The 10 Best Architectural Buildings in London, England

Serving as the Royal Residence, this historic house was commissioned by Queen Anne of Denmark, the wife of James I (reigned 1603-25), and now displays the National Maritime Museum's early art collection and sponsors special events.

Somerset House is a spectacular neo-classical building in the heart of London, sitting between the Strand and the River Thames. During summer months 55 fountains dance in the courtyard, and in winter you can skate on London's favourite ice rink. Somerset House also hosts open-air concerts and films, contemporary art, design and fashion exhibitions, family workshops and free guided tours of spaces usually hidden to visitors. The Trust's mission is to conserve and maintain Somerset House to the highest standards and to develop the site as a public space which is universally recognised as a world class visitor attraction and centre of excellence for culture and the arts.

Founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare's Globe is a unique international resource dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare's work and the playhouse for which he wrote, through the connected means of performance and education.Together, the Globe Theatre Company, Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition and Globe Education seek to further the experience and international understanding of Shakespeare in performance.

Restored to the full splendor of its late eighteenth-century appearance, this manor house was once the residence of the Spencer family, whose famous member was Diana, Princess of Wales.

Said to be the most complex and accomplished of Christopher Wren's churches (1672-79), the structure incorporates a large central dome and a cross-in-square plan, which recall the structures of Byzantium.

Westminster Abbey was initially built by Henry III in 1245 and it is one of the most important Gothic buildings of England. At first home of Benedictine monks, the coronation church since 1066 and the final resting place of 17 monarchs. It contains a treasury full of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles, books and various other artefacts plus the most significant collection of monumental sculptures of the UK. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries in the Abbey's Triforium opened in June 2018. Explore over 1,000 years of history in this truly unique space, high above the Abbey floor.

Freemasons’ Hall has been the centre of English Freemasonry for over 240 years. It is the meeting place for over 1,000 Masonic Lodges and the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England, the first Grand Lodge in the world. The building, which is Grade II* listed, dates from 1927-1933, and has a richly decorated interior. The architects were H V Ashley and F Winton Newman. When the Grand Temple is not in use there are up to five tours per day. These tours are free, and each starts in the Library and Museum. Visitors should bring photographic ID which may be required to be shown before the tour commences. Please note: Freemasons’ Hall is not open on Sundays, public holidays, the Saturday preceding a Monday public holiday, or over the Christmas / New Year period. It is also not possible to hold tours when there are major events happening, some of which are arranged at short notice. If you are making a special trip to visit Freemasons' Hall then please contact us first.

The Old Royal Naval College (ORNC) is Sir Christopher Wren's riverside masterpiece and one of London's most popular attractions. The iconic buildings stand on the site of Greenwich Palace, Henry VIII's favourite royal residence, and were originally designed as a refuge for old and injured sailors. There are currently some adjustments to the way we are welcoming visitors, with new measures to ensure social distancing and your safety. Please check out our website for more details.

Most of this iconic building was built in the mid-19th century following a devastating fire in 1834. Westminster Hall survived the fire and dates from 1097. All visits are currently suspended. For the latest updates and online content, please go to the website and sign-up to the e-newsletter.