Mentioned by London x London
The London Sightseeing Guide: 39 Unmissable Things to do in London
"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."
"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."
"Sky Garden is on top of one of the skyscrapers found in London. You can visit levels 35 through 37 of the "Walkie Talkie" for free—just make sure to book a ticket in advance."
"Chin Chin Ice Cream was lauded as Europe's first liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour when it opened up in 2010 and it hasn’t taken long for that style to get a foothold in the favour of the general populace. Chin Chin now boasts multiple outlets across London where the clever clogs behind the counter are hand-churning enticing ice cream flavours like tonka bean and burnt butter caramel with liquid nitrogen. Adding liquid nitrogen means that the fat and water particles in the ice cream remain small and tightly knitted together during the freezing operation, resulting in intensely creamy ice cream."
"Don’t go to Chin Chin Labs for your average cake and cookie because ‘simple’ really isn’t in their vocabulary. They are most famous for their ice-cream made with liquid nitrogen but what a lot of people don’t know is they make and bake a whole load of cakes, cookies and pies downstairs in their in-house bakery. Find things like their naughty titty cakes, party cakes and hot cherry pies."
"The ice cream pioneers behind Chin Chin Labs have expanded its epicurean empire. The Chin Chin Club in Soho opens this month as a revolutionary cake and ice cream club. On the menu are deluxe sundaes, choux buns, and cookies with molten centres."
"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."
"From show stopping dripped cakes to the glossiest salted caramel we’ve ever seen, Cutter & Squidge is the bakery to go to if you’re in need of a special birthday treat or serious ‘I’m sorry’ gift. All products are made with 100% natural products and as little sugar as possible – don’t worry, they still taste devilishly sweet. Where:Various locationsWebsite:www.cutterandsquidge.com"
"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”."
"A modern reinterpretation of a British caff, Norman’s Cafe is a no-frills ode to everything we love about greasy spoons. Classic dishes like beans on toast, chicken escalope, and even the humble chip butty are given a quick glycolic scrub and elevated by chef Richie Hayes. But what about the coffee, you ask?"
"For 13 years, Ice Cream Union has worked hard producing their ice cream and sorbets to some of London’s top restaurants and influential chefs. Now it’s even easier to grab a taste of their finest flavours in their first ever parlour. They focus on creating show-stopping treats each and every time, whether that’s down to hand-selecting the best fruits in peak season or sourcing the freshest milk."
"They say: ‘Our ice cream breaks convention, and to break convention we constantly find new ways to refine our craft. From the tools we use, to the ingredients we select, everything has been meticulously planned and sourced by us for the finest results.’. The sweet stuff: The Lionel Messi of ice cream."
"Unions that are dedicated to everyone’s favourite frozen dessert are an even greater and more wonderful thing. The folks at Ice Cream Union are all about quality and want to change the way that you think about ice cream. And they’re doing that one glorious scoop at a time."
"Bakery House is a Lebanese restaurant in Reading which has opened up on London Street, where Nepalese restaurant Khukuri previously was. You can order a mixed platter of dishes to try for less than £10 too, and the majority of mains are under £10. Address: 82 London Street, Reading RG1 4SJ"
"Opened in June 2015, Bakery House focuses on the best of Lebanese food in a relaxed, informal dining environment. Mezze, grills, pastries are the specialty..."
"The popular Bakery House in London Street is taking orders for delivery and is registered with Deliveroo. Address: 82 London Street, Reading"
"We feature the Brum branch of the excellent Botanist group on Cool Places but it's worth knowing that their two London branches – and in particular their original and flagship branch on Sloane Square – do fabulous stacks of delicious American-style pancakes. But they are perhaps best known for a spectacular lobster and mushroom affair that will blow your socks off – not least because it will set you back 30 quid!"
"Doused in English elegance and conjuring the charm of the countryside, The Botanist is a hybrid of ultra stylish interiors and traditional British cuisines mastered with a Modern edge. Serving dishes of a gourmet seafood persuasion, you can tuck into everything from classic fish and chips to a scallop & shrimp burger."
"Coming in on the high-end spectrum when it comes to some of the best seafood restaurants in London, The Botanist dazzles any and all diners. Not only boasting creative and rich plates, their roster of seafood dishes are hearty, fresh and humble with that added pazazz."
"One of London's most beloved art collections, the Courtauld is to your right as you pass through the archway into the grounds of the…"
"Funnily enough, the Museum of Childhood is actually first and foremost geared towards adults who want to relive their own childhoods, but don’t worry – they’ve planned ahead and know that many adults will be bringing their own children. For toddlers, there are interactive exhibits featuring toys and games at the Museum of Childhood, as well as drop-in activities including crafting and storytelling to get your toddler involved in some educational play."
"The V&A Museum of Childhood, part of the Victoria & Albert Museum, is a London museum dedicated to housing collections by and for children. The museum's collection includes costumes, toys, and objects dedicated to celebrating childhood. In addition to its permanent collection, the V&A Museum of Childhood regularly hosts temporary exhibits."
"Technically a part of the V&A, the Museum of Childhood has gained an excellent reputation as one of the best free things to do in London. With a collection of toys spanning centuries, the museum is the perfect day out for kids, while adults will also surely find something to wake their nostalgia. Museum of Childhood © Flickr Andrea Vail"
"Also known as the Temple of Mithras, this museum is centered around the remains of an ancient Roman temple in the City of London, left from the days of Roman rule, and is one of the lesser-known free museums in the capital. Named as one of the UK’s most significant archaeological sites, the museum showcases the ancient temple and a selection of interesting Roman artefacts found during excavations, including fragments of writing-tablets which feature the first known reference to London and the earliest hand-written document in Britain."
"One of London’s quirkier and lesser-known spots is literally a blend of old and new. The London Mithraeum is a museum centred around the ruins of a Roman Temple and is located, rather oddly, underneath the shiny glass Bloomberg Buildings in the middle of the city. A visit to the Mithraeum is not just looking at old artefacts, but a full on sensory experience."
"Year Built: c.240 CE Location: Modern-day Walbrook Purpose: Temple/sanctuary Still Standing: No – only partial ruins remain. photo source: Wikimedia Commons. The Temple of Mithras is one of the few remnants leftover from the Roman Empire’s time in the area and is one of the oldest buildings ever discovered in London."
"The paddling pool for children and the enclosed play area is available to the kids. Parents can enjoy the cafe, tweens or teens the tennis courts and netball/basketball facilities."