St Dunstan in the East

The Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale's elegant 17th-century manor house, a mile or so upriver from Richmond riverside.

Founded in 1123, by jester-turned-monk Rahere, this Norman church is one of the oldest in London. It was damaged in the Dissolution but managed to escape both the Great Fire and the Blitz. This is a Grade I listed building. Tourists are welcome when services are not in progress and are charged an admission fee (which does not apply to those coming to pray or use the café).

Designed by one of Britain's leading architects, Sir Norman Foster, this curved glass skyscraper was the 2004 recipient of the Stirling Architectural Prize for Best Building. It was built on the site of the Baltic Exchange building, destroyed in 1992 by an IRA bomb which killed three. On the Bury Street side of the Gherkin by some black stone benches is the Tomb of the Unknown Girl for a teenaged Londoner who died 1,600 years ago (see infobox above), marked with a marble laurel wreath and inscription. Searcy's Restaurant (from £50) at the top takes bookings up to five weeks in advance and you have to go through security before going up.

Equestrian statue of the Iron Duke, with four soldiers at each corner of the pedestal, representing regiments that fought under him: a Grenadier, Scottish Highlander, Irish Dragoon, and Welsh Fusilier. The bronze came from melting down captured French cannons.

The great domed cathedral of St Paul's, designed by Sir Christopher Wren to replace the Gothic medieval cathedral destroyed in 1666 in the Great Fire of London, was built between 1675–1710. Of the most famous London sights, St Paul's is the one most conveniently located for the Barbican. It's a significant building in British history, having been the site of the funerals of several British military leaders (Nelson, Wellington, Churchill), and significantly held peace services marking the end of the two world wars. The cathedral is also famous for its Whispering Wall, as well as its stunning view over the city. The crypt is also open to the public, holding the tombs of Nelson, Wellington and Christopher Wren. It is possible to sidestep the admission charge by entering for one of the midday services, even if you don't take part, or for the daily choral evensong in the late afternoon. However, you'd still need a ticket to get to the top. Photography is not allowed.

One of the "Magnificent Seven" old cemeteries in London. Graves range from plain to ornate and the site can be a tranquil place to walk amid the bustle of the city. It was opened in 1840 and is still a working cemetery, although it was closed for some time in the late 20th century. Can be nice, if morbid, for an afternoon stroll, especially as a route (and cycle route) between Old Brompton Road and Fulham Road.

Su Catholic Church of England with bells and smells (incense). There is an impressive model of the old London Bridge.

Now permanently closed, will be replaced by new museum at the former Smithfield market site in 2026. The Museum of London Docklands remains open.

Discover mementoes of the famous fictional detective. In reality, this was a lodging house used in the late 1800s and has three floors. The first floor contains Sherlock Holmes' study with Watson's desk, and has bullet holes spelling the initials VR (for Victoria Regina, Latin for Queen Victoria) much to the chagrin of the landlady Mrs. Hudson. Next to that is Holmes' bedroom with a rogues' gallery containing photographs of several notable Victorian-era murderers including Lizzy Bourdain. The remaining rooms upstairs have waxwork figures and artefacts referencing the novels, as well as their adaptations to stage and screen. Photography allowed, though filming requires permission. Prebooking is recommended to circumvent long queues.

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 unfinished. The Treasures of Westminster Cathedral exhibition is inexpensive and worthwhile for learning the history of the cathedral, there are interesting exhibits including a 1:28 wooden scale model uses by the architects. Has a café and gift shop.

Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, enlarged and modified by successive sovereigns, the Tower is today one of the world's most famous and spectacular fortresses and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover its 900-year history as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, mint, arsenal, menagerie and jewel house. In the winter you can skate on the dry moat. The Tower contains enough buildings and exhibits to keep a family busy for a full day, with plenty of both warlike and domestic contents. Some areas, such as the St John's Chapel in the White Tower, do not allow photography, but these are clearly signposted. Beefeaters, who are all retired sergeant majors from the British Army, provide guided tours for free as well as ceremonial security. See history come alive – go to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. This ceremony, the locking up of the Tower, has been performed every night at 10PM for 800 years. Tickets for the ceremony are £5 and must be prebooked.

One of the oldest churches in Battersea, this church is where Christians have worshiped at the same site since 800 AD. It is protected as a Grade I listed building with its combination of heritage and architectural merit.

Three large auditoriums, the Olivier, the Lyttelton and the Cottesloe. The Olivier theatre is the largest with an open stage and a fan shaped auditorium around it. This ensures that all seats provide a good view. Most of the more 'popular' productions are put on here as the space provided is much larger than most theatres. The Lyttelton theatre is more traditional with a proscenium arc with good views from most seats. The Cottesloe is a small studio theatre, seating around 400. Some tickets will be available on the day, either day seats (arrive before 9:30AM and queue) or standby (arrive before 6PM and queue), or you can buy online. Popular shows, especially those around Christmas in the Olivier sell out months in advance. Tickets to The National Theatre are generally better value than most other theatres. There is also the '£15 Travelex' season in the summer (as of 2019) that provides a large number (over 100,000 seats a year) at £10. Booking in advance is required for these. There is also an exhibition space in the Lyttelton theatre foyer that frequently holds popular photographic exhibitions. Free jazz is often played in the evening in the ground floor foyer. During summer there is a free daily outdoor festival of performance, music, comedy and cabaret known as Watch This Space. Deckchairs (and artificial grass) are provided to watch on. Free exhibitions. Backstage tours £5.

St. Margaret's is the church of the British Parliament, more specifically, the parish church of the House of Commons.

Medieval Grade I listed church. This church played a key role in the English Revolution and was the parish church of some of the most decisive Puritans: Oliver Cromwell was married and this is where John Milton was buried. It was the home of the Morning Exercises. The tower remains from the original building; the rest was destroyed in the Blitz but rebuilt based on the original plans.

Eccentric Gothic home of 18th-century poet and author, Horace Walpole, son of England's first prime minister.