Langham Place, London facts for kids
Langham Place is a short street in Westminster, central London, England. It's located just north of Oxford Circus and connects Portland Place to the north with Regent Street to the south. This area is part of London's West End, a famous entertainment and shopping district. Many important buildings have stood here over the years. Langham Place also gave its name to a group of early women's rights activists.
Contents
Famous Buildings on Langham Place
Langham Place is home to several well-known buildings. These include All Souls Church, Broadcasting House, and the Langham Hotel. Sadly, two other famous buildings, Queen's Hall and St. George's Hall, were destroyed during World War II. The famous architect John Nash designed many buildings in this area, but only one of his original designs remains.
Let's explore some of these important buildings:
Broadcasting House: Home of the BBC
Broadcasting House is the main office for the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). It was built in the 1930s. The building has a cool, modern style called Art Deco. Architect George Val Myer designed it. Many of the BBC's national radio stations broadcast from here. A newer part, called New Broadcasting House, was added in 2005. This extension is where BBC News is based.
Langham Hotel: A Historic Stay
The Langham Hotel is on the west side of Langham Place. It was built a long time ago, between 1863 and 1865. Building it cost a lot of money back then, about £300,000. It is one of the biggest and most famous traditional hotels in London.
All Souls Church: Nash's Last Design
All Souls Church is just south of Broadcasting House. It has a very special design with a round entrance called a portico. This is topped with a tall stone spire. The church was finished in 1823 and opened in 1824. All Souls Church is the only building left in this area that was designed by the famous architect John Nash.
St. George's Hall: A Place for Shows
St. George's Hall was a theatre built in 1867. It was a large venue that could hold between 800 and 900 people. If you included the upper seating areas, it could fit up to 1,500 people! The architect for this hall was John Taylor.
For about 30 years, the hall was famous for showing "German Reed Entertainments." These were popular musical shows and lectures. After 1895, it was used for many different things. People watched vaudeville acts, dramas, and magic shows there. It even became the main office for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. At one point, it was even used as a skating rink! In 1933, the BBC started using it as a broadcasting studio. However, it was badly damaged by bombs in March 1943 during the London Blitz. The theatre was torn down in 1966. Today, the St Georges Hotel and Henry Wood House stand where it once was.
Queen's Hall: Home of the Proms
Queen's Hall was a famous classical music concert hall. It opened in 1893. Sadly, it was destroyed by an incendiary bomb during the Blitz in 1941. This hall is best known as the place where the famous Promenade Concerts (or "Proms") began. They were started by Robert Newman and Sir Henry J. Wood in 1895.
See also
In Spanish: Langham Place (Londres) para niños
