Classical Open House

Self-Guided Itinerary Nearest station: Westminster Distance: 7.5km (4.5 miles)

Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA

Grade I listed restored building of five wings, four of which surround a large courtyard. Built to accommodate public offices, learned societies and naval administrators. Construction began in 1775 to the design of Sir William Chambers. New Wing, overlooking Waterloo Bridge, dates from 1850 by Sir .

Directions: From standing facing the building cross East End Head north towards Strand/A4 > Turn left onto Strand/A4 > Parts of this road may be closed at certain times or on certain days > Turn left onto Craven St > Turn left onto Hungerford Ln > Turn right onto Craven Passage > Walk your bicycle > Turn right onto Craven St > Walk your bicycle, destination will be on the right 4 min (0.6 mi)

Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven St, , London WC2N 5NF

Grade I listed Georgian house, the only surviving home of Benjamin Franklin, retaining many orig- inal features, including central staircase, lathing, 18th Century panelling, stoves windows, fittings and beams. Architect: Baron William Craven the Younger, 1732; restored by Patrick Dillon 1998.

Directions: Head south-east on Craven St towards Craven Passage > Turn right onto Northumberland Ave > At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Trafal- gar Square/A4 > Take the zebra crossing > Walk your bicycle, destination will be on the right 3 min (0.3 mi)

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Canada House, , SW1Y 5BJ

Canada House was built between 1824 and 1827 to accommodate the Union Club and the Royal College of Physicians. Its bold neo-hellenic lines were the precursor for the new architectural style adopted in Trafalgar Square, and were a com- plete transformation from the Regency style of the time. Canada bought the Union Club in 1923 and subsequently took over the whole block. Fully refurbished in 2014 Canada House serves as a true showcase of the country in the 21st century. Architect: Sir Robert Smirke, 1823.

Directions: Head east > Continue onto Cockspur St/A4 > Continue to follow A4 > At the roundabout, take the 5th exit onto Trafalgar Square/A4 > Continue to follow A4 > Turn left onto Waterloo Pl > Turn right onto Terrace 3 min (0.4 mi)

Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

Designed by and and built in 1829 it comprises two grand blocks separated by the Duke of York’s Column (Ben- jamin Wyatt 1834) which closes the grand vista of Lower Regent St. Imposing façades along the Mall with more modest fronts on the Terrace. No 9 (on the corner of the Duke of York’s Steps) was the Prussian, then German Embassy 1849-1939 and there is a touching memorial to German dogs at the top of the Steps. It is now the home of the Royal Society.

Directions: Head north-west on Waterloo Pl towards Pall Mall/A4 > Turn left onto Pall Mall/A4, destina- tion will be on the left 53 s (0.1 mi)

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The Reform Club, 104 Pall Mall, St. James’s, London SW1Y 5EW

Built as a Whig gentlemen’s club and inspired by Italian Renaissance palaces, notably the Palazzo Farnese at Rome. The lobby leads to an enclosed colonnaded courtyard with glazed roof and tes- selated floor. Tunnelled staircase leads to upper floor. Architect: Sir 1841.

Directions: Head south-west on Pall Mall/A4 towards St James’s Square > Turn right onto St James’s St/ A4, destination will be on the left 2 min (0.2 mi)

Mark Masons’ Hall, 86 St James’s St, St. James’s, London SW1A 1PL

Created in 1911 as part of Hampstead Garden Suburb, this is a linear park of 112 acres. There are three areas of garden through which runs the Mutton Brook. To the west, wood- land and shrubs; in the middle, formal gardens and tennis courts; to the east, ornamental trees. A group of volunteers has recently worked to effect a prize-winning restoration of the Gardens. This group is very keen to participate in 2019 LOH and provide guides to the gardens.

Directions: Walk through the gardens until you reach the next road (Northway). Turn right and follow this road until you reach the end – then turn left and you’re immediately in the central square of Hampstead Garden Suburb Walking time: 8 minutes

Berry Bros. & Rudd, 63 Pall Mall, St. James’s, London SW1Y 5HZ

Founded as a general grocer in 1698, the compa- ny has been specialising in wines and spirits since the 1810s. The street front and main shop are little changed from the early 19th Century, in- cluding the ‘sign of the coffee-mill’ over the main door, recalling its origins as a grocer. Page 3 Open House London

Directions: Head north-east on Pall Mall/A4 towards St James’s Square > Turn left onto St James’s Square, destination will be on the left 1 min (0.2 mi)

The London Library, 14 St James’s Square, St. James’s, London SW1Y 4LG

Founded in 1841 this is one of the world’s great lending libraries. An extraordinary history, a vast borrowing collection and an outstanding building make this a unique place to think, to write and to be inspired. In 1896–98 the premises were com- pletely rebuilt to the designs of James Osborne Smith, and this building survives as the front part of the present library, with a complex set of inter- connected buildings behind holding the Library’s collection of over 1 million books.

Directions: Head north-east on St James’s Square towards Duke of York St > Turn left onto Duke of York St > Turn left onto Jermyn St > Turn left onto St James’s St/A4 > Turn right onto Park Pl 3 min (0.4 mi)

The Royal Over-Seas League, Over- Seas House, Park Pl, St James’s St, London SW1A 1LR

Over-Seas House is formed of three buildings, two of which are grade I listed; Rutland House, designed by and completed in 1736; and Vernon House rebuilt in 1835 after a fire. These, along with the 1937 Westminster Wing each offer distinct architectural styles and fur- nishings of their era, and include many unique original interior features. The clubhouse backs onto a beautiful garden overlooking .

Directions: Head north-east towards St James’s St/A4 > Turn right onto St James’s St/A4 > Turn right onto St James’s Pl, destination will be on the left 3 min (0.2 mi)

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Spencer House, 27 St James’s Pl, St. James’s, London SW1A 1NR

London’s finest surviving 18th Century town house. Built for the 1st Earl Spencer, the original build took 10 years to complete. the State Rooms are amongst the earliest and finest neo-classical interiors in . The house has been leased since 1927, currently to Lord Rothschild’s RIT Capital Holdings plc, and has regained the full splendour of its late eighteenth-century appear- ance after a ten year programme of restoration. Architects: John Vardy and James Stuart 1756.

Directions: Head north-east on St James’s Pl towards A4 > Turn left onto St James’s St/A4 > Turn left onto /A4 > Turn right onto Half Moon St > Turn left onto Curzon St > Slight right to stay on Curzon St > Sharp right onto Queen St > Slight right onto Charles St, destination will be on the right 5 min (0.6 mi)

Dartmouth House, 37 Charles St, , London W1J 5ED

Grade II* listed town house with a marble court- yard, fine panelling and a Robert Adam fireplace. Home to the English Speaking Union. Architect: William Cubitt & Co 1890.

Directions: Head north-east on Charles St towards Hay’s Mews > Turn left onto Hay’s Mews > Turn right onto Hill St > Turn left onto Berkeley Square > Turn right to stay on Berkeley Square > Turn right to stay on Berkeley Square > Turn left onto Jones St > Turn right onto Bourdon St > Turn right onto Bloomfield Pl > Turn right onto New Bond St > Turn left onto Conduit St/B406 > Turn right onto Savile Row 3 min (0.7 mi)

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Savile Row, London W1S 3PJ amous today for its tailoring businesses, Savile Row’s original architectural plan in the 1730s was as a residential street - by , with Henry Flitcroft, Daniel Garrett and William designing individual buildings all under the influ- ence of Lord Burlington’s interpretation of Pal- ladian architecture. As tailoring moved into the street, the house frontages were altered though No. 14 still retains much of the original external features.

Directions: Head north-west on Savile Row towards New Burlington St > Turn right onto New Burlington St > Turn left onto Regent St/A4201 > Continue to follow A4201 > Make a U-turn at Weymouth St, destination will be on the left 7 min (0.8 mi)

42 Portland Pl, , London W1B 1NB

Grade II* listed 5-storey Georgian town house originally designed in the late 18th Century as a gentleman’s residence. The building is current- ly occupied by Christie’s Education. Architect: James Adam 1776.

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