On the left bank of the River Thames upstream from London, this royal palace was one of the favourite palaces of British monarchs from the 16C to the 18C. Some of the country’s finest Tudor architecture blends here with Classical features; note espec..

The 20ha of gardens at Hampton Court bear witness to various royal patrons from the houses of Tudor, Stuart and Orange, and their landscape architects and gardeners. Over the centuries, they have seen various schemes implemented, making today’s gar..

Hampton Court's 20 ha of gardens bear the mark of their designers, the Tudor, Stuart and Orange monarchs and their landscape gardeners. Over the course of the years several parts have been created and then suppressed. The 17 and 18C parterres bordere..

Undoubtedly the most richly decorated chamber of the Palace of Westminster , the House of Lords bears witness to the exuberant neo-Gothic imagination of Pugin. It has red leather benches to accommodate 1 200 lords (or peers), constituting the upper ..

Beyond the walkway, head through the oratory, resting place of Henry V, hero of Agincourt. At the centre, the tomb of St Edward who died in 1066, is surrounded by those of five kings and three queens. The gilded reliquary rests on a magnificent mar..

The thoroughfare made up of Whitehall (formerly called King Street) and Parliament Street is lined by government buildings; this is very much the nation’s seat of power. Visitors emerging from the unique and glorious vestige of the Palace of Whitehal..

The sole wonderful vestige of the Palace of Whitehall that burnt down in 1698, its noble italianate façade by Inigo Jones rises opposite Horse Guards Parade. Inside, Rubens painted the ceiling of the main hall (34m high by 17m wide and 17m high) ..

Running to the south of the St James's district on the other side of the Mall , this attractive park was laid out in the “picturesque” style. With its various species, lake and attractive views over London’s monuments, it provides one of the most ag..

Dating back to the Stuart period and transformed in 1910, this wide promenade flanked by plane trees forms a processional avenue in front of Buckingham Palace . It was used at the time of Charles II to play “Pall Mall”. Today the Mall is the triumph..

This world-famous square with its iconic statue, fountains and the National Gallery, is at the top of Whitehall which runs down to the Palace of Westminster . Trafalgar Square serves as a backdrop for political demonstrations and is the setting ea..

Emblematic of the brutalist architecture of the 1950s, this group of stone, concrete and glass buildings making up the South Bank Centre is Europe’s largest cultural centre, offering classsical and modern music, contemporary art exhibitions… Visitors..

Dating from the time of Henry VIII (1491 to 1547) this was the main royal residence from 1698 to 1837. Nowadays it is the London rooms for the Prince of Wales. This palace also contains the offices of the Royal Household and holds certain official ce..

In addition to its royal palace, St James's has ancillary royal residences, official buildings, gentlemen’s clubs, exclusive shops and theatres, all reflecting its prestigious reputation. Stroll among its alleys to discover traditional pubs, or head ..

Founded in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery has since 1896 occupied a late-19C Italian Renaissance-style building neighbouring the National Gallery. Its extraordinary collection of over 5 000 portraits of famous Britons provides a unique perspecti..

Buckingham Palace is a focal point for Londoners and visitors alike; the city’s uplifting royal ceremonial events, uniting monarch and people, primarily take place here and in its vicinity. In summer, visitors can see nineteen staterooms constituting..

Dominating Green Park, this house (one of the first examples of the neo-classical style) was built in 1766 for Earl Spencer. Today one part contains offices and its eight State Rooms provide a historic setting for various shows. On the ground floor y..

Until the reign of George IV the Royal stables were found at Charing Cross on the site now occupied by the National Gallery. It was John Nash who laid out the current buildings where the carriages of the Queen are stored. A Grand Equerry looks afte..

The Courtauld Institute of Arts came into being thanks to Samuel Courtauld, an industialist with a particular interest in 19C art. Its fabulous collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist pictures has been augmented by other bequests and long-..

The Gilbert Collection comprises some magnificent silver and goldware, including plate and ewers by De Lamerie and Storr, and and gold tableware from stately homes like Althorp, Belton and Stowe. Note the six gem-encrusted snuffboxes that belonged to..

Inspired by the palladianism of Inigo Jones , this 18C building presents a narrow frontage onto the Strand. Flanked by two lateral wings, the main part of the building is composed by a suite known as the Fine Rooms on account of their elegant propor..