Annis Tours, walking tours in London, are all led by tour guide Annis Castellina (M.A Oxon), a qualified teacher, writer and researcher. She designs and leads unusual historical walking tours to rediscover "lost" places, to nourish the imagination of those fascinated by Classical, Renaissance and Reformation history. At present, she offers a walking tour of largely vanished "Whitehall Palace" in London, which was the seat of the Tudors and Stuarts in England.  The Tour of the Royal Palace of Whitehall (one hour) Westminster Palace (modern Parliament) and Whitehall Palace were the royal Palaces of our historic monarchs. Whitehall Palace stood between modern Whitehall and the River Thames. For some reason, its appearance is not widely understood, even today (for example in films of the period). But "Whitehall" was where many key scenes of royal history actually took place and where our famous monarchs lived, in the same suite of rooms. The tour explains the real Palace, its ground plan, identifies its remains and reveals its secrets. It recreates a sense of the dazzling Elizabethan Court and Queen Elizabeth's lifestyle, and the visits of Samuel Pepys, to diarist and civil servant to Whitehall. It identifies where Shakespeare's plays were likely to have been performed to the Monarch and Court. Walkers will visit the sites of The Privy Gallery, Privy Steps, Privy Garden, the Holbein Gate, Tiltyard Gallery, Yard and steps.  This tour ends with hidden secrets of the "house at the back" of Number 10, Downing Street.  Old illustrations, maps and paintings are used as visual aids. You  will not enter any surviving Palace building e.g. The Banqueting House or Wolsey's wine cellar inside the UK Ministry of Defence but you may access the Banqueting House separately (at your own charge).  These tours inspire participants' imaginations -  there are fascinating things to learn and things to see.  Attached are links to useful websites such as Pepys Diary online. Tour Information Tours of Whitehall Palace take place on Saturday mornings at either: 10am or 11.30am. They last just over one hour and start outside Embankment Tube Station (located near Charing Cross Station but on the River Thames). Tour Costs Adults £7 payable (in cash) at the start of the tour. £2 reductions (£5) are offered to under 12s, unemployed, registered disabled, OAPs and students (with student cards). Group bookings and student group reductions. 10 people (maximum). Booking To book, email baileyannis@gmail.com Without having a confirmed e-booking, you may not be able to join the tour.

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