A string of pearls along the Thames - exhibition of historic buildings

Magazine Antiques, Jan, 2000 by Miriam Kramer

A novel program to mark the year 2000 in London began on December 31, 1999, and continues throughout the current year It is entitled The London String of Pearls Millenium Festival and celebrates the many buildings on both sides of the River Thames. Some are opening their doors to visitors for the first time; others have created access to parts of the buildings normally closed to the public.

Among the government organizations participating are the Houses of Parliament and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In the former an exhibition has been mounted to celebrate Parliament's past and future, and in the latter the normally restricted Durbar court will be opened every Tuesday from May 9 until July 20. The Inns of Court are staging special trials. At Lincoln's Inn, Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) will be tried again, and at the Tower of London his cell will be opened to the public from January 10 until December 10. Other special trials will be staged at the Royal Courts of Justice.

At Lambeth Palace, used since 1197 as the London home of the archbishop of Canterbury and not open to the public, visitors will be given tours of the crypt, the guard room, and the chapel. At the Banqueting House in Whitehall, designed by Inigo Jones and decorated by Peter Paul Rubens, a series of concerts will be given.