Whitehall - History, Government buildings in Whitehall (north to south), Other notable buildings in Whitehall, Gallery

A wide thoroughfare lying between Parliament and Trafalgar Squares in London, UK, and by association the offices of central government which line it. All that remains of the Palace of Whitehall, from which the street takes its name, is the 17th-c banqueting house designed by Inigo Jones.

Whitehall is a road in Westminster in London, the capital of the United Kingdom. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, centre of national government, towards the traditional Charing Cross, now at the southern end of Trafalgar Square and marked by the statue of Charles I, which is often regarded as the heart of London for its residents and tourists.

The name is taken from the vast Palace of Whitehall that used to occupy the surrounding area but was largely destroyed by fire in 1698.

History

Originally Parliament Street was a small side road alongside the palace leading to the Palace of Westminster. When the palace was destroyed and its ruins demolished, Parliament Street was widened to match Whitehall's width.

The Banqueting House, built in 1622 by Inigo Jones, is the only surviving portion of the former palace.

Whitehall and the surrounding area is the administrative centre of the UK government;

The Cenotaph, the principal war memorial of Britain, is located in the centre of the road, and is the site of the annual memorial ceremonies on Remembrance Sunday.

The central portion of the street is dominated by military buildings, including the Ministry of Defence and the former headquarters of the British Army and Royal Navy, the Horse Guards building and the Admiralty respectively.

Downing Street leads off the south-west end of Whitehall, just above Parliament Street.

Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, was originally located in Great Scotland Yard off the north-eastern end of the street.

Government buildings in Whitehall (north to south)

Admiralty DEFRA Old War Office Horse Guards Ministry of Defence Scotland Office (Dover House) Wales Office (Gwydyr House) Cabinet Office 10 Downing Street Department of Health Department of Work and Pensions Foreign Office HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs

Other notable buildings in Whitehall

Banqueting House Cenotaph Whitehall Theatre

Gallery

Whitehall, looking south, in 1740.

In 1799 many of the sites now occupied by large government buildings were covered with terraced houses and Parliament Street had not been widened.