A Capital Idea: Washington in a Nutshell

When to Go

The city was built on the swampy edge of the Chesapeake Bay, where the severe heat and humidity of the summers led to it being dubbed a ‘hardship post’ back in the 1800s. The best times to visit are fresh, floral April or pleasantly warm May.

Built in 1793 as the city's centrepiece, this is where you'll find the American Senate and House of Representatives. It was designed by a French architect who based his street plan on Versailles. The free tour makes for an eye-opening day out.

Rock Creek Park, in the city's north west, offers an ideal venue for hiking, cycling and running. The nearby C&O Canal is perfect for a spot of canoeing, and is popular with ice-skaters in the winter.

Head down to Pennsylvania Avenue for a visit to the J. Edgar Hoover FBI building. Some of the most notorious crimes in American history have been puzzled over within these very walls. As well as taking you through the country's top forensic laboratories, the guided tour also includes the spectacle of a live machine gun being fired.

The guided tour of the White House's interior offers a fascinating insight into the home life of the President, but be prepared for long queues. Keep your eyes peeled for Abraham Lincoln – one of the building's famous ghosts.

The grand Dumbarton Oaks, built in the 19Harvard University and, together with the beautiful gardens, are open to public viewing.th century in the elegant Federal style, houses beautiful collections of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art, as well as historic texts on landscape gardening. These now belong to

Although a place of worship, the National Cathedral boasts a rather unique variety of gargoyles. One thing's for certain: you won't find a carving of Darth Vader perched upon any other cathedral in the world.

The Smithsonian Institution, dedicated to celebrating art, heritage and science in the Americas and beyond, is a world-famous must. It incorporates fourteen very different museums, including the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of African Art.