Mentioned by Hot Dinners
The very best restaurants in London for eating alfresco
"Though the bar only opens Thursday to Saturday The Camden Town Brewery has already established a strong standing with London beer connoisseurs, boasting some of the most advanced brewing equipment of any UK micro-brewing company. The impressive range is guaranteed to satisfy any pallet, from their hoppy pale ale to the deeper and stronger stouts. The Camden Town Brewery also offers tours and Beer tasting for the true beer enthusiasts."
"See how top beers including Camden Hells Lager and Camden Pale Ale are brewed by joining a tour of the Camden Town Brewery in Kentish Town. Either drop in on a Saturday between 1 and 2 p.m. for a 30-minute informal tour or book a tour in advance on Thursday or Saturday for a more in-depth look at brewing techniques and the chance to taste several beers straight from the tank."
"Inspired by Brooklyn brews, Beavertown Brewery owner Logan Plant (the son of Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant) first started brewing using a 50 liter rice pan at home before opening a small brew house in Duke's Brew and Que restaurant in 2011. The brewery now operates from an industrial estate in Tottenham and sells cans and bottles emblazoned with arguably the coolest designs in town."
"As well as winning kudos for being one of our favourite looking beers (ever!), we also love their Saturday hangout taproom. They make beer fun and interesting, but most of all they make beer taste great with a cheeky inventiveness which is so much more than just labels and funny tweets. Quality beer with a smile."
"Unit 17, Lockwood Industrial Park, Mill Mead Rd, London N17 9QP, UK. Beavertown and craft beer are pretty much synonymous – so much so that Beavertown is practically a household name. And with beers that are as distinctive as their branding, it’s no surprise they’re often the beer aficionado’s go-to."
"From the line of massive steel tanks behind Howling Hops’ Hackney Wick bar, beers (both the brewery’s core and seasonal) are served unpasteurised straight from tank to tankard without touching a keg, can, or bottle on the way. Clearly, visitors don’t hold back — in the late evenings, the taproom erupts into a disco of sorts, with limb-throwing patrons all too willing to get involved. Until nightclubs start serving their own lemon goses and US-hopped pale ales, this is the next best thing."
"Howling Hops opened Hackney’s first brewpub, The Cock Tavern on Mare Street, back in 2011. And that’s a claim to fame if we ever heard one (the pub also went on to win an award for its pickled eggs). Their motto is ‘brew interesting beer’, and this is exactly what they do, with unfiltered, unpasteurised, vegan brews."
"Another Hackney Wick hideaway, this unique brewery serves its homemade beers straight from the tap, making it a literal taproom!. With ten beers on sale, you can also find a range of freshly made snacks, meats and coffees made in-house before your very eyes."
"Founded in 1666, Truman's is one of London's most prolific breweries. After a brief hiatus. the brand is back and it's got grand plans, including this incredible outdoor space in Walthamstow."
"London’s West End is pretty good for celeb spotting, but the easiest place to do it is probably at the National Portrait Gallery. It’s home to kings, queens, cultural juggernauts and sporting heroes – all in portrait form, of course – with a collection spanning over five hundred years of painting history. You can find Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in the Tudor galleries, Mary Jane Seacole and the Bronte sisters in the Victorian galleries, right up to Amy Winehouse and the Queen in the contemporary galleries."
"The gallery houses pictures of the major (and not-so major) figures of the nation’s history from King Henry VIII to David Beckham. It makes a great introduction to British history for both kids and adults. Kid-friendly audio tours are available."
"This gallery comprises a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people from throughout time. Think Shakespeare, Edward VI, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, to name a few."
"Toddlers can let their imaginations run wild at the UK’s first Story Centre. A day pass includes entry to the Story World and Story Garden where you see tales like The Gruffalo brought to life by Story Builders. There are also storytelling sessions and family exhibitions which you can book onto."
"170 million items and 330 miles of shelf space make this not only one of the best museums in London, but also one of the biggest. It also hosts regular, curated exhibitions based around its rare collections; including displays of the original manuscripts of Charles Dickens, Virginia Wolf, Jack Kerouac, Lewis Carroll and varying instalments of maps, sacred texts, newspaper and sound archives. Details: 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB | Free entry, exhibitions from £14 | Find out more and book–"
"Consisting of low-slung red-brick terraces and fronted by a large plaza featuring an oversized statue of Sir Isaac Newton, Colin St John Wilson’s British Library building is an architectural wonder. Completed in 1997, it's home to some of the greatest treasures of the written word, including the Codex Sinaiticus (the first complete text of the New Testament), Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks and a copy of the Magna Carta (1215)."
"In case you didn’t know, the British Library is MASSIVE – in fact, it’s the second largest library in the world. If you’re a book lover, this is the perfect place for you to take some photos. However, photos of books can be taken anywhere (i.e., in some of London’s beautiful bookshops)."
"A little too ramshackle and homely to be properly trendy, this small café on Holloway Road is part of a rising number of new vegetarian and vegan venues focussed on good coffee. Cold brew in a glass tumbler clinking with ice cubes is a must on a hot day, particularly when paired with stunningly delicious, feather-soft, dairy-free banana and walnut cake. Main course dishes include a slender, cheesy quesadilla stuffed with thinly sliced roasted peppers and onions, topped with a poached egg, with freshly made guacamole and salsa on the side."
"Answering vegan prayers everywhere, Stem + Glory is all about the plant-based plates with their mix of dinnertime feasting and luxurious weekend brunching. Utilising fresh, wholesome ingredients, they knock up some of the city's best vegan comfort food with organic wine to pair."
"To escape the crowded streets and enjoy a picturesque, waterside side stretch of North London, take to the canals that once played such a vital role in the transport of goods across the capital. The towpath of the Regent's Canal also makes an excellent shortcut across North London, either on foot or by bike. In full, the ribbon of water runs 9 miles from Little Venice (where it connects with the Grand Union Canal) to the Thames at Limehouse."
"The design for the Gherkin initially received a lot of flak|© Benjamin John / Alamy Stock Photo. Ridiculed when it was announced but an instant hit when it was built, Norman Foster’s famous bullet-shaped building became one of the first truly great contemporary skyscrapers to sculpt London’s skyline. Standing proud at 180m (590ft), the glittering glass Gherkin is three times the height of Niagara Falls but actually a scaled-down version of what Foster originally envisioned."
"The Gherkin, located at 30 St. Mary’s Axe, is one of London’s most recognizable towers, and the quirky name helps bring it instantly to the forefront of anyone’s mind. In total, the building has 500,000 sq ft, and it contains a whole community within, complete with many bars and restaurants. It truly deserves its reputation for being ‘the most civilized skyscraper in the world’."
"Found at 30 St. Mary Axe, the Gherkin is unique in being one of the few modern buildings on this list. Many people are unaware that the original plan for this building was to construct a tower that rose 92 storeys, towering over the London Skyline. Instead, the Gherkin was built up to just 40 storeys, and yet the design work is still incredible to behold."
"Sandwiched between Columbia Road Flower Market and Broadway Market, there’s lots going on at Haggerston Park thanks to the tennis courts football grounds and Hackney City Farm. It’s far less crowded than nearby London Fields so if you need a bit more calm, then head here."