Historic Sites in The Carnaby

"Another location with a long association with British royalty, Westminster Abbey stands on a site that's been associated with Christianity since the early 7th century. Officially known as the Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Westminster, Westminster Abbey was founded by Edward the Confessor in 1065 as his place of interment. From his burial in 1066 until that of George II almost 700 years later, most sovereigns were not only crowned here but were buried here, too."

"This Gothic architectural masterpiece has hosted almost every coronation of English monarchs since 1066, when William the Conqueror was crowned on Christmas Day. Over 3,300 people are buried here, including at least sixteen monarchs, eight Prime Ministers, and the Unknown Warrior."

"The Tower of London – Built by William the Conqueror in 1078, the Tower of London was turned into a prison in 1100. Some of its most famous prisoners included King Henry VI, the wives of King Henry VII, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard and Sir Thomas More. These days the Tower is a museum rather than a prison. A great way to see some of the grounds is with an entertaining tour hosted by the Yeoman Warders who will frighten and dazzle you with tales of the Towers past."

"This well-preserved medieval castle is one of London’s premier attractions for families – adults and children love it. Interior exhibits are interactive and informative. The castle was eventually converted to a prison and the site of many executions."

"The London Pass is a pre-paid sightseeing card which gives you FREE fast-track entry to the city’s top tourist attractions, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour. The view from the Shard"

"More than 1000 years of history can be discovered at London’s magnificent Houses of Parliament, stretching beautifully around the corners of Westminster and housing Big Ben. View it from the bank of the Thames and admire a building that continues to remain one of the capital’s biggest attractions, or head inside to delve into its past and present on a Houses of Parliament audio tour. You can also learn more about Big Ben with a free Elizabeth Tower talk."

"If you see pictures of London, they often contain images of the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. This is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses that make up the Parliament of the United Kingdom. In case you didn’t already know, Big Ben is not the name of the clock or the tower it is housed in."

"The Palace of Westminster is perhaps best recognised as the hub or perhaps the heart of British politics, housing both the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Located on the River Thames, this landmark is famous on an international level. The original palace was destroyed in 1834, but the current palace was built back up."

"Arguably London’s finest smaller gallery, the Wallace Collection is an enthralling glimpse into 18th-century aristocratic life. The sumptuously restored Italianate mansion houses a treasure trove of 17th- and 18th-century paintings, porcelain, artefacts and furniture collected by generations of the same family and bequeathed to the nation by the widow of Sir Richard Wallace (1818–90) on the condition it remain displayed in the same fashion."

"The Wallace Collection is a London art gallery made up of the collection of the Marquess family. The art all dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries and was gathered by five generations of the Marquesses along with Sir Richard Wallace, who was an illegitimate Marquess son. Today, the collection contains more than five thousand pieces."

"Take a day trip to Winchester, where you can visit Winchester Cathedral (the site of Jane Austen’s grave) and Winchester Castle. You can also tour the City Mill or one of the numerous museums and science centres. Return to London for the night."

"The gable and rose window is all that’s left of the medieval palace of the powerful Bishop of Winchester who once ruled south of the river 1"

"St George’s Chapel is a place of worship situated in the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle. Founded in 1348, it is both a royal peculiar and the chapel of the Order of the Garter. The chapel is notable for its English late Perpendicular architecture, with the beautiful Quire and Nave among the most attractive features."

"Highlights here include the State Apartments, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, and the 15th-century St. George’s Chapel. You can also see the Changing of the Guards ceremony here on certain days which is a similar but much smaller version of the ceremony that takes place in front of Buckingham Palace."

"Old Royal Naval College This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Greenwich. It once served as a naval hospital and later as a naval college. Now, this site is being used as a filming location for many famous movies such as The King’s Speech, Patriot Games, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Avengers, and The Dark Knight Rises."

"The Old Royal Naval College is a set of buildings designed by Christopher Wren whose original purpose was to serve as a place to care for and house retired seamen. Later the large building complex was used as a naval training college and today is used for a number of functions, and many of the buildings are open to the public."

"Begun by Sir Christopher Wren in 1694 as a rest home for ancient mariners, the college became a school in 1873. It's still used for classes…"

"This family-run coffee house and bakery, based out in Battersea, is who you should be visiting if you want to get a taste of a real-deal Filipino panaderia. Kapihan does the business on a range of sweet and savoury Filipino-style pastries with light and airy pandesal bread being the real hero item on the menu. The pan de coco (a pandan-infused brioche with a coconutty sweet cream filling) and chocolate Spanish bread (a fluffy pandesal filled with a slightly molten mixture of 75% South Cotabato chocolate and hazelnut raw creme) are perfect for pairing with a cup of freshly brewed coffee."

"Nigel and David Motley’s new home in Battersea Park delivers beautiful, exacting Filipino baking, but also single origin coffee from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar, countries which speciality coffee has either recently deigned to recognise, or remain systemically overlooked. Now serving coffee through the hatch Monday — Saturday, guest roasts from Barcelona’s Nomad are complemented by a natural Filipino coffee that tastes of peaches and caramel. Reopens Saturday 9 January."

"This requires a little forward planning for Nigel, David, Plasmara, and Rosemary Motley’s formidable Filipino baking. Pre-order tinapaya, like the pan de adobo, or the dulce de leche bibingka, with a lechon rice, all crunchy pork belly, now added to the weekend rotation. Or just rock up for coffee from the hatch before rolling home or towards Battersea Park."

"6 Clarges Street, London W1J 8AE (with the Deli entrance on Bolton Street). Why should you care?. Following the death of Joël Robuchon, his famed London restaurant L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon also shut its doors this year."

"When it comes to places to eat outside in London, this Canary Wharf restaurant is a great shout. Not only does Humble Grape have you sorted for breakfast, brunch and dinner but it's also got an impressive selection of wines available."