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Facts and places of interest in and around London's West End

Interesting Facts about London's West End

• The West End contains many of London's tourist attractions

• In years gone by London's West End was popular with the richer members of the community as it was upwind of the smoke being generated in the crowded city.

• The New Year's Day Parade is held in the West End.

• There are over 100 theatres in London, including 50 in the West End.

• Oxford Street is the busiest shopping street in Europe

Places of Interest in and around London's West End

Admiralty Arch  

Admiralty Arch is the terminal point of The Mall at the western side of Trafalgar Square ; built in 1911 by Sir Aston Webb as part of the national monument to Queen Victoria . It is really a screen with five arches: one for ceremonial processions when the wrought-iron gates are opened; two for everyday traffic; two for pedestrians. Above and beside the arches are offices belonging to the Ministry of Defence.

Bedford Square  

Three-storey houses surround the busy Georgian square, the last in Bloomsbury still intact. Central house on each side is stuccoed and pilastered, while wrought-iron balconies decorate other houses.

Berkeley Square

Elegant fronted terrace houses mix with modern buildings in this bustling 1730s square – most of it expensive office space. Plane trees in the centre date from 1789.

Bloomsbury  

Iron balconies and stucco facades embellish the Georgian terraces, with London University 's Senate House overshadowing it all.

Bond Street  

Actually two streets, Old and New Bond streets, developed from late 1600s onwards. Noted for galleries, art dealers, exclusive shops and the auctioneers Southeby's.

British Museum  

One of the world's largest collections of antiquities, housed in imposing neoclassical building by Robert Smirke in 1824. Exhibits include the Rosetta Stone, which provided the clue to translating Egyptian hieroglyphs, the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, the Magna Carta and the first draft of Alice in Wonderland.

Charring Cross  

On the junction of the Strand and Whitehall , where the village of Charing lay in medieval times. Edward I placed a cross here in 1290 to mark a resting place of funeral cortege of his queen, Eleanor. The station is noted for its roof and single great arch designed by John Hawkshaw in the 19 th century.

Covent Garden  

Street entertainers and stall owners vie with designer shops, restaurants and pubs for attention of shoppers and tourists. Restored Victorian market buildings remain on the square designed by Inigo Jones.

Leicester Square  

Cinemas and clubs dominate this former grazing ground, where the Earl of Leicester's town house stood in the 17 th century. Busts of Hogarth, Reynolds, John Hunter and Newton , and a statue of Charlie Chaplin, stand in the square.

Madame Tussaud's

Waxworks founded in 1835 features hundreds of lifelike images of celebrities and historic figures such as Martin Luther King, Napoleon and the Royal Family. The Chamber of Horrors features models of infamous murderers, and displays on methods of execution. Find out the history of waxworks and discover how wax models are made, and workings of animatronics.

Mayfair  

London 's wealthiest area, marked by fashionable shops and restaurants, large office blocks and luxurious flats and apartments. Much of the 18 th century layout of the streets and squares remain, though modern buildings are more prominent.

National Gallery  

Collection of over 2000 paintings. Works are included by Velazquez, Hans Holbein, Leonardo da Vinci, Constable, Seurat, Rembrandt and turner. The gallery was designed by William Wilkins and built in 1832-38.

National Portrait Gallery  

The gallery contains some 10,000 likenesses of famous British men and women, 1,000 of which are shown at any one time. Portraits on view include Chaucer, Oliver Cromwell, Nell Gwynne, Florence Nightingale, Charles Darwin and Beatrix Potter.

Oxford Street  

London 's most famous shopping street stretches from Marble Arch to St Giles Circus. Stores mingle with established fruit stalls and shops for souvenirs and fashion. Selfridges neoclassical department store, founded in 1908, has an impressive food hall.

Regent Street  

Broad shopping street designed as an approach to Carlton House, where Prince Regent once lived. Liberty store opened here in 1895, famous for printed fabrics. An early supplier was William Morris.

Soho  

Bustling, cosmopolitan district famous for its foreign restaurants, many pubs and shops – as well as its brash nightlife. Gerrard Street is the heart of Chinatown and is the focus of the best Chinese cuisine. There are ornamental gateways and benches and pagoda style telephone boxes. Grocers' stores feature exotic foodstuffs.

Theatre Royal Drury Lane  

Theatre in Georgian building with a domed hallway. The eastern façade is decorated with Ionic pillars. The Theatre has been home to many famous musicals including Show Boat, The King and I, My Fair Lady, Hello Dolly, A Chorus Line and Miss Saigon.

Trafalgar Square  

A statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) on top of a 170ft high column can be found in this famous square named after Nelson's naval defeat of Napoleon in 1805. The area was originally the mews for royal hawks, then royal stables and was cleared in 1830 for John Nash's grand plan. At the base of the column are four bronze lions by Sir Edwin Landseer, added in 1868. Fountains by Lutyens were added in 1939. A statue of James II stands in front of the National Gallery and to the east is a statue of George Washington.