Whitehall, London

Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London, running south from Trafalgar Square towards Parliament Square. It is the political backbone of the capital: ministries and government departments line the street, and the word "Whitehall" is widely used in the UK as shorthand for the government and the civil service.

What is Whitehall?

The street is about 0.4 miles (roughly 650 metres) long and forms the first stretch of the A3212 towards Chelsea. Its name comes from the Tudor Palace of Whitehall, a royal residence that once covered the area. A fire in 1698 destroyed most of the palace, and the Banqueting House is the only major part that survived.

What to see along Whitehall

• Banqueting House – completed in 1622 to a design by Inigo Jones and known for its ceiling painted by Rubens. Charles I was executed outside it in 1649.
• Horse Guards – the former headquarters building of the mounted guards, where sentries in ceremonial uniform stand at the entrance.
• Downing Street – a side street on the western side near the southern end of Whitehall, home to the prime minister's residence. It is normally gated, so visitors view it from a distance.
• The Cenotaph – the national war memorial, designed by Edwin Lutyens. It stands in the middle of the road in the southern part of the street and is the focus of remembrance ceremonies.
• Government buildings – the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office, part of the Foreign Office and the old War Office building all stand here.

Great Scotland Yard and Horse Guards Avenue branch off to the east.

How to visit

Whitehall is best explored on foot. Start at Trafalgar Square and walk south to Parliament Square, where the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben come into view. The walk alone takes a quarter of an hour or so, but stops at Horse Guards, Downing Street and the Cenotaph can easily stretch it to an hour or two. Banqueting House can be visited separately, unless it is closed for an event.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Whitehall start and end? It begins at Trafalgar Square and ends around the Cenotaph, where it continues as Parliament Street.

Can you walk down Downing Street? Usually not. The street is closed off by a gate, so visitors look at it from Whitehall.

Why does "Whitehall" mean the government? Many ministries and departments are located along the street, so the name is used as a shorthand for British government administration.

Is there an entry fee? The street is public and free. Tickets apply to attractions such as Banqueting House.

How do I get there? Whitehall sits in the heart of London, close to Trafalgar Square and Westminster, so the easiest way is to walk or use public transport to a station nearby.