The Killing of a King: Royal London during the reign of King Charles I
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Back in the 1600s, Londoners would gather to witness a very particular form of public entertainment. Hushed crowds would wait in anticipation for an offender to meet their end at the hands of an executioner. On the 30th January 1649, it was the reigning monarch, King Charles I, who had an appointment with the man who would end his life.
This walking tour charts the life and death of this ill-fated king, taking you to some of London’s most famous and iconic sights including:
- Henry VIII’s hunting lodge-turned-royal palace
- Some of the oldest luxury shops in the world
- One of London’s most picturesque royal parks, once home to an elephant
- The abbey where all kings and queens have their coronation
- The ancient hall where Charles I was put on trial
- Henry VIII’s favoured jousting ground
- The remains of what was once Europe's largest palace
You’ll also hear stories about:
- Why the monarch isn’t allowed to enter the House of Commons
- Why Members of Parliament sit two sword lengths apart
- How King Charles I fell out with Parliament
- How Guy Fawkes spoiled his executioner’s big day
- The woman who kept her husband's severed head in a glass case for twenty years
- Which queen was known as “the Popish brat of France”
Join me on this walk and soak up the unique atmosphere of St James’s and Westminster.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Talk the Walk
I’m Ian Grover and for many years it’s been my pleasure to guide visitors around London and throughout the British Isles. As well as the iconic sights, I delight in showing the hidden gems that many people miss.
My background was centred around the automotive industry when in 1980 I started work as a trainee car salesman with Renault UK Ltd. Over the coming years I progressed to sales management with Mercedes-Benz and finally ended up with the splendidly sounding title of Personal Liaison Manager, responsible for UK sales of their two flagship models. These were the ultra-luxurious Maybach, and a 300 km/h supercar called the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. When these two programmes came to an end I decided to take a different path in life and do something that I had always had a passion for and I became a tour guide.
I went to the University of Westminster in London where, after comprehensive training, I qualified with distinction as a City of Westminster Tour Guide, Since then, over the past years I have delivered both walking tours of London and driving tours throughout the British Isles and this is something that I still enjoy immensely.
In addition to my physical tours, through my Talk the Walk profile on VoiceMap, I'm now focussed on producing engaging audio tours so that travellers can explore with me in their own time and at their own pace.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 34
Banqueting House
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How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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St James's Palace
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The Queen's Chapel
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Friary Court
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St James's Park
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The Blue Bridge
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Café at Storey's Gate
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Westminster Abbey
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Dean's Yard
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Great College Street
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Palace of Westminster
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Old Palace Yard
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Westminster Hall
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Whitehall
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King Charles Street
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Horse Guards Parade
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Banqueting House
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start location161 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EA, UK
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Total distance3km
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Final locationWhitehall, London SW1A 2ER, UK
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Distance back to start location1km
Directions to Starting Point
The tour begins at the corner of the world famous Piccadilly where it meets St James's Street. You should start next to the entrance of the fabulous Caviar House & Prunier seafood restaurant that you'll find at that location. For over 140 years Caviar House has been providing an unforgettable experience by producing the finest quality and best tasting caviar and smoked salmon in the world.
The best way to get there is via the London Underground. The nearest station is Green Park which is served by the Piccadilly, Jubilee and Victoria lines. The starting point is just a 2 minute walk from the station which will take you past the iconic Ritz Hotel and the grand Wolseley Restaurant.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
There are plenty of places to stop for refreshment along the way. The Cellarium Cafe in Westminster Abbey is a great place for either breakfast, a quick cuppa or a full afternoon tea while you soak up the atmosphere of this historic place. You could also mingle with Members of Parliament in one of the pubs close to the Houses of Parliament. Enjoy watching them hurriedly gulp down their beers when the bell sounds that tells them they must get back to Parliament. We'll finish close to Trafalgar Square which houses both the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Both of these have excellent restaurants and you can never have enough of viewing the magnificent portraits displayed in them.
Best time of day
The tour is best taken between 7am and 6pm and is suitable 7 days a week throughout the year. You will pass through the area that takes in the famous Changing of the Guard from 10:30 until 12 noon. Bear this in mind depending on whether you'd like to experience the event or would prefer to avoid the crowds.
Precautions
St James's and Westminster are generally very safe areas to walk through and you'll experience a lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Traffic is likely to be busy and remember that in this country we drive on the left side of the road. Take extra care when crossing roads and make sure you look both ways before you step into the road.
Our weather is notoriously changeable so it's always a good idea to wear layers so that you can adapt as conditions change.
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Questions and Reviews
Questions and Reviews
