Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace may charge exorbitant entry fees but, as the London home of the Queen, it draws millions of tourists each year. They flock to witness royal pageantry dating back centuries at the Changing of the Guard ceremony at 1130 daily from April to July (alternate days at other times of the year), and for the rare chance to see inside a royal residence. The building, by John Nash and Edward Blore, was built in the 19th century around the shell of Buckingham House. The rather drab fa?ade was added in 1913. The State Rooms of the palace, including the Throne Room and the Picture Gallery, are only open to the public in summer.

Buckingham Palace Road, SW1
Tel: (020) 7321 2233. Fax: (020) 7930 9625.
Website: www.royal.gov.uk/palaces/bp.htm
Transport: Underground Green Park
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1615 (6 Aug-3 Oct only).
Admission: £10.50, concessions available.

Tower Hill
The infamous royal fortress on Tower Hill, the Tower of London, was begun in 1078 by William the Conqueror and remained a royal residence until the mid-16th century. Today, it houses the priceless Crown Jewels and the Royal Armouries. The history of the tower is a catalogue of intrigue and bloodshed – key historical figures, including members of the royal family, were imprisoned, tortured and/or executed here. There are hour-long tours of the main sights. Meanwhile, the nearby Tower Bridge –a prime example of Victorian architecture and engineering – spans the River Thames. Hydraulic machinery, hidden in twin neo-Gothic towers, lifts the central section to allow ships in and out of the Pool of London. Visitors can learn about the bridge in the Tower Bridge Experience or enjoy the excellent views towards Canary Wharf and the City of London. On the northeast side, the harbour at St Katharine’s Dock marks the beginning of the London Docklands, while the warehouses to the south house the stylish Design Museum.

Tower Hill, EC3
Transport: Underground Tower Hill.

Tower of London
Tel: (020) 7709 0765.
Website: www.tower-of-london.com
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700 and Sun 1000-1700.
Admission: £11.

Tower Bridge
Tel: (020) 7403 3761.
Website: www.towerbridge.org.uk
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1830.
Admission: £8.30, concessions available.

Design Museum
Tel: (020) 7403 6933.
Website: www.designmuseum.org
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1745.
Admission: £5.50, concessions available.

Westminster Abbey
Across Parliament Square is Westminster Abbey – a magnificent Gothic structure where innumerable members of the British royal family have been christened, married, crowned and interred. Consecrated in the 11th century, under Edward the Confessor, it was rebuilt over the next four centuries in Gothic style. Highlights include Henry VII’s Chapel, Poet’s Corner and the Coronation Chair.

Parliament Square, SW1
Tel: (020) 7222 7110. Fax: (020) 7233 2072.
Website: www.westminster-abbey.org
Transport: Underground Westminster.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1545 and Sat 0930-1345 (sightseeing); all day Sun (religious services only).
Admission: £6, concessions available; £5 (pre-booked groups); services free.

Trafalgar Square
Admiral Nelson lords it over the traffic on Trafalgar Square. He may soon lose his famous pigeon companions if Ken Livingstone has his way – the London Mayor is keen to get rid of what he sees as an out-of-control nuisance. On the north side is one of the world’s greatest galleries, the National Gallery, which houses an incredible collection of Western paintings from the 13th to the early 20th century, as well as frequent special exhibitions. Nearby, at 2 St Martin’s Place WC2, the National Portrait Gallery displays the country’s famous, infamous and forgotten in the media of oil, watercolour, marble and photography. In May 2000, the Queen officially opened the new Ondaatje Wing (which includes a lecture theatre and restaurant) as part of a wider project to make the gallery more spacious and the art more enjoyable and accessible. Opposite the gallery is the beautiful 18th-century neo-classical church, St Martin-in-the-Fields, which hosts regular concerts and has a caf? in the crypt.

Trafalgar Square, WC2
Transport: Underground Charing Cross or Leicester Square.

National Gallery
Tel: (020) 7747 2885.
Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Opening hours: Thurs-Tues 1000-1800, Wed 1000-2100.
Admission: Free.

National Portrait Gallery
Tel: (020) 7306 0055.
Website: www.npg.org.uk
Opening hours: Sun-Wed and Sat 1000-1800,
Thurs-Fri 1000-2100.
Admission: Free.

St Martin-in-the-Fields
Tel: (020) 7766 1100 or 7839 4342.
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 1000-2000, Thurs-Sat 1000-2300,
Sun 1200-2000.
Admission: Free.

St Paul’s Cathedral
The dome of Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece is the third largest in the world and one of the most distinctive features of the London skyline. The present building was completed in 1710, on the site of an even larger medieval cathedral that was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. The Whispering Gallery, named for its incredible acoustics, offers a close-up of the frescoes of the life of St Paul that decorate the interior of the dome. Higher up, there are magnificent views across the City of London. Guided tours are available Monday to Saturday. The main religious services are held 1030 and 1130 on Sunday.

Paternoster Square, EC4
Tel: (020) 7236 4128 or 7246 8348 (information line). Fax: (020) 7248 3104.
Website: www.stpauls.co.uk
Transport: Underground St Paul’s.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0715-1800 and Sun 0745-1700 (worship); Mon-Sat 0830-1600, galleries from 0930 (sightseeing). Sightseeing is restricted on Sun and religious holidays.
Admission: £5 (cathedral); £4 (galleries); concessions available.