London City Guide

Political & Government Buildings

Political events on this week include watching the Opposition grill the PM at Prime Minister's Questions, watching the MPs inside the House of Commons of House of Lords, and listening to some speeches at Speakers' Corner

Bank of England Museum

Bank of England Museum - The UK’s central bank is the eighth oldest in the world and has been issuing the country’s money for over three hundred years6

★★★Big Ben

Big Ben - Big Ben is not the tower – it’s the bell inside the belfry. The clock tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower as a gift on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee13

★★★Churchill War Rooms

Churchill War Rooms - Winston Churchill met his wartime cabinet here during the dark days of the Blitz, and has remained undisturbed ever since6

★★★Bank of England and Royal Exchange

The City (Square Mile) - The historic Square Mile is the financial heart of the City of London, and is built inside the area where the old city walls of Roman Londinium stood2

★★★Guildhall

Common Council at the Guildhall - Every month the Lord Mayor meets with the Aldermen to discuss the City of London in the Court of Common Council6

★★★Downing Street

Downing Street - The British PM has been living at No.10 Downing Street since 1735. We used to be able to walk up the street but now we’re stuck behind a gate6

★★★Guildhall

Guildhall - The City of London has been holding meetings inside the Guildhall for more than eight centuries, going back to the days of Dick Whittington2

★★★House of Commons

House of Commons - Did you know that the public can sit inside the House of Commons and watch a debate? They don’t even need a ticket (except for PMQs)4

★★★Houses of Parliament

Houses of Parliament - Parliament is one of the must-see sights in London – buy yourself a tour ticket and see all the spectacular rooms inside12

Jewel Tower

Jewel Tower - The Jewel Tower is a rare survivor from the original Palace of Westminster. It was built in the 14th-century as a store for Edward III’s valuables2

★★Lincoln’s Inn

Lincoln’s Inn - This beautiful Victorian building is one of the original Four Inns of Court where all the country’s lawyers and barristers were trained4

Mansion House

Mansion House - Mansion House is just one of three stand-out buildings at Bank junction – the others being the Bank of England and Royal Exchange2

★★★Parliament Square

Parliament Square - Parliament Square is bordered by Big Ben and Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Supreme Court, the Foreign Office and Treasury building2

★★★Prime Minister

Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) - British citizens can write to their MP and get a free ticket to watch Prime Minister’s Questions at Wednesday lunchtime4

★★★The Cenotaph

Remembrance Day Parade - Every November war veterans and members of the Royal Family gather at The Cenotaph to honour fallen soldiers30

★★Royal Courts of Justice

Royal Courts of Justice - This gothic-looking building seems like a cathedral inside, and it’s worth going to watch a court case simply to see its fantastic interior2

Speakers Corner

Speakers’ Corner - The north-east corner of Hyde Park is famous as a place for free speech. If you visit on a Sunday then you can enjoy the entertaining hecklers5

★★★State Opening of Parliament

State Opening of Parliament - The Queen goes to open Parliament every year in her State Coach, accompanied by horses from the Household Cavalry2

Upcoming political events in London

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Speakers’ Corner -- Listen to speeches on Sunday

Speakers’ Corner -- Listen to speeches on Sunday Visit Speakers' Corner at Sunday lunchtime and hear the public giving political speeches on a soapbox5

Guided tour of the historic Guildhall

Guided tour of the historic Guildhall Look around the Guildhall's medieval Great Hall which dates all the way back to the Lord Mayor of London Dick Whittington

Fran Lebowitz -- An evening with the social commentator

Fran Lebowitz -- An evening with the social commentator Fran Lebowitz is an opinionated American author who will share her views on all the big issues of the day

Photographing 1980s Britain: A Critical Decade

Photographing 1980s Britain: A Critical Decade An exhibition of photographs taken during the turbulent Thatcher years