Almost all coronations since William the Conqueror (1066) have been held there, and many British kings and queens are buried in the Abbey (Elizabeth I, Scottish Queen Mary Stuart, Henry VII, Charles II, and of course Edward the Confessor, the founder of the cathedral). In the Poet's Corner are the tombstones and monuments to some famous poets (such as John Milton, Walter Scott, Lord Byron, William Wordsworth, William Shakespeare) but only a few of them are really buried there (Geoffrey Chaucer, Robert Browning).

Not far from the Houses of Parliament is Buckingham Palace, the London home of the kings and queens of Great Britain. Built in 1703 by the Duke of Buckingham, it was bought by George III sixty years later but Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live in the Palace since 1837. Outside Buckingham Palace the Changing of the Guard takes place to the accompaniment of the Guard's bands. In front of Buckingham Palace is the Queen Victoria Monument.

Trafalgar Square is said to be the largest in London and is a place of political demonstrations and busy traffic. It originated in the 19th century and its name commemorates the naval victory of Admiral Lorel Nelson over the French and Spanish fleet at Spanish Cape Trafalgar in 1805. In the middle of the square is Nelson's Column (about 50m high) with a five-meter tall statue of Horatio Nelson at the top. Two fountains, several other monuments to famous people, and usually lots of pigeons, surround the column.

The famous National Gallery forms one side of Trafalgar Square. The gallery was opened in 1824 but its building was completed in 1838.

A short way from Trafalgar Square along the Haymarket is Piccadilly Circus where Regent Street, Piccadilly, the Haymarket and Shaftsbury Avenue join and three underground lines cross under this circular square. This makes it the busiest and noisiest place of London. The most beautiful view of the square is at night when it is lit by many colourful advertisements. In the centre of the Circus at the top of the Fountain stands Eros, the Greek God of love, built by Lorel Shaftsbury, a famous philanthropist.

St. James's Park is the oldest park, one of architect John Nash's masterpieces. In the 19th century he created a lake with small islands, which are the home of many water birds. The exclusive street The Mall separates the park from St. James's Palace, which became a royal residence in 1699 after the fire had damaged White Hall.

Hyde Park is probably the most popular park among tourists. The main entrance to Hyde Park is at Hyde Park Corner in the Southeast, the busiest London crossroad. In the Northeast corner of Hyde Park stands the Marble Arch.