Last Saturday, Jay and I took advantage of London Open House weekend and visited two of Britain's economic powerhouses: the Bank of England and Lloyd's of London.

Both buildings can be found in the City -- also known as The Square Mile -- which is home to London's financial institutions.

You could not visit two buildings more different in appearance in mood. The complex housing the bank, which is akin to the U.S. Federal Reserve in terms of its mission and influence, has an 18th-19th century appearance and feel to it, even though it underwent a major renovation in the early 20th Century. It is surrounded by a high "curtain wall."

Lloyd's, on the other hand, screams modern. The high-rise building on 1 Lime Street, designed by Richard Rogers, sports elevators and pipes on the outside, in order to give maximum room inside. There is nothing else like it in the immediate area, and it stands out -- in a good way or a bad way, depending on whom you talk to.

London Open House weekend -- which takes place just once a year -- is a fantastic opportunity to visit places not normally open to the public, like Lloyd's or the bank. We've done it every fall since we arrived here in the summer of 2001 and have enjoyed it immensely each time.

Past highlights include Australia House on the Strand, home to the Australian High Commission (embassy); Bush House, HQ for the BBC World Service foreign-language radio service and footsteps down the Strand from Australia House; and the magnificent Foreign & Commonwealth Office off Whitehall (You can take an online tour of the building.)

If you live in London or are planning a visit, it's almost criminal not to take advantage of Open House.