Brighthelmstone: An old name for Brighton that derived from the fishing village that grew into the fashionable seaside resort.
British Museum: Founded in 1753, the British Museum was the first national public museum in the world. The collections were housed in Montagu House in Bloomsbury and visitors in the 1780s had to apply for tickets for a guided tour at a specific time on a future weekday. Gentlemen who wished to study could apply for a reader’s ticket to peruse the manuscripts.
Carlton House: The London residence of George, Prince of Wales, later George IV, from 1783 to 1826.
Clandon Park: Lord Onslow’s house in Surrey.
Corfe Castle: Built in 1200s, Corfe Castle was bought by the Bankes family in 1635. It was defended by Lady Bankes on behalf of the King during the Civil War, after which it was destroyed by explosives to prevent it being used in the same way again. The ruin was a popular visitor attraction in Georgian times.
Covent Garden Theatre: One of the two theatres in Georgian London licensed to perform plays during the winter season.
Devonshire House: The London house of the Duke of Devonshire, situated on Piccadilly, Mayfair. It was a centre for the fashionable set of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, and the Whigs.
Drury Lane Theatre: One of the two theatres in Georgian London licensed to perform plays during the winter season.
Eton: Eton College is a boys’ boarding school near Windsor in Berkshire, founded in 1440.
The Fleet: A London prison situated on the bank of the River Fleet, used mainly for debtors and bankrupts during the late Georgian period.
Gloucester House: The Duke of Gloucester’s house on Weymouth seafront. It is sometimes known as Gloucester Lodge.
Herculaneum: An ancient seaside town in Campania, Italy, that was buried under volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. It was fashionable to visit the excavations at Herculaneum during the Grand Tour.
Hookham’s Library: Established in 1764, Hookham’s was one of the main circulating libraries in London. It was situated in Old Bond Street.
Kew: In 1788, there were two royal residences at Kew – Kew Palace and the White House. George III and Queen Charlotte used the White House as their country retreat. The King was confined in apartments here when he became mentally unstable in 1788–9 whilst the Queen and the Princesses stayed in Kew Palace.
Kingston Hall: The Dorset home of Henry Bankes, built after the destruction of Corfe Castle. Now called Kingston Lacy.
Melbourne House: Lady Melbourne’s London house, situated on Piccadilly.
Melcombe Regis: Modern-day Weymouth was historically two towns, one on each side of the harbour. Melcombe Regis lay to the north, between the sea and the backwater, and was connected to Weymouth to the south by a lifting bridge.
Opera House: The Opera House, Haymarket, also called the King’s Theatre, was dedicated to the performance of Italian opera. It burned down on 17 June 1789 as a result of arson but was rebuilt on the same site.
Pantheon: Situated on the south side of Oxford Street, the Pantheon was a popular venue for public evening entertainments including masquerades, assemblies and concerts.
Pompeii: An ancient city near Naples, Italy, which was covered by volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. It was fashionable to visit the excavations at Pompeii during the Grand Tour.
Portland Roads: The natural harbour between Portland, Chesil Beach and mainland Weymouth before the breakwater was built in 1849–72 creating the manmade Portland Harbour.
St George’s Hanover Square: The parish church of Mayfair. It was the most fashionable church in late Georgian London.
St James’s Palace: A royal palace on Pall Mall, London, where the King and Queen held court.
St Mary’s Church: The parish church of Melcombe Regis, situated in St Mary Street, Weymouth. Built in 1605, it had become too small for the congregation by 1789, but the altar piece by Sir James Thornhill was universally admired. It was demolished in 1815 and the current church building erected. Thomas Grove was the rector from 1777 to 1809.
St Paul’s Cathedral: Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1710, this magnificent cathedral in the City of London was built of Portland stone. As it is today, it was a place of worship and a tourist attraction in the Georgian era.
Saltram: A Georgian mansion just outside Plymouth, Devon, owned by John Parker III (1772–1840), later Earl of Morley. George III and Queen Charlotte stayed here in August 1789.
Sandsfoot Castle: A ruined Tudor castle near Weymouth, Dorset, overlooking Portland Roads. Its picturesque ruins attracted artists and other Georgian visitors. Also known as Weymouth Castle.
Spa: A Belgian town in the Ardennes mountains famous for its mineral springs.
Tower of London: A historic royal fortress on the north bank of the River Thames. Although it was a tourist attraction, it was still used occasionally as a prison.
Vauxhall Gardens: Pleasure gardens situated in Lambeth, Surrey, south of the River Thames, famous for the fairytale-like atmosphere created by the huge number of lamps that lit the gardens after dark. They were a fashionable venue for outdoor entertainment throughout the Georgian period. Typically, they were open from May to August, but it depended on the weather. Entertainment included promenading through the gardens, fireworks, listening to music and an artificial cascade. Until the opening of Vauxhall Bridge in 1816, most visitors travelled to Vauxhall by boat along the Thames from Westminster or the City.
