It is a national monument and makes a perfect stop for anyone with an interest in British art and architecture. It has also played a key role in British history - it was once a part of one of the most important royal palaces in the country.

The Banqueting House was constructed in the Palladian style by the famous British architect Inigo Jones and was begun in 1619. The Palladian style is a very ordered, symmetrical style of building, popular in Britain during the 17th century. This style was based on the principles of Andrea Palladio, a 16th century Italian architect who constructed a series of hugely influential villas in the north of Italy based on the theories of the Roman architect Vitruvius. Inigo Jones was one of the Palladian style's most famous proponents, especially in the UK. Another of his buildings in this style is the Queen's House at Greenwich.

Banqueting House survived the fires of the 1690s and subsequently functioned as a chapel and museum before becoming a national monument in its own right. Don't miss the ceiling painted by the great Peter Paul Rubens and James I's drinking den in the undercroft. It is here that Charles I was executed. Nowadays, internationally renowned musicians hold concerts here. 

The Banqueting House
Whitehall, London SW1A 2ER