Historic BuildingsGreater London

The Tower of London has been an integral part of British Royal history for nearly one thousand years. Only at the Tower of London can you marvel at the breathtaking Crown Jewels, stand on the execution site of three English queens, and hear the myths and legentds…

George III bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a comfortable family home close to St James's Palace, where many court functions were held. Buckingham House became known as the Queen's House, and 14 of George III's 15 children were born there.…

The new Palace of Westminster was built in the years following the fire of 16 October 1834 which destroyed nearly all the Old Palace. Work began in 1840 and was substantially completed by 1860, although only in 1870 actually finished. It was formally opened in 1852.Westminster Hall, which…

One of the finest working stables in existence, the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace provides a unique opportunity for visitors to see the work of the Royal Household department that provides road transport for The Queen and members of the Royal Family by both horse‐drawn carriage and motor…

Tower Bridge was completed in 1894, after 8 years of construction, and is one of the finest, most recognisable bridges in the World. It took 8 years, 5 major contractors and the relentless labour of 432 construction workers to build Tower Bridge.At the Tower Bridge Exhibition you…

An architectural masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries, Westminster Abbey also presents a unique pageant of British history. Westminster Abbey, a work of architectural genius, a place of daily worship, deploying the resources of high musical expertise, a burial place of kings, statesmen, poets, scientists, warriors…

Westminster Cathedral is one of the greatest secrets of London; people heading down Victoria Street on the well‐trodden route to more famous sites are astonished to come across a piazza opening up the view to an extraordinary facade of towers, balconies and domes.Itself a supreme achievement of art,…

Throughout the year a fascinating guided tour of the Globe Theatre is included in your visit to Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition.Founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare's Globe is a unique international resource dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare's work and the playhouse for which…

Atmospheric home of the writer Thomas Carlyle and his wife JaneHistorian, social writer, ethical thinker and powerful public speaker, Thomas Carlyle lived in this 1708 Queen Anne terraced house, close to the Thames in Chelsea, from 1834 to 1881. His wife Jane is now considered one of the…

A showpiece of early 20th‐century design with a fascinating history. Discover the only English Art Deco house open to the public, built on a site of great antiquity and joined to a medieval hall. Commissioned by Stephen and Virginia Courtauld and completed in 1936, the house was filled…

Set in the heart of Fitzrovia, famed for its writers and artists, Fitzroy House was built in 1791 shortly after development was undertaken of this area. Formerly inhabited by Playwright George Bernard Shaw, Fitzroy House is also where writer and philosopher L.Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, worked in…

On the northern fringes of Hampstead Heath lies Kenwood House, one of the most glorious country houses in London. Set in splendid grounds beside Hampstead Heath, this outstanding neoclassical house holds one of the most important collections of paintings ever given to the nation. Works by Rembrandt,…

The Queen's House, Greenwich, was commissioned by Anne of Denmark, wife of James I reigned 160325. James was often at the Tudor Palace of Greenwich, where the Old Royal Naval College now stands ‐ it was as important a residence of the early Stuart dynasty as it had…

The Monument was erected by order of parliament to perpetuate the remembrance of the dreadful fire of London in 1666; and the rebuilding of the city in Charles II's reign, under the inspection of Sir Christopher Wren. It is built on the east side of Fish Street Hill,…

John Wesley 1703‐1791, one of the most influential personalities of the eighteenth century, is the founder of Methodism. He built Wesley's Chapel as his London base. Known the world over as the Cathedral of World Methodism Wesley described his Chapel as 'perfectly neat but not fine'. It…

Set in the heart of historic Whitehall, the Banqueting House is one of London's hidden treasures. Whether visiting during the day or enjoying a unique evening event, visitors will be enthralled by the history and splendour of this magnificent building.The Banqueting House is the only remaining complete…

The house famously known as No. 1 London ‐ attracted nearly 65,000 visitors last year of which over 15,000 were children in school groups. Apsley House is a superb house in its own right, and a glorious part of our national heritage. It contains…

One of the most glorious examples of 18th‐century British architecture, Chiswick House was designed by the third Earl of Burlington 1694‐1753. A promoter of the Palladian style pioneered by Inigo Jones, Burlington sought to create the kind of house and garden found in the suburbs of ancient Rome.…

Dennis Severs' House, 18 Folgate Street is a Georgian terraced house in Spitalfields, London, England. From 1979 to 1999 it was lived in by Dennis Severs, who gradually recreated the rooms as a time capsule in the style of former centuries. It is now open to the public.Severs…

Set in the winding streets of Hampstead village, this late 17th‐century house contains an outstanding collection of porcelain, 17th‐century needlework pictures and Georgian furniture, and the Benton Fletcher collection of early keyboard instruments, most of which are in working order. The delightful walled garden includes fine displays of…

The Wallace Collection is both a national museum and the finest private collection of art ever assembled by one family. It was bequeathed to the nation by Lady Wallace, widow of Sir Richard Wallace, in 1897, and opened to the public just over three years later on 22…

In 1874 Edward Linley Sambourne married Marion Herapath, the daughter of a wealthy stockbroker. Helped by Marion's father, the couple paid £2,000 for an 89‐year lease on 18 Stafford Terrace. Classical Italianate in style, Stafford Terrace was built in the 1870s as part of the new developments…

Arguably one of the finest and most unusual 19th century mixed art collections in the world, the Wernher Collection contains over 650 exhibits dating from as far back as 3BC. It's an eclectic mix of superb jewellery, bronze, ivory, tapestry, furniture, porcelain and paintings imaginatively presented in 12…

The Guildhall is the centre of a hrefhttp:www.government‐news.co.ukgreater‐london‐authority titleGreater London Authoritycivic government for the square mile of the City of Londona where the Corporation of London has its offices. The Great Hall at London's Guildhall is the third largest civic hall in England, where royalty and state…

The site of the Houses of Parliament is the Palace of Westminster, a royal palace and former residence of kings. The layout of the Palace is intricate, with its existing buildings containing nearly 1,200 rooms, 100 staircases and well over 3 kilometres 2 miles of passages. Among the…

A series of collections which trace the story of Britain from prehistory to the present day, including fine collections covering the prehistoric period, the Bronze and Iron Ages. Highlights include a section of the Sweet Track, the oldest of the prehistoric trackways in Britain, and the body…

George III bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a comfortable family home close to St James's Palace, where many court functions were held. Buckingham House became known as the Queen's House, and 14 of George III's 15 children were born there.…

The new Palace of Westminster was built in the years following the fire of 16 October 1834 which destroyed nearly all the Old Palace. Work began in 1840 and was substantially completed by 1860, although only in 1870 actually finished. It was formally opened in 1852./pp/ppWestminster Hall, which…