This is the home of the ruling powers

For centuries, London has been the home of ruling powers.

Many palaces and once royal residences can be discovered in around the capital, although many of them are currently unused except as museums for their former owners. Various members of the Royal Family still occupy five. While some will be familiar, others are less known to the public.

The Royal Palaces are some of the most spectacular places to see in London. Visiting one of these palaces will take you back to a time when kings and queens ruled the land. These are some most important architectural works in the world, and they also contain some of the most famous works of art.

Here are some of the incredible palaces London offers.

Banqueting House, Whitehall

The Banqueting House is the last remnant of the Whitehall Palace, the residence of King Henry VIII. A fire destroyed most of the palace; however, the Banqueting House remained. It is considered an important architectural work as it is the first English building in neoclassical style.

There is still a lot to do and see at this impressive palace. You can walk through its grand hall. The ceiling contains nine Peter Paul Rubens paintings. You can visit the execution site of King Charles I, and paintings and sculptures of King James I and King Charles I can be viewed.

Buckingham Palace

When it comes to the Royal Palaces in London, Buckingham Palace is a must-see.

It was built as the Buckingham House in 1703, the English Gentleman and architect William Winde initially constructed the palace as a large townhouse for Duke Buckingham. In 1837, the new build palace became the London residence of Britain's most famous and longest reigning monarchs, Queen Victoria.

With 775 states rooms and the most extensive private garden in London, it is the Queen's official London home and a working royal palace.

Possibly the most recognisable part of Buckingham Palace is the famous balcony where the royal family greets the crowds after important events like the annual Trooping the Colour, the anniversary parade to mark the Queen's birthday. You can tour the majestic Buckingham Palace states rooms which are open to visitors for ten weeks each summer and on selected dates in spring and winter.

Clarence House

Clarence House, part of St James's Palace, is currently home to Charles, Prince of Wales, and his consort Camilla Parker-Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall. John Nash designed the home. It was built between 1825 and 1827. King William IV had commissioned it when he was only the Duke of Clarence, and after him, it became the home for other members of the Royal Family. Before the Prince of Wales, it had housed the Queen Mother, and his parents before Queen Elizabeth ascension to Queen. While St James is not open to the public, Clarence House is open for guided tours in summer, although the tour is limited to ground floor rooms.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace boasts both Tudor and Baroque style, making it one of London's unique royal palaces. It was the home of King Henry VIII and where he finally had his son. Later, King William III extended it competing with the Palace of Versailles in France.

A favourite activity when visiting Hampton Court Palace is to explore the famous hedge labyrinth. Visit the Abraham tapestries in the magnificent Great Hall or let the children play in the Magic Garden. There are also many notable artworks and even a historic tennis court.

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace has been a Royal residence since the 17th century. Built by Sir George Coppin, it became the home of King William III and Queen Mary II after they became joint monarchs in 1689.

After their death, it became Queen Anne's residence and later the birthplace of Queen Victoria, although Victoria would prefer another home on this list. King George II would be the last monarch to live in the palace, and since the time of King George III, it has been a home for other members of the royal family. It is renowned for being the late residence of Diana, Princess of Wales. It is currently home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, their children and the Gloucesters.

It is not only the residence of some members of the royal family but also serves as a museum with many royal paintings and artefacts. Kensington Palace is open to the public all year round. Fans of Princess Diana will also be excited to see an exhibition dedicated to her choises in fashion throughout her life. You can also take a tour of the gardens of Kensington Palace to learn more about its history.

Kew Palace

Kew Palace is the smallest of the London Royal palaces. It was originally part of a more massive structure, but much of it was demolished over the years. What remains is an handsome mansion full of majesty and wonder. It is also known to have been the residence of King George III during his bouts with mental illness.

One of Kew Palace's most famous attractions is its royal kitchens. Remarkably, these kitchens have remained relatively unchanged over the past 200 years. You can also take a look at the royal princesses' bedrooms or take the kids to the Here Be Dragons exhibit. Check out the wonderful Kew Gardens while there.

Lambeth Palace

The official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury is Lambeth Palace. It is almost 800 years old and thus one of the oldest royal palaces in London. Its magnificent gardens are often used to host various different events during the summer.

Lambeth Palace is famous for its large library as it has over 120,000 between books and religious records, some of which date back to the 12th century. It's also famous for its Tudor gatehouse which was built in the 1490s. You'll definately want to check out its Great Hall, Chapel, and Crypt duyring your visit. And, of course, the beautiful St. Mary-at-Lambeth church.

St. James' Palace

King Henry VIII initially built St. James' Palace on the site where a former leper hospital. That was dedicated to St. James the Lesser.

t. James's Palace was the home for British monarchs for several centuries. Today, it is used for various official functions and it is also the home of some members of the royal family.

Of all the London royal palaces, St James's Palace is considered one of the finest examples of Tudor architecture.

The building itself is not open to the public, however,there is much to do in its surroundings. You can attend services in the Royal Chapel and the Queen Chapel. You can also visit the memorial to Queen Alexandra.

Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster, better known as the House of Parliament, is nearly a thousand years old. It was home of the kings until 1547 when a fire destroyed it. Since then, it has been the House of Parliament, making it one of London's most famous buildings.

This palace is also famous for being the location of Big Ben, one of London's most celebrated attractions. Tourists can also visit Westminster Hall. This is the oldest part of this palace and has been the site of many important historical events. Guided tours of the palace are available, or you could watch a debate as it takes place. Nearby is Westminster Abbey, where many royal weddings, coronations and funerals took place.

Tower of London

The Tower of London is made up of several buildings and is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. It was first founded almost a thousand years ago by William the Conqueror. During that time, it played many roles and was the site of major historical events.

One of the Tower of London's most popular attractions is the Crown Jewels, on public display for several centuries. Visitors can also visit the Royal Menagerie while they're there. Or you can go to St Peter's Church, said to be haunted by the ghost of Anne Boleyn. And of course, don't forget to check the tower's famous prisons.

Whitehall Palace

Whitehall Palace served for many years as the official residence of the English kings. It was once the largest palace in Europe with over 1500 rooms. This made it even larger than the Palace of Versailles. Of course, it was before it was destroyed in a fire in 1698.

The only significant part of the complex which is still preserved is the banquet hall mentioned above. Although most of it has been destroyed, some of its remains can still be seen. In particular, you can visit the wine cellar of King Henry VIII, whose eastern side has been converted into the main MOD building, which houses the country's Ministry of Defence.

Windsor Castle

It has been occupied longer than any other palace on this list. It was originally built for William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Today Windsor Castle is known to be Queen Elizabeth II's favourite home and is used for official ceremonies almost as much as Buckingham Palace.

Windsor Castle is also a very popular tourist attraction, and there are many things to do when you visit it. In particular, you'll want to visit St. George's Chapel, the burial site for many English kings. The castle also houses a considerable part of the royal art collection. And of course, you can also explore the castle gardens.

Wren House

Although part of the Kensington Estate, Wren House (also known as Wren Cottage) is currently the home of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. This part of the palace was named after Sir Christopher Wren, who enlarged the palace for William and Mary and made several improvements. Although they are royal, the Kents don't live there for free and pay their rent to Her Majesty the Queen. This has led to some controversy, as Prince and Princess Michael have royal duties for which they are not paid, which has led to them receiving help with rent payments and receiving bad press.