London Places

We travel to places of interest in London, usually by train and tube. Tickets usually cover the cost of entry and a guide, if applicable; so transport and refreshments are extra. Full instructions are sent out before each visit. If there is anything of which we should be aware that might impact your enjoyment, please let us know. If you are new to the group we can introduce you to other LALG members.

We are hoping to run a trip in June to the Houses of Parliament sponsored by Chris Hinchliffe, MP for North East Herts. Look out for details on this web page. Preference will be given to those who booked on the previous trip that we had to cancel.

As our trips are very popular we can not guarantee you a place. We take bookings by email from 9.30am on a specified date and take people in order from that time. Sending an early email does not get you ahead of the queue!

We are now preparing guides to the places we visit so that people who miss out can make their own arrangements if they want to. The first covers the London Guildhall and you can find it as an article on this page.

We typically make a visit every two months. We welcome ideas for places to visit. So far the suggestions are:

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Hindu Temple in Neasden, Museum of the Home, Royal Albert Hall, Churchill War Rooms, Soane Museum, Pitzhangar Manor, Foundling Museum, Sky Garden, Abbey Mills Pumping Station, Francis Crick Institute, Royal Academy of Music, Linley Seabourne House, St Pancras old church, Gunnersbury Park, Clivedon, Cookham, Polesdon Lacey House and Gardens, Houses of Parliament, Speakers House.

If you would like to be kept informed of visits, please contact Elaine F or Tony K at london_places@lalg.org.uk

Safety Information: Walking

Contact Details

london_places@lalg.org.uk

Elaine F - 01462 735642

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Fulham Palace

https://www.fulhampalace.org/

From Letchworth station take the 9.50 (Baldock 9.47, Hitchin 9.55, Stevenage 10.01) Thameslink train to Blackfriars. Travel at the rear of the train. At Blackfriars change to the District Line, travel to Putney Bridge station on the Wimbledon branch. There is no lift at this station.

The Palace is a 15-minute walk through Bishop’s Park following a signed route.

You can explore the botanic garden at Fulham Palace, 13 acres of stunning plantings, rare trees and a beautiful walled garden. Bring a picnic or take refreshment in the cafeteria.

Entry to the Palace is free but you can pay for guided tours of the gardens and the Palace - see the website for details fulhampalace.org/whats-on/events/

The site has been a residence of the Bishops of London since AD 704, when Bishop Waldhere acquired the Manor of Fulham — a vast estate covering most of Hammersmith, Fulham, Acton, Ealing and Finchley. As bishops were called ‘Princes of the Church’ the estate became known as Fulham Palace. Bishop Stopford was the final Bishop of London to live here, leaving in 1973. The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham ran the site until April 2011, when the independent charity Fulham Palace Trust was formed and took over the management of the estate. Now Fulham Palace is being restored to its former glory.

London Guildhall - a guide

Visit the Great Hall

Take a guided tour and learn how the City operates, its livery companies, famous events that took place within its medieval walls and admire the impressive memorials to some of Britain’s most important historic figures.

Monthly tours

City of London Tours run monthly guided tours of Guildhall on the days that the Court of Common Council meets. Tours take place in the morning and last about an hour. You can also visit the Roman Amphitheatre and Art Gallery which are free.

Tickets must be booked in advance via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/guildhall/and cost £15 each.

Catch the 9.28 train (9.25 Baldock) destination Kings Cross. Leave the train at Hitchin. Catch the 9.41 (9.47 Stevenage) direct Thameslink service from Hitchin to City Thameslink. Travel in the rear carriage. This train arrives at 10.21 giving time to walk to the Guildhall for a prompt start for the tour. Toilets are available at the Art Gallery.

Leaving City Thameslink via Holborn viaduct exit it is then a ¾ mile walk, taking about 15 minutes, to the Guildhall. From the rear of the train exit the station, find Holborn Viaduct and turn right (if the escalator is out of action so 13 steps up to street level). This shortly becomes Newgate Street. After about ¼ mile at St Paul’s underground station, turn left, crossing at the traffic lights onto St Martin’s Le Grand. After 50 yards turn right into Gresham Street. The Guildhall is about ¼ mile ahead on the left.

This information is based on a tour undertaken by LALG London Places Group. Details were correct at time of writing but please check for yourself before visiting.

Wicked!

In February 28 LALG members visited Angels Costumes in Hendon. This was the fastest selling trip in London Places history! It was a brilliant trip and much appreciated. So much so that we are running another one on 28 May.

For over 180 years Angel’s Costumes has been supplying costumes and accessories for TV, film and theatre. We went 'Behind the Seams' at the world’s largest costume house on a private tour organised for LALG.

We saw the 8 miles of racks, saw how costumes were made or otherwise acquired and heard first-hand accounts of working on the biggest productions such as Shakespeare in Love, The Lady in the Van, Downton Abbey, Wicked and Game of Thrones. On display were clothes made or recreated for Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Fred Astaire, Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett and many more - including the cast of Wicked!

London Places trips

After a very successful visit to the Poppy factory in January I can confirm dates for our next few trips. Booking will open 6-8 weeks before each trip and will be advertised in the newsletter and regular LALG emails. Please do not try to book until the date given.

Tuesday 25 February – trip to Angels Costumes. This trip sold out in 3 hours! I have booked another visit on 28 May.

Guildhall

City of London Tours run monthly guided tours of Guildhall on the days that the Court of Common Council meets. Tours take place in the morning and last about an hour. I have booked a tour on 25 April which will include the Guildhall itself, the Art Gallery and Roman Amphitheatre. Cost £15 per person.

Old Bailey

On Monday 12 May we will have a late afternoon visit to the Old Bailey otherwise known as the Central Criminal Court. I have booked a private behind the scenes tour. As the Old Bailey is a working court the tour will start after court sittings have finished for the day – at 5.30pm. As there are long days in May we will be able to complete the visit in daylight. The tour will be about 90 minutes and costs £360, including VAT for a maximum of 25 people (about £15 pp).

Trip to Speakers House - or not!

On 28th August a group set off to visit the Speakers House. Unfortunately as we were travelling there was an IT security glitch at the Palace of Westminster so our visit was cancelled. During refreshments in the basement cafe at Methodist Central Hall we planned what to do next. The cafe there is a little gem, well priced and presented, welcoming staff and toilets. Recomended if you are in the Westminster area.

We had walked past The Supreme Court on our way to MCH and it was open. So we went back to have a look round. Having explained our dilema to the welcome team they laid on a special tour just for us!

The Supreme Court has a fascinating exhibition. You can visit three separate Courts, even sit in the Justice's Chair. The art is lovely and the people are too. We finished our visit with a trip to their cafe which is also open to the public.

If you are in the vicinity of Westminster and looking for something to do I recommend you book a tour.

London Places will be revisiting the Supreme Court on a preorganised trip in the future but there are lots of other places for us to visit first!