Even in the early 21st century, after decades of destruction by bombs and beaurocrats, it is impossible to walk the streets of London and stroll along the river, without being impressed and enchanted by the splendour of the buildings built by the Stuarts of the 17th century to reflect their power and wealth. They were fortunate in having at their command many gifted architects; men of vision and imagination who transformed the face of the city. The work of transformation really started with Charles I, a king whose controversial policies meant he needed all the help he could get to impress, at home and abroad. It was not enough – his end came at one of his most beautiful buildings, and a period of austerity followed. It was left to his son, Charles II to carry on his work and the Great Fire of 1666 gave him a blank canvas in many places. We will hear of the plans and the problems and enjoy the final results. Along the way we will hear of great events and everyday life and discover some of the characters who lived here, from Guy Fawkes and Cromwell to Nell Gwyn, Pepys and the members of the Royal Society.

We will explore some of these wonderful creations in the expert company of Joanne Lee and Kim Dewdney, Blue Badge guides who will take us to see many of the well known places – telling us much about them that we would never discover on our own - and to some lesser known gems. Everywhere we go, Joanne's and Kim's knowledge and love of the history as well as the architecture will make this a memorable weekend.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Friday): Check into the Strand Palace Hotel ready to leave by 1400. Westminster: including Westminster Hall, St Margaret's Church and Whitehall – the Banqueting House and Horse Guards Parade. Legal London: Prince Henry's Rooms and Lincoln's Inn. Dinner and overnight in our hotel.
Day 2: The City: a guided walk through the back alleys covering the Plague, the Great Fire, Wrens's re-building and the development of London as a world financial centre from the Coffee Houses of the late 1600s. St.James's: a walk through the area which became 'the' place for the fashionable to live, socialize and shop. Dinner in our hotel.
Day 3: Covent Garden: the first of London's Squares inspired by the Piazzas of Italy. The Theatre in the 1600s. Group lunch. Greenwich: Take the Thames Clipper to Greenwich to see the Royal Naval College's painted Hall, the Queens House and the Royal Observatory. Return to our hotel by 1800.