There are many reasons to appreciate London—home of the royal family, world-class culinary and theater scenes, luxurious black cabs. The British capital is also an architectural gold mine where historical landmarks such as the Tower Bridge and Big Ben intermix with sleek, 21st-century skyscrapers like Renzo Piano’s Shard. Here are the top 25 must-see architectural landmarks . Here are some suggestions about traditional London landmarks and some particular places to visit . Enjoy your tour! Shown: 30 St. Mary Axe Nicknamed the Gherkin (a British colloquialism for pickle) in reference to its rounded form. Barbican Estate and Barbican Centre A classic example of Brutalist architecture and the product of a postwar utopian vision. Lloyd’s BuildingThe home to insurance company Lloyd’s of London. St. Pancras Hotel and Train Station The St. Pancras train station first opened in 1868 . A masterful example of Victorian Age and Gothic Revival architecture, the hotel was shut down in 1935 and its renovations began in the 1990s. The site is now open for business in the form of the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel. The Shard Renzo Piano completed the Shard building in 2012 and it is the home to a number of restaurants, offices, a hotel, and a viewing gallery. It is one of the tallest buildings in Europe. The Globe Theatre It is a faithful reconstruction of the Elizabethan playhouse that opened to the public in 1997. Tower Bridge It is the London’s iconic 19th-century landmark It is still operational, and it raised approximately 850 times a year. Houses of Parliament/Big Ben A trip to London would not be complete without a visit to one of London’s most famous landmarks—the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Unfortunately, you can’t see The Big Ben now because they are renewing it. Old Royal Naval College Christopher Wren designed this college and it is the focal point of the historic district of Maritime Greenwich, which is situated along the River Thames. In 1997, UNESCO named the London borough a World Heritage site. St. Paul’s Cathedral Another historic Sir Christopher Wren building, the cathedral is a prime example of English Baroque architecture. St. Paul’s is also home to a number of murals, mosaics, and sculptures. Benjamin Franklin House In 1757, the Pennsylvania Assembly sent the Founding Father to England as a colonial agent. He remained there for nearly 16 years, living at 36 Craven Street in London. The house is now the only Franklin residence still in existence. The home is open to visitors as a museum and science and research center. Westminster Abbey For over a millennium, the Abbey was the church for monarchs coronation and royal weddings, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011. The church is also home to a number of historic oil and wall paintings, as well as England’s oldest altarpiece. Royal Albert Hall This building is still operational, and Queen Victoria laid the first stone in 1876. Some of the most opera singers performed here, and one of them is the Italian Andrea Bocelli City Hall It opened in 2002, the structure is almost completely non-polluting. Its bulbous shape allows for optimal energy performance. British Library The national library of the U.K. and one of the largest libraries in the world, the British Library houses such spectacular and rare volumes as a vellum copy of the Gutenberg Bible and two 15th-century editions of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and original Beatles song sheets. London Eye One of London’s most visited attractions, the London Eye—or Millennium Wheel—is a monumental Ferris wheel offering views of the River Thames. I Buckingham Palace The palace is the Queen’s official London home. It has 775 rooms and you can visit some of them after booking your visit. The Jewel Tower The Tower to houses the treasures of Edward III. It is one of only four surviving sections of the medieval Palace of Westminster. Kensington Palace Sir Christopher Wren’s Kensington Palace opened in 1899 and was the birthplace of Queen Victoria. The palace is the former home of Princess Diana and the current home of the residences of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. It also houses the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, which is open to the public. CLASSE 2^G SCUOLA SECONDARIA DI PRIMO GRADO PETRARCA-PADRE PIO