London is one of the most iconic cities in the world. Whilst every side-street and every tiny pub has a story, here are some of London’s most famous landmarks.

Buckingham Palace – the official residence of the British royal family, particularly popular with tourists during the ‘changing of the guard’. Buckingham Palace sits at one end of the elegant Pall Mall, with Trafalgar Square at the other end.

St Paul’s Cathedral – a church has stood on this site since AD 604, but the current edifice was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in the late 17th century. Famously, St Paul’s remained standing when most of the city was destroyed during the Blitz bombing of London during the Second World War.

Houses of Parliament – officially known as the Palace of Westminster, this is the home of the UK Parliament, made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Elizabeth Tower, more commonly known as Big Ben (the nickname of the heaviest bell), is one of the most famous landmarks of Britain and an emblem of parliamentary democracy. The Houses were reportedly built on the River Thames to ensure that they could not be surrounded by a mob!

Westminster Abbey – Alongside the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey, the traditional place of coronation and burial for British monarchs. Many other celebrated figures have also been buried here – Poet’s Corner, for example, is the final resting place of Chaucer, Tennyson, Dickens, Kipling and Hardy.

Covent Garden – originally a flower, fruit and vegetable market, Covent Garden Square is now popular with street performers. Visitors can browse the shops and restaurants that now occupy the market building, then stroll the short distance down to Leicester Square and Theatreland.

Tower of London – this historic castle was founded in 1066 when William the Conqueror invaded England. The iconic White Tower was initially built as a royal palace, but is better known as a prison. Anne Boleyn was held there before her execution; her daughter Elizabeth was also imprisoned there before she became Queen Elizabeth I. In 2014, the Tower’s moat was filled with thousands of ceramic poppies to remember those killed in the First World War.

Tower Bridge – close to the Tower of London is Tower Bridge (often mistakenly called London Bridge, which is the next bridge upstream). The high level walkways are open to the public, and currently have a glass floor for those with a good head for heights!

Trafalgar Square – with the National Gallery on one side, two fountains, and Nelson’s Column at the centre, Trafalgar Square is an imposing place and sometimes seen as the centre of London. It is often now a gathering point for community celebrations and political action.

Globe Theatre – The Globe Theatre is a replica of the 17th century playhouse that William Shakespeare part-owned, where many of his plays were written and performed for the first time. The Theatre’s company still perform his greatest works to critical acclaim, with much of the audience standing in the pit – as they would have done in the 1600s!