London's buildings are too diverse to be characterised by any particular architectural style, partly because of their varying ages. Many grand houses and public buildings, such as the National Gallery, are constructed from Portland stone. Some areas of the city, particularly those just west of the centre, are characterised by white stucco or whitewashed buildings. Few structures in central London pre-date the Great Fire of 1666, these being a few trace Roman remains, the Tower of London and a few scattered Tudor survivors in the City. Further out is, for example, the Tudor period Hampton Court Palace, England's oldest surviving Tudor palace, built by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey c.1515. COUNT 5
QSN1 What is England's oldest standing palace from the Tudor period? ANS1 Hampton Court Palace QSN2 Of what material is London's National Gallery made? ANS2 Portland stone QSN3 When did the Great Fire of London occur? ANS3 1666 QSN4 The area west of London's city is characterized by what type of building? ANS4 white stucco or whitewashed QSN5 What, in part, is the reason for London's lack of a singularly characteristic architectural style among its buildings? ANS5 their varying ages