For over 900 years the Tower has dominated the city of London and today is still one of the capital's most prominent landmarks and a world famous visitor attraction. Throughout its long history the Tower has served as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, an arsenal, royal mint, menagerie and jewel house. The Tower of London is the oldest palace, fortress and prison in Europe.

The Houses of Parliament – officially known as the Palace of Westminster – are the home of the British government. A few parts date back to well before mediaeval times, but mostly the building is not – despite appearances – much more than a hundred years old, having been constructed in the 19th century. After a security check at the entrance, you are free to wander some of the corridors of power if you wish, or wait for a tour guide. Depending on whether the two chambers – the House of Commons and the House of Lords – are in session, you may either be able to watch debates from the galleries or walk among the benches themselves. Even if you don't get a glimpse of the coloured seats – green in the Commons, red in the Lords – there is still some spectacular artwork to be seen. Particularly impressive are depictions of the battles of Waterloo and Trafalgar. Perhaps ironically, however, there is as much homage to the kings and queens of the country as to the great Parliamentarians

Five churches have stood on the site where St. Paul's Cathedral now stands on Ludgate Hill. The first, founded by King Ethelbert in AD 604, was destroyed by fire and rebuilt between 675 and 685. This, in turn, was destroyed by a ninth-century Viking raid, but was rebuilt in 962. In 1087, this saxon structure also burned, but rebuilding began almost immediately at the behest of William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror. This great unfinished wooden cathedral with one of the tallest spires in Europe, known as Old St. Paul’s, fell into decay and after the Great Fire of London in 1666 lay in ruins. Six days after the fire, Wren, then 31, submitted his plan for rebuilding the City and the Cathedral. The first stone was laid on 21 June 1675 and his son set the last, 33 years later.

It is the spiritual home of the British Monarchy and is used for most religious occasion.

It is the burial place for some of England’s great men. Sir Christopher Wren is buried here as are Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington. The poet John Donne, who had been dean of St. Paul’s for his final 10 years (he died in 1631), lies in the south choir aisle.

Westminster Abbey is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. Benedictine monks first came to this site in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues to this day.

It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English, later British and later still (and currently) monarchs of the Commonwealth Realms and also has a long tradition as venue for royal weddings . The abbey is a Royal Peculiar and briefly held the status of a cathedral from 1546 to 1556. The Abbey has been the coronation church since Edward the Confessor in 1065/1066 and is the final resting place of 17 monarchs. Westminster Abbey is a collegiate church governed by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, as established by Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth I in 1560, which created it as the Collegiate Church of St Peter Westminster and a Royal Peculiar under the personal jurisdiction of the Sovereign.

The present church, begun by Henry III in 1245, is one of the most important Gothic buildings in Britain, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its heart.

A treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated. Taken as a whole the tombs and memorials comprise the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Buckingham Palace is surrounded by three of the Royal Parks. It has only been home to the ruling monarch since Queen Victoria. The state rooms are open to the public during August and September - even then only 18 of the 200-plus are available for viewing. At the time, the Queen herself is out as she spends her summers in Scotland. Most tourists are keen to see the Changing of the Guard – be warned, it does not happen if it is raining. There are many great works of art within its walls which belong to the Royal Family's Private Collection. At present, they are not available for public viewing.