Mentioned by Suitcases and Sandcastles
The Best London Museums for Children
"đłđČđżâïžđđđ±The Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street is a unique public space that spans three storeys and offers 360 degree uninterrupted views across the City of London. Visitors can wander around the exquisitely landscaped gardens, observation decks and an open air terrace of what is London's highest public gardenđČđłđŽđ±đâïžđż #skygarden #london #beautiful #views #restaurant #stunning #londonbridge #bigben #toweroflondon #theshard #mustsee. A post shared by Life FR (@life_fr_) on Jan 2, 2018 at 10:22am PST"
"The ferns, fig trees and purple African lilies that clamber up the final three storeys of the 'Walkie Talkie' skyscraper are mere wallflowers at this 155m-high rooftop garden â it's the rather extraordinary 360-degree views of London (the best in the City) that make this vast, airport-terminal-like space so popular (advance booking recommended). Located on the 35th floor of 20 Fenchurch St, the Sky Garden has front-row seats for the Shard and vistas that gallop for miles east and west."
"Get the lift to the top of 20 Fenchurch Street and let your toddler explore Londonâs highest public garden. There are 360 degree views of the London skyline, gardens to run around in and a cafĂ© where you can buy cakes and pastries. Cost â Free, but you need to prebook."
"When Chin Chin first opened their first place in a former condom shop (yes, really) in Camden their crazy take on making ice cream with liquid nitrogen may have been pre-Instagram but it was still an almost instant sensation. The thing is that it's not just a party trick, the ice cream they make here really does taste smoother because there are no ice crystals. They've also used their USP to devise a clever way of chilling ice cream down to a level that it can actually be sent by post."
"Restaurants Ice-cream parlours Soho. Those nitro-fuelled experimentalists at Chin Chin are the Willy Wonkas of the ice-cream world, and this Soho shop is an ostentatious showcase for their wares. Not only their signature ices, but also full-on desserts â thereâs some seriously elaborate stuff going on here amid all the bells and whistles (try the decadent tiramisu sundae)."
"Address: 49-50 Camden Lock, Camden Town, London NW1 8AF and 54 Greek Street, London W1D 3DS. Whether you're a science buff or not, you have to head here just for the experience - you get to watch as your dessert is frozen to order using liquid nitrogen. Toppings and sauces are kept in beakers to complete the science lab vibe, and flavours are outlandish - think pandan leaf and black sesame cake."
"If you gave a bunch of five year olds a box of crayons and told them to draw birthday cakes, youâd probably end up with something that looks quite a bit like the celebration cakes at this Soho bakery and cafĂ©. Thatâs not a bad thing. Cakes with names like âStrawberry Eat-On Messâ*, âSâMoresâ, âApple Pieâ â as a cake, and âPopcorn Dripâ are short on cake and very long on globs of frosting, fillings, toppings and childlike humor."
"A biscuit isnât quite a dessert â unless itâs in the hands of Cutter & Squidge, that is. Enter the Biskie, the Soho bakeryâs signature dessert which sees two discs of a cake-cookie hybrid sandwich an array of flavoured creamy fillings. The chocolate sâmore version is filled with buttercream and a handmade marshmallow, while the blueberry cheesecake version layers jam, cheesecake cream and a wedge of digestive biscuit."
"We make everything from scratch and where possible we use real British ingredients or source from British producers where we canât.â. The sweet stuff: Cakes and (wince) âbiskiesâ. The stuff looks next-level, though, and the mixed selection boxes would make anyoneâs day."
"Greg Boyce and Dom Sheringtonâs cafe on Hackney Road is named for Scottish author Alasdair Grayâs labyrinthine depiction of Glasgowâs streets; the cafe itself is about 20 feet wide with floor-to-ceiling windows. Thereâs at least one layer of irony to everything else in the place, too. It began as a guest roaster affair, with beans according to vibes and a heavy lean on south west London roaster Alchemy, but itâs now strictly a Dark Arts joint, whose roastery is also based in Hackney."
"Just a stroll from Hackney City Farm, Lanark is one of east Londonâs lesser-known excellent cafes, opened by Greg Boyce and Dom Sherington. Roasters are rotated with near alarming regularity: Alchemy, Square Mile and Dark Arts more frequently on the roster, with a pared back menu of espresso, espresso with milk, and filter. âSupersize datâ if youâre after something larger; that said, for straight-up deliciousness, the quality of the espresso is on a par with anywhere in the city."
"Crepes are a relatively simple pleasure, but they get an indulgent upgrade at Paddington spot Mille Patisserie. Precise pancakes are layered up with cream until they form a cake-shaped dessert, which is then finished with a variety of toppings and often a layer of flavoured gel. Varieties include Earl Grey tea, matcha, sesame and passion fruit, along with seasonal specials."
"The incredible desserts at Patisserie Mille take a typical layer cake to new heights. In fact, let me correct myself as they arenât really cakes, theyâre crepes. Layers and layers of thin, delicious crepes brushed with French pastry cream."
"A post shared by Mille Patisserie (@patisserie_mille) on Apr 19, 2019 at 11:04am PDT. Millie Patisserie makes French cakes. Mille CrĂȘpes we select premium ingredients from all over the world."
"Terryâs CafĂ© is family run and the food is all top quality and locally sourced. The meats they use are from Smithfield Market â where Terry worked before opening the cafĂ© â and their fresh produce comes from Borough Market. They stick to a traditional breakfast of sausage, egg, bacon, bubble and squeak, black pudding, beans, tomatoes and mushrooms."
"If you want a traditional London cafĂ©, you wonât find one more authentic than Terryâs. Now run by Terryâs son, Austin, this is a greasy spoon with red checkered tablecloths and a bustling atmosphere. But donât be put off by the old image of the London cabbieâs cafĂ© â Terryâs is traditional, but it also operates to a very high standard."
"A true South London institution, Terry's Cafe has been serving up high quality breakfasts and mouthwatering comfort food since the 80s. Focusing on local ingredients, friendly service and old school charm, this is a spot you won't want to miss."
"Whilst waiting for your Childrenâs Garden slot, why not treat yourself to a takeaway barista coffee and sweet treat, or a pizza from our weekend pizza oven."
"After lunch we stopped at Kew Palace, a 17th century building that was the summer home of King George III in the 18th century. Itâs actually the oldest building in Kew Gardens and it has been turned into a museum showcasing the history and bringing to life King George and his wife Queen Charlotte and their 15 childrenâs lives in the palace over the three levels. There is a perfectly manicured garden out the back which gives a stunning view."
"The Davies Alpine House is a somewhat different greenhouse, it is quite long (16m) and high (10m) and was designed to provide ideal conditions, fresh with natural wind for the best conditions the mountain plants. The collection features a wide range of campanulas, dianthus, small ferns, helichrysum, small lavenders, primulas, saxifrage, thymus, tulips and verbascums along with lesser known species."
"Many of the plants at Kew couldn't survive in Britain's grey, damp climate. The Davies Alpine House supports those that thrive in dry, cool, windy conditions of mountainous areas such as succulents and campanulas,"
"Amazing Kew Gardens in the southwest neighbourhood of Kew is one of Londonâs most picturesque parks; 132 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses that that house the worldâs most diverse collection of living plants. Kew Gardens was founded in 1840 and is today Londonâs largest UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with beautiful glasshouses, including the iconic Palm House and its exotic rainforest. Thereâs a magical childrenâs garden, the fantastic Treetop Walkway that soars into the tree canopy at a height of 18 metres, and Kew Palace, the former summer residence of King George III."
"Take a break from the hustle and bustle of London and retreat to the beautiful and relaxing Kew Gardens. This green oasis in southwest London is believed to be the largest and most diverse botanical garden on earth. You can book single visits online, or if youâre a local, you might like to consider becoming a member for free entry year-round."
"Founded in 1840, using plants from Kew Park in Middlesex, Kew Gardens is one of the largest and lushest botanic gardens in the world."
": Row upon row of glass jars, with everything from tiny organisms, to strange two-headed beasts, to examples of gross diseases, this museum can be very creepy at times, especially when itâs quiet. However, itâs so much more than the freakshow that it is sometimes made out to be, offering a unique insight into the history of surgery and advances in modern medicine. The next few months are your last chance to see the museum before it closes in 2017 for refurbishment, so get going!"
"Kings College London only recently opened this permanent site for the Science Gallery, a dedicated space for showing contemporary artwork that explores scientific questions. Its inaugural exhibition is all about addiction, called Hooked, and previous shows in its travelling days have investigated blood, food and orifices. Think of it as looking at science through the eyes of an artist."
"Science Gallery London is an art-science-and-health inspired gallery in London. The free museum has been open since 2018 in London Bridge after a series of pop-up exhibits across London. The gallery aims to bring together scientists, artists, and communities with three themed seasons every year."