Unseen City: Photos by Martin Parr, Guildhall Art Gallery

Who are the British? Martin Parr and his camera have tried to answer this question: from Parish churches in West Yorkshire to declining seaside resorts, from Bristol cricket pitches to royal weddings, they have scoured the remains of British identity in the face of globalisation.

Parr’s exhibition, “Unseen City” will focus on the lives of Londoners specifically. It will celebrate his tenure as the City of London’s photographer-in-residence, during which he was given unprecedented access to high-profile events with guests including Lord Mayors, dignitaries and royalty.

Private ceremonies, processions and informal behind-the-scenes are all recorded with the curiosity of an anthropologist and the fondness of a compatriot. Parr's palette and perspective are typically playful; the British protagonists, strange and insular-looking and often armed with cups of tea.

For a double-dose, why not see the exhibition alongside Strange and Familiar: Britain as Revealed by International Photographers, the collection curated by Parr at the Barbican? And then, have a cup of tea watching the rain stream on your window, once you're done with it all.