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British Empire Walking Tour in Westminster: Tracing the Rise and Fall through Statues and Monuments

5.0

20 Ratings

Greater London

Join us on a walking tour in Westminster to explore the rise and fall of the British Empire through statues and monuments. Discover the impact of colonization and decolonization on present-day Britain and the power of historical symbols.

Duration: 2 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Parliament Square - Tour starting point - London’s iconic space of power and protest. The square is surrounded by the Houses of Parliament, St Margaret’s Church, the Supreme Court and HM Revenue and Customs. We will spend some time looking at the statues of historical figures that represent the history of colonisation and decolonisation.
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Beautiful and imposing Victorian building that was once the Colonial Office. The systems of imperialism and the Victorian view of the world is on display through the statuary on its facade.
Downing Street - The Prime Minister of Britain’s official residence. We won’t get very close but you will see where it is located.
Ministry of Defence - The lawns of the MOD have several monuments commemorating the British Armed Forces. We will look at the Chindit Memorial and the statue of Major General Charles Gordon.
Old War Office Building - Opening soon as a luxury hotel. We will see it from the outside as we stop to look at the first memorial to the Gurkha soldier on the pavement next to the building.
Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall - Our opportunity to see horses from the Household Cavalry standing guard. You may want to return to this spot at 4pm to see the ‘Punishment Parade.’
St. James’s Park - The tour ends opposite the park. It is a great direction to head off in after the walk as it houses a cute cafe and several kiosks for refreshments. There are several varieties of birds including Pelicans. At the other end of the park is Buckingham Palace, Green Park and Hyde Park.

What's Included

All fees and taxes included

Additional Information

Explore the narrative of the rise and fall of the British Empire through the monuments and statues in Westminster.

Join us for a guided walk around Westminster - the pulsating core of UK politics that was formerly the hub of a worldwide empire. In its prime, ‘the empire where the sun never sets’ depicted the sheer size of the British Empire. In present times, icons of decolonisation like statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela stand side by side with those of imperial figures like Sir Winston Churchill. What insights does this provide about post-colonial UK and the subtle influence of monuments?

Though British imperial power resides in the pages of history, the lengthy process of colonising and decolonising shapes the world we currently inhabit. We will explore how narratives and concepts from history cross-link with our present by providing a new viewpoint on the monuments and statues.

Location

Sir Winston Churchill Statue

Parliament Square

Go to the corner of Parliament Square opposite Big Ben. The tour guide will be waiting near the statue of Churchill holding a 'British Empire Walking Tour' sign.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(20 Ratings)

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Claudinelp

Apr 21, 2024

British Empire Walking tour - Excellent tour guide. Very knowledgeable, personable and engaging. Weaved in the ongoing interconnection and influences of the former colonies. Has also offered to forward further information on these topics.