Palace of Whitehall
Palace of Whitehall, Former royal palace in the United Kingdom
The Palace of Whitehall was an enormous royal residence that sprawled across London with more than 1,500 rooms serving as the main seat of the English Crown from the 1530s onward. Today, only the Banqueting House remains standing from what was once Europe's largest palace complex.
Built first for Cardinal Wolsey, the palace passed to King Henry VIII when the cardinal fell from power, and the king expanded it into his main London residence. Following severe fires in the 1600s, much of the complex was destroyed and eventually demolished.
The Banqueting House served as a grand space where royalty hosted receptions and state occasions that displayed the power of the Crown. Its painted ceiling was a statement of artistic refinement and royal importance to those who entered.
The Banqueting House opens to the public and displays its original interior decoration alongside the famous painted ceiling. Plan to arrive early if you want time to observe the architectural details and take in the space without crowds.
The ceiling paintings in the Banqueting House were created by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens and contain political allegories. Few visitors realize this room also witnessed the execution of King Charles I in 1649.
Location: City of Westminster
Inception: 1530
Architects: Inigo Jones
Architectural style: Gothic architecture
GPS coordinates: 51.50444,-0.12556
Latest update: December 8, 2025 08:20
This collection documents major buildings that have disappeared throughout history. It includes religious structures such as the 15th-century Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, whose glazed bricks gleamed in sunlight, as well as destroyed palaces, theaters, and public buildings from various periods and...
Banqueting House
29 m
Ministry of Defence Main Building
67 m
Monument to the Women of World War II
114 m
Scotland Office
101 m
Whitehall Court
145 m
Holbein Gate
67 m
Earl Haig Memorial
51 m
Statue of Charles George Gordon
124 m
Gurkha Memorial
82 m
Privy Garden of the Palace of Whitehall
85 m
Korean War Memorial
137 m
Cádiz Memorial
124 m
Equestrian statue of the Duke of Cambridge
112 m
Gwydyr House
45 m
Statue of the Viscount Montgomery
121 m
Fleet Air Arm Memorial
120 m
Statue of the Viscount Slim
75 m
Statue of Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire
61 m
Equestrian statue of Earl Roberts
125 m
Equestrian statue of Viscount Wolseley
146 m
Statue of the Viscount Alanbrooke
96 m
Goose-Pie House
88 m
Old War Office Building
125 m
Cabinet Office And Privy Council Office building
120 m
Queen Mary's Steps
101 m
Statue of Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford
131 m
Forecourt Railings, Gates And Guardhouses To Horseguards
99 m
Royal United Services Institute
25 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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