Right in the heart of Whitehall, London, stands a building most people walk past without a second glance and yet it holds some of the most extraordinary stories in English history.
This is Banqueting House, the last surviving remnant of the vast Palace of Whitehall, once the largest royal palace in Europe. Within these walls, Pocahontas attended a royal masque at the court of James I. Above, Peter Paul Rubens created one of the most breathtaking painted ceilings in Britain, vast canvases shipped across Europe and assembled overhead in a triumph of Baroque art. And here, on a bitter morning in 1649, King Charles I stepped through a window to his execution, a moment that changed the course of British history forever.
In this episode of London Stories, Tim the London Walker explores the history, architecture, and stories behind this remarkable building and takes you inside for a rare look ahead of its reopening.
This is one of London’s most important historic sites… hiding in plain sight.
Visit Information:
Banqueting House is reopening soon, with special Open Days hosted by Historic Royal Palaces:
📅 Open Days: 1 May, 29 May, 26 June
📅 Full opening: 1 August – 20 September
If you love London history, royal history, hidden places and great stories, this is one not to miss.
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