Whitehall

The Foreign Office in the days of the British Empire

Whitehall, London, looking south towards the Houses of Parliament. The tower is Victoria Tower.

Whitehall showing the major UK Government buildings.

For other uses, see Whitehall (disambiguation).

Whitehall is a road in Westminster in London, England. It is the main street running north from Parliament Square, towards traditional Charing Cross, now at the southern end of Trafalgar Square and marked by the statue of Charles I, which is often regarded as the heart of London.

The name "Whitehall" is often used for governmental administration and as a geographic name for the district around it.

Whitehall was originally a wide road that ran up to the front of the palace. Trafalgar Square was built at its northern end in the early 19th century. The southernmost part by Parliament Square is named Parliament Street, but there is no longer any obvious difference between the two on the ground. Combined, the streets cover a total distance of about 0.6 mile (1 km).

Government buildings in Whitehall

• 10 Downing Street
• The Cabinet Office
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• The Ministry of Defence
• The Treasury
• Department of Health
• Department of Work and Pensions

Whitehall Media

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  Map of Whitehall in 1680, showing the Palace of Whitehall and Scotland Yard. To the west of Holbein Gate, the road was known as The Street.

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  Map of Whitehall and surrounding streets, showing government buildings

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  View of the Horse Guards Building from Whitehall, showing the three arches that link it to Horse Guards Parade

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  Whitehall, looking north in 1953, with the Earl Haig Memorial in the middle of the carriageway.

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  The Whitehall Theatre, now Trafalgar Studios, opened in 1930 and is a Grade II listed building.

Bibliography

• George S Dugdale 1950. Whitehall through the centuries, with black and white reproductions and plans. A foreword by Sir Edward Bridges. Phoenix House, London.

Other websites

• Aerial photo and map
• Whitehall in 1669, showing the Banqueting House and Holbein Gateway Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
• History of the Whitehall Theatre built on Whitehall in 1930 Archived 2017-06-04 at the Wayback Machine

Gallery

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  Whitehall, looking south in 1740

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  In 1799 many of the sites now occupied by large government buildings were covered with terraced houses.

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  A London cab zooms between two monuments on Whitehall, between Horse Guards and 10 Downing Street