Best Arts and Culture Places in Putney Heath

"No visit to London would be complete without a trip to the British Museum. It’s home to over 8 million artefacts, including the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon Marbles. There are so many things to see in this museum that even a full day spent here will barely scratch the surface."

"One of the world's great repositories of human civilization, the British Museum is the premier visitor attraction in the whole of the…"

"The V&A is already the doyenne of London’s design museums, but 2018 saw a huge focus on photography at the South Kensington venue. As part of the V&A’s considerable expansion plan, a new Photography Centre was added to its artistic arsenal in October 2018, housing the 270,000 photographs acquired from the Royal Photographic Society collection. This new haul includes some of the earliest examples of photography from the 1820s, right up to works by contemporary photographers including Martin Parr and Sir Don McCullin."

"One of the greatest art and design museums in the world, the V&A contains some of the best examples of Renaissance works of art and most precious jewel collections surviving in the world today."

"PRACTICAL INFORMATION: The museum is open Thursdays to Sundays from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Admission if free but you must book your preferred time-slot in advance."

"This contemporary art museum is very welcoming to kids, from the family visitor hosts during holidays and at weekends, as well as family maps, regular activities and events (although some are more suitable for older kids) and the Start Display focused on some of the most famous works, helping to get younger visitors thinking about art. There are also suggested games, along with activity packs, and you’re reminded it’s OK to make some noise!. Entry is free – adults have to pay for special exhibitions, but under-12s can enter free for those as well."

"One of London's most amazing attractions, this outstanding modern- and contemporary-art gallery is housed in the creatively revamped Bankside Power Station south of the Millennium Bridge. A spellbinding synthesis of modern art and capacious industrial brick design, Tate Modern has been extraordinarily successful in bringing challenging work to the masses, both through its free permanent collection and fee-paying big-name temporary exhibitions. The stunning Blavatnik Building opened in 2016, increasing the available exhibition space by 60%."

"Located in what was once Bankside Power Station on the south bank of the Thames, Tate Modern is one of the city's most loved attractions. You can enjoy the permanent collection, which includes works by Pollock, Warhol, Matisse and Picasso, for free. The 10th-floor viewing deck of the Blavatnik Building offers wonderful panoramic views over the Thames and beyond, and the building itself is amazing."

"1824: The première of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9; the Egyptians capture Crete; ‘New Holland’ becomes ‘Australia’; some government guys in Britain bought 38 paintings. Now: Beethoven’s no longer in the charts, Australia still has an identity crisis, and The National Gallery has over 2,300 works tracing the complete development of Western European painting from virtually every European school of art."

"If you only make time to visit a few museums during your London trip, The National Gallery should be at the top of your list. The gallery sits proudly overlooking Trafalgar Square and features an impressive collection with more than 2,300 pieces from the mid 1200s to 1900. It’s certainly one of the best free art museums in London, and a must see."

"The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square, Central London that houses paintings from the 13th to 20th century. The building was designed by William Wilkins between 1832 and 1838. In 1991 Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown designed the Sainsbury Wing, an extension to the west."

"Away from the frenzy of the Kensington museums and a stone’s throw from St Paul’s, is the Museum of London. Here you can travel on a journey through the capital’s turbulent past. Across nine galleries starting with prehistoric London, see how the city changed under the Romans and Saxons, see the wonders of medieval London before examining the years when London was ravaged by civil wars, plague and fire."

"The Museum of London has free interactive galleries exploring the history of London from when the Romans lived there. Toddlers can navigate their way around the museum using the Under 5s Explorer Backpacks filled with games, toys and puzzles to use in the galleries. The museum also has free monthly Baby and Toddler sessions with fun, stimulating activities for them to play and learn."

"This museum tells the story of London from the Roman times right through to the present day with interactive and educational displays."

"Southbank fountains is the perfect place for kids to enjoy a splash or two while sightseeing in Central London. These fountains are very clever and can be pretty unpredictable. It’s perfect for running in and outside and is great for older kids who enjoy an algorithmic challenge."

"The Heath Robinson Museum is a biographical museum dedicated to the life and art of its namesake. The museum displays memorabilia, artwork, and objects from the life of Heath Robinson, as well as hosts exhibitions and events that support Robinson's life mission and vision. Admission to the museum is free."

"One of the best free attractions in London for lovers of the weird and wonderful is Gods Own Junkyard. Located in a large warehouse in the North London neighbourhood of Walthamstow, Gods Own Junkyard is a ‘neon wonderland‘ full of bright neon signs and artwork, old movie props and colourful retro displays that you can visit for free to take a wander around and snap some cool photos. Built from a 40-year collection of old salvaged signs, the unique space is now without a doubt the capital’s coolest art store and one of the most popular free places to visit in London."

"God’s Own Junkyard is an art store that’s anything but ordinary. It’s packed full of bright neon signs and displays, including plenty of vintage items. It’s all very vibrant and fun to see, and it makes for very unique and eclectic Instagram photos."

"London's vegan restaurant scene knows no bound, and Genesis is right up there with one of the prettiest places to grab a bite. Not only are plates filled with healthy vegan burgers and bites, the interiors are a dream all their own thanks to pastel pink walls, flashes of cactus green and neon aplenty."

"What: There is something captivating about dining in a market, and Chamberlain’s position in the atmospheric labyrinth of Leadenhall is no different. The longstanding restaurant, which has been open since 1947, serves a menu of impeccable fish dishes, all of which come beautifully presented. Opt for classic combinations such as Orkney scallops with lardo or treat yourself to the most indulgent of dinners and order the turbot with truffle.Where: 23-25 Leadenhall Market, EC3V 1LR"

"Located right in Diagon Alley – better known to muggles as Leadenhall Market – is this behemoth of a restaurant. It spans three floors, has its very own outdoor terrace within the historic market, and boasts a total of four private dining rooms. Moreover, as it’s owned by the prestigious Billingsgate wholesaler Chamberlain & Thelwell, it has access to the very best seafood in town."

"Restaurants Italian Peckham. This honest-to-goodness Italian is just about the most perfect local restaurant you can imagine: smart but low-key; cool without being pretentious; brilliant value despite its sky-high quality; and with a concise, market-led chalkboard menu that offers constantly changing seasonal dishes such as crispy ox tongue, roasted sprouts with homemade ricotta and hazelnuts and leg of lamb with bagna cauda, borlotti beans and kale."

"Fortunately, no birds’ mouths were used in the making of Bill or Beak’s stonking burger-style sandwiches, both of which are innovative versions of much-loved poultry classics. The Bill (duck) combo is usually oriental, while Beak (chicken) often gets the American treatment with special caesar dressing, tempura capers, croûtons and parmesan in a brioche bun – although it could also be a sichuan-style burger with miso mayo and fermented chilli sauce. Don’t miss: Slow-braised duck and pork in Vietnamese dressing with mint, coriander, spring onions and tempura shallots (£6.50)."

"A toasted brioche bun with shredded duck and pork, coriander, spring onions, mint, chilli, tempura shallots and Vietnamese dressing — how does that sound?"

"Luxuriously crafted from a signature blend of almonds and cashews, their thick, rich and outrageously creamy soft serve is an all-natural, vegan-friendly dessert that has developed a cult following on Instagram. A scroll through their feed will have you salivating over their creations, which can be topped with cacao fudge sauce, salted nut crumble and 70% cacao dark chocolate shavings – or a shot of coffee for their infamous ‘Daffogato’. Their unique ‘Triple C’ waffle cones are made with cinnamon, chia seed and charcoal, produced to a bespoke recipe by the Antonelli Brothers – the first and now only UK maker of waffle cones."

"Tucked away in Bloomsbury, London's most literary quarter, Russell Square is one of London's best central spaces, an idilic park to enjoy some peace and quiet. Read a book or enjoy the sound of bird song and fountains in this well kept park."