Northumberland Avenue is a street in the City of Westminster, Central London, running from Trafalgar Square in the west to the Thames Embankment in the east. The road was built on the site of Northumberland House, the London home of the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland between 1874 and 1876, and on part of the parallel Northumberland Street.
The view of Northumberland Avenue from Trafalgar Square, showing its avenue of plane trees
Northumberland House was built in 1609 and demolished in 1874 to form Northumberland Avenue
The Playhouse Theatre has been on Northumberland Avenue since 1882.
The Metropole Hotel, Northumberland Avenue in the late 19th century
Northumberland House was a large Jacobean townhouse in London, so-called because it was, for most of its history, the London residence of the Percy family, who were the Earls and later Dukes of Northumberland and one of England's richest and most prominent aristocratic dynasties for many centuries. It stood at the far western end of the Strand from around 1605 until it was demolished in 1874. In its later years it overlooked Trafalgar Square.
The Strand front of Northumberland House in 1752 by Canaletto. Note the Percy Lion atop the central facade. The Statue of Charles I at right survives in situ.
The Percy Lion (crest of Percy), after a model by Michelangelo, removed from Northumberland House in 1874, prior to demolition, by the 6th Duke and placed atop Syon House, his seat to the west of London.
The Front of Northumberland House, next the Strand, 1809
Northumberland House, shortly before it was demolished in 1874.
