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SOME
VERY EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE LONDON COCKTAIL VENUES
CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION AT THE TOWER OF LONDON &
PRIVATE VIEWING OF THE CROWN JEWELS
This evening you have the unique opportunity to gain a truly memorable
insight into one of London's most famous (and infamous!) locations
- the Tower of London. Arriving at the West Gate in the early evening,
you are met by one of the Yeoman Warders ("Beefeaters")
in full ceremonial uniform, who will escort you throughout the fortress
itself. The Tower is probably London's most famous landmark; and
rightly so... for over 900 years is has fulfilled various functions
as a Royal Palace, Prison, Garrison, Mint, and even as the home
of the Royal Zoo! Despite the towering architecture of the modern
city crowding around it, the magnificent Tower seems unassailable
and unwavering as a mark of England's independence and tradition!
Through the various alleys and courtyards comprising this dramatic
citadel, the Beefeater will uniquely guide you through the history
of the site - a truly idiosyncratic tour, since after all the Beefeater
is talking about his own home, as the Yeoman are the traditional
live-in custodians of this Palace. It is indeed a unique privilege
to be allowed access to visit, outside of the regular open hours,
in the company of one of their number! You will hear of the medieval
Kings of England and other notable characters, many of whom have
met a gruesome end within the confines of the Tower! These are tales
of heroism, of espionage, of dastardly goings-on, and melancholy
tales of great sadness too... all told with the unique blend of
humour and insight of your Beefeater! As you arrive at Tower Green,
you will be met by your host this evening, the Deputy Governor of
the Tower, who will welcome you formally and invite you to his delightful
reception of champagne and canapés. Afterwards, you come
into the Waterloo Building to enter the vaults containing the Crown
Jewels. The Keeper of the Jewels will be on hand to explain this
amazing and priceless collection, and as you will be privately hosted
here, you will be able to inspect all the Crowns and Regalia from
close up and at your leisure, in a way not possible when the public
are present! After this visit, the Beefeater will escort you back
through the quiet precincts of the Tower, occupied at this time
of day only by the famous ravens, and will bid you farewell as you
leave
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SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL'S CABINET WAR ROOMS
The Cabinet War Rooms, underground bunkers beneath the government
offices in Whitehall provided emergency accommodation to protect
Winston Churchill, his War Cabinet and the Chiefs of Staff of Britain's
Armed Forces against air attacks during WWII. These were established
in 1938 as the threat of war with Germany increased and were utilised
as the monitoring base for all operations on the Western Front by
the Prime Minister himself until their closure in 1945. Reopened
in 1985, they now stand restored in their original state exactly
as left when peace was resumed - a veritable "time warp"!
You can see the transatlantic telephone for Churchill's direct communications
with President F.D. Roosevelt in the White House, the Cabinet Room,
used by the War Cabinet itself, the Map Room, the Prime Minister's
Room. The Curator will personally welcome you and, with cocktail
and plate of canapes in hand, you can tour the bunkers at leisure,
with head-phone cassette, if required
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SPENCER HOUSE
Spencer House was built in the early 18th century, designed in two
quite evidently totally different artistic styles, as a "town
house" for John, 1st Earl of Spencer, in fashionable St. James's,
conveniently close to the monarch in residence at St. James's Palace,
and is now one of the few surviving examples of a grand mansion
in the very heart of London. The House was formerly used as the
London base of the late Diana, Princess of Wales's ancestors when
away from their country seat, Althrop. The Spencer family was noted
for its art collection and legendary and lavish entertaining. It
is now owned by the Rothschild Foundation which has provided a sumptuous
restoration programme that has been completed, on the grandest scale,
with the work of specialist craftsmen, to render the entire interior
into its original state. It houses absolute magnificent works of
art, paintings and furniture, variously donated or on loan from
Britain's major art benefactors
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APSLEY HOUSE
Originally addressed as No 1 London, the home of the "Iron
Duke", Arthur, Duke of Wellington, given to him after his success
against Napoleon Bonaparte, this majectic building stands right
on Hyde Park Corner at the very entrance to the West End. The House
was designed by Robert Adam in 1771-78 but later Wyatt was commissioned
to make alterations to the original in 1828. It now houses the Wellington
Museum containing paintings, silver plate, porcelain, and personal
and military relics, but the most memorable artefact is the tongue-in-cheek
statue of a near-naked Napoleon that the Duke cited prominently
high in the staircase well! This is a most exclusive venue but is
also No Smoking
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DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY
This private art collection is located in an historic southern suburb
of London. It is, in fact, the oldest art gallery in England, and
contains many Old Masters as well as Dutch pictures. Uniquely, the
building housing the collection is an example of art in itself,
having been purpose built to designs by Sir John Soane. The Curator
will be pleased to host a tour, accompanied by cocktails and canapés
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ONE WHITEHALL PLACE
Located on the two restored upper floors of the exclusive National
Liberal Club, One Whitehall Place is an address steeped in history.
Housed in a magnificent Victorian building, designed by Alfred Waterhouse
and with the first stone laid by William Gladstone in 1884, it features
Europe's largest unsupported marble staircase, elegant high-ceilinged
reception rooms with natural daylight with splendid views across
the River Thames. The priceless contents include many original portraits
and cartoons of historic political figures, including Sir Winston
Churchill
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30 PAVILION ROAD
30 Pavilion Road is a fashionable, beautifully appointed, elegant
Georgian town house situated in the heart of the elite Knightsbridge
district. Its first opened its doors to party-goers thirty years
ago and since has played host to many of the most prominent gatherings
of fashionable London Society
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TRINITY HOUSE
Trinity House, designed and constructed by Samuel Wyatt in 1796,
is the headquarters of a unique maritime organisation, the Corporation
of Trinity House. The building stands proud upon Tower Hill and
the three principal rooms all have magnificent interiors and panoramic
views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The grand staircase
is the central feature and the Court Room is the grandest room within
the house, reflecting the style and quality of a salon in an elegant
country house. The room has large windows, the walls are covered
with full length portraits of monarchs associated with the House
and its charitable work, and the carpet is the second largest single
loom carpet in the UK, with the House's coat of arms woven in as
its centrepiece
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HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
Situated in the Palace of Westminster beside the Abbey, Westminster
Hall was built in 1099 as the Great Hall of William Rufus's new
Palace. The roof dates from the 14th century but the current Victorian-Gothic
buildings were created in 1840-68 by Charles Barry and A.W.N.Pugin.
The House of Commons and the House of Lords, the seat of both monarchy
and democracy form the very essence of the British representational
government. A private visit hosted by a Member is a very unique
opportunity indeed!
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WALLACE COLLECTION
The Wallace Collection is the most important single collection in
London for the lover of art in its various manifestations. The variety
of its contents resembles and rivals the Chateau of Chantilly in
France. The beautiful furniture, porcelain, sculptures, and innumerable
small works of ornamental art are admirably exhibited in the rooms
containing the paintings. It is notable especially for art from
France, its European arms and armour collection, and Renaissance
works of art. The collection was formed mainly by the 4th Marquess
of Hertford, who resided chiefly in Paris but bequeathed his collection
to his natural son, Sir Richard Wallace, who moved it to London
and changed the name of the house where it resides to Hertford House
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