Royal Exchange, London

Easily the most dashing and well-dressed member of the Bank of England’s extended architectural family is the Royal Exchange-a financial fashion icon since 1570, thanks to the deep pockets of one Thomas Gresham, the English merchant and financier who acted on behalf of Queen Elizabeth I. You can still spot his blingy family mascot-a golden grasshopper-lounging proudly on the rooftop.

Back in Gresham’s day, the word “stock” didn’t mean tech shares or hedge funds-it meant actual stuff. You know, barrels of fish, bolts of cloth, or perhaps a goat or two being loaded off ships from the Thames. But Londoners, being the enterprising folks they are, eventually swapped the livestock for little slips of paper-and thus, futures trading was born. The need for money changers and bankers quickly followed, and soon, the City’s financial district was buzzing louder than a trading floor on a caffeine binge.

The version of the Royal Exchange we see today-complete with its grand eight-column portico and steps tailor-made for posing with your sandwich-dates back to the 1840s and is actually the third rebuild after a couple of inconvenient fires. These days, instead of frantic traders, you’ll find luxury boutiques and shops that gently remind you that your bank account isn’t quite in Gresham's territory.

Still, it's absolutely worth stepping inside to admire the inner courtyard: a classy affair with a tiled floor, a glowing glazed roof, and some impressive half-columns strutting their stuff in not one, but three classical styles (because one would be too basic). While you're there, treat yourself at Fortnum’s Bar and Restaurant, perched on the mezzanine like a cat with a credit card, where you can sip something fancy while soaking in frescoes that chart the City’s history-because who doesn’t love a side of art with their aperitif?