London Travel Guide - Attractions

National Gallery: located on Trafalgar Square, and with a collection of more than 2,000 paintings from famous artists such as van Gogh, Monet, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. The latest addition to the building is the Sainsbury Wing, designed by the Robert Venturi to house the collection of Renaissance paintings.

Westminster Abbey: has been used for coronations since 1066 as well as royal weddings and christenings. The gothic building is an architectural masterpiece first built under Edward the Confessor in the 11th century, and then renovated at a later date to its current style. It still operates as a church with regular services which the public can attend.

Most famously, it has served as a prison and place of execution for high status and royal prisoners, notably, the internment of Queen Elizabeth I.

The Jewel Tower: was formerly part of the Medieval Westminster Palace that housed the personal treasure of Edward III. A large fire destroyed most of the Palace in 1834 and the Jewel Tower and Westminster Hall were the only buildings to survive. It now contains a small museum with relics from the old Palace and an exhibition on the Houses of Parliament.

Although most royal weddings are held in Westminster Abbey, St Paul's was used for the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The cathedral also has a large crypt containing tombs and memorials of famous British figures such as The Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, Florence Nightingale and Lord Nelson.

The London Dungeon: reveals some of the darkest moments in the capital's history, recalling gruesome events about Jack the Ripper and the Great Plague of 1665. There are over 40 exhibits with live actors, shows and interactive effects covering atrocities from the past.