About this Event
This guided walk traces the history of the White City area over the past 114 years from its development as a huge site for exhibitions, entertainment and sport in the 1900s.
Since then, the area has gone through multiple transformations. In both world wars, the exhibition structures were used to support the war effort. In the 1930s White City was the site for London County Council's most ambitious dense housing estate to date. In 1960 BBC Television Centre opened, one of the first purpose-built sites for TV production and broadcasting in the world. With the arrival of Westfield London in 2008, the area has again become a magnet for development.
On the walk we'll explore the rich but overlooked history of this area, which has consistently attracted enormous development schemes. We will visit Television Centre; the UK's first public Japanese garden, built for the 1910 Japan-British Exhibition; the White City Estate; and the site of the 1908 Olympic Games.
Accessibility: Where there are steps, ramps are available. Most of the route is pedestrianized. Part of the tour in the vicinity of Wood Lane goes along a busy road.
Accessible public toilet available en route.
Route: 1.8 miles approx. The walk ends at White City Place, W12 7FQ, an eight-minute walk from Wood Lane and White City underground stations.
London Historians members only for the moment.
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This walk is led by Joanna Oyediran, a qualified Open City guide and member of London Historians.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
W12 7FU, In front of Ichiba Supermarket, London, United Kingdom
GBP 12.50