The anniversary walk. The thud of an axe – the beheading of the King – on this day in 1649 didn’t just end a man’s life. It also brought the curtain down on absolute monarchy in this sceptred isle.
So, yes, on the day Charles I was executed at the Banqueting Hall we explore the events of the Civil War and Restoration in Westminster.
On January 30th, 1649 Charles I stepped out onto the scaffold erected outside the Banqueting Hall. Ironically, the Reubens ceilings inside symbolised the Divine Right of the Stuarts to reign as God’s anointed rulers. Here Charles collected himself before his execution.
Westminster witnessed many of the events that defined the 17th-century. Charles I’s failed coup against Parliament, the trial and execution of Charles I as well as the Regicides. Charles I and Cromwell had their palaces here, and Parliament and the infamous Star Chamber met here.
This walk takes you back there. We follow the epic events of the 1640s – 1660s.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
NIMBLE THOUGHT CAN JUMP BOTH SEA AND LAND
Not in London? Don’t despair. Kevin’s running this one’s virtual stable mate – The Civil War, Restoration & Great Fire of London – in the evening. Shakespeare again: when the weary sun hath made a golden set…the bright track of his fiery star will usher in all of the above. All of it fiery in its own right!
Helen Ward –
Kevin’s Walk was incredibly informative. … and on the anniversary too! Although I knew a little of the events of the civil war, there was so much more that I learnt on this walk that I was completely unaware of and the complexities of it all and the upheaval and changes it brought about. Kevin has such detailed knowledge. Thank you.
Malcolm Dewhurst –
An engaging walk with a very knowledgeable guide. And what a day to do it on the anniversary of Charles I execution in 1649. Was he a Martyr of the people or his own worst enemy? You have to do the walk to decide.
Graham –
Review Response from Guide Kevin:
This was entirely my fault. There was a very complicated misunderstanding on my part of the listing of the walk. I checked, confirmed my false impression, and thought the walk hadn’t been listed. When London Walks rang me up asking me where I was, I immediately got in a taxi and got there as soon as possible. London Walks, meantime, rang up the participants to say I was on the way.
Some were able to stay and we did the walk, but as it was cold and I was 45 minutes late some couldn’t. We contacted all those who had booked, offered them a free ticket and a copy of my book and a heartfelt apology.
I’ve been doing walks for 30 years and this is the first time this has happened. I felt terrible about the inconvenience. I last did this walk about 20 years ago so was, myself, really looking forward to it!
I’m looking forward to this year’s going ahead without any drama, excepting the loss of King Charles’s head.
Walker Graham’s review:
Well I arranged my day around this once-a-year tour and I waited for 45 minutes and then gave up. Apparently the guide did eventually show up. Very disappointing especially as I would have thought this would have been a tour the guide would have been looking forward to giving as it is/was a special occasion. It also messed up my whole day.