Back in the 1600s, Londoners would gather to witness a very particular form of public entertainment. Hushed crowds would wait in anticipation for an offender to meet their end at the hands of an executioner. On the 30th January 1649, it was the reigning monarch, King Charles I, who had an appointment with the man who would end his life. This walking tour charts the life and death of this ill-fated king, taking you to some of London’s most famous and iconic sights including: • Henry VIII’s hunting lodge-turned-royal palace • Some of the oldest luxury shops in the world • One of London’s most picturesque royal parks, once home to an elephant • The abbey where all kings and queens have their coronation • The ancient hall where Charles I was put on trial • Henry VIII’s favoured jousting ground • The remains of what was once Europe's largest palace You’ll also hear stories about: • Why the monarch isn’t allowed to enter the House of Commons • Why Members of Parliament sit two sword lengths apart • How King Charles I fell out with Parliament • How Guy Fawkes spoiled his executioner’s big day • The woman who kept her husband's severed head in a glass case for twenty years • Which queen was known as “the Popish brat of France” Join me on this walk and soak up the unique atmosphere of St James’s and Westminster.