Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ambulance. Give your name
and state the nature of the
emergency. Dialing
&
112
also connects you to the
local emergency services
anywhere in the E.U.
Hospitals
There are
24-hour, walk-in Accident &
Emergency departments at
the following central hospi-
tals:
University College
London Hospital,
235
Euston Road, London NW1
2BU (
&
020/3456-7890;
www.uclh.nhs.uk; Tube:
Warren St.);
St. Thomas'
Hospital,
Westminster
Bridge Road (entrance on
Lambeth Palace Road),
London SE1 7EH (
&
020/
7188-7188;
www.guysand
stthomas.nhs.uk; Tube:
Westminster or Waterloo).
The
NHS Choices
website
(www.nhs.uk) has a search
facility that enables you to
locate your nearest Acci-
dent & Emergency depart-
ment wherever you are in
the U.K. In a medical emer-
gency, you should dial
&
999.
Maps
If you plan to
explore London in any
depth, you'll need a
detailed street map with a
street index. We use and
recommend the
London A
to Z,
available in various
sizes at newsagents and
bookstores citywide.
Police
London has two
official police forces, the
City of London police
(www.cityoflondon.police.
uk) whose remit covers the
“Square Mile” and its 8,600
residents; and the Metro-
politan Police (“the Met”),
which covers the rest of the
capital and is split into sep-
arate borough commands
for operational purposes.
Non-emergency contact
numbers and opening hours
for all the Met's local police
stations are listed at
www.
met.police.uk/local
.
Losses, thefts, and other
criminal matters should be
reported at the nearest
police station immediately.
You will be given a crime
number, which your travel
insurer will request if you
make a claim against any
losses. Dial
&
999
or 112 if
the matter is serious.
4
EXPLORING LONDON
In the listings below, children's prices generally apply to those 15 and under. To
qualify for a senior discount, you must be 60 or older. Students must present a stu-
dent ID to get discounts. In addition to closing on public holidays, many attractions
close between Christmas and New Year, so always check ahead if visiting at that time.
All museums are closed Good Friday, December 25 and 26, and New Year's Day.
The West End
Banqueting House
HISTORIC SITE This sumptuous dining chamber is the
only remaining part of the once-mighty Whitehall Palace. Its commission in the early
17th century by James I marked both the arrival of Renaissance architecture in Eng-
land and a particular high point for the Stuart Dynasty, which had recently become
the first royal family to rule both England and Scotland. However, just a few decades
later, in 1649, Banqueting House would provide the setting for the dynasty's lowest
ebb when James's successor, Charles I, fresh from his defeat in the English Civil
Wars, was executed in front of the building.
Today the main attraction of this great feasting hall is not the food—which you
won't be able to sample unless you're a visiting head of state—but the ceiling paint-
ings by Rubens that imagine James I crowned amid a swirling mass of cherubic flesh.
The house often closes on short notice for official events, so it's best to call in
advance.
Insider tip:
Classical concerts are held here on the first Monday of each
month (Aug excepted). The website lists the upcoming program; book by calling
&
020/3166-6153.
Whitehall Palace, Horse Guards Ave., SW1.
&
0844/482-7777.
www.hrp.org.uk/banquetinghouse.
Admission £4.80 adults, £4 seniors and students, free children 15 and under. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (last
admission 4:30pm). Tube: Westminster or Embankment.
