Alexandra Palace

Commonly known as the 'People's Palace' - or Ally Pally - Alexandra Palace looks out over North London from a height, its altitude rewarding casual walkers with spectacular views. Its commanding location, and its 190-odd acres of leafy park land, means it's often mistaken for a magnificent palace of regal importance. In reality, it's a slightly shabby affair. Built in 1873 as a palace for the people, it's experienced luckless fortunes including two devastating fires (the first just two weeks after it opened; the second in 1980 after it was rebuilt), years of poor funding and periods of bad management. Despite this, Ally Pally continues to hold a spot in the heart of Londoners, and a proud place in history as the birthplace of the world's first regular public television broadcast by the BBC in 1936. Fittingly, the building is now used for public events and entertainment. There's an indoor ice-skating rink, an expo hall and a vast gig space where you can catch big names and the odd clubbing event. The legendary bonfire night is a perennial favourite, while the boating lake, pitch and putt course, and deer enclosure are also popular family draws.