Description: We have chosen Westminster Underground Station, served by the Circle, District and Jubilee lines of the London Underground - start the tour.

Description: We start at Westminster Underground. When you come out of the main exit, Big Ben, perhaps London's most famous icon, towers above you. At the moment it is covered in scaffolding- sorry! You are standing at the western end of Westminster Bridge. Big Ben is part of the Palace of Westminster originally started in 1020. The palace was burnt down in 1834, so the Gothic architecture you see today is comparatively recent. Walk along the eastern boundary of Parliament Square heading south with Westminster Palace on your left.

Description: On the outside of the south side of Parliament Square is a church, St Margaret's. The famous Westminster Abbey dwarfs it behind. We visit Westminster Abbey later. Dating back to the 11th century, St Margaret's is steeped in history. St Margaret's acts as the local church for the House of Commons opposite. The printer, William Caxton and the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh are buried here. Free lunchtime concerts are held regularly during the summer. This is not a tourist attraction, but a working church in which you are welcome to worship.

Description: Going south from St Margaret's and immediately next door is the Jewel Tower. The Jewel Tower is a surviving part of Westminster Palace from the fire in 1834. The tower was built to house the King's wardrobe and jewels in 1365. Today it is run by English Heritage and is used to house the 'Parliament Past and Present' exhibition about the history of Parliament (admission charge).

Description: Like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey is one of the main tourist mainstays and is on many people's itinerary on their first visit. The building you see now was erected by Edward the Confessor in 1065, when he set his throne in the neighbouring Westminster Palace. Westminster Abbey has become the setting for coronations, burials, funerals and marriages. Westminster Abbey is England's main religious building. Many kings and famous people are buried here. Walk up a road called Whitehall.

Description: Next turning on your left is Downing Street. You've seen the Houses of Parliament and the home of government agencies all around you, this is where the Prime Minister lives and works at Number 10, with his Chancellor responsible for finance next door in Number 11. Until 1989, you could walk right up to the front doors of Number 10. Because of security there are now big black iron gates barring public entrance to Downing Street.

Description: Past more government buildings including the Cabinet Office and next on your left is Horse Guards. There will be invariably a crowd around the entrance, where two soldiers on horseback stand. These are members of the Queen's Lifeguards. Built on land where jousting had taken place, this imposing guard house was built between 1750 and 1758. Only members of the royal family (and the Queen's Lifeguards) are allowed to ride through the arch. Changing of the guard is held here at 11am (10am, Sundays). Many people find this location much more satisfying than the more famous Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Here crowds are much smaller and you are closer and get uninterrupted close up pictures. There is also a later, much smaller ceremony that takes place at Horseguards at 4pm called the "Dismounting Ceremony" which dates back c.160 years to when Queen Victoria was riding through the archway at Horseguards and found the Guards drunk and gambling and not at their posts! So she insisted that they be inspected every day at 4pm to make sure they were fit for duty. If you want to visit that you'll need to be at Horseguards (in the forecourt of the stables where the foot soldiers are, not through the arch on the gravel) get there for 3:45 to see the ceremony. The very best place to stand is on the left as you enter the wrought iron gates off Whitehall, behind the first white line facing the black wooden stables doors.

Description: On the other side of the road (Whitehall) at the junction with Horse Guards Avenue is Banqueting House, the only surviving building of Whitehall Palace. Whitehall Palace was England's main medieval palace in Tudor and Stuart times. It once contained over 2,000 rooms and covered 23 acres. The palace was destroyed by fire in 1698, except for the Banqueting House. The Banqueting House is famous as the location of Charles I execution, every year on the anniversary a wreath is put outside. You can visit this sumptuous building for which there is a small admission charge. Rubens painted the ceiling and it has a drinking den in the basement that James I used to frequent. It’s very reasonably priced c £7 to go in. On the other (northern side) of the junction with Horseguards Avenue is the Old War Office, home to the Intelligence and Defence agencies. Underneath the building is a military command centre where Royalty and government would retire to in a Doomsday scenario. Margaret Thatcher directed the Falklands War from here. We continue our walk by going through the arch away from Whitehall to the parade ground on the other side of Horse Guards. Keep going straight across the parade ground, cross the road into St James's Park.

Description: This was London's first Royal Park created by Henry VIII in 1532 and for many, the nicest of the Royal Parks. The centrepiece is the lake that attracts many birds. We suggest you follow the lakeside walk along its southern perimeter. There is a restaurant at this eastern end by the lakeside. At the western end cross the bridge over the lake and up to Buckingham Palace

Description: Buckingham Palace has been the London home of the monarchy since 1762. After Buckingham Palace complete your lap of the lake, this time by following the northern perimeter. A little over half way along the lake take the path veering left, north-eastwards towards Trafalgar Square.

Description: The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars. The centrepiece, Nelson's Column is topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson, the admiral who commanded the British Fleet at the battle of Trafalgar. The square has become a social and political location for visitors and Londoners alike. There are often events put on here, political rallies rally here and its one of the main points to see in the New Year too. Trafalgar Square is also technically the centre of London. If you are travelling around England and see a road sign saying London x miles, it is to Trafalgar Square that this distance is measured to. Dominating the northern side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery. The National Gallery houses one of the greatest collections of European paintings in the world with more than 2,000 European paintings from the 13th century to 1900. Like most of the major art galleries in London entry is free. Next door to the National Gallery is the National Portrait Gallery. The Gallery was founded in 1856 to collect portraits of famous British men and women. Explore 120,000 portraits from the 16th century to the present day. Like the National Gallery, entrance is free. On the eastern side of Trafalgar Square is St Martin-in-the-Fields Church. Because of its prominent position, St Martin-in-the-Fields is one of the most famous non-cathedral churches in London. The church is known for its regular lunchtime and evening concerts and h