St Paul's Cathedral is one of London's most famous landmarks, with its iconic dome dominating the skyline for over 300 years. It was designed in a restrained Baroque style. Beyond its architectural landmark status, St. Paul's Cathedral serves as the Anglican Episcopal see in London and thus has figured prominently in many major cultural and religious events, from the funerals of Lord Nelson and Winston Churchill to the marriage of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer.

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Houses of Parliament, also called Palace of Westminster is a meeting place of the bicameral Parliament, including the House of Commons and the House of Lords. During its lifetime, the Palace has been a royal residence, a law court and even a prison. In 1512 much of the original Palace of Westminster was destroyed by a fire, but today you see the Palace in its renovated beauty, acting as a heart of the British Government. It is also where the Big Ben is located.

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Trafalgar Square is one of the most important and lively squares in London: designed in 1830 to commemorate the British victory against the French and Spanish fleets in the Battle of Trafalgar. It has a vast hostory of democratic protests and fights for political, religious and general issues. Trafalgar Square is famous for being the home of the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, alongside the iconic Nelson's Column, and for being surrounded by a variety of museums, galleries and cultural centers. 

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Westminster Abbey is the traditional coronation site of the British kings and queens as well as the burial site for English and then British monarchs. It acts as a final resting place of 30 kings and queens with memorials to Edward the Confessor, Richard II, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots and more royal tombs found within the abbey. In addition to serving as a site for royal coronations and burials, Westminster Abbey has famously been the location for 17 royal weddings—including the 2011 marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton.

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London Bridge is a box girder bridge built from concrete and steel, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. It is not to be confused with Tower Bridge! London Bridge was opened to traffic in 1973, being then only 47 years old. It was taken down and rebuilt from concrete and steel, replacing a 19th century stone arched bridge, which in turn succeeded a 600-year-old stone-built structure.  The craziest story with the London Bridge is that it was sold to the USA in 1986!

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Livery companies evolved from London's medieval guilds, becoming corporations under Royal Charter responsible for training in their respective trades, as well as for the regulation of aspects such as wage control, labour conditions and industry standards. The Worshipful Company of Dyers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Dyers' Guild existed in the twelfth century; it received a Royal Charter in 1471. It originated as a trade association for members of the dyeing industry but is now mainly a charitable institution. Each year the company participates in the ceremony of Swan Upping along the River Thames.

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Piccadilly Circus has to be the most famous road intersections in the world. It's iconic for several reasons – the unique architecture surrounding it, the iconic advertisements that adorn the buildings, the statue of Eros in the middle. The statue is officially known as the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, as it was built in 1893 to commemorate the good deeds of philanthropist Lord Shaftesbury. Piccadilly Circus is an ideal destination for anyone hoping to visit Chinatown, Soho's theatre district, Leicester Square or Trafalgar Square.

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Horse Guards Parade is the ceremonial parade that takes place in St James's Park, near the entrance to Buckingham Palace. Horse Guards dates from the eighteenth century and was designed by William Kent. The event is also called Changing of The King's Life Guard and during it the duty officer will inspect The King's Life Guard in the courtyard. It is a much shorter and less known event than the Changing of the Guard, so you can get closer to the guards and their horses!

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Buckingham Palace is known as the home of the monarch, the focus of national and royal celebrations, as well as the backdrop to the regular Changing the Guard ceremony. The Palace has served as the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837 and is open for visitors every summer. Now it functions as a working building and a venue for many royal events and ceremonies. The most beautiful and famous place of the Palace is its balcony – the place that the royal family takes during special events of national significance. 

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