Borough of central Greater London, on the N
bank of the Thames between Kensington and the
City of London; population (1986) 176,000. It
encompasses Bayswater, Belgravia, Mayfair,
Paddington, Pimlico, Soho, St John's Wood,
and Westminster. Bayswater is a residential
and hotel area north of Kensington Gardens.
Belgravia bounded to the north by
Knightsbridge, has squares laid out 1825-30
by Thomas Cubitt. Mayfair between Oxford
Street and Piccadilly, includes Park Lane and
Grosvenor Square (with the US embassy).
Paddington includes Little Venice on the
Grand Union Canal. Pimlico has the Tate
Gallery (Turner collection, British, and
modern art). Soho has many restaurants and a
Chinese community around Gerrard Street. It
was formerly known for strip clubs and sex
shops. St John's Wood has Lord's cricket
ground and the studios at 11 Abbey Road where
the Beatles recorded their music. Westminster
encompasses Buckingham Palace (royal
residence), Green Park, St James's Park and
St James's Palace (16th century), Marlborough
House, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Hall
(1097-1401), the Houses of Parliament with
Big Ben, Whitehall (government offices),
Downing Street (homes of the prime minister
at number 10 and the chancellor of the
Exchequer at number 11), Hyde Park with the
Albert Memorial opposite the Royal Albert
Hall, Trafalgar Square with the National
Gallery and National Portrait Gallery.