Mentioned by Suitcases and Sandcastles
The Best London Museums for Children
"Set atop 20 Fenchurch Street (aka the Walkie Talkie building), Sky Garden is the highest public garden in London. Amidst a lush urban jungle, it offers stunning 360° panoramic views of the city. The unique setting and spectacular views easily make this one of the most Instagrammable places in London."
"At the Sky Garden you’ll get panoramic views of the city and you can also stop for food and drink. You have to book a ticket in advance to visit but it’s free. Head to skygarden.london for more info."
"London’s first ice cream parlour made using liquid nitrogen, Chin Chin Labs is best known for their bold flavours, big scoops and scientific methods. The team wanted to create something which hadn’t been explored before and it’s certainly done the trick because they now boast three outposts in London. Designed as a grab-and-go pit stop, their ice creams are great for scoring a ‘gram worthy image and fuelling you on your Sunday stroll around the city."
"Chin Chin pioneered the use of liquid nitrogen to make ice cream in a retail setting when it opened its first ice cream ‘lab’ in Camden Lock in 2010. Its founders were convinced that hand churning with liquid nitrogen was better than any other method, and they had stumbled on the future of ice cream. Nowadays, the company has grown to three locations and over 300 innovative flavours, from sweetcorn to wild blueberry to coffee and olive oil."
"For something a little different, head to Chin Chin Labs, the go-to parlour for liquid nitrogen ice cream in London. Watch as your dessert is frozen to order using a dash of liquid nitrogen, and select from an exciting array of weekly-changing flavours at this cool cafe in Camden."
"If you gave a bunch of five year olds a box of crayons and told them to draw birthday cakes, you’d probably end up with something that looks quite a bit like the celebration cakes at this Soho bakery and café. That’s not a bad thing. Cakes with names like “Strawberry Eat-On Mess”*, “S’Mores”, “Apple Pie” – as a cake, and “Popcorn Drip” are short on cake and very long on globs of frosting, fillings, toppings and childlike humor."
"This sister-owned Soho bakery looks sweet, but isn't saccahrine. Using no more sugar and fat than they need, their inventive and joyfully decorated offerings are delicately, carefully flavoured. Cutter & Squidge’s Dream Cakes make for jaw dropping centrepieces for your big celebration, or can also be enjoyed by the slice in house – the Lychee Kiss is an elegant flavour trio of lychee, raspberry and rose."
"Nestled in the heart of Soho lives Cutter & Squidge, artisan cake makers who specialise in extravagance and wonder. Serving up slices of uniquely flavoured and decorated cakes along with their signature Biskie - a mix of cake, biscuit and cookie topped with marshmallow, buttercream and other goodies - it’s a one-of-a-kind shop in London. And it’s not just for the dairy eaters and gluten-friendly."
"Blue Ivy opened up in May and is a walk away from Victoria Park, looking out onto Regent's Canal. It's so scenic and dainty and has a large outdoor seating area where you can enjoy your alfresco meal with a gorgeous view of the canal. My recommendations: I mean, look at that plate, I'm sure we can all agree that pancakes stacked with fresh fruit and compote are quite simply irresistible."
"With three locations, one in Crouch End, one in Highbury and the newest location in Notting Hill (across the road from the popular Farmacy), expect queues down the street at weekends for the popular brunch offering, which perfectly balances the requisite green smoothie and beetroot smoothie options with the, let’s be honest, necessary Saturday and Sunday indulgences, from French toast and Turkish eggs to Kahvalti, a Middle Eastern breakfast sharing spread. Halloumi portions are generous (the halloumi, aubergine and sticky walnut salad is delicious), the doughnuts are irresistible and the people watching is enormously fun."
"They've already opened successful cafes in Crouch End and Highbury and next up for Beam is a move west to Notting Hill."
"Rich Mix allows creativity in all its magnificent forms – live music, theatre, poetry, film, art, design and drawing, so it’s a little distinct from the other places on the list, but the charity behind the cross-media arts centre, The Rich Mix Cultural Foundation, has a pretty inspiring goal. And that’s to offer the public space to discover more about the creative offerings of people from various migrant populations. Since taking over the former clothing factory on Bethnal Green Road, Rich Mix has put on many free exhibitions, screenings and concerts."
"This fantastic creative space in the East End, on the site of what used to be in a leather factory, has regular exhibitions featuring emerging and established artists. 39-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Free entryrichmix.org.uk"
"Located on an island in the middle of the bustling Strand, St Clement Danes Church church offers an oasis of calm. Explore the famous London church, whose bells are mentioned in the traditional Oranges and Lemons nursery rhyme, and hear them ring out across the City of London several times a day. Reconsecrated as the Central Church of the Royal Air Force in 1958, the church is also home to books of remembrance and more than 1,000 RAF badges."
"St Clement Danes church is one of the best-known churches in Westminster, London. It’s a fine white Baroque building with a prominent spire on a traffic island in the Strand, close to the Royal Courts of Justice. It’s famous for the nursery rhyme ‘Oranges and lemons ring the bells of St Clement’s’, and it’s not the only church in our list to get a mention in."
"Christopher Wren and James Gibbs rebuilt the original 9th-century church, but only its outer walls and steeple survived destruction in the Blitz"
"It’s no wonder that Frankie and Benny’s is one of the most popular places to eat in Wembley Park – they serve up your favourite Italian American classics at a reasonable price. Your little ones will love their cod goujons, cheesy tomato pizza, and crispy chicken breast nuggets. With options on their kids’ menus for big eaters, small eaters, and babies, they have parents covered."
"Frankie & Benny’s is known for classic Italian American dishes and diner favourites, as well as an extensive kids’ menu sure to please the little ones. Tuck into cheesy chicken parmigiana, an ultimate mixed grill, or a vegan Margherita pizza, with outdoor dining and table service to keep everyone safe. No reservation required."
"Restaurants American King’s Road. Still whoopin’ and hollerin’ after all the years, this Chelsea BBQ/crabshack pulls the crowds with its good-timing New Orleans vibe, high-decibel bluesy sounds, crazy low prices and gut-busting helpings of messy US soul food. Voodoo chicken wings, pit-cooked ribs, stacked burgers and bargain-priced lobsters are the headline acts, with support from a raunchy line-up of X-rated shakes and slushy cocktails."
": A lively BBQ joint inspired by the crab shacks that line the American Gulf Coast, the first Big Easy opened up on the King’s Road over 20 years ago. With live music on most nights and a variety of different unlimited nights on different days of the week, there is more than enough to bring you in and keep you there all night long!. “This place has hands down the most delicious shrimps in town” says Chris James of Delaney BBQ."
"BBQ ribs scream American feasting and the stickier the better. Big Easy's ribs are dry-rubbed with salts and spices for maximum flavour on that all-important dark crust. With branches in Covent Garden, Canary Wharf and on the King's Road, wherever you are, you'll be able to get your hands on some."