Question of the week: London houses diverse and interesting architecture in every corner. In your opinion, which London building is most beautiful and why? "Tough question: I'm not sure I could ever have just one favourite building in London... One building I find stirs my heart every time is the Queen's House in Greenwich. Built by Inigo Jones in the early seventeenth century, it is a masterpiece of beautifully proportioned classical architecture. Jones had been to Italy and been mesmerised by the work of Antonio Palladio, and this was the commission where he brought all those ideas back to England. The glorious tulip staircase inside is thought to be the first unsupported spiral staircase in England - and was also the location for one of the most famous photographs of what looks like a ghost, taken in 1966. The house is now an art gallery with free entry as part of the Greenwich National Maritime Museum complex. Greenwich makes for a great day trip - take a boat down the river and enjoy Queen's House, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory, as well as views of Canary Wharf and the redeveloped Docklands area.
If you're interested in finding out more about Palladio's influence in Britain, the Royal Institute of British Architects has a fascinating online exhibition."- Clare
* Photo by ahisgett, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.
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