Q&A 1-400 Flashcards
In which year was the permanent stone Cenotaph erected in Whitehall?
1920
Name TWO famous battles which will celebrate significant anniversaries in 2015: one from the 15th century, one from the 19th century.
1.BATTLE OF AGINCOURT - 1415, during the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) between England and France, Henry V (1386-1422), the young king of England, led his forces to victory at the Battle of Agincourt in northern France.
2. BATTLE OF WATERLOO - 1815
Name the street where HM Queen Elizabeth II was born in 1926.
BRUTON STREET
What annual event will be celebrated on Sunday 22nd February 2015 with a colourful parade and performances of dance, music and acrobatics in Trafalgar Square and surrounding streets?
CHINESE NEW YEAR
What major operational change will be implemented by London Underground on parts of the network on Fridays and Saturdays from 12th September 2015?
the introduction of Night Tube services
Who summoned the parliament, including burgesses from major English towns, 750 years ago this year in the Palace of Westminster?
(Probably asking for) Simon de Montfort (2nd Parliament, 1264).
Which Regency author lived at 10 Henrietta Street Covent Garden, when she stayed in London?
JANE AUSTEN
What was the name of the London-wide body which built the London sewers in the late 19th century?
Metropolitan Board of Works
Give the month and year of the Great Fire of London.
SEPTEMBER 1666
Give the name of the architect who designed the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition in 1851
SIR JOSEPH PAXTON
Who was the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated?
SPENCER PERCEVAL, in 1812
What institution, the oldest in Europe, was founded in Smithfield in 1123?
ST BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL
Name TWO gentlemen’s clubs in St James’s Street.
WHITE’S and BOODLE’S
In which year was the Greater London Council abolished?
1986
For what type of art work was Mortlake famous in the 17th century?
tapestry
Which London prison stood in Borough High Street, Southwark?
Marshalsea
What specific rate of pay was demanded by the Dockers in the strike of 1889?
sixpence an hour
What distinction did the NatWest Tower, now known as Tower 42, hold between 1980 and 1990?
it was the tallest building in London until the topping out of One Canada Square in Canary Wharf in 1990 and the tallest in the City for 30 years.
Give the full name of the Abbey.
the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster.
In which year were Prince William and Catherine Middleton married in the Abbey?
2011
After which family of craftsmen is the technique of inlaid stone in the Great Pavement in front of the high altar called?
THE COSMATI
Who is the latest person to be commemorated with a memorial in the Abbey?
Sir John Gielgud (2022), actor and director
Name the first king to be crowned in the Coronation Chair.
Henry IV (first definitely crowned in it)
Which family gave the chandeliers in the nave to the Abbey in 1965?
the Guinness family
The black marble covering the grave of the Unknown Warrior was quarried in which country?
Belgium
Who composed the coronation anthem Zadok the Priest?
George Frideric Handel
Name the last English monarch to be commemorated with a full-sized recumbent sculpted memorial in the Abbey.
Elizabeth I
Which king did Henry VII originally intend to have enshrined in the Henry VII Chapel?
HENRY VI
What was the former name of the Bloody Tower?
THE GARDEN TOWER
On whose orders was the moat drained and filled with earth in 1843?
Duke of Wellington
Which military organisation is responsible for royal gun salutes on the Wharf?
the Honourable Artillery Company
According to legend, what is the minimum number of ravens to be kept in the Tower?
6
At what time precisely are visitors admitted under escort into the Tower to see the Ceremony of the Keys?
21:30 precisely
Name the last person executed in the Tower.
Josef Jakobs, a German spy
During whose reign was the Royal Observatory established at the Tower?
King Charles II
At whose execution on Tower Hill in 1747 did a stand collapse killing 20 people?
Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat
What time is Evensong on a weekday?
17:00 - 18:00
Name the present Bishop of London.
From 2018 - The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE
In which year was the foundation stone of the cathedral laid?
604 - St Paul’s founded
1675 – Foundation stone laid for NEW St Paul’s Cathedral designed by Christopher Wren.
Name the architect who designed the portico for the west front of Old St Paul’s in the 1630s.
INIGO JONES
What is the subject of the spandrel mosaics below the Whispering Gallery?
4 prophets and 4 evangelists
Where is the entrance into the cathedral for wheelchair users?
North porch
Which Pre-Raphaelite artist painted The Light of the World?
William Holman Hunt
Where in the cathedral is Henry Moore’s sculpture Mother and Child: Hood 1983?
In the North Choir Aisle
What are the exact words – in English translation – of the Latin inscription on the wall in Van Eyck`s Arnolfini Portrait?
Latin: Johannes de eyck fuit hic
English: Jan van Eyck was here
What is the significance of the acorns on the chair in Raphael`s Pope Julius II?
a reference to his family name della Rovere, meaning ‘oak’ in Italian
What is the personal device of Richard II which appears on the Wilton Diptych?
the white hart
Who painted The Battle of San Romano?
Paolo Uccello
Which painting was commissioned by the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of San Francesco, Milan in the late 15th century?
VIrgin of the Rocks
Where is the inscription CAROLUS REX MAGNAE BRITANNIAE in Van Dyck`s equestrian portrait of Charles l?
On the tree behind him
What major building was demolished to make way for the National Gallery of British Art (now Tate Britain)?
Millbank prison
Name TWO of the original seven members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais
Which painter, famous for his scenes of Venice, moved to England in 1746?
Giovanni Antonio Canal, known as Canaletto
Name the actor who portrayed J M W Turner in the 2014 film of his life directed by Mike Leigh.
Timothy Spall
Which English artist, born in Smithfield in 1697, is often referred to as the father of English painting?
William Hogarth
Who painted Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy?
David Hockney
In which year did Tate Modern open?
2000
Name the American artist who is nicknamed Jack the Dripper.
Jackson Pollock
An exhibition opened on 5th February dedicated to the work of which South African artist?
2015 - Marlene Dumas
Which painting by Pablo Picasso depicts his recollections of a love triangle which led to his friend’s suicide?
The Three Dancers
The Metamorphosis of Narcissus (1937) was painted by which surrealist artist?
Salvador Dalí
Which triptych when exhibited in 1945, made the artist Francis Bacon`s name?
Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion
From which century does the Mildenhall Treasure date?
4th Century AD
Which sculpture from the left end of the Parthenon west pediment was unexpectedly transported to Russia on loan in December 2014?
statue of the river–god Ilissos
a) In approximately which year was Gebelein Man buried? b) How did he probably die?
a) He was buried in about 3500 BC (if not earlier) according to the British Museum site b) he was stabbed in the back.
Which country is home to one of the world’s oldest continuing cultures, the subject of a major new exhibition at the British Museum which opens on 23rd April 2015?
2015 - Indigenous Australia
What is the family relationship between Assyrian kings Sargon and Ashurbanipal?
Great grandson
What name is given to the form of ceramic decoration, developed in China during the Tang Dynasty, in which colouring agents are added to a low-fired lead-based glaze to give a polychrome effect?
SANCAI
What was the likely reason for the Battersea Shield ending up in the River Thames?
votive offering
Which bed, capable of holding 12 people is housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum?
THE GREAT BED OF WARE
Name the artist who designed and created the glass chandelier in the main V & A entrance hall.
Dale Chihuly
Where would you find the Lord Mayor`s coach on permanent static display?
the City Gallery at the Museum of London
In which London museum could a visitor enter a building that is shaped like a giant cocoon?
the Natural History Museum
Which art collection includes Franz Hals’ The Laughing Cavalier?
WALLACE COLLECTION
In which language was Magna Carta originally written?
LATIN
Which country made a gift of the new Diamond Jubilee Coach now in the Royal Mews?
Australia
Which London museum contains the Ashcroft collection of Victoria and George Crosses?
the Imperial War Museum London
a) In which collection would you find Manet’s Bar at the Folies-Bergere? b) Where is this collection housed?
a) permanent collection of The Courtauld Gallery
b) Somerset House, London
What was the name of the art installation which brought the area around the Tower of London to a standstill in the autumn of 2014?
Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red was a public art installation created in the moat of the Tower of London (red poppies)
Name the streets in which Blue plaques can be found on the former residences of a) Oscar Wilde b) Sir James Barrie.
a) OSCAR WILDE - 34 Tite Street, Chelsea, London SW3 4JA
b) SIR JAMES BARRIE - 100 Bayswater Road, Bayswater, London W2 3HJ, City of Westminster.
Name ONE London railway terminus from where it is possible to take a direct train to Cambridge.
King’s Cross, Liverpool Street
What is the name of the £16 billion railway line, expected to begin operation in 2018, which will create a new east-west route using 26 miles of new tunnels beneath central London?
The Elizabeth line, Crossrail
What is the difference between a High Commission and an Embassy?
Embassies are diplomatic missions of non-Commonwealth countries. High Commissions are the diplomatic missions of Commonwealth countries
Name the architect of the former New Scotland Yard located on Victoria Embankment, now used as parliamentary offices.
Richard Norman Shaw and John Dixon Butler
What direct bus route operates between St Paul`s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey?
11
Which pedestrian crossing in NW8 is Grade ll listed?
The Abbey Road Zebra Crossing
Opposite which mainline station is the Heron Tower located?
The Liverpool Street
Name the longest underground river in London.
THE RIVER FLEET
At which theatre is the English National Opera resident?
the London Coliseum
In which street is Victoria Beckham`s new store?
Dover Street
In which market can be found a statue of Amy Whitehouse?
Camden Stables Market
Name the street in which the Japanese Embassy is located.
101-104 Piccadilly London
A weathervane in the form of which insect can be seen on top of the Royal Exchange?
a gilded grasshopper
Which characters in a popular BBC tv drama series live in a flat above what is actually Speedy’s Café in North Gower Street?
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson
St James`s Palace was built on the site of what kind of institution?
a leper hospital dedicated to Saint James the Less
At which City church is the annual Lion Sermon preached on the nearest Thursday to 16th October?
St Katharine Cree in Leadenhall St in the City of London
Which novel by Charles Dickens is set against the background of the Gordon Riots of 1780?
Barnaby Rudge
From which tavern did Geoffrey Chaucer`s pilgrims set out for Canterbury?
the Tabard Inn
In which London street is Planet Hollywood located?
Haymarket (now permanently closed)
Which London local police force pre-dates the Metropolitan police?
BOW STREET RUNNERS
With which entertainment industry is Wardour Street associated?
BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY
Name the present Lord Mayor of London.
from Nov 2022 - Nicholas Lyons
Name the sculpture which will occupy the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square from 5th March 2015
2015 - ‘Gift Horse’, Hans Haacke
2022 - Antelope by Samson Kambalu
Which London Underground railway line, the shortest on the network, is nicknamed The Drain?
THE WATERLOO AND CITY LINE
Which side street just off Regent`s Street became the centre of fashion during the “swinging sixties”?
CARNABY STREET
Name the fish market situated in Docklands.
BILLINGSGATE
What is the name of the in-depth study of pre-set London street routes and points of interest that a taxicab driver must complete in order to obtain a license to operate a black cab?
the “Knowledge of London”
Name the designer of the iconic telephone box in the 1930s?
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott
Where did Marble Arch stand from 1827 until 1851?
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
In which former cemetery are John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe and William Blake all buried?
BUNHILL FIELDS
Which art gallery stands on the site of the King’s Mews at Charing Cross?
NATIONAL GALLERY
The only statue of an actress in London depicts Sarah Siddons. Where does it stand?
Saint Mary’s Cemetery at Paddington Green
What visitor attraction did Marie Grosholtz open in Baker Street in 1835?
Madame Tussaud
Which London theatre was built to stage the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and was the first to be lit by electricity?
THE SAVOY THEATRE
How many passenger capsules are there on the London Eye?
32
In which London Borough is the Tower of London situated?
TOWER HAMLETS
Name the religious building in which Prince George of Cambridge was christened.
Chapel Royal St James’s
Name TWO foreign heads of state whose statues stand in Parliament Square.
- Nelson Mandela – President of South Africa (1918 – 2013)
- Abraham Lincoln – President of the United States (1809 – 1865)
Whose official residence is a) 11 Downing St b) 12 Downing St
11 - Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer; 12 - Chief Whip
By what nickname is the building located at 122 Leadenhall St EC3 generally known?
THE CHEESEGRATER
Which automobile manufacturer, best known for Formula One racing and highperformance sports cars, has a showroom at One Hyde Park?
McLAREN
Which ministry has its head office at 102 Petty France?
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Which premiership football team`s home ground is the Emirates Stadium?
ARSENAL
Which world cup sporting event kicks off in West London on September 22nd 2015?
RUGBY WORLD CUP
Television sets were first sold in London in 1928 in which Oxford Street store?
SELFRIDGE’S
In which London hospital is the birth anticipated of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge`s second child in April 2015?
ST MARY’S HOSPITAL
Which major shopping street was known to the Romans as Via Trinobantina?
OXFORD STREET
What distinguishes the Weavers` Company Charter from those of all other Livery Companies?
It’s the most ancient livery company in the City.
And/or their Charter was signed by Thomas Becket
The Roman Temple of Mithras, excavated in 1954, is due to be incorporated in which modern building?
BLOOMBERG HEADQUARTERS
What musical event happened on the roof of 3 Savile Row on 30th January 1969?
THE BEATLES’ ROOFTOP CONCERT (their last)
Which London street is named after a region of Italy and is heavily connected with the banking industry?
Lombard Street
In which London square would you find a statue of Mahatma Gandhi?
Parliament Square / Tavistock Square
In November 2014 a new memorial was unveiled on the Embankment side of the Ministry of Defence to commemorate those who served in which conflict?
2014: Korea
2017: Iraq, Afghanistan and the Gulf
Which architectural company is responsible for the Bevis Marks development?
SKANSKA UK
Whose seated statue stands outside Chelsea Old Church?
SIR THOMAS MORE
How much is the walk up rate for one adult admission to the ArcelorMittal Orbit at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park?
in 2023: £12.50
In December 2015 a wreath was laid in the Abbey to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of the author of the ‘Chronicles of Barsetshire’. What was his name?
Anthony Trollope
Who is the current Constable of the Tower?
General Sir Gordon Messenger
Who is the current Dean of St Paul’s?
Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett
138 men, severely injured in World War One, made something intricate and beautiful which is currently on display in the cathedral. What is it?
An embroidered altar cloth (frontal)
a) What is the name of the current Director of the National Gallery? b) He was Deputy Director for Collections and Research of which Spanish museum?
Dr Gabriele Finaldi/Previously Deputy Director for collections and Research at the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid/
Name the current Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Tate galleries.
Maria Balshaw
What is the title of Abraham Cruzvillegas current work in the Turbine Hall?
Hyundai Commission now until 16 april 2023 > Cecilia Vicuña Brain Forest Quipu
From 11th February 2016 where would you send people to see an exhibition of photographs entitled Vogue 100: A Century of Style?
National Portrait Gallery (2016)
In which museum will an exhibition Undressed; A Brief History of Underwear open on April 16th 2016?
V&A (2016)
Who will become Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra in 2017?
SIR SIMON RATTLE
What is the name of the musical which will open at the Palace Theatre on July 30th 2016?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (since 2016)
Which museum has moved into the former Commonwealth Institute in Kensington and will open in 2016?
The Design Museum
The Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Planning Board have approved construction of a project at Enderby Wharf that should be completed in 2017 and provide a significant boost to the tourism industry. What is it?
London City Cruise Port
If a visitor wants to ride on a Heritage Routemaster there is only one route currently using these buses. Which number bus should the visitor take?
no more Heritage services Routemaster buses since 2021
What is the name of the current Foreign Secretary?
JAMES CLEVERLY MP
The current largest infrastructure project in Europe is due to open in London in 2018? What is it called?
(Crossrail, now Elizabeth line, opened 2022)
How much do you pay for a single tube ticket in zone 1 – cash?
£6.30
In October 2016, Twickenham Stadium will host the first ever game of which American sport? (Till now matches have been played at Wembley.)
(was AMerican football, but not a regular thing)
What was London called during the Anglo Saxon period?
Lundenwic
Name the last purpose-built docks, opened in London in 1921?
Royal Docks, opened by King George V
Who was the last person to be executed on Tower Hill?
Jacobite Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat 1747, last judicial beheading in England
In which year did the first Zeppelin raid on London take place?
1915
In which building was the first meeting of the general assembly of the United Nations held in 1946?
Methodist Central Hall
Which institution was founded by Thomas Coram in 1739?
The Foundling Hospital in Bloomsbury, London’s first home for babies whose mothers were unable to care for them
In which year was the first Mayor of London elected? (Not Lord Mayor)
Ken Livingston OR Henry FitzAilwin - see note
In which year was the Great Stink?
Summer 1858
In 1820 a canal opened, linking the Grand Junction Canal’s Paddington Arm to Limehouse. What is its name?
Regent’s Canal
What is the name given to French Protestants who came here as refugees in the 16th century?
Huguenots
What is Dadabhai Naoroji’s claim to fame?
1st Indian to be elected to the British Parliament
What name was given to the riots that took place in London in 1780?
Gordon Riots / named after the Leader of the Protestant Association Lord George Gordon
Who published his ‘Survey of London’ in 1598?
John Stow
How many times has London hosted the Olympic Games?
3 times (1908, 1948 & 2012)
What was the name of the council block in Newham that collapsed in 1968?
Ronan Point
Where did the trial of Charles I take place?
Westminster Hall
On June 30th 2016 an all-night vigil will be held in the Abbey to commemorate which event?
Centenary of the Battle of the Somme
In which year did St Dunstan arrive in Westminster with 12 Benedictine monks?
960 AD
Which colour gowns are worn by Abbey volunteers?
blue
When is the feast day of St Edward the Confessor?
13-Oct
Which Italian family created the pavement in front of the High Altar?
Cosmati
On which day does Evening Prayer with no choir, replace Evensong?
Wednesday
In which style of architecture is the Henry VII chapel built?
Perpendicular gothic
In which year is the projected opening of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries?
11-Jun-18
Name the Victorian architect who designed the High Altar?
SIR GEORGE GILBERT SCOTT designed the High Altar screen (1867-1873) with a mosaic of the Last Supper executed by Antonio Salviati & a cedar of Lebanon table made by William Farmer
In whose reign were the outer walls and current moat constructed?
K EDWARD 1
What is commemorated on 21st May every year in the Wakefield Tower?
death of K HENRY 6
Which regiment is responsible for royal gun salutes on Tower Wharf?
Honourable Artillery Company
In whose crown is the Koh-i-Nur diamond to be found?
Queen Mother’s Crown (1937)
Which building in the Tower do we associate with both Guy Fawkes and Rudolph Hess?
King’s House
In which tower is there graffiti carved into the walls by the Dudley family?
Beauchamp Tower
What is the name given to the technique of creating a pattern in metal armour using acid?
etching
Which artist created the video installation in the South Quire Aisle?
Bill Viola
In 2005 which organisation moved their chapel from the Priory Church of St Bartholomew to the crypt of St Paul’s?
The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor
What time is Choral Evensong on a weekday?
5pm (3pm on Sunday)
Which Dean refounded St Paul’s School in the 16th century?
John Colet
Where will you find a memorial to Lord Kitchener?
All Soul’s Chapel
Who rebuilt the great organ in the 1870s?
Henry ‘Father’ Willis
Why was the Wilton Diptych given this particular name?
takes its name from Wilton House, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, where it was housed btw 1705 & 1929
Which exhibition runs from 17 Feb to 22 May? The artist has been described thus ‘The last painter of the Grand Style, but equally one of the first modern masters’.
Exhibitions starting in March > 1) Nailni Malani: My Reality is Different - National Gallery Contemporary Fellowship with Art Fund 2 march-11 June | 2)The Ugly Duchess: Beauty & Satire in the Renaissance (16 March-11 June | 3) After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art (25 March-13 August)
The Virgin of the Rocks was commissioned to adorn a) which church b) in which city?
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, Church of St Francesco Grande, Milan
Which horse did George Stubbs paint in 1762?
Whistlejacket
What was the name of the manor house Rubens bought in 1635?
Het Steen
Give the name of the earliest painting in the collection
A Man in a Black Cap, John Bettes
Which artist depicted the people and buildings of Cookham, where he lived, in his paintings?
Stanley Spencer (1891-1959)
‘Jacob and the Angel’ is the title of a sculpture by which 20th century artist?
SIR JACOB EPSTEIN
What is the name of the collective, based in Stratford East London, who won this year’s Turner Prize?
Last Turner Prize winner (2022) VERONICA RYAN OBE born in 1956
A famous bed, originally created in 1998, has returned to Tate Britain. Which artist created this work of art?
Tracey Emin’s ‘My Bed’
Which TWO architects are responsible for the new extensions?
Herzog & de Meuron
Whose work is ‘Lightning with Stag in its Glare’?
JOSEPH BEUYS (german artist)
Mark Rothko received a commission to design murals for a room in the Seagram Building, New York which eventually opened as a restaurant. What was the name of the restaurant?
Four Seasons restaurant
What time does the Gallery close on Fridays and Saturdays?
now opening every day 10 to 6
Give the location of TWO Tate galleries which are not located in London.
Tate Liverpool & Tate St Ives
An exhibition will run from May to November 2016 displaying items from two lost cities which are submerged under the sea. Off the coast of which country were these cities?
4 may-13 August 2023: Luxury and power Persia to Greece
a) Name the new Director of the British Museum. b) His previous post was as Director of State Art Collections in which (former East) German city?
Hartwig Fischer, previously Director General of the Dresden State Art Collections
Which Frenchman published a paper on the decipherment of the Rosetta Stone in 1822?
JEAN-FRANCOIS CHAMPOLLION
In which Assyrian city was Ashurbanipal’s palace, where the lion hunt reliefs were created?
Nineveh (modern day northern Iraq
What name was given to the former King’s Library when it was reopened in 2003?
Enlightnment Gallery
During which Chinese dynasty was the bronze ritual vessel commissioned by Mei Situ Yi created?
Zhou Dynasty
What rules apply if you are asked to guide Rooms 62 and 63 ‘Egyptian death and afterlife’?
Tour Groups are not permitted in Rooms 61, 62 & 63 due to the number of visitors & space restrictions
Which gallery is located in Hertford House, Manchester Square?
The Wallace Collection
Who was the first President of the Royal Academy of Arts?
Sir Joshua Reynolds
Which museum in Hoxton has 11 period rooms dating from 1600?
Museum of the Home
Which member of the ‘Young British Artists’ group of the 1980s was appointed Professor of Drawing at the Royal Academy in 2011?
Tracey Emin
Which gallery situated in south east London claims it is the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery?
Dulwich Picture Gallery
The V&A has a bust of King Henry VII made by which Italian sculptor of the renaissance?
PIETRO TORRIGIANO
Where can you see handwritten lyrics of the Beatles, Gutenberg’s Bible and Shakespeare’s First Folio?
British Library
A museum opening on 10th February in Brook Street Mayfair celebrates the lives of TWO former residents both of whom were musicians. Who were they?
George Frederic Handel & Jimi HENDRIX
Whose statue stands outside Euston station?
ROBERT STEPHENSON
Name THREE of the Queen’s great grandchildren.
King Charles III grandchildren > Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor & Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor
Her Majesty the Queen is head of state of 16 independent sovereign states. Name FOUR of them.
as of 2023 there are 14 Commonwealth realms: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, New Zealand, Solomon, Islands, Tuvalu
2016 is the 300th anniversary of the birth of a prolific British gardener who is associated with more than 200 designed landscapes. What is his name?
CAPABILITY BROWN
In which Street was Her Majesty the Queen born?
BRUTON STREET
What was the real surname of the English writers who called themselves Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell?
Bronte
Which work by Charles Dickens features the character Ebenezer Scrooge?
A Christmas Carol
Name all FIVE regiments of Foot Guards who, along with the Cavalry, make up her Majesty’s Household Division?
Grenadiers, Coldstream, Irish, Welsh, Scots
Which building stands on top of the remains of Henry VIII’s wine cellars from Whitehall Palace?
Ministry of Defence Main Building
In which London station will you find a statue of a ‘character’ from a much-loved children’s book? He comes from deepest, darkest Peru.
Paddington
Where will you find the most prominent MI6 building which features in at least two James Bond films?
Vauxhall Cross houses, Albert Embankment, Vauxhall
What is the name of the oldest surviving music hall in the world, located in Graces Alley, London E1?
Wilton’s Music Hall
What was the name of the musical based on George Bernard Shaw’s play ‘Pygmalion’?
My Fair Lady
In which venue is the London International Horse Show usually held every December?
ExCel in Royal Victoria Dock
Name either one of the Docklands Light Railway stations on the ‘campus’ at ExCel?
Custom House or Prince Regent
Which soccer team becomes ‘anchor tenant’ at the Olympic Stadium this summer?
West Ham
Which 5* London hotel was rebuilt in 1827 by William Wilkins in the Greek regency style? It has recently undergone an £80million refurbishment.
LANESBOROUGH HOTEL
What is the name of the official promotion company for London, attracting businesses, events, congresses, students and tourists to the capital?
London and Partners
In May 2015 Allies and Morrison won a competition to design a ‘world class education and cultural district’ which will feature new campuses for University College London and the University of the Arts, along with spaces for the Victoria and Albert Museum and Sadler’s Wells. Where will it be?
Stratford Waterfront
Where is the Royal Airforce Bomber Command Memorial?
Green Park near Wellington Place
Which traditional street procession takes place in London every year on the second Saturday in November?
Lord Mayor’s Show
In summer 2016 the world’s longest double herbaceous borders will open whereabouts in London?
The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
The newly-opened Newport Street Gallery presents exhibitions of work drawn from the collection of which living artist?
Damien Hirst
On which day of the week do Blue Badge Tourist Guides regularly conduct tours of the Palace of Westminster (with very few exceptions)?
Saturdays (but no longer running?)
Which institution runs Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest?
City of London Corporation
Where in London is the former headquarters of the Port of London Authority?
Trinity Square
Who designed the classic London red telephone box K2?
SIR GILES GILBERT SCOTT
What is the name of the hotel in the Shard?
Shangri-La
In 1969 The Beatles performed an impromptu concert from the roof of Apple Headquarters which turned out to be their final public. In which street did this event
take place?
3 Savile Row
How many livery companies are there in the City of London?
110
In which museum is a blue whale skeleton on the move?
Natural History Museum
Whereabouts in the very centre of London would you send visitors to see a candlelit classical music concert?
St Martin in the Fields church
Which member of the royal family previously inhabited the house within the Kensington Palace complex now used by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge?
Princess Margaret
Which motorway from London would be the fastest route to the cruise terminal in Southampton?
M3
What time do the Household Cavalry pass Buckingham Palace on their way to Horse Guards Parade during the week?
10;40 / 10:45
Which team sport would you watch at White Hart Lane?
football
What is the cost of visiting the toilets in the Royal Parks?
20p
How many steps do you have to climb to reach the top of the Monument?
311
What is the name of the attractive indoor market easily reached by a short walk from Liverpool Street station?
Old Spitalfield Market
Which popular TV series features the following London locations - the Criterion Brasserie (recently closed), Lancaster House, Bridgewater House and Rules restaurant?
Downton Abbey
Since 1947 which city has gifted the people of Britain a Christmas tree which stands in Trafalgar Square?
Oslo, Norway
There are TWO statues of Nelson Mandela in central London – one full-size and one bust. Where are they?
Parliament Square & South Bank on the upper level beside the Royal Festival Hall
The Museum of London intends to move to which location by around 2021?
Smithfield Market
Why does Canary Wharf have this name?
products from the Canary Island were unloaded
Carvings of which legendary giants are kept in Guildhall?
Gog and Magog
What time does Harrods close on weekdays and Saturdays?
Monday to Saturday 9pm - Sunday 6pm
There are some British Airways flights coming in and out of Terminal 3 at Heathrow airport. However, the vast majority arrive and depart from which terminal?
Terminal 5
What is the standard rate of VAT?
20%
Who was Constance Markievicz?
Irish nationalist, suffragist and politician
What do we call the day that marks the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918?
Remembrance Day
Give the exact date of the Battle of Waterloo.
18th June 1815
On which night during the Blitz, was a famous photograph taken of St. Paul’s Cathedral, surrounded by fire and smoke?
29-30 December 1940
The 20th anniversary of which tragic event will be commemorated on the 31st August 2017?
Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
Who is the current Surveyor of the Fabric?
Ptolemy Dean (since 2012)
The current exhibition on the Impressionist movement shows paintings from which country?
Next major exhibition: After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art (25 March - 13 August 2023)
Who won the 2016 Turner prize?
Veronica Ryan in 2022
Name Philippe Parreno’s current installation in the Turbine Hall.
Cecilia Vicuña’s Brain Forest Quipu until 16/04/23
Name the artist who made ‘Fountain’ in 1917.
Marcel Duchamp
Name the biggest biomedical facility under one roof opened in 2016 by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Francis Crick Institute
What important job is currently done by Larry, Palmerston and Gladstone in Whitehall?
Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office (Larry) and to the Treasury (Gladstone)
Who is the current Mayor of London?
Sadiq Khan
Where in London will the 2017 World Para athletics Championship be held?
London Stadium (the Olympic Stadium)
What is the name given to the deregulation of the London Stock Exchange on 27th October 1986, which significantly changed the structure of the financial markets?
The Big Bang
Which King re-settled the City of London in 886?
Alfred the Great
The first statue in the UK to a named black woman was unveiled in June 2016 by St Thomas’s Hospital. What is her name?
Mary Seacole
In which decade did the Old Palace of Westminster burn down?
1834
Who did William Walworth, Lord Mayor of London, stab and kill in 1381?
Wat Tyler
In 1750 which was the first bridge to be built in London since London Bridge?
Westminster Bridge
What did Mr Shillibeer introduce to London in 1829?
its first bus service
What took place in 1851, the profits from which helped to build the museums of Kensington?
The Great Exhibition
1250 houses and a medieval hospital were demolished in 1827 to build which dock?
St Katharine Docks
Name the Prime Minister assassinated in the Houses of Parliament in 1812.
Spencer Perceval
Name the prison which stood on the site of the Old Bailey.
Newgate Prison
Name the poet for whom a memorial stone was unveiled on 2nd December 2016.
Philip Larkin
Which of Henry VIII’s wives is buried in the Abbey?
Anne of Cleves
Name the artist who has been commissioned to design a window to celebrate the Queen’s reign.
David Hockney
Which peer is responsible for setting up the Coronation?
Duke of Norfolk (Edward Fitzalan-Howard)
Where is Captain James Cook commemorated?
South Cloister
Who unveiled the foundation stone for the new tower in December 2016?
King Charles
Where will you find a statue of Martin Luther King?
Over the West Door
In which chapel is Queen Anne buried?
Henry VII chapel
Where in the Abbey did King Henry IV die?
Jerusalem Chamber
Who was Constable of the Tower from 1825 to 1852?
Duke of Wellington/Arthur Wellesley
Name any TWO of the ravens.
Gripp, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Branwyn, Edgar, Jubilee, Erin
What are the rules for guiding in the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula?
No guiding allowed
Which (future) Queen of England was the only one to leave the Tower, having been imprisoned there?
Elizabeth I
Which TWO Kings died in the Tower?
Edward V, Henry VI
Which King had the moat excavated, and developed the Great Hall and Chamber into a palace?
Edward I
How many carats is Cullinan I?
530
For which event at a medieval tournament would you have used a lance?
jousting
Who carved the statue of Queen Anne that stands outside the Cathedral?
Francis Bird
How many organs are there in the Cathedral?
4: Grand Organ, ‘Willis on Wheels’, the Continuo ‘Chamber’ Organ and the OBE Chapel Organ
Which royal couple got married in Old St Paul’s Cathedral on 14th November 1501?
Prince Arthur and Katherine of Aragon
Name Bill Viola’s work, installed in the North Quire aisle in September 2016?
Mary’
Which former Dean wrote ‘No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent’?
John Donne
Who designed the mosaics in the quire?
William Blake Richmond
Which artist painted ‘The Light of the World’?
William Holman Hunt
What is last entry time for visiting St Paul’s?
4pm
The government bought the original collection of paintings from the heirs of which insurance broker and patron of the arts?
John Julius Angerstein
May visitors use selfie sticks when taking photos?
No
Name the artist who painted the equestrian portrait of King Charles I.
Anthony van Dyck
Name the old warship in Turner’s painting, which played a distinguished part in Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar.
the Temeraire
Name ONE of the three saints shown in the Wilton Diptych.
Edmund the Martyr, Edward the Confessor, John the Baptist
Which breed of dog is shown in Hogarth’s self portrait of 1745?
Pug
What are the opening hours of Tate Britain?
1000-1800 Mon-Sun
Which famous artist married Jane, the daughter of Sir James Thornhill?
William Hogarth
Which sculptor depicted an allnight struggle between Jacob and an unknown attacker who was a messenger from God?
Jacob Epstein
Which artist, poet and printmaker spent all his life (except for three years) in London and is buried in Bunhill Fields?
William Blake
On which floor of the Switch House is the Members’ Room for Friends of the Tate?
Level 8 (currently closed)
Which is the closest tube station to Tate Modern?
Southwark
Which artist created “Lobster Telephone”?
Salvador Dali
Which architect designed the original 1952 power station which is now home to Tate Modern?
Giles Gilbert Scott
Which object carries the inscription: ‘a decree passed by a council of priests, one of a series that affirm the royal cult of the 13 year-old Ptolemy V’?
Rosetta Stone
What is the largest size of group you may take to the Museum without booking?
9
From which material are almost all the Lewis Chessmen carved?
Walrus ivory
In which modern-day country is what remains of Nineveh?
Iraq
Which empire governed Athens at the time Lord Elgin removed the sculptures?
Ottoman Empire
What did Gordon Butcher find whilst ploughing a field in 1942?
the Mildenhall Treasure
Name the poem Shelley wrote when he heard that the British Museum had acquired a bust of Rameses II.
Ozymandias
Where will you find the world’s largest faceted vivid blue topaz weighing 4.33 lbs?
Natural History Museum
Which art gallery can be found at Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road?
Saatchi Gallery
Where will you find the Courtauld Collection of art?
Somerset House
In which museum can you see the exhibition ‘Fire! Fire!’ until April 17th?
[Museum of London]
What will shortly replace Dippy the Diplodocus in the main entrance hall of the Natural History Museum?
Skeleton of female Blue Whale ‘Hope’
Which gallery, showing exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, was founded in 1901 ‘to bring art to the people of east London’?
The Whitechapel Gallery
The Raphael Cartoons are designs for tapestries made for which religious building?
The Sistine Chapel
Where will you find Frans Hals’ ‘Laughing Cavalier’?
the Wallace Collection, Manchester Square
The late Dame Zaha Hadid designed a gallery for a London museum. It opened in December 2016. Which museum?
Science Museum
Which sport is played at Lord’s?
Cricket
Where will you find the Royal Artillery Memorial, designed by Charles Jagger and Lionel Pearson?
Hyde Park Corner
Name the store on Oxford Street, opened in 1909 by an American, which is Britain’s second largest.
Selfridges
Who took the train to school from platform 9 and 3/4 of King’s Cross Station?
Pupils of Hogwarts including Harry Potter, on the Hogwarts Express
Where in London can you pose with vloggers Zoella and Alfie Deyes?
Madame Tussauds
What would you be doing at the Donmar Warehouse?
watching a play
What is the name of the new director of the Victoria & Albert Museum?
Tristram Hunt
Where is the world’s largest Lego store situated?
Leicester Square
Where is the exhibition ’Revolution: Russian Art 1917 to 1932’ opening on February 11th 2017?
[Royal Academy]
What was the original use of 10 Trinity Square, now being converted to a hotel?
Port of London Authority HQ
Where in London did Princess Diana’s body lie until the night before her funeral?
Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace
Name the architect of the luxury development One Hyde Park.
Richard Rogers
What is the name of David Shrigley’s sculpture in Trafalgar Square?
Currently it’s Samson Kambalu’s Antelope
Name the famous novelist who lived at 48 Doughty Street.
Charles Dickens
Which soccer team’s home is The Emirates Stadium?
Arsenal
Where will you find the Elizabeth Frink statue ‘Shepherd and Sheep’?
Paternoster Square
What is the basic rate of PAYE tax in the United Kingdom for those earning between £11,000 and £43,000?
20% (Basic rate) is currently from £12,571 to £50,270
Name the well-known London landmark which inspired William Wordsworth to write ‘Earth has not anything to show more fair: Dull would he be of soul who could pass by, A sight so touching in its majesty:’
Westminster Bridge
Name the building where the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly was held in 1946
Methodist Central Hall
Where will you find the STAR WARS Identities exhibition?
[O2 Arena]
Where would you go to hear a Promenade Concert?
Royal Albert Hall
Where is the Canadian High Commission?
west side of Trafalgar Square
Name the building in which the Commonwealth Secretariat is housed.
Marlborough House, Pall Mall
For whom was a palace built on Clink Street in the 13th century? (now in ruins)
Bishops of Winchester
Name the central London street which has a worldwide reputation as a centre of private medical excellence.
Harley Street
Name the shop which opened in 1705 as a small store in St James’s Market and involved a Footman in Queen Anne’s household?
Fortnum & Mason
Which London landmark’s restoration is expected to cost £369 million and take ten years?
Buckingham Palace
Which organisation is moving into the Curtis Green building on the Victoria Embankment?
New Scotland Yard
Name the war memorial in Whitehall, designed by Edwin Lutyens.
the Cenotaph
Name the popular attraction located at Leavesden.
Warner Bros studios /Harry Potter studios
Which street in the West End was known as the birthplace of ‘Swinging London’ in the 1960s and the home of Mods, Skinheads, Punks and New Romantics?
Carnaby Street
Which museum may move to West Smithfield?
Museum of London
What has Crossrail been renamed?
Elizabeth Line
Name TWO tube lines which now run on Friday and Saturday nights.
Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines
Name the candlelit indoor theatre at the Globe.
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Name the character from Michael Bond’s children’s books whose statue can be found under the clock of Platform One at a major London station.
Paddington Bear
On which days is the Changing of the Guard held?
August - May: Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Sunday; June - July: daily
Name the Archbishop of Canterbury’s London home.
Lambeth Palace
Which street directly links Ludgate Hill/St Paul’s Churchyard and Monument/Eastcheap?
Cannon Street
What is the name of the mother church of the Catholic community in England and Wales?
Westminster Cathedral
In which building is the Garden Museum (formerly the Museum of Garden History) located?
the former St Mary-at-Lambeth church, next to Lambeth Palace
Name the hospital where Princes William, Harry, George and Princess Charlotte were born.
St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington
Which City of London institution was founded in a coffee house in Tower Street?
Lloyd’s of London
Where in London is Google’s new headquarters?
King’s Cross
Who will move into architect Keiran Timberlake’s building in Nine Elms, currently reaching completion?
US Embassy
Which regiment fires the 41-gun salutes in Green Park?
Royal Horse Artillery
Which theatre, with two royal boxes, has entertained every monarch since the Restoration?
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
What is the full name of the London venue shortened to “ZSL”?
London Zoo
