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On the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Palace of Westminster is the seat of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It's often termed the "Mother of All Parliaments" - an exaggeration, but perhaps only a slight one. The present building largely dates from the 19th century when it was r

Upon entry, you pass through a metal detector, and are very thoroughly searched. You then proceed into ''St. Stephen's Hall'', where you are seated to wait for admission. A representative of the Sergeant-at-Arms gives you a slip of paper to write your name and address on.

When called, you proceed from St. Stephen's Hall to the Central Hall, and then upstairs. You must leave all items (bags, cameras, mobile phones, writing and written material) outside and then proceed through to the Strangers' Gallery. Upon entry, you can pick up a copy of the pro

If you head away from the Commons, you pass along a corridor towards the Lords. If you ask to visit the Strangers' Gallery, a representative of Black Rod asks you to complete another slip of paper with your name and address. You then proceed up a staircase to the Lords Strangers'

After visiting the two Houses, visitors pass back through St. Stephen's Hall, and through Westminster Hall. Westminster Hall is one of the few areas of Parliament in which photography is permitted, and it is a very impressive place, dating back to the 9th century. Plaques on the

Probably the most colourful event in the UK's legislative calendar, this takes place in May or June every year, or after a general election, when the King travels to the Houses of Parliament to open the new parliamentary session. During this event, the Lords, Speaker of the House

While the Houses are in recess, the Palace of Westminster is generally closed - apart from the long Summer recess, during which tours are run through the building, led by Parliamentary employees. Popularity of these tours means you're best advised to book in advance - a stall ere

This small tower across the road from the Houses of Parliament is the only part of the original Palace of Westminster still standing. While it is overshadowed in splendour by the surrounding buildings, it's well worth a visit, and has good displays about the early history of West

The main residence of His Majesty King Charles III, Her Royal Highness Queen Camilla, and latterly of HM Queen Elizabeth II. In the summer, 19 State Rooms are open to the public. Places are strictly limited, and it might not be possible to just turn up and get a ticket for a spec

The most senior of the Royal palaces in London (built between 1531 and 1536) and the official seat of the monarch.

Described as "the wonder of the entire world", this chapel at the eastern end of Westminster Abbey is a breathtakingly beautiful masterpiece of medieval architecture.

The Abbey charges tourists for entry, but not for worshippers. Attend a church service for free and enjoy some of the finest choral music in London from the choir. Choral Evensong at 3pm (Sa Su) or 5pm (weekdays), depending on time of year, is an especially good bet. The Abbey is

This gallery houses the Tate collection of British art from 1500 through to contemporary art. A side wing collects together the gallery's collection of paintings by Turner, including some stunning seascapes. Temporary exhibitions are exceedingly varied: examples include exhibitio

In contrast to the other Royal Parks in the area, Green Park can seem a little plain. It has no lakes or buildings and few monuments. It is still a pleasant green, lightly wooded, area in the centre of London, neighbouring two other parks and Buckingham Palace.

The oldest of the Royal Parks of London.

Worth a quick visit if you are passing. The brick and stone neo-Byzantine Catholic Cathedral (not to be confused with the much more famous Westminster Abbey) is near Victoria Station, just off Victoria Street. Construction started in 1895, and some of the interior is still unfini

Designed and built in 1619-1622 by the Neo-Classical architect Inigo Jones, The Banqueting House is now all that remains of Whitehall Palace, the sovereign's principal residence from 1530-1698 when most of it was destroyed by fire. Renowned for its architecture and paintings (by

A branch of the Imperial War Museum, the Cabinet War Rooms preserves the underground corridors and rooms from which Churchill and the cabinet directed the war against Hitler and the Nazis, maintained almost exactly as they were left in 1945. In 1984, IWM opened the rooms to the p

French/European restaurant.

An oddly quiet and secluded pub in the centre of the city due to being tucked away in a side street of another side street. It was built in 1720 as an officer's mess for the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards and became a pub in 1818. The pub is said to be haunted by the ghost of a juni

One of only two London pubs (and seven nationally) to feature in every edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide since its first publication; see The Buckingham Arms for the other one. The pub has a seedy past—it was infamous as a hangout for gang bosses and crime lords in the 1950s and

A small freehouse, hidden down a passageway, with leaded windows and a red lion statue

A beautiful Fullers pub with loads of mirrors.

An upmarket grocery store, with royal connections. Buy tea and drink tea here.

French style afternoon tea.

One of RateBeer's Top 50 bars in the world, and only one of two in the UK (see The Craft Beer Company in Clerkenwell for the other). A specialist beer bar with a regularly changing selection of real ales and craft beer casks, plus a larger assortment of local and international bo

Victorian pub built on the site of the cells of Millbank Prison, briefly Britain's National Penitentiary before being downgraded to a holding facility for convicts sentenced to transportation to Australia. The pub is said to be haunted by the ghosts of prisoners who didn't last l

A nice, but often crowded, traditional pub, dating back to the 1860s, named in honour of Queen Victoria's husband. Portraits of British prime ministers, many of them signed, hang on the stairwell, and Chelsea pensioners (British war veterans) can often be seen propping up the bar

Small traditional pub (one of the smallest in central London, in fact). Good beers and quaint interior.

Youngs Pub

A pub that doesn't even have its own name and may be missed by many of the 200,000 commuters and travellers who pass it each day, this place nevertheless serves good beer and food (it's part of the J D Wetherspoon chain). There is additional seating on the balconies on either sid

Sam Smiths pub with plenty of etched glass.

Part of the J D Wetherspoon chain of pubs, just outside the East side of Victoria Station, a few doors down from the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Serves Real Ale and good food. Entrances on both Wilton Rd and Vauxhall Bridge Rd.

A Fullers Pub that has been decked out like an 18th century British warship.

One of only two London pubs (and seven nationally) to feature in every edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide since its first publication; see The Star Tavern for the other one. The building is a refitted early Victorian pub.

A McMullen pub at the top of Whitehall, close to Trafalgar Sq. with a cavalry theme worth going in for the wall sized picture of the Scots Greys. Serves a good range of cask beers.

A pub for local workers, including many civil servants and the odd Parliamentarian. The Parliament theme includes political caricatures on the walls. Markets itself as a real pub, with no fruit machines, music or television screens. Guest beers change every month.

Victorian pub established in 1875 directly opposite the Palace of Westminster and the closest pub to "Big Ben" (from which it gets its name—while now officially known as Elizabeth Tower, Victorian journalists nicknamed it St Stephen's Tower). Often busy with tourists and other vi