Mansion House, the Palace of the London Mayor, was originally for the Lord Mayor to represent the City in appropriate style, Sir Crispin Gascoigne was the first Lord Mayor to take up residence in 1752. This fine example of a grand Georgian town palace continues to fulfil this function more than two centuries later. After the Great Fire of London in 1666 plans were discussed to create the palace but the actual building did not begin until 1739. After much discussion over the selection of the site, the design and the architect a classical Palladian style was decided on with ornate gold trim Corinthian columns and the grand Egyptian Hall for banqueting. The title of this great hall can cause confusing as it is not and never has been Egyptian in style, instead it's a reflection of the Roman dining halls in Egypt. Now, its large, high ceilinged spaces make it a suitably grandiose site for some of the City of London's official functions. The most recent of a number of extensive repair programmes was in 1991-3 and the result earned a number of conservation awards.
Open by appointment only for visits by organised groups (minimum 15 people, maximum 40). Applications should be made in writing to the Principal Assistant, Mansion House.
Saturday 14th November 2009
Lord Mayor's Show
Fireworks at 5pm
The Lord Mayor's Show features possibly the most dangerous and amazing of all the public fireworks shows in... More
Halloween Ball at Charlton House
Charlton House, SE7 8RE
Saturday 31st October 2009
The grand finale to the London Ghost Festival, the Halloween Ball takes... More
Wimbledon Common and Village
Distance & Difficulty - 5 miles. Best done brisk and boisterous.
Highlights - Being close to nature at Rushmere Pond, Wimbledon Windmill, chilling in front of... More
Many of London’s most idiosyncratic hotels benefit from a historic tradition of opulent living. With hundreds of years of experience in the trade, they combine... More
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
New Globe Walk, Bankside, Southwark, SE1 9DR
Riverside reconstruction of Shakespeare's original theatre
Set against the historical background of Bankside this is one of the finest... More
St Magnus' was built by Sir Christopher Wren between 1671-76, and boasts a steeple dating from 1705. Henry Yevele, Richard II's master mason, is buried ... More
Working, domed, city cathedral designed by Wren. Being the cathedral of the capital city, St Paul's is officially the spiritual home of Great Britain. The ... More
Following an 18-month closure which began in 2007, The Monument reopened in February 2009 revealing the effects of a £4.5 million renovation. If you're feeling ... More
The location of Club Quarters Gracechurch in the heart of the City has made it a favourite with business travellers. A cheerily macho atmosphere permeates ... More
Housed in an esteemed former banking hall in the City, this magnificent boutique hotel provides a luxurious sanctuary. The spacious rooms are decorated in a ... More
Leadenhall Market is a restored Victorian covered market that sells traditional game, poultry, fish and meat. Although there has been a forum (market place) on ...More
130-year-old scent emporium with royal warrants.
For a sweet-smelling, sensory overload, Penhaligon’s has to be the place to go. From the original Hammam Bouquet to the ... More
Bounded in by surrounding office buildings, Postman's Park's appeal lies in what it symbolises as much as how it looks. Located just north of St ... More
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