble, stone and timber was imported from Australia during WWI. Architect: Marshal Mackenzie 1918. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head east on Aldwych/A4 > Keep right to continue on Aldwych > Slight right onto Strand/A4 > Slight left to stay on Strand/A4 > Continue to follow A4 > Parts of this road may be closed at certain times or on certain days > At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Trafalgar Square/A4 > Continue to follow A4 > Leaving toll zone in 0.1 mi at Warwick House St, destination will be on the left
7 min (1.1 mi)

The Royal Automobile Club, 89 Pall Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5HS. Inspired by the French Beaux-Arts, the pioneering clubhouse was described as the ‘Palace of Pall Mall’ with thrilling interior spaces in a range of styles. Architects: Mewes and Davis 1911. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head south-west on Pall Mall/A4 towards St James's Square > Turn left onto Marlborough Rd > Turn right > Turn right towards Constitution Hill > Turn left towards Constitution Hill > Turn left onto Constitution Hill > Slight right onto Spur Rd > Keep left to stay on Spur Rd > Continue onto Birdcage Walk > Turn right towards Queen Anne's Gate > Continue onto Queen Anne's Gate > At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Broadway > Turn right to stay on Broadway, destination will be on the right
7 min (1.1 mi)

55 Broadway, Westminster, London SW1H 0BD. Built as HQ for the London Underground it is now being re-developed as luxury flats. Described on opening as ‘the cathedral of modernity’ it was the tallest office building in London. Exterior features sculptures by eminent artists of the day including Henry Moore, Jacob Epstein and Eric Gill. Architect: Charles Holden 1927.

Head north-east on Broadway > Turn left to stay on Broadway > At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Petty France > Turn right onto Buckingham Gate/B323 > Turn left onto Buckingham Gate/A3214 > Continue to follow A3214, destination will be on the left
8 min (1.1 mi)

National Audit Office, 157-197 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9SP. A prestigious Grade II listed building. Opened in 1939 by Imperial Airways and subsequently used by BOAC and then British Airways. The building has been the home of the National Audit Office since 1986 and was refurbished in 2009. Architect: Albert Lakeman 1939. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head north-east on Buckingham Palace Rd/A3214 towards Elizabeth Bridge > Slight left onto Grosvenor Gardens/A3215 > Continue to follow Grosvenor Gardens > Continue onto Grosvenor Pl/A302 > Continue to follow Grosvenor Pl > Slight right at Knightsbridge > Turn left at Apsley Way > Turn right onto S Carriage Dr > Turn left > Turn right > Slight left > Turn right towards Cumberland Gate > Turn right towards Cumberland Gate > Turn left onto Cumberland Gate > Keep right to stay on Cumberland Gate > Turn right onto Bayswater Rd > Slight left onto Edgware Rd/A5 > Turn right onto Seymour St/A5204 > Continue to follow A5204 > Turn left onto Wimpole St > Turn right onto Weymouth St > Turn left onto Portland Pl/A4201 > Make a U-turn, destination will be on the left
23 min (3.2 mi)

RIBA, 66 Portland Pl, Marylebone, London W1B 1AD. Grade II* listed, a fine example of 1930s architecture with many original features and fittings. Architect: Grey Wornum 1932. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

On the opposite side of Portland Place is the Embassy of Poland.

Embassy of the Republic of Poland, 47 Portland Place W1B 1JH. Georgian townhouse, a fine example of Adamneoclassical interior design. Seat of the Polish Embassy in London since 1921, it houses a collection of Polish artworks. James and Robert Adam 1773. Open 9am-5.30pm 19th and 20th September.

3. Diplomatic Westminster

Embassies of Hungary and Poland (see route 2)
Italian Cultural Institute
Romanian Cultural Institute
Banqueting House and Royal United Services Institution
Caledonian Club

6km (3.5 miles)

Embassy of Hungary, 35 Eaton Pl, Belgravia, London SW1X 8BY. Eaton Place was developed as part of the Grosvenor Estate c 1820. The Embassy is located in a 4-storey white stucco house characteristic of the neighbourhood. Thomas Cubitt 1820. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head north-east on Eaton Pl towards Belgrave Pl/B310 > Turn left onto Belgrave Pl/B310 > Continue to follow B310 > Slight right onto Belgrave Square/B310, destination will be on the left
3 min (0.4 mi)

Italian Cultural Institute, 39 Belgrave Square, Belgravia, London SW1X 8NX. Grade I listed stucco-fronted Belgravia town house. Library extension built 1960s. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head south-east on Belgrave Square/B310 towards Chapel St > Turn right to stay on Belgrave Square/B310 > Turn right to stay on Belgrave Square/B310 > Continue to follow B310 > Turn left onto Wilton Cres, destination will be on the left
2 min (0.4 mi)

Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 Belgrave Square, Belgravia, London SW1X 8PH. Situated in one of the grandest and largest 19th Century squares in London, 1 Belgrave Sq. was acquired by Romania in 1936 and is now home to the Romanian Cultural Institute. Architect: Thomas Cubitt 1828. Open 10am-5pm 19th and 20th September.

Head south-east on Wilton Cres towards Grosvenor Cres/B310 > Walk your bicycle > Turn left onto Grosvenor Cres/B310 > Turn left onto Grosvenor Pl > Turn right onto Apsley Way > Turn right to stay on Apsley Way > Turn left to stay on Apsley Way > Turn right towards Constitution Hill > Turn left onto Constitution Hill > Turn left > Slight right > Turn left > Turn right towards The Mall > Turn left onto The Mall > At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Whitehall/A3212, destination will be on the left
11 min (1.7 mi)

The Banqueting House Whitehall SW1A 2ET. A stunning regal building, the only surviving building from Whitehall Palace, one of the first examples of the principles of Palladianism being applied to an English building. Site of a set of magnificent ceilings painted by Rubens. Architect Inigo Jones 1619. Next door is RUSI - the Royal United Services Institute, 61 Whitehall. Grade II* listed building built in 1895 as a discreet addition to the Banqueting House. (Neither open this year - exterior views only.)

Head south on Whitehall/A3212 towards Downing St/Richmond Terrace > Continue to follow A3212 > Turn right onto Great George St/Parliament Square/A302/A3212/A3214 > Continue to follow Great George St/A3214 > Continue onto Birdcage Walk > Slight right onto Spur Rd > Continue onto Constitution Hill > Slight left to stay on Constitution Hill > Slight left onto Duke of Wellington Pl > Slight left onto Grosvenor Pl/A302 > Make a U-turn at Chester St > Turn left onto Halkin St, destination will be on the right
12 min (1.8 mi)

Caledonian Club, 9 Halkin St, Belgravia, London SW1X 7DR. Built in 1907 as the private residence of Hugh Morrison to the design of Detmar Blow, Number 9 was the last mansion house of its kind to be built in London. The elegant simplicity of the exterior is neatly juxtaposed by sympathetic internal proportions. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

4. Religious Westminster

The Queen's Chapel, St James's
St John's Smith Square
Methodist Central Hall
St Martin-in-the-Fields
Quaker Meeting House, St Martin's Lane
House of St Barnabas
Fitzrovia Chapel
New West End Synagogue

10km

The Queen's Chapel, Marlborough Rd, St. James's, London SW1A 1BG. Designed by Inigo Jones as a Roman Catholic chapel for Charles I’s wife Henrietta Maria it remains a Royal chapel. The brick building in the Palladian style is rendered to appear as if it were stone built, with gable ends with pediments. The interior vault is gilded and painted. Inigo Jones 1625. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head south-east on Marlborough Rd > Turn right > Turn right towards Constitution Hill > Turn left towards Constitution Hill > Turn left onto Constitution Hill > Slight right onto Spur Rd > Keep left to stay on Spur Rd > Continue onto Birdcage Walk > Continue onto Great George St/A3214 > Turn right onto Parliament Square/St Margaret St/A302/A3212 > Slight left onto St Margaret St/A3212 > Continue to follow A3212 > Leaving toll zone in 0.2 mi at Great College St > Turn right onto Great Peter St > Turn left onto Gayfere St > Turn left onto Smith Square, destination will be on the right
10 min (1.6 mi)

St John's Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA. A rare example of Thomas Archer’s work and a masterpiece of the English Baroque, this was originally dubbed Quenn Anne’s Footstool. A Grade I listed building, restored by Marshall Sissons after extensive bombing damage, it is now a busy concert hall. Thomas Archer 1714. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head east on Smith Square towards Dean Stanley St > Turn left onto Lord North St > Turn left onto Great Peter St > Turn right onto Great Smith St/B326 > Turn right onto Victoria St/A302 > Turn left onto Storey's Gate, destination will be on the left
4 min (0.5 mi)

Methodist Central Hall, Storey's Gate, London SW1H 9NH. A masterpiece of Edwardian neo-baroque opposite Westminster Abbey. Second-largest self-supporting ferro-concrete dome in the world. Its Great Hall was the venue for the inaugural General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946. Architects: Lanchard and Rickards 1909. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head south on Storey's Gate towards Tothill St > Turn left onto Victoria St/A302 > Continue to follow A302 > Keep right to continue on Parliament Square/A302/A3212 > Turn left onto Parliament St/A3212 > Continue to follow A3212 > Entering toll zone in 0.3 mi at Horse Guards Ave > At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Trafalgar Square/A4/A400 > Continue to follow A4/A400 > Turn right onto Duncannon St/A4, destination will be on the left
5 min (0.8 mi)

St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ. Built in the Italian Baroque tradition and beautifully restored in 2008. Sustainable features include new heating and management systems and lightwell. RIBA Award winner 2009. Civic Trust Award Winner 2010. Designed by James Gibbs 1726. Open 11am-4pm 19th and 20th September.

Head east on Duncannon St/A4 towards Adelaide St > Turn left onto Adelaide St > Turn left onto Bedfordbury > Turn left onto Hop Gardens > Turn right onto St Martin's Ln/B404 > Walk your bicycle, destination will be on the right
2 min (0.3 mi)

Westminster Quaker Meeting House, 52 St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4EA. Opened in 1883 with front doors added in the 1920s. Bomb-damaged in 1941 and rebuilt in 1956. A Grade II listed registered place of worship, it contains a peaceful meeting-room and 1950s wood panelling and fittings. Architects W.W. Lee and J.A. Tregelles 1883. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head north on St Martin's Ln/B404 towards Goodwin's Ct > Walk your bicycle > Turn left onto Cranbourn St/B402 > Turn right onto Charing Cross Rd/A400 > Leaving toll zone in 0.1 mi at Shaftesbury Ave/A401 > Turn left onto Manette St > Slight right towards Greek St > Turn right onto Greek St > Walk your bicycle, destination will be on the right
7 min (0.5 mi)

The House of St Barnabas, 1 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 4NQ. A fine 17th Century corner house converted in 1846 to be the home of a charity supporting local people. Now run as a members’ club with the original social and educational mission still at its heart. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head north-west on Greek St towards Soho Square > Walk your bicycle > Turn left onto Soho Square > Turn left onto Soho St > Continue onto Rathbone Pl > Turn left onto Rathbone St > Continue onto Charlotte Pl > Turn left onto Goodge St/A5204 > Continue to follow A5204 > Turn right onto Pearson Square, destination will be on the right
5 min (0.5 mi)

Fitzrovia Chapel, 2 Pearson Square, London W1T 3BF. Located on the site of the former Middlesex Hospital . The Grade II* listed chapel was designed as a secular chapel for hospital staff, visitors and patients. Restored in 2015. Architect: John Loughborough Pearson 1891. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head north-east on Pearson Square towards Mortimer St/A5204 > Turn left onto Mortimer St/A5204 > Turn left onto Cleveland St >Turn left onto New Cavendish St > Turn left onto Marylebone High St/B524 > Continue to follow B524 > Turn right onto George St > Turn left onto Baker St/A41 > Continue to follow A41 > Turn right onto Portman Square/A5204 > Turn left onto Portman St/A41 > Turn right onto Oxford St/A40 > Slight right onto Cumberland Gate > Keep left to continue on Cumberland Gate/A402 > Continue to follow A402 > Turn right onto St Petersburgh Pl, destination will be on the right
19 min (3.0 mi)

New West End Synagogue, St Petersburgh Pl, Bayswater, London W2 4JT. Grade I listed Victorian synagogue built 1887: the masterpiece of G.A. Audsley. Includes metalwork, stained glass and a mosaic: stained glass by NHJ Westlake. Further enrichment 1894/5 included lighting designed by George Aitchison. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

5. Political and Legal Westminster, including Whitehall

Lancaster House
Westminster City Hall
Supreme Court
RICS, Parliament Square
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
HM Treasury
Portcullis House
Royal Courts of Justice

6km

Lancaster House, Stable Yard, St. James's, London SW1A 1BB. Extravagant private palace originally built for the Duke of York, with magnificent central hall and staircase. Architect: Benjamin Wyatt 1825. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head south-west > Walk your bicycle > Turn right > Turn right towards Constitution Hill > Turn left towards Constitution Hill > Turn left onto Constitution Hill > Slight right onto Spur Rd > Keep left to stay on Spur Rd > Sharp right onto Birdcage Walk which becomes Great George St > Turn right into Little George St and destination will be on the right
9 min (0.9 mi)

The UK Supreme Court, Little George St, Westminster, London SW1P 3BD. Sensitive refurbishment of this neo-Gothic Grade II* listed building to become the home of the UK’s highest court. Admire original features including stained glass windows, wood panelling and ornate ceilings. Refurbished by Feilden + Mawson 2009. Open 10am-4pm 19th and 20th September.

Head south on Little George St > Take the zebra crossing > Keep right to continue on Parliament Square/A302/A3212 > Sharp left onto Great George St/A3214, destination will be on the left
1 min (0.1 mi)

RICS, 12 Great George St, Westminster, London SW1P 3AD. This historic head office building has been the home of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors since 1868.

Head east on Great George St/A3214 towards Little George St > Turn left onto Parliament St/A3212 > Turn left onto King Charles St > Partial restricted-usage road, destination will be on the right
1 min (0.2 mi)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, King Charles St, Whitehall, Westminster, London SW1A 2AH. Grade I listed Victorian government offices. Includes the richly decorated Durbar Court, India Office Council Chamber, Locarno Suite and Foreign Office Grand Staircase. Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and Matthew Digby Wyatt 1863. Online tour 10am-5pm 19th and 20th September.

Head east on King Charles St towards Parliament St/A3212 > Partial restricted-usage road > Turn left onto Parliament St/A3212 > Continue to follow A3212 > Turn left towards Horse Guards Rd > Turn left onto Horse Guards Rd, destination will be on the left
3 min (0.6 mi)

HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Rd, Westminster, London SW1A 2HQ. A quadrangular English Baroque revival building. Grade II* listed government office covering the entire complex. Great George St constructed 1899-1917 in two phases. Refurbishment completed 2002, now occupied by HM Treasury. Architects John Brydon and Sir Henry Tanner 1899. (Online only - building model available.)

Head south on Horse Guards Rd towards Birdcage Walk > Turn left onto Birdcage Walk > Continue onto Great George St/A3214 > Continue onto Bridge St/A302 > Turn left onto Victoria Embankment/A3211, destination will be on the left
3 min (0.3 mi)

Portcullis House, 1 Parliament St, Westminster, London SW1A 2JR. Contrasting its imposing façade with a generous light-filled courtyard covered by a glass roof at second level and surrounded by a 2-storey cloister. Extensive collection of Parliamentary portraiture from Gilray to Scarfe. Hopkins Architects 2001. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)

Head north on Victoria Embankment/A3211 towards Derby Gate > Turn right onto Horse Guards Ave > Turn left onto Victoria Embankment/A3211 > Turn left onto Middle Temple Ln > Turn left onto Fleet St/Strand/A4 > Continue to follow Strand/A4
8 min (1.3 mi)

Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, Holborn, London WC2A 2LL. G.E. Street’s masterpiece and one of Victorian London’s great public buildings. 13th Century Gothic given a Victorian interpretation. G.E. Street 1874. (Not open this year - exterior view only.)