The Mall, London facts for kids
The Mall (pronounced like "mal") is a very important road in central London, England. It stretches for about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from Buckingham Palace in the west to Trafalgar Square in the east. Along the way, it passes under the famous Admiralty Arch.
On one side of The Mall, you'll find green spaces and St. James's Palace, along with other official buildings. On the other side is St James's Park, a beautiful park. The Mall is usually closed to regular traffic on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and during special events. This makes it a perfect place for walking and enjoying the sights!
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The History of The Mall
The Mall started out as part of the gardens of St James's Palace. It was also a place where people played a game called pall-mall, which was a bit like croquet. In the 1600s and 1700s, it became a popular spot for people to stroll and show off their fancy clothes.
In the early 1900s, The Mall was redesigned to be a grand ceremonial road. This was similar to how other big cities around the world, like Paris and Washington, D.C., created their own special routes for national events. As part of this plan, Buckingham Palace got a new look facing The Mall, and the impressive Victoria Memorial was built right in front of the palace gates.
The Victoria Memorial is at one end of The Mall, and Admiralty Arch is at the other, leading into Trafalgar Square. The distance between these two points is exactly 0.5 nautical miles (about 0.9 kilometers).
Since the 1950s, the surface of The Mall has been colored red. This makes it look like a giant red carpet leading straight to Buckingham Palace! This special red color comes from a unique pigment.
Victory Celebrations on The Mall
On Victory in Europe Day (May 8, 1945), The Mall was the center of huge celebrations in Britain. King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Elizabeth (who would become Queen Elizabeth II) appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. A massive crowd gathered on The Mall, cheering loudly to celebrate the end of World War II in Europe.
State Visits and Royal Events
When important leaders from other countries visit the UK, they are often escorted in a grand carriage along The Mall. The road is decorated with Union Flags (the flag of the UK) and the flags of the visiting leader's country.
During the Golden Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, over a million people gathered on The Mall. They came to watch the public displays and see the Royal Family appear on the palace balcony.
Regular buses are not usually allowed to use The Mall or pass Buckingham Palace. This only happens if the monarch gives special permission, which has been very rare throughout history.
Major Events on The Mall
The Mall is a popular location for many big events. The annual London Marathon finishes here, with runners crossing the finish line right in front of the palace.
It was also a key location for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The marathon races, road cycling events, and race walks all started and finished on The Mall.
In recent years, The Mall has also been used as the finish line for major cycling events in the UK, including the 2014 Tour de France. The opening ceremony for the 2019 Cricket World Cup was also held here.
The Mall is also used for important national events like the Trooping the Colour ceremony, which is a big parade to celebrate the monarch's official birthday.
A Moment of Concern in 1981
In 1981, during a Trooping the Colour event, a person fired blank shots from a starting pistol as Queen Elizabeth II was riding by on horseback. The person was immediately stopped and taken into custody, and the Queen was unharmed.
Images for kids
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Queen Elizabeth II and royal family return from Trooping the Colour in 2018 with Admiralty Arch in the background
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The Mall, looking towards Buckingham Palace (2003)
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The Mall, during Le Tour 2014
See also
In Spanish: The Mall (Londres) para niños
