Westminster Abbey

You're standing in front of the west entrance of Westminster Abbey, the church where English and then British monarchs have been crowned for almost a thousand years. The very first coronation here nearly ended in chaos. On Christmas Day 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned, just weeks after the Battle of Hastings. Inside, the congregation shouted their approval of the new king, in English and in French. But the Norman guards outside thought the shouting meant William was under attack, and set fire to the houses nearby. The church filled with smoke and most people fled. William and the clergy stayed put and finished the service. Look up above the door. There's a row of ten statues. The niches were made in the Middle Ages, but stood empty for around five hundred years. In 1998 they were filled with martyrs of the twentieth century, people who died for their faith. Fifth from the left is Martin Luther King. Just inside this door is the Coronation Chair, made for King Edward the First around 1300. It's covered in graffiti carved by schoolboys and visitors. One of them boasted that he had slept in the chair on a July night in 1800. Next stop: the London Eye, about 1 kilometre or 15 minutes. Head back past Parliament Square, cross Westminster Bridge and turn left along the river. Look back from the bridge for the classic view of Parliament.