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Sir John Soane (1753-1837) architect and collector, left his house and museum to the nation. In his lifetime Sir John - whose works included the Bank of England and the Dulwich Picture Library - amassed a collection of architectural drawings as well as classical and medieval works of art, artefacts, sculptures, paintings (including works by Canaletto, Hogarth and Turner) and other items. His house has astonishing interiors and was used almost as a laboratory for his ideas.

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Sky Garden is a bar and restaurant complex on the top 3 floors of the 'Walkie-Talkie' - 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London. This controversial 38-storey office block was designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly - the footplate actually increases in size as you ascend the building. It cost £200million and was constructed between January 2009 and May 2014. Sky Garden, which has restricted, but free, public access, was opened in 2015. Here you can enjoy an expensive drink or a meal with some fabulous views over Britain's capital city. You need to book in advance via the website (see below).

The cathedral that often gets missed, because everyone tends to flock to Westminster or St Paul's. But Southwark Cathedral is a beautiful oasis of calm and claims to be the earliest Gothic church in London, dating from 1220. Situated adjacent to London Bridge in an area that used to be renowned for its vice, it has a fascinating history and numerous features, including a soaring nave, a wonderful altar screen that dates from the 16th century and several interesting tombs. It became a cathedral in 1905 and its full name is the Cathedral Church of St Saviour and Mary Overie.

Built between 1756-1766 for John, first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales, Spencer House is one of the most elegant and sumptuous private residences ever built in London and one of its finest surviving eighteenth-century town houses. Originally designed by John Vardy and James ‘Athenian’ Stuart, Spencer House is still owned (as of 2020) by the Spencer family, but currently leased to a company chaired by Lord Rothschild and has undergone a massive restoration. These days, it is let out for corporate and private functions, including weddings, but also has limited opening to the public.

Image credit - Historic Houses.

Known as the journalists' church, St Brides, just off Fleet Street, is dedicated to a 5th century Irish saint, St Bridget - or St Bride - of Kildare. The fascinating crypt reveals layers of construction, from Roman times onward, and includes a fascinating museum as well as a 14th century chapel, refurbished in modern style. The crypt was not discovered until 1953. The parents of the first white child born in colonial America in 1585 were married in this church. The church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and was rebuilt by Wren; the spire is the tallest he built - 234 feet - and was the inspiration for the tiered wedding cake. The interior was rebuilt in the 1950s after destruction in World War Two. The Journalists' Altar commemorates journalists from all over the world who have died or been injured during the course of their work.