Like the Forth Bridge, the Palace of Westminster, with its cast iron Victorian roofs, its Neolithic heating systems and endless need for maintenance and repair will be crawling with builders and craftsmen rather than politicians - the institution it houses, though, is in unexpectedly good order.

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By the time Bridge arrived at the Frick mansion, a modern-day palace that its owner had vowed would make Carnegie's place look like a hovel, Bridge would have been beside himself, not only wondering as to the contents of the message he carried, but fearing the response of the man to whom it was addressed.

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The course, which starts in southeast London, wends through the Canary Wharf business district and passes by some of the capital's most famous landmarks, including Tower Bridge and Westminster, before finishing near Buckingham Palace.

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The 26.2 mile course, which starts in southeast London, wends through the Canary Wharf business district and passes by some of the capital's most famous landmarks, including Tower Bridge and Westminster, before finishing near Buckingham Palace.

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Baghdad also now boasts what Iraqis claim is the Middle East's tallest tower (erected in competition with Kuwait), the region's only double-decker bridge and a complete reconstruction of the world's oldest palace at nearby Babylon.

ECONOMIST: Monumental

The London Marathon route, which is lined by hundreds of thousands of spectators every year, starts in Blackheath and finishes near Buckingham Palace, passing some of the capital's most recognisable landmarks including Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and Big Ben.

BBC: London Marathon runners

Crowds were out in force as the marathon wound its way past some of London's most iconic landmarks such as Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster, before finishing near Buckingham Palace.

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