Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the British sovereign since Queen Victoria moved in in 1837, and its balcony remains the backdrop for royal appearances at coronations and jubilees. Most of the 194,000-plus reviewers come to see the building's grand neoclassical facade and railings from St James's Park or the Mall rather than to go inside, since the State Rooms open to the public only in summer; the real draw for many is the Changing of the Guard, with its marching band and red-coated Foot Guards. At a 4.5 rating it's an essential London stop, best treated as a scene to witness rather than a museum visit unless you've timed it for the summer opening.