Millions around the world watched on TV on April 29 when Kate Middleton made her way from The Goring (one of the most luxurious London Hotels) to the Abbey to marry Prince William. That historic day will have increased interest in visiting the building. Westminster Abbey has in fact been used for coronations and other royal occasions for centuries, so William and Kate were continuing a rich tradition.

Westminster Abbey was founded some time before AD624, and housed a community of Benedictine monks for its first few years. The present church was built in 1245 by Henry III, who was later buried there. The Abbey stood to be destroyed during the reign of Henry VII, for that fate befell most abbeys in his time. But he decided to grant it cathedral status, and spare it from being pulled down. Again in the 17th century it came under threat when it suffered damage at the hands of Puritans, but it survived mostly intact. Around 100 years later, the Abbey’s two western towers were built to a Gothic Revival design. It’s the history surrounding that makes it so unique and special, something even the finest of Dubai Hotels can re-create.

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It is an important religious building, also known as The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which saw parts of the King James Bible and the New Testament translated, as well as, more recently, the New English Bible.

Westminster Abbey has been used for the weddings of most of the royal family in recent times, the exception being Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, married the Duke of Edinburgh at the Abbey in 1947. And it was only appropriate that Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge, chose the Abbey to host his wedding this year.

Westminster Abbey has also been known as one of the sights of London for its use as the burial place of most of the Kings and Queens of England. Besides royalty, many of England’s finest poets are buried here, including William Blake, Lord Byron, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats, John Milton and Alfred Lord Tennyson. The Princess of Wales’ funeral was held there on September 6, 1997, watched by a huge TV audience around the world.

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Don’t go expecting to be able to take home one of the Queen’s pillows as a keepsake either, as the private quarters of the royal family are out of bounds to visitors, but many thousands of people each year make a trip to London just to get the chance to enter Buckingham Palace.

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In a city where many of the buildings are centuries old, it may surprise some people that the palace itself only dates back to 1705, though that is considerably longer than the Dubai hotels that seek to replicate the Palace’s grandeur. King George III acquired it later in the 18th century for his wife, Queen Charlotte, but it was not an official royal palace until Queen Victoria took the throne in 1837.

Over the years, the building has been extended. Though the core of the building remains largely unchanged, it was enlarged by architects Edward Blore and John Nash by the addition of three wings around a central courtyard.

If there’s one feature of Buckingham Palace known better than any other, it is the balcony on which members of the Royal Family gather to greet crowds. Many millions of TV viewers around the world will remember the balcony as the scene for famous kisses following royal weddings – that of Prince Charles and the Princess of Wales in 1981 and Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge in April 2011.

One of the most used rooms in Buckingham Palace is the Ballroom, built in 1854. It is the largest room in the building, and one used for investitures, including the conferring of knighthoods, as well as state banquets.

For those lucky enough to receive an invitation, one of the greatest sights in London happens every November when the Queen entertains members of the foreign diplomatic corps, who get to dine off gold plate.

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But where should you go and what should not be missed? There is so much to do you can’t cram it into one trip. Well to help you along here are my top five recommendations.

1) Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain’s sovereigns since 1837 and is the current residence of Queen Elizabeth II. Though much of it remains private the state rooms are open to public view during the summer season. It will also play host to the Royal family during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, where they will stand on the balcony and wave to well wishers immediately after their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

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Read more about Buckingham Palace here.

2) The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster Abbey, as it is also known, is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English monarchs. It is a place steeped in history and one that is well worth a visit – though don’t forget it is closed to the public when hosting special events so don’t try and sneak in to see Will and Kate tie the knot!

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Read more about Westminster Abbey here.

3) The Tower Of London and Tower Bridge
Another one of the City’s iconic buildings find out all about London’s grizzly past (and watch out for ghosts!) at the Tower Of London and the nearby Tower Bridge. The Tower was founded by King William the Conqueror in 11th Century and has served as, among others, a royal palace, fortress, prison and place of execution. The crown Jewels are also stored here and the ghost of Anne Boleyn, beheaded in 1536 for treason against King Henry VIII, is said to walk around the tower carrying her head under her arm.

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4) London Eye
If you are lucky, and get to the wheel during a clear day you can see up to 50 kilometres far. It provides you a great view of Westminster and Buckingham Palace. This attraction is very popular among tourists, so during the visit you should count with the long queues, but also a strong inspection of you and your bag.

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You can read more about London Eye here.

5) Wembley Stadium
Ok, football may not be for everyone but if you are a sports fan the Wembley Stadium – the home of English football – should not be missed. The iconic twin towers were demolished in 2000 along with the rest of the aging stadium and have been replaced with a state-of-the-art 90,000 capacity arena. There is though a museum detailing the history of the ground and English football in general, well worth it.

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6) Endless Museums – for free
Even if you saved cash by booking your accommodation at Hotels.com and were savvy with your tourist cash. If your wallet is still a little light then don’t fret, there are endless other things that can be done for free. Not least London’s excellent collection of Museums such as the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, Tate Modern and the National Gallery – all with free entry. There are also endless parks and green spaces dotted across the city if you are lucky and visit London on those rarest of days – hot and sunny!

7) Trafalgar Square & Nelson’s Column
Trafalgar Square is located in Westminster and commemorates the victory in the Battle of Trafalgar, which took place in 1805. In the middle of Trafalgar Square stands Nelson’s Column, which is surrounded by fountains and four huge bronze statues of lions. Trafalgar Square is the vibrant heart of London and the best starting point for exploration of its central part.

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