Westminster
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Westminster from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Westminster's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry.
Buckingham Palace
City of Westminster
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the UK's monarch since 1837.
Lamp post outside 4-6 Russell Street
City of Westminster
A gas street light comprising a column dated 1910, with an Upright Rochester lantern manufactured by William Sugg and Company Limited, probably around 1930.
Houses of Parliament and The Palace of Westminster
City of Westminster
The official seat of the British Government, the Houses of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster, London, were created in two main phases, starting with Westminster Hall between 1097 and...
St Marleybone Western National School
City of Westminster
The St Marleybone Western National School, built in 1824, is a former parish school with Greek Revival details in Westminster.
Victoria Station Arcade including Nos. 15 and 16 Terminus…
City of Westminster
Shopping arcade incorporating entrances to Underground station, with attached range of shopsBuilt 1909-11 to the design of George C Sherrin, with minor modifications by HW Ford.
Lamp post opposite Theatre Royal, outside 29 Russell Street
City of Westminster
A gas street light comprising a column dated 1910, with an upright Rochester lantern manufactured by William Sugg and Company Limited, probably around 1930.
Early C17 cistern to Old Somerset House (aka The Roman Bath)
City of Westminster
Cistern of early C17 date and later C17 vaults. Opened as a bathhouse in late C18.
10, Downing Street SW1
City of Westminster
Number 10, Downing Street, London, has been the official residence of the British Prime Minister, as First Lord of the Treasury, since 1735.
Lamp post outside 24 Russell Street
City of Westminster
A gas street light comprising a column dated 1910 by William Sugg and Company Limited, with a replacement Upright Rochester-type lantern installed by Sugg Lighting Limited, in the later C20.
Baker Street Station: Main Entrance Building and Metropol…
City of Westminster
Underground railway station and terminus.
124-126 Horseferry Road
City of Westminster
London headquarters of Channel Four Television, including offices, post-production edit suites, restaurant, screening room and originally a studio.
41 Albemarle Street, London W1
City of Westminster
Showroom and offices for Hille, 1961-3 by Peter Moro.
Mint Wing of St Mary's Hosptial
City of Westminster
The Mint Wing of St Mary's Hospital is a historically significant multi-storey stable, originally built in 1878 for Great Western Railway, now converted to hospital use.
Lamp post outside 34-43 Russell Street
City of Westminster
A gas street light comprising a column dated 1910, with an Upright Rochester lantern manufactured by William Sugg and Company Ltd, probably installed around 1930.
The Islamic Cultural Centre and The London Central Mosque
City of Westminster
Mosque and Islamic cultural centre, 1970-1977, Sir Frederick Gibberd and Partners. The job architects were L Siwani and D C Loader.
Time and Life Building
City of Westminster
Office building with shops at ground floor level.1951-3 for Time Life International, by Michael Rosenauer, with interiors supervised by Sir Hugh Casson and Misha Black, completed 1954.
Paddington Station Including the Lawn, Gwr Office Block o…
City of Westminster
Railway terminus station. 1851-4 with the addition of a fourth train shed in 1914-16 and other alterations and additions, mainly in the 1930s.
Ncp Multi Storey Car Park
City of Westminster
The 1929 NCP Multi Storey Car Park by Robert Sharp and J.J. Joass features Classical-Moderne style with steel and glazed ceramic elements, serving London's West End motorists.
Richmond House, incorporating Nos. 1-8 Richmond Terrace
City of Westminster
Government offices, comprising a terrace of houses, designed 1819 by Thomas Chawner and built 1822-4 by George and Henry Harrison, the rear parts were demolished in 1979.
Regent's Park
Camden
Regent's Park (officially known as The Regent's Park), an early C19 landscape park designed by John Nash as a setting for villa residences and subsequently, from 1835 onwards, opened as a...
Royal Opera House
City of Westminster
Theatre. Built in 1857-1858 to the design of the architect Edward Middleton Barry by the contractors Messrs Lucas in neoclassical style for the Royal Italian Opera Company.
London Underground Headquarters Including St James's Park…
City of Westminster
Offices and underground railway station.
126, Great Portland Street W1
City of Westminster
126 Great Portland Street is a late 19th-century building designed by A. Beresford Pite, featuring Queen Anne style with Baroque accents, a notable example of Free Style architecture.
Cabmen's Shelter, Northumberland Avenue
City of Westminster
Cabmen's shelter built 1915 to replace the original 1882 Maximilian Clarke 'ornamental' shelter design for the Cabmen's Shelter Fund.
Zebra Crossing Near Abbey Road Studios
City of Westminster
Zebra crossing with belisha beacons, mid C20, Abbey Road.
Hallfield Estate (14 residential blocks and laundry)
City of Westminster
Housing estate (fourteen residential blocks, as in address above, and laundry), designed by Tecton in 1947 for the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington.
Charing Cross Hotel
City of Westminster
Charing Cross Hotel, former railway terminus hotel to the Charing Cross Railway (an off-shoot of the South Eastern Railway), built 1863-1864 to the designs of EM Barry, constructed by the...
Statue of Sir Winston Churchill
City of Westminster
Bronze statue of Sir Winston Churchill, installed 1973, by Ivor Roberts-Jones.
The Economist group (including office tower, residential …
City of Westminster
Office block, bank, residential block and linking podium, 1960-64 by Alison and Peter Smithson for the Economist magazine.
St Clement's Watch House
City of Westminster
Parish watch house. Possible early C18 in origin although early C19 in appearance. Incorporated in King's College campus in C20, now offices.
Bennett House, Grosvenor Estate (With Lodge and Gate Piers)
City of Westminster
Bennett House, part of the Grosvenor Estate by Sir Edwin Lutyens, is a 1928-30 tenement courtyard block in a stripped Georgian style, featuring grey brick and rendered elevations.
Oxford Circus Underground Station entrance on north-west …
City of Westminster
Underground railway station.
123A, Grosvenor Road SW1
City of Westminster
Built in the mid-19th century, 123A Grosvenor Road was once the Station Master's House for Grosvenor Road Station, noted for its yellow brick and decorative stonework.
Former Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station
City of Westminster
Bow Street Magistrates Court hosted significant trials of suffragette leaders like Emmeline Pankhurst in the early 20th century, an iconic site in UK's suffrage movement history.
Royal Courts of Justice: The Law Courts, Screen Walls, Ga…
City of Westminster
The Royal Courts of Justice, a large, national courtroom building of 1874 to 1883 designed and built by George Edmund Street and completed by Arthur E Street and Sir Arthur Blomfield.
Buckingham Palace
City of Westminster
Buckingham Palace, the British monarch's residence, has gardens redesigned by William Townsend Aiton.
33, Warwick Square SW1
City of Westminster
The mansion and studio at 33 Warwick Square, built between 1860-1866 by architect George Morgan, features eclectic brickwork and interior decorations in the 18th-century style.
Westminster through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Westminster changes over time.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Westminster
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground.
St James
The Palace of Westminster, the River Thames and the surrounding city, Westminster, 1939
Westminster
The River Thames running through central London, Westminster, 1951
Paddington
Paddington, the homecoming parade of the Prince of Wales, 1922
Paddington
Paddington Railway Station and environs, Paddington, 1950
Regent'S Park
London Zoo, Regent's Park, 1921
Regent'S Park
London Zoo, Regent's Park, 1950
Marylebone
The Middlesex Hospital and environs, Marylebone, 1925
Marylebone
The Middlesex Hospital and surroundings, Marylebone, 1935
Westminster
Thirleby Road and Westminster Cathedral, Westminster, 1921
Westminster
Westminster Cathedral, Westminster, 1949
Westminster in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Westminster's past.
Charles George Harper Collection
City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1892 - 1933
A view from Berkeley Street showing a man at the entrance to Lansdowne Passage, a narrow walkway which led to Curzon Street
Eric de Mare
Westminster, City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1945 - 1980
General view of Green Park Arch looking through the arch. It was designed by Decimus Burton in 1828.
John Gay Collection: Railway Stations
Marylebone, City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1960 - 1972
A view looking west along Marylebone Road in Westminster from outside Berkeley Court towards the Old Great Central Hotel in Marylebone
John Gay Collection: London
Mayfair, City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1960 - 1980
The interior of the kitchens at Wheelers Sovereign Restaurant on the corner of Hertford Street and Down Street in Mayfair showing a chef on the...
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Marylebone, City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1970s
The refurbished interior of Keelers Opticians shop at 65 Wigmore Street, Westminster showing a consultation booth
John Gay Collection: Rural Life
City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: Sep 1980
A view of a case containing two minature long barrelled guns made by James Purdey and Sons of London
John Gay Collection: Miscellaneous
Mayfair, City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1956
A woman using a Gestetner duplicating machine in the offices of Gallup, the market research pollsters
John Laing Collection
Westminster, City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 26 Oct 1976
A group of business men, including bankers, looking at a silver vase presented to David Money-Coutts at a cocktail party held at Coutts Bank
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Westminster, City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 28 Jun 1838
A photograph of an engraving showing crowds gathered to watch the arrival at Westminster Abbey of Queen Victoria's coach during her coronation...
Alfred Newton and Sons
City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1900 - 1910
PLAQUE ON RAILINGS COMMEMORATING TYBURN TREE
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Kensington, City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1900 - 1930
VIEW SHOWING PEOPLE BOATING ON THE SERPENTINE
Walter Scott
Millbank, City Of Westminster, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1930 - 1935
A view of the sculpture of Emmeline Pankhurst in its original setting
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Westminster.
The 12 Pubs of Christmas
Mentions Houses of Parliament and The Palace of Westminster
Explore the hidden histories of listed pubs with a festive theme.
The Buildings of Modernist Architect Berthold Lubetkin
Mentions Penguin Pool, Chimps Breeding Colony the Gorilla House
Exploring the work of a leading figure in Modernist Architecture in Britain.
Hostel, House, and Chambers
Mentions 1A, Little Titchfield Street W1, 42 and 44, Mortimer Street W1, 37-41, Great Titchfield Street W1, Former London Diocesan Girls' Friendly Society Hostel (St Mungos)
Exploring Victorian and Edwardian accommodation for working women.
10 Historic Locations Featured in Classic British Horror Movies
Mentions Trafalgar Square
England's heritage as the location for horror films.
What Is the Oldest Historic Pub in London?
Mentions Seven Stars Public House
Discover what the oldest historic pub in London is. The contenders include the Prospect of Whitby, the George Inn, and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.
The History of Chinatowns in England
Mentions 19, Gerrard Street W1
London's first Chinatown appeared in Limehouse in the 1880s, while Liverpool's Chinatown is home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe.
The Story of 1066: Why William the Conqueror Invaded England
Mentions Westminster Abbey (The Collegiate Church of St Peter)
William I, also known as William the Conqueror, was the first Norman king of England, who reigned from 1066 to 1087 following the Battle of Hastings.
The History of Religious Wall Paintings in England: From the Middle Ages to the Victorian Era
Mentions Westminster Abbey (The Collegiate Church of St Peter), Church of St Mary Magdalene
Explore England's religious wall paintings, a blend of art and spirituality spanning the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
The Life of Sophia Duleep Singh: Princess and Suffragette
Mentions Caxton Hall, Parliament Square, Memorial to Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst
Discover the legacy of Sophia Duleep Singh, a pioneering suffragette, princess and women's rights champion in early 20th-century Britain.
A Brief Introduction to the History of the Railway in England
Discover when the first steam train was invented in England, and when the world's first public railway opened in Stockton and Darlington in 1825.
A Brief Introduction to Semi-Detached Housing
Mentions Houses of Parliament and The Palace of Westminster
Semi-detached housing is the most prevalent type of housing in England today, making up one third of the housing stock.
How We Built Suburbia: The Development of England’s Suburbs
Mentions 3 and 5, Porchester Terrace W2
Over the past 2 centuries, England’s towns and cities have experienced unparalleled growth, which has led to the creation of the suburbs.
Mentions Westminster
Visit the "Pitman's Parliament" in Durham (thanks to a tour from Ross Forbes), the Tolpuddle Martyrs' tree and the building at the heart of our...
Miners, Martyrs and the Palace of Westminster
Visit the "Pitman's Parliament" in Durham (thanks to a tour from Ross Forbes), the Tolpuddle Martyrs' tree and the building at the heart of our democracy with podcast host Suzannah Lipscomb. The 100 places featured in this series have been nominated by the public and chosen by a panel of judges. Together they help tell England’s fascinating history. Irreplaceable: A History of England in 100 Places is a Historic England podcast, sponsored by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical ecclesiastical.com
Mentions Westminster
41 places across England that were at the centre of suffragette action, from mass meetings and smashed windows to prison hunger strikes and post box...
Sites of Suffragette Protest and Sabotage
41 places across England that were at the centre of suffragette action, from mass meetings and smashed windows to prison hunger strikes and post box fires, have been officially recognised.
Maida Vale MP Shows Support for Greenhouse Centre
Mentions Christ Church, Westminster
Investment from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund is helping bring a London landmark community space back to life.
Grant for the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich
Mentions Westminster
Historic England has awarded a grant of £57,000 to support vital conservation work and secure the landmark's long-term future.
Sustaining London's Vibrant Historic Places
Mentions Westminster
Helping London’s historic character inform future localities through historic urban characterisation projects.
London Archaeology and Characterisation
Mentions Westminster
The challenges of managing change in complex townscapes and time-depth.
Great Yarmouth Heritage Linkworker Wins Heritage Social Prescribing Award 2024
Mentions Westminster
The Historic England-funded social prescribing pilot project has won the first-ever Award for Best Heritage Social Prescribing Project.
Beach Replenishments as Windows into Submerged Pleistocene Landscapes
Mentions Westminster
Evidence of landscapes and lifeways from the distant past brought to light during replenishment of Essex beaches.
Southend-on-Sea Civic Fountain Listed
Mentions Curzon Mayfair Cinema
The Civic Fountain in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, has been listed at Grade II by DCMS on the advice of Historic England.
13th Cabmen's Shelter in London Listed
Mentions Cabmen's Shelter, Wellington Place, Cabmen's Shelter, Northumberland Avenue, Cabmen's Shelter, Grosvenor Gardens
The cabmen's shelter on Wellington Place, St John’s Wood, has been listed at Grade II – all 13 historic green huts in London are now protected.
New Funding to Uncover and Celebrate Working Class Heritage in the East of England
Mentions Westminster
Historic England's Everyday Heritage Grant programme will reveal and celebrate fascinating untold stories from across the East of England and beyond.
Picturing Construction, Constructing Identity
Mentions Westminster
Construction history researcher Tony Presland gives us a preview of his developing research into the John Laing Collection of photographs.
Listing Protection for Westminster Gas Lamps
Mentions Sewer Gas Lampstandard Numbered 4, Lamp post outside 4-6 Russell Street, Lamp post outside 24 Russell Street
4 historic gas lamps in Covent Garden, London have been listed at Grade II.
A Preview of The Sir John Pennycuick Collection for Researchers
Mentions Westminster
The Historic England Archive's Sir John Pennycuick Collection provides a photographic record of streets in early and mid-20th century England.
Westminster's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area.
Zoological Gardens, Regents Park, Westminster, London
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This stereo view of the Zoological Gardens in Regents Park shows members of the public mounting an elephant for a ride.
Zoological Gardens, Regents Park, Westminster, London
Workers who built the London Central Mosque with their families at the mosque, Westminster, Greater London Authority
Period: 1970s (1970 - 1979)
There had been attempts to build a new mosque in Central London since 1900.
Workers who built the London Central Mosque with their families at the mosque, Westminster, Greater London Authority
Wolseley Tool and Motor Company Garage, Westminste
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
This garage in York Street, Westminster, was photographed in 1913.
Wolseley Tool and Motor Company Garage, Westminste
Whiteley's Department Store, Bayswater, Greater London
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
William Whiteley set up a haberdashery shop in the 1850s on Westbourne Grove.
Whiteley's Department Store, Bayswater, Greater London
Westminster Palace Hotel, Victoria Street, Westminster, Greater London
Period: World War One (1914 - 1919)
A group of women from the Canadian War Contingent Association packing socks at the Westminster Palace Hotel.
Westminster Palace Hotel, Victoria Street, Westminster, Greater London
Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Greater London
Period: Anglo Saxon (Britons/English/Vikings) (410 - 1065)
There has been a building on this site since Roman times. Legend says there was a Christian church in 184AD.
Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Greater London
Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Greater London
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
There has been a building on this site since Roman times. Legend says there was a Christian church in 184AD.
Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Greater London
Westminster Abbey, Infant Princes Tomb, Westminster, London
Period: Stuart (1603 - 1713)
The tomb of Edward V and his brother Richard Duke of York who were interred here on the orders of Charles II in 1678 after there bodies were...
Westminster Abbey, Infant Princes Tomb, Westminster, London
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