Seven wonders of London

One of Britain's most impressive buildings, St Paul's is often cited as the nation's favourite cathedral.
Sir Christopher Wren conceived it as a rival to the great churches of Rome, albeit in a Protestant style.

1.  The Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament used to be the meeting place of Kings and advisory councils gone by, of which, over thousands of years, has developed into the workplace of the representatives of Britain´s 21st century democracy.  Known as the Palace of Westminster, it is the central seat of the British government comprising of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. As well as Victoria tower, Westminster Hall, the Central Lobby and the famous Big Ben clock tower.

2.  London's Roman walls

The Romans built their city of Londinium and its walls 2,000 years ago, but only a few fragments still remain.
By the 3rd Century AD Londinium was one of the most successful Roman settlements in northern Europe.
One of the only remaining pieces of evidence of the Roman occupation is a small section of wall in the shadow of the Tower of London. The wall once extended for two miles, and was six to nine feet thick and 18 feet high in places. Another section of the wall that exists today can be found under the car park at Smithfield.

 

3.   The Shard

Designed by Renzo Piano, the Shard is London’s newest modern architectural masterpiece.   Completed in July 2012, it is part of the London Bridge Quarter Redevelopment Project.   It is a striking glass structure, built using cutting-edge engineering methods and has transformed London’s skyline.   At 310 meters with 82 floors, it is the tallest building in Europe, made up of offices, apartments, a hotel and a public viewing gallery and observation deck, which opened in February 2013.

 

4.  The Gherkin

Officially named 30 St Mary Axe (its London address) this building has fondly been widely nicknamed “The Gherkin” due to its bullet shaped structure.   Standing at 130 meters the perfectly smooth glass panels curve around the structure. Although an operational office building and closed to the public, the building is a popular site solely due to its exterior.

 

5.  St Pancras

St Pancras' splendid Midland Grand Hotel was built to service the new railway station next door.
Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the hotel was built between 1868-1872 in a neo-Gothic style.
This cathedral to the railway age has an ornate style which reflects church architecture.
Its pinnacles, towers, and gables burst with ecclesiastical references.

 

6.  St Paul´s Cathedral

The cathedral, dedicated to St Paul, stands at the highest point of the city of London.   The present cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710 by the famous British architect Christopher Wren after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.   It was the first cathedral to be built in Britain post England’s reformation when the Church of England was removed from the jurisdiction of the Pope to the Crown.   This history, the architecture, the iconic dome and the spectacular view of the city from it, makes it a popular tourist attraction, a venue for prestigious events and often the centre of national occasions. 

 

7.  Chislehurst Caves

The London Basin stretches from Reading to Harwich and out to the Isle of Dogs, and in the middle lies London itself.
The substructure of the layers below the surface was first charted in the 19th Century when there was a need to draw fresh water to replace the contaminated Thames water for drinking.
In 1850 it the layers were noted as sands and gravels, blue "London" clay, clays and sands and the "Lambeth group" - chalk and flints.