 | |
  Location in Central London | |
| Part of | A4 |
|---|---|
| Maintained by | Transport for London |
| Length | 0.8 mi (1.3 km)[1] |
| Postal code | WC2 |
| Nearest Tube station | |
| Coordinates | 51°30′41″N 0°07′08″W / 51.5114°N 0.1190°W |
The Strand (commonly referred to with a leading "The", but formally without[a]) is a major street in the City of Westminster, Central London. The street, which is part of London's West End theatreland, runs just over 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) from Trafalgar Square eastwards to Temple Bar, where it becomes Fleet Street in the City of London, and is part of the A4, a main road running west from inner London.
The road's name comes from the Old English strond, meaning the beach or edge of a river, as it historically ran alongside the north bank of the River Thames. The river side of the street was home to grand houses, interspersed with slum alleys, between the 12th and 17th centuries. Historically important mansions built between the Strand and the river included Essex House, Arundel House, Old Somerset House, Savoy Palace, Durham House, York House and Cecil House, none of which survive. The aristocracy moved to the West End during the 17th century, and the Strand became known for its coffee shops, restaurants and taverns. The street was a centre point for theatre and music hall during the 19th century, and several venues have survived to the current day.
At the east end of the street are two English Baroque churches: St Mary le Strand by James Gibbs and St Clement Danes by Christopher Wren. This easternmost stretch of the Strand is also home to King's College, one of the two founding colleges of the University of London. Other notable structures include the Royal Courts of Justice and Australia House.[2][3][4][5][6]
Several authors, poets and philosophers have lived on or near the Strand, including Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Virginia Woolf.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
gmapwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "History". 24 September 2016.
- ^ "About". 5 July 2015. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ "King's Collections : Online Exhibitions : The Founding of the College". www.kingscollections.org.
- ^ "History of the Strand campus – King's Alumni Community". alumni.kcl.ac.uk.
- ^ "King's College London is ripping down London's history – Apollo Magazine". 24 April 2015.
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