There are four World Heritage Sites in London which proves how good London is at preserving the old while continuing to develop new architectural delights.
Do note, London may have five World Heritage Sites in the future as Darwin's Landscape Laboratory in south London is on the Tentative List.
1. Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey, including St Margaret’s Church
The Palace of Westminster is the official name for the Houses of Parliament (where you can see 'Big Ben').
Edward the Confessor had the original palace built in the eleventh century and it was the former home of kings. Among the original historic buildings is Westminster Hall, used nowadays for major public ceremonial events.
Westminster Abbey was founded in AD960 as a Benedictine monastery. This is the nation's Coronation Church and also the burial and memorial place for historical figures from the last thousand years of British history.
St Margaret's Church, next to Westminster Abbey, was established in the 11th century so the locals could worship away from Westminster Abbey as they were disturbing the monks.
2. Tower of London
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 as a palace and royal residence.
Located next to the River Thames, the Tower of London has been a prison and the site of public executions. It housed many famous prisoners such as Sir Walter Raleigh who made use of his 13 years in the Bloody Tower by writing The History of the World (published in 1614) and growing tobacco on Tower Green.
It is now a popular tourist attraction where seeing the Crown Jewels is one of the highlights. Look out for the ravens as there is a legend that says that if the ravens ever leave then the monarchy will fall, the White Tower at The Tower of London will crumble and a great disaster will befall England.More »
3. Maritime Greenwich
Maritime Greenwich was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1997 for the concentration and quality of buildings of historic and architectural interest in the area. These can be divided into the group of buildings along the riverfront, Greenwich Park, and the Georgian and Victorian town center.
There's so much to do here so I've put together these Suggested Itineraries for Days Out in Greenwich. You really should Stand on the Prime Meridian Line at Greenwich and go shopping at Greenwich Market.
The Discover Greenwich Visitor Center is good for learning about the area through interactive activities as well as to ask for information.
The National Maritime Museum is free to visit and there's a hotel on the World Heritage Site too – Devonport House – next to the museum.More »
4. Kew Gardens Visitor Information
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in July 2003 due to its work on history and development of garden landscapes and its role in science and plant research.
Kew Gardens is the world's largest collection of living plants including more than 30,000 different kinds of plants. Kew has founded in 1840 from the exotic garden at Kew Park and has it's own police constabulary.
The large glasshouses, particularly the Palm House and Temperate House, are popular and house fascinating plant specimens. The Xstrata Treetop Walkway gives you a bird's eye view over the gardens, and children adore the Climbers and Creepers indoor play area.More »