Experiences
Places of Interest
Brown’s Hotel is located in one of London’s most fashionable and prestigious areas; nestled between Dover and Albemarle Street, in the heart of Mayfair. On our doorstep you will find chic shopping streets such as Bond Street and the Burlington Arcade, as well as the tranquillity of Green Park and even the buzzing theatre district of the West End. A short walk from the hotel are some of London’s well-known attractions such as Buckingham Palace and the Royal Academy of Arts.
Attractions
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace was built in 1705 and became the London home of the sovereign in 1837, with Queen Victoria. You can tell if Her Majesty is at home because the royal standard replaces the Union Flag when she is in residence. The State Rooms are open to the public for a tour during August and September and Changing of the Guard takes place daily. The Royal Mews, home to the collection of royal state carriages, can be accessed through an entrance to the left of the palace.
Open every day from early August for three months.
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
A show of pageantry, the changing of the sentries at Buckingham Palace is famous worldwide. The new guard leaves the Wellington Barracks, preceded by a band, three minutes before the change and marches down Birdcage Walk to the palace. The ceremony there lasts for 40 minutes and takes place inside the railings of the Palace.
Apr-Oct, daily at 11:30am / Nov-Mar, every other day
The Tower of London
Tower Hill
The Tower of London is one of London's most popular visitor attractions and forms a stunning backdrop to the river. The Tower of London came into existence following the Norman Conquest (1066) and the need to colonise and defend England. Since then it has been used as a prison, palace, place of execution and a showcase for the Crown Jewels. The Yeoman Warders ('Beefeaters') are still there today protecting the tower, as are the infamous ravens. Legend has it that Charles II was told that if the ravens left the Tower then the monarchy would fall.
Apsley House - The Wellington Museum
149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner
Known as ‘No 1 London’, Apsley House was designed by Robert Adam for the Duke of Wellington and is one of the finest residences in London. Wellington's military success brought him many impressive gifts from grateful kings and emperors and this house is filled with pieces from Goya to Rubens. Whilst there, do also visit Wellington Arch, which until 1992 housed one of the smallest police stations in London.
London Eye
Jubilee Gardens South Bank
When the Millennium Commission announced their intention to build a Ferris wheel that would tower 50 meters above Big Ben, people were understandably cynical. But the London Eye turned out to be one of the finest attractions in London since Queen Victoria’s Great Exhibition. On busy summer days around 15,000 visitors take a 'flight'. On a clear day from the top of its 140 metre arc, you can see 25 miles in each direction. Take in the capital’s greatest landmarks and sweeping panoramas safely ensconced in a perfectly designed pod. Many Londoners have become regular users, revelling in this unique perspective of their city.
Arts
Royal Academy of Arts
Burlington House
The Royal Academy of Arts is home to major international exhibitions loaned from collections around the world. The Royal Academy has become famous for it is Summer Exhibition that displays the paintings, sculptures and architectural drawings of living artists, especially since much of the work is for sale.
National Gallery
Trafalgar Square
The National Gallery was founded in 1824 to house one of the greatest collections of European paintings in the world. It consists of four main wings – the Sainsbury Wing: paintings from 1260 to 1510 including pieces by Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael; West Wing: paintings from 1510 to 1600 with pieces by Michelangelo and Titian; North Wing: paintings from 1600 to 1700 including Rubens and Rembrandt and the East Wing: paintings from 1700 to 1900 including Turner and Monet.
Tate Modern
Bankside Power Station, 25 Sumner Street
Located along the banks of the River Thames, Tate Modern is housed in the former Bankside Power Station and pays homage to modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present day. The collection includes works from Matisse to Moore, Dali to Picasso and Rothko. The awesome turbine hall creates a stunning entrance and a vast space in which to display temporary installations. There are three levels of galleries, enclosed by a spectacular two storey glass roof that provides fantastic views of London and a great café.
National Portrait Gallery
2 St Martin's Place
Founded in 1856 to collect the likenesses of famous British men and women, the National
Portrait Gallery keeps a unique record of the men and women who create the history and
culture of the nation. There are nearly ten thousand works in the gallery's collection, including oil paintings, sculptures, drawings, caricatures, watercolours, silhouettes, photographs and miniatures. Today the collection is the most comprehensive of its kind in the world.
Museums
V&A Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road
V&A as it is affectionately known is the most influential museum of decorative arts in the world. With over 145 galleries to explore, covering some 7 miles, the museum is a visual feast of fine and applied arts. Originally founded in 1852, to enthuse and educate British manufacturers and designers, the V&A is home to a stunning collection of some four million artefacts ranging from ceramics and costume to metalwork and sculpture.
Science Museum
Exhibition Road South Kensington
Home to the world's most magnificent collections of science, industry, technology and medicine, the Science Museum is one of London's most hands-on and interactive museums. Younger visitors are invited to learn about forces and motion in Launch Pad and discover how aircraft are built in Flight Lab. The Wellcome Wing allows visitors to morph their faces to look older or younger, manipulate their voices and create digital music or be sucked into the 3-D world of the stunning IMAX cinema.
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road
Natural History Museum is home to hundreds of exciting, interactive exhibits. Highlights include 'Dinosaurs' - the ultimate dinosaur exhibition; 'Creepy-crawlies' - guaranteed to have you scratching in minutes; 'Human biology' – the must-see exhibition about ourselves and 'Ecology' and 'Mammals' with its unforgettable blue whale. Don't miss 'The power within' - offering an 'earthquake experience' and if you are visiting with children 'Investigate' - an exciting new hands-on science centre and ‘Rhythms of life’ – a lively family exhibition.
British Museum
Great Russell Street
Sir Hans Sloane was a collector of 71,000 objects from around the world and on his death, in 1753, he bequeathed his collection to the nation. The British Museum is one of the great museums of the world, showcasing works from prehistoric to modern times. Famous objects include the Rosetta Stone, sculptures from the Parthenon, Sutton Hoo and Mildenhall treasures and the Portland Vase. The hieroglyphics and classical sculptures are instantly recognisable and world famous, but more surprising is the workmanship and beauty of the Saxon jewellery collection. The treasures assembled here from Britain's "Dark Ages" reveal a period of original and brilliant artistry.
Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road
Occupying the former Bethlehem Hospital for the Insane ('Bedlam') the ImperialWar Museum is the national museum of twentieth-century conflict. Founded in 1917, the museum not only contains a fascinating display of the vehicles and weapons of war, but also makes an in-depth study of the social effects of conflict. The sights, sounds and smells have been carefully recreated to really bring the experience to life. Over 15,000 paintings, 120 million feet of cine film and 30,000 posters make this a unique collection.
Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms
Clive Steps King Charles Street
The underground headquarters used by Winston Churchill and the British Government during World War II. Located in the heart of ceremonial London, visitors can view a complex of 21 historic rooms protected by a reinforced concrete slab. It includes the Cabinet Room, Transatlantic Telephone Room and Map Room.
Shopping
Burlington Arcade
London, W1
Running from Piccadilly to Burlington Gardens, this Regency Arcade was Britain’s very first shopping Arcade. This oasis of calm, houses a wonderful array of specialist shops selling the softest cashmere, top quality leather goods to sparkling antique rings.
Bond Street
London, W1
Old Bond Street and New Bond Street make up the area commonly referred to as Bond Street. Bond Street is known for its designer fashion stores and auction houses including Sotheby's.
Savile Row
If you need a tailored suit made to the highest quality, then this is the place to go. You can also buy shoes, shirts and other men’s accessories from some of the oldest men’s tailors in London.
Regent Street
London, W1
Regent Street, just off Oxford Street, was originally designed by John Nash. Stores include Liberty, Aquascutum and Hamleys, along with many small boutiques and high-street brands. Just around the corner to Regent Street you will find Carnaby Street, once the domain for 1960s fashionable crowd.
Oxford Street
London, W1
Oxford Street is Europe’s busiest shopping street. Home to Selfridges, John Lewis and Debenhams, as well as many flagship high-street stores including Top Shop and New Look.
Knightsbridge
London, SW1
Knightsbridge is not only home to Harrods and Harvey Nichols but also home to other well-known high street shops and boutiques.