London - Inner Castles & Stately Homes

So often overlooked in favour of the Royal palaces, Lambeth Palace is the London crash-pad of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the chief religious figure in the Church of England. Constructed during medieval times, visitors can take a tour of the crypt, guard room, chapen and library. The surrounding gardens have views over the river Thames.

Somerset House is a recently refurbished mansion house in a central location on The Strand. It contains several galleries and exhibitions and during the Christmas period an outdoor ice rink occupies the courtyard. Advance booking for this is strongly recommended.

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of Britain's Monarch and is one of the most recognized buildings in the world. It is decorated and furnished with works of art that form part of the Royal Collection - one of the major art collections of the world. Parts of the Palace are open to the public on a regular basis. Visitors can see some of the State Rooms where the Queen receives and entertains her guests. The State Rooms contain some of the best pieces of the Royal Collection and stunning French furniture. Guests can also explore some of the apartments inside the Palace.

The Spencer House was built for the first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, princess of Wales, in 1756 to 1766. Recent restorations have returned the house to its original appearance. Eight State Rooms are available for public viewing and the house is also available for corporate and private functions.

The White Tower, the oldest and largest of the buildings in the Tower of London complex, dates back to the time of William the Conqueror, who ordered the Tower in built in 1078. The Tower is now primarily a tourist attraction but remains an official residence of the Royal family.

A neoclassical villa in a green setting next to Hampstead Heath, Kenwood House is home to an impressive art collection. During the summer months, there are outdoor concerts and performances in the landscaped grounds.

West of the centre of London in the residential area of Chiswick, this villa in a Palladian style has important works of art and a large furniture collection.

Built in 1530, the Queen's House was the last home of Queen Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey while they awaited execution. From her room here Lady Jane watched her husband led to his execution, and the return of his body to the tower chapel.

It was during the middle of the 18th century in this London townhouse that Dr. Johnson compiled the first ever Dictionary. The building has been restored to its original condition and the first volume of the Dictionary is on display here.

William III and Mary bought the Kensington Palace in 1689 and transformed it from a county house into a Royal palace. Queen Victoria's was born here. The palace has had many additions over the years and parts of it are still used as a private residence for members of the Royal Family, but the State Apartments and the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection are open to the public. Before her death, this was the home of Diana Princess of Wales.

Built in the 13th century as a London residence for the powerful Bishops of Winchester, the palace on the south bank entertained luminaries such as King James I. The stately manor, located next to the Clink Prison, was destroyed by fire in 1814. The ruins can still be viewed, with the giant stone rose window being the most impressive part of the remains.

The Banqueting House dates to 1622, and was the location of the many celebrations of King James I. Almost thirty years later it became the site of the only execution of a reigning English monarch, Charles I, for High Treason in 1649.

St. James Palace was built between 1532 and 1540 by Henry VIII. Its grounds include the Queen's Chapel and the Chapel Royal. Currently the palace can be enjoyed from outside, but a wander through the grounds is still enough to appreciate this Royal residence.

Formerly the home of the Queen Mother, Clarence House has recently been redecorated to accomodate Prince Charles and his family. Tours are possible in the summer and must be booked in advance via telephone.

The White Tower was started in 1078 and was the first building in what would become the Tower of London. The official title is "Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London". Over time additions have been added to the original structure. Some of the additional towers include the Crown Jewels, St. Thomas's Tower, the Salt Tower and many many more.

The Palace of Westminster was once a Royal residence of the Kings of England. The palace was intricately designed with more than 3 kilometres (2 miles) of passages, 100 staircases and approximately 1,200 rooms. By the end of the 14th century all court related matters were dealt with at Westminster and today, the Palace of Westminster is the site of the Houses of Parliament.