An area of central London just south of Charing Cross, Westminster probably has the greatest concentration of British historical and cultural landmarks of anywhere in London. The seat of English government for centuries, Westminster is home to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Abbey and all the other grand old buildings that go on the postcards. As well as all of these unmissable sights, a Westminster hotel will situate you a short walk away from the shops and entertainment of Covent Garden and Soho, and all the culture to be found on the South Bank, including the Tate Modern, Royal Festival Hall and the National Theatre.
Westminster Hotels are generally fairly prestigious affairs catering to politicians, foreign dignitaries and a mix of wealthy tourists and businesspeople. They also tend to be clustered around the edges of Westminster, simply because there’s too many important government buildings in the area to really allow for things like hotels. Closest to the station is the five star is the Marriott County Hall, which is beautifully furnished in a cosy, traditional style and provides an absolutely unrivalled view of Westminster from its place on the South Bank, plus a wonderful restaurant and spa.
On the northern end of Westminster around Charing Cross is the beautiful five star Sofitel St James, which combines French and British Modernist styles to mesmerising effect. Sofitel highlights include the wonderful spa service, Albert Roux’s Brasserie Roux restaurant, and an excellent afternoon tea served in the Rose Lounge. For a more reasonably priced alternative, check out the Sanctuary House Hotel, which has a traditional yet classy B&B feel, in keeping with the atmosphere of a London pub. The rooms are comfortable and beautiful, but pride of place is given to the ale and pie house on the ground floor, which serves a great selection of fine British food and award-winning ales.
Westminster hotels are near Westminster tube station, which provides direct access to the Houses of Parliament, and also services the Circle and District Lines between Embankment and St James’s Park, and the Jubilee Line between Green Park and Waterloo.
Situated by the River Thames, Westminster tube station was opened in 1868 and comprehensively modernised and upgraded in 1999. Dominated by the iconic Houses of Parliament, the Westminster area is at the heart of British political life. Neighbouring districts include Victoria, Pimlico and Belgravia. Westminster tube station is in Zone 1 and serves the Circle, District and Jubilee lines. Its adjacent stations are Embankment, St James's Park, Green Park and Waterloo.
A royal residence until the early 16th century, the Houses of Parliament are officially known as the Palace of Westminster. Home to almost 1,200 rooms and more than two miles of corridors, the Palace as it exists today was rebuilt following a fire in 1834. One of London's best-loved landmarks, Big Ben is the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. The name Big Ben actually refers to the bell inside the tower, which weighs almost 16 tonnes and was named after Sir Benjamin Hall MP. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are best seen from a Thames River cruise, ideally at night when the buildings are illuminated in spectacular style. No visit to the area would be complete without seeing Westminster Abbey, site of the coronation of almost every king and queen of England.
With an eclectic international menu and stunning interior, The Atrium is currently the restaurant of choice for politicians based in the nearby Houses of Parliament. Also well-known as a political hangout, the Red Lion pub is famous for being the closest pub to Downing Street. It is small and can feel crowded at busy times, but is worth visiting if you fancy eavesdropping on some political gossip. Also highly recommended is The Old Star, a Grade II listed pub, which in its 125 years has played host to numerous Prime Ministers including William Churchill.
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