Regency Off Licence

College Garden

Millbank · 0.6 miles

A private garden attached to Westminster Abbey provides a quiet green enclave within the capital. The site, listed as College Garden on OpenStreetMap and classified as a park near Millbank, welcomes visitors Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 16:00, with no admission charge. Entrance is separate from the abbey, allowing a brief visit without attending the main church. The garden traces its origins to the infirmary of the medieval monastery that occupied Thorney Island a thousand years ago, and it is claimed to be the oldest continuously cultivated garden in England. Although its original purpose of feeding monks has ceased, the layout retains a tranquil atmosphere. In 2010 a new herb garden was installed to echo the historic herbarium once tended by the monks. The north boundary abuts the great hall of Westminster School, originally the monks’ dormitory, while the east and south sides are defined by a medieval wall and a watergate that formerly opened onto the River Thames, now about 50 metres away beyond the House of Lords. Visitors can also explore the adjacent Little Cloister Garden, which contains a fountain within the cloisters, and St Catherine’s Garden situated among the ruins of the old monastic infirmary. Just outside the watergate, College Green frequently appears in televised political interviews, adding a contemporary cultural reference to the historic setting.

Flanders Fields Memorial Garden

Green Park · 0.6 miles

A tribute to the soldiers of the First World War stands beside the Guards Chapel and close to the statue of Harold Alexander at Wellington Barracks in central London. The memorial garden, listed as a monument on the OpenStreetMap database, lies within walking distance of Green Park and is freely accessible to the public. Designed by Belgian architect Piet Blanckaert, the layout centres on a circular grass bed that contains soil brought from Flanders, the region of many Western Front battles. The soil, gathered by schoolchildren from seventy cemeteries and battlefields, arrived in London after a naval hand-over aboard the Belgian frigate Louisa Marie and a subsequent transfer from HMS Belfast to the British Army. It was then conveyed through the city on the historic gun carriage of the King’s Troop before being placed in the garden. Native Flemish trees fringe the bed, and the surface bears an inscription of John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields”. A stone bench of Flemish bluestone provides a place to reflect, while the overall design has been described by the garden’s curator, Andrew Wallis, as a blend of Belgo-Anglo craftsmanship. The site was formally opened on 6 November 2014 by King Philippe of the Belgians and Queen Elizabeth II, with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and members of the Household Division in attendance.

Mahatma Gandhi

Westminster · 0.6 miles

Located in Parliament Square, Westminster, the bronze figure of Mahatma Gandhi forms part of the square’s collection of public memorials. Sculpted by Philip Jackson, the work was completed and installed on 14 March 2015. The statue measures roughly 2.7 metres in height and rests on a plinth deliberately set lower than those of neighbouring monuments, a design choice made by the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust. As a memorial, it commemorates the centenary of Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa, an event regarded as the start of his campaign for independence. The commission followed an announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in July 2014, linking the new monument to the broader UK-India friendship. Planning permission was granted by Westminster City Council later that year, and funding was assembled through public donations and sponsorships coordinated by the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust, founded by Meghnad Desai, Baron Desai. At the unveiling, Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the statue, while speakers included the UK Prime Minister, an Indian film actor and Gandhi’s grandson. In June 2020 the statue was defaced during protests, with the word “racist” painted on its surface. The monument remains in the publicly accessible square, reachable on foot from surrounding streets and public transport links serving Westminster.

Westminster Bridge

Westminster · 0.6 miles

Westminster Bridge carries both vehicles and pedestrians across the River Thames, joining the Westminster side with Lambeth and offering views of the Palace of Westminster, County Hall and the London Eye. The structure is painted in a green hue that matches the leather seats in the House of Commons, contrasting with the red of the nearby Lambeth Bridge. Managed by Transport for London, the bridge is listed at Grade II* and is freely accessible to the public; no admission charge applies. The present bridge dates from the mid-nineteenth century, having replaced the original 1750 construction after subsidence problems. Designed by Thomas Page and opened on 24 May 1862, it spans 820 feet (250 m) in length and 85 feet (26 m) in width, featuring seven cast-iron arches and Gothic detailing by Charles Barry. A tram line used the bridge from 1906 until its final ceremonial run on 5 July 1952. Between 2005 and 2007 the bridge underwent a full refurbishment, during which iron fascias were replaced and the whole structure repainted. Beyond its transport role, the bridge has featured in several public events. It served as the finishing point for the early London Marathon and is the start and finish venue for the Bridges Handicap Race. Notable incidents include the 22 March 2017 terrorist attack that resulted in five deaths and the January 2024 pro-Palestinian demonstration that led to police-restricted access. Since the removal of Rennie's New London Bridge in 1967, Westminster Bridge remains the oldest road crossing over the Thames in central London.

The Cenotaph

Aldgate · 0.6 miles

A striking stone monument stands on Whitehall, forming the focal point for national remembrance in London. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyhas, the structure consists of a rectangular pylon narrowing toward the top, surmounted by a tomb-chest-like block of Portland stone. Each long side bears three flags, and the overall effect is deliberately austere, with minimal ornamentation. The memorial originated as a temporary edifice erected in 1919 for a victory parade, after which calls quickly emerged for a permanent version. Construction began in May 1920, and the finished Cenotaph was unveiled by King George V on 11 November 1920, coinciding with the repatriation of the Unknown Warrior. In 1946 it was rededicated to include those who fell in the Second World War, and it now serves as a symbolic centre for Commonwealth casualties from later conflicts. Annual services such as the National Service of Remembrance on Remembrance Sunday are held here, and the site has also hosted political protests and occasional vandalism. Recognised as a Grade I listed building, the Cenotaph forms part of a national collection of Lutyhas’s war memorials. The monument is accessible without steps, providing wheelchair-friendly entry. It lies within the Aldgate area and can be approached directly from the surrounding streets of central London. No admission charge is required, and visitors may view the memorial at any time.

Westminster Bridge

Westminster · 0.6 miles

Spanning the River Thames, the structure links Westminster on the western bank with Lambeth on the east, carrying both road traffic and pedestrians. Its dominant green shade reflects the leather seats used in the House of Commons, providing a visual contrast to the red of the nearby Lambeth Bridge. Operated by Transport for London, the crossing sits close to the Palace of Westminster, County Hall and the London Eye, and is recorded as a Grade II* listed landmark since 1981. The bridge has served as the finish line for the early years of the London Marathon, marks the start and finish of the Bridges Handicap Race, and frequently appears in demonstrations because of its proximity to Parliament. A terrorist incident on 22 March 2017 caused five deaths and more than fifty injuries. Early ideas for a Westminster crossing appeared in the 1660s, yet opposition postponed progress until parliamentary approval was granted in 1736. Private capital, lotteries and grants financed the first bridge, which opened on 18 November 1750 under Swiss engineer Charles Labelye. By the mid-19th century the original structure was sinking, prompting a replacement designed by Thomas Page and opened on 24 May 1862. The present bridge measures about 820 feet (250 m) in length and 85 feet (26 m) in width, featuring seven cast-iron arches with Gothic detailing linked to architect Charles Barry. A tram service ran across it from 1906 until its ceremonial final run in 1952. Comprehensive refurbishment between 2005 and 2007 saw the iron fascias replaced and the whole bridge repainted. Since the removal of Rennie's New London Bridge in 1967, it remains the oldest road crossing of the Thames in central London.