MUGGLES AND MINISTRIES:- A HARRY POTTER TOUR IN WESTMINSTER
HARRY POTTER WALKING TOUR DIRECTIONS
Keep ahead past the Sherlock Holmes Pub and go over Northumberland Avenue via the crossing. Bear left on the other side and keep ahead over the unnamed street (it is in fact Great Scotland Yard).
Go next right along Whitehall Place, crossing to its left side. Keep ahead over Whitehall Court and go first right in to Scotland Place at the end of which go left along Great Scotland Yard and pause immediately on the left..
THE ENTRANCE TO THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC.
Your are now following in the footsteps of Harry and Mr Weasley as they make their way to the Ministry of Magic for Harry's hearing on charges of using magic in front of Muggles in The Order of the Phoenix.
The arch you just passed under is clearly visible in the scene. The phone box which descends, and of which Mr Weasley comments "I've never used the visitors entrance before. Should be fun," was located here on the left. The phone box itself was a prop specially brought in for the scene and removed once filming was complete. A second arch was constructed here (at least a portion of an arch was!) and this too was removed once filming was complete.
HARRY POTTER WALKING TOUR DIRECTIONS
Keep ahead along Great Scotland yard and cross to its right side.
Keep ahead over Whitehall via the crossing.
Bear left on its other side and pause a little way along where on the right is:-
THE OLD ADMIRALTY BUILDING
The present building was completed in 1726 by Master Carpenter Thomas Ripley. The screen wall which faces you was added in 1760 to the design of the architect Robert Adam.
The building contains the room where Nelson's body lay overnight on the 8th/9th January 1806 prior to his funeral.
On Monday 21st October 1805 the Royal Navy inflicted a crushing defeat on a combined French and Spanish fleet off Cape Trafalgar on the South West coast of Spain.
Unfortunately Nelson was killed in the battle. HM Schooner Pickle, captained by Lieutenant John Richards Lapenotiere, set off to take news of the momentous victory and of Nelson's death back to England.
Lapenotiere landed at Falmouth on Monday 4th November 1805 and, travelling by express post-chaise, made the 271 mile journey to London in 37 hours with 21 changes of horses.
At 1am on Wednesday 6th November 1805 he arrived here at the Admiralty where he delivered his dispatches to the Secretary of the Admiralty, William Marsden.
News of the victory and the tragic loss of Nelson was posted here and soon crowds were gathering on Whitehall to mourn his passing.
Nelson's body was brought back to London, reputedly pickled in best French Brandy to preserve it. Legend holds that one of the sailors drilled a hole in the casket and spent the voyage back somewhat merry. His act was commemorated by a naval saying "to tap the Admiral" meaning to acquire a drink from a Navy Officer!
HARRY POTTER WALKING TOUR DIRECTIONS
Keep ahead and, just past the next lights, pause on the right outside Horse Guards.
THE HORSE GUARDS - THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY.
If you arrive here between 10am and 4pm as their will normally be two soldiers on horseback here. They belong to the Queen's Household Division. Two regiments of the Household Cavalry alternate the guard here. If the guards are dressed in scarlet they belong to the Life Guards. If they are wearing blue they belong to the Blues and Royals.
Both Price William and Prince Harry were members of the Blues and Royals, whilst the singer James Blunt was a member of the Life Guards (I bet people told him he was beautiful!)
The guard change takes place on Horse Guards Parade, beyond the arch ahead at 11am Monday to Saturday and at 10am on Sunday. At 4pm the Commanding Officer's inspection of the guards takes place and is well worth attending.
HARRY POTTER WALKING TOUR DIRECTIONS
Go under the arch and pause on the other side on Horse Guards Parade.
HORSE GUARDS PARADE - TROOPING THE COLOUR
It is on this parade ground that the Trooping of the Colour takes place every June. to mark the Queen's Official Birthday. Look to the left at the building behind the wall and trees this is in fact the back garden of 10 Downing Street the home of the Prime Minister.
LONDON TREASURE HUNT CLUE ELEVEN
Which Nation gave this in gratitude?
ANSWER
THE SPANISH NATION.
You will find this dragon on a canon located to the left as you come under the arch and out onto the Parade Ground.
HARRY POTTER WALKING TOUR DIRECTIONS
Return to Whitehall and go right along it. The grand building on the corner opposite is:-
THE BANQUETING HOUSE
This was the only part of Whitehall Palace to survive a disastrous fire in 1698. It was designed by Inigo Jones and was completed in 1622. In 1635 Charles 1st commissioned Peter Paul Rubens to paint the ceiling inside. It really is spectacular and this alone makes a detour to visit the Banqueting House well worth while.
It was on a specially constructed scaffold outside the Banqueting House that Charles 1st was beheaded on January 30th 1649, an event commemorated by a bust of him above the door on the left side of the building.
HARRY POTTER WALKING TOUR DIRECTIONS
Continue along Whitehall pausing on the right to look through the gates into Downing Street. 10 Downing Street, the home of the Prime Minister, is located to the right, although Downing Street itself is not open to the public.
Keep ahead as Whitehall becomes Parliament Street and, having crossed over King Charles Street, you will find a line of four phone boxes.
YOUR VISITORS ENTRANCE TO THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC?
Since the phone box featured in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was a prop specially brought in for the filming, you might like to use one of these phone boxes to get a photograph of yourselves preparing to descend in to the Ministry of magic. Be careful though, just in case the phone box you are in actually does begin to descend!
HARRY POTTER WALKING TOUR DIRECTIONS
Continue to the end of Parliament Street and, just before the entrance into Westminster Underground Station, veer left to cross via the crossing (there are toilets in the subway down the steps should they be required although these cost 50p!).
Pause in the middle of the road for a wonderful view of the Houses of Parliament and the world famous clock Tower, better known as Big Ben, although Big Ben is in fact the name of the bell that chimes inside the Clock Tower.
