Old Admiralty Building
Old Admiralty Building
4.5
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Westminster
If you only had an afternoon to experience London on a grand scale, Westminster would be a wise place to start. The ornate Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey sit adjacent at a corner of Parliament Square, and a short stroll along The Mall leads to Buckingham Palace. Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column are just up the road as well. As captivating as the architecture is, the wonders of Mother Nature are highlights of the area too. St James's Park (arguably London's loveliest), the expansive Green Park, and pedestrian friendly tree lined paths along the river showcase the exquisite manicure provided by English gardeners. Just beyond the landmarks and the gorgeous outdoor spaces, quiet residential squares and age old local pubs offer a more subdued take on this global seat of power in the heart of London.
How to get there
- Charing Cross • 3 min walk
- Embankment • 6 min walk
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Best nearby
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Restaurants
10,000 within 3 miles
Attractions
2,821 within 6 miles
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4.5
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Malarchy
Maseru, Lesotho807 contributions
Feb 2020
The Old Admiralty Building forms the western flank of Horse Guards Parade right at the heart of Westminster. The highly attractive external design dates from the 1720s and makes for a terrific backdrop to the atmospheric parade ground. The whole area is imbued with the history and memory of decisions that shaped the modern world and this building is certainly part of that, looking the part from the outside.
The side facing Horse Guards Parade is stunning. The orange-red band of colour is beautiful. The soft green palette of the domes at the top a lovely touch. If this building were on its own somewhere it would be regarded as an amazing structure to see. It happens to be in such an incredible location that its awe is not always felt as much as it should be.
The architectural design is almost palatial. The columns and stonework offer up an impression reminiscent of recent takes on castles. There is a strength in the design and clearly an attempt to promote the virtue of British power through the outlook it offers into Horse Guards Parade. The building looks best when viewed through those grounds. From the other side just off the Mall it is still impressive but harder to see the scope of its magnificence.
The rooms and halls with the OAB hold a significance that is not told often enough. For 60 years it was part of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Before that, it played host to wartime planning, and stretching back further was home to decisions and decision-makers spanning the world's seas as part of The Admiralty.
The OAB is currently undergoing an internal refit before being turned over to another Government Department. It is in need of that refit. The sumptuous beauty of the outside contrasted strongly with the dowdy and depressing interior. The building internally holds almost none of the glamour it should.
Despite the poor interiors, the stunning external structure is something incredible still. It is a great edifice to line one of the flanks of Horse Guards Parade. The history is a story into itself. One of many impressive buildings in Westminster even if at times it is for whatever reason a little overlooked.
The side facing Horse Guards Parade is stunning. The orange-red band of colour is beautiful. The soft green palette of the domes at the top a lovely touch. If this building were on its own somewhere it would be regarded as an amazing structure to see. It happens to be in such an incredible location that its awe is not always felt as much as it should be.
The architectural design is almost palatial. The columns and stonework offer up an impression reminiscent of recent takes on castles. There is a strength in the design and clearly an attempt to promote the virtue of British power through the outlook it offers into Horse Guards Parade. The building looks best when viewed through those grounds. From the other side just off the Mall it is still impressive but harder to see the scope of its magnificence.
The rooms and halls with the OAB hold a significance that is not told often enough. For 60 years it was part of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Before that, it played host to wartime planning, and stretching back further was home to decisions and decision-makers spanning the world's seas as part of The Admiralty.
The OAB is currently undergoing an internal refit before being turned over to another Government Department. It is in need of that refit. The sumptuous beauty of the outside contrasted strongly with the dowdy and depressing interior. The building internally holds almost none of the glamour it should.
Despite the poor interiors, the stunning external structure is something incredible still. It is a great edifice to line one of the flanks of Horse Guards Parade. The history is a story into itself. One of many impressive buildings in Westminster even if at times it is for whatever reason a little overlooked.
Written 9 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,766 contributions
Oct 2021
This amazing looking building is the old Admiralty Building, but now repurposed as government offices. This iconic Neoclassical building faces the Horse Guards Parade and has been used by as a home by British Ministers and Prime Ministers. Sadly, as a highly secured building, the beautiful exteriors are all that the public will ever see. Can't miss this building if you're in Horse Guards Parade.
Written 29 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HINA W
Islamabad, Pakistan7,348 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
During the 16th century a timber yard for the Whitehall Palace used to be situated on this site. In 1560 the Royal Treasurer purchased this land and built a house here. It passed on to his son, Viscount Wallingford, who named it Wallingford House. In 1622 the Duke of Buckingham, who was the High Admiral, bought this house and started using it for Royal Navy management. When Christopher Wren was redesigning London after the Great Fire, he came up with the idea of a planned building for the Navy. Thus the first Admiralty Building came into being in 1695, but it soon grew short of space. So in 1726, Thomas Ripley designed the present building to meet the growing needs of the Admiralty. It is a beautiful historical building with a Robert Adam Screen wall on its face and grand entry and exit gateways. The likes of Winston Churchill, Ian Fleming and Nelson worked here. Nelson’s body was laid to rest in this building, prior to his funeral. During the Second World War this building took direct hits from the enemy bombs and the operations were temporarily moved to ugly underground Citadel nearby. I liked the fact that this building has been recently renovated and modernised to house some Government Departments but the face has not been altered.
Written 12 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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