Mentioned by A Lady in London
11 Best Museums in London - Must-See Museums in the UK Capital
"Located on the 43rd floor of the Walkie Talkie building in the City of London, the Sky Garden is the capital’s highest public garden and one of the coolest places to visit in London for free. The garden’s large plant-filled atrium has floor-to-ceiling windows with amazing panoramic views out over the city below and is open throughout the day and into the evenings on weekends – making it one the best free things to do in London at night too!. There’s also an open-air covered terrace on one side."
"The view from Rafael Viñoly’s Sky Garden, also known as the Walkie-Talkie building, is unlike any other in the city. From here you can survey London’s ever-growing sprawl with the city stretching up to the north, Tower Bridge and the Shard to the south, and Canary Wharf to the east. It’s free to explore the tower’s three stories of landscaped public gardens, but make sure to book in advance."
"Travel 43 floors up and see a unique perspective of landmarks like The Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and more. With massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows, an open-air terrace, and beautifully landscaped scenery, you’ll have an abundance of options for IG pics. It also houses a swanky restaurant and bar, so you can relax and soak in the views with a drink in hand."
"From creating a nitro ice cream parlour in Camden to collaborating with Cadbury to create a Creme Egg Sundae, Chin Chin know how to make weird and wacky ice creams. But it’s their Soho joint that we love, where they mix luxe chocolate and caramel flavour ice-creams with cakes, cookies and ice-cream sandwiches. There’s always a bunch of toppings and sauces to pick from, and with a wide variety of vegan options as well, there’s something for everyone here."
"Must try: Griddled vegan cookie dough with burnt butter ice cream. Chin Chin is Europe’s very first liquid nitrogen ice-cream parlour and one of the best spots to discover some of the most unique and delicious desserts in London. Their exciting selection of ice cream flavours are frozen with liquid nitrogen in giant tanks, in a space that looks more like a mad scientists lab than a dessert parlour."
"For truly breathtaking ice-cream creations, head on down to Chin Chin. This little dessert spot is famous for its extravagant flavors (you can find things like meringue pie and tonka bean on the menu!), and you can even grab a signature hot chocolate if you want something to enjoy on the go. Such a great option if you’re looking for the best desserts in London."
"The menu at this Soho dessert stop features a lot of the delicious treats mentioned on this blog, but most famous are their biskies – a biscuit/cookie/cake hybrid filled with tasty buttercream, jams and caramels. Flavours include passion fruit and salted caramel, apple crumble, chocolate lava and miso caramel. If you’re feeling extra naughty, order one of their indulgent freakshakes to go with it."
"A post shared by Cutter & Squidge (@cutterandsquidge) on May 28, 2018 at 5:50am PDT. Just yards away from its previously successful pop-up space, Cutter & Squidge's Soho home is full of sweet delights. Choose from a wide selection of its speciality biskies, or opt for vegetarian marshmallows, dream cakes, honeycomb or its award-winning salted caramel."
"Fun shop, fun website, inventive creations – two sisters established this Soho mecca and are always a step ahead of foodie trends. The sisters explain, “We are a bit health conscious and are not fans of overly fatty or sugar laden foods, so we always keep our fat and sugar content to “just as much as needed to make something delicious”."
"By day, Tea Darling, way out west in the wilds of Acton Town (actually a London suburb easily reached on the Piccadilly and the District Line), is a really old fashioned tea shop with vintage china and a good assortment of home made cakes and tea sandwiches, including gluten free and vegan variations. On selected evenings (check their website) they host jazz and comedy nights when you can stick to tea or coffee with cake or bring your own bottle (£5 corkage fee). If you arrive in your best 40s or 50s vintage outfit, all the better."
"Few restaurants come with a magical greenhouse setting where you can dine amidst trailing bougainvillea and jasmine but it’s pretty par for the course at Petersham Nurseries. This is one of Richmond’s most gorgeous (and spenny) restaurants, with a delightful seasonal menu that always puts you in the wonderful dilemma of wanting everything on it at once. Go with a lot of time (and money) to spare and you won’t be disappointed."
"Enjoy Italian-inspired fresh, seasonal lunches and homemade cakes among plants and flowers inside a magical glasshouse at this delightful family-run cafe and tea house."
"Designer Anya Hindmarch has dreamt up a whole “Village” in Pont Street, featuring several shops, a salon and a modern take on the quintessential British café. That means Anya Café serves smiley cakes, chubby hearts and eyes on every treat, captured by your favourite influencers on Instagram. 9 Pont Street, London, SW1X 9EH"
"In a nutshell: Anya Hindmarch run cafe in Knightsbridge Where is it?. 9 Pont Street, London SW1X 9EJ Why should you care?. As part of the new Anya Hindmarch The Village in Pont Street, this all-day cafe serves up food inspired by the designer's sense of humour."
"A Bloomsbury institution on Lamb’s Conduit Street, Noble Rot leads with wine and follows with food. The sommelier’s list of bottles is endless and the team’s knowledge is unimpeachable. Start with oysters and a glass of muscadet before exploring the continental fare on offer, making sure you match your dishes to your wine choice."
"In a nutshell: Noble Rot takes over the Gay Hussar Where is it?. 2 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 4NB Why should you care?. A truly iconic Soho restaurant is revived by the team behind Noble Rot who are promising to be custodians of its history but bring the menu fully into the 21st century."
"Replacing The Gay Hussar, this is the second site for cult restaurant Noble Rot. Expect a menu of Anglo-French classics, plus some nods to the Hungarian cuisine that was served in the restaurant’s previous life."
"Maria-Luisa Riascos Solis’s peerless pica pollo, Dominican fried chicken, is available from La Barra, under the arch in Eagles Yard, Elephant and Castle for takeaway through lockdown."
"Vanilla cake with swirls of caramelised halva – a sweet, fudgy, lightly spiced sesame paste – layers of mascarpone cream, cocoa powder and a walnut crumble topping. A slice with a real hit of savoury, it’s slightly bitter and super nutty. 11 Queen’s Parade, London W5 3HU or 321 Upper Richmond Rd, London SW14 8QR"
"Starting just east of Chalkwell Station, this beach is the choice of people who value peace for winter walks or sunbathing hot summer days. Chalkwell Beach is removed from Southend’s bustling arcades and entertainment, and has a vast belt of pebbles and sand tracked by a quiet, residential esplanade. And even if Chalkwell Beach has a more restrained atmosphere, there are shops selling beach paraphernalia and amenities like cafes just behind."
"Out of the way of the hustle and bustle of Southend’s central seaside, Chalkwell beach offers a quieter beach area for relaxation."
"Get up early for the best selection at Columbia Road Flower Market. A street bursting with plants, shrubs, bulbs and trees, this market in London is a must-visit for its super-colourful displays and fragrant blooms. You can also pick up gardening accessories in this east London hotspot, and make sure to take home some of the gorgeous cut-flowers on offer."
"One of the most traditional romantic places in London has to be Columbia Road’s Flower Market. Even if you’re not interested in buying flowers, the atmosphere and people will certainly romanticise the occasion. It’s a cute and quaint market, and arguably one of the more subtle romantic places around London."
"When you’re looking for a floral fix, Columbia Road Flower Market makes for a great day out. Just make sure to visit on a Sunday as it’s only open then. Best shot: take your pick from any of the colourful floral displays."
"This beautiful market is located very close to Greenwich Park where you can take your street food up to the highest point of the park, and eat while admiring the beautiful panoramic view of the city. Taste some of the high quality street food that Greenwich has to offer from Ethiopian food to Greek food to hot vegan churros. There are 44 market stalls to enjoy (the cannoli stall is our favourite) so you can easily spend a whole afternoon here grazing, drinking and socialising."
"Greenwich Markethas been in existence since the 18th century and is one of London’s best covered markets. The market sells food, clothing, flowers, antiques, crafts, souvenirs, art, and more. There are also a number of pubs and restaurants nearby. A great area to grab a snack or meal."
"These churros are fresh out of the fryer and made to be dipped in their rich chocolate or dulce de leche sauces (or both). While you could also make your own at home, these are worth the trip and are just two quid."
"After a relaxing treatment at the spa, head on over to Covent Garden for an afternoon of fun and experiences. First, why not check out the upscale shops and possibly splurge on a thing or two!. Afterall, your 4 day London itinerary is the perfect time to get some shopping done!. Lulu Guinness is my favorite – one of the only shops left in the world!"