Alexandra Palace

The 1873 'People's Palace' atop a hill in north London — a vast Victorian exhibition hall built for the masses, with sweeping views over the city and acres of surrounding parkland. 'Ally Pally' has been a concert venue, a pioneering BBC television studio (the first regular broadcasts went out from here), and a beloved local landmark through fire and reinvention. The hilltop position makes the panorama a draw in itself. For visitors, it's both a piece of broadcasting and entertainment history and a great day out — a grand Victorian hall with one of the finest free views in London spread out below.