Mentioned by Secret London
31 Fascinating & Free Museums Every Londoner Should Visit At Least Once
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"A biscuit isn’t quite a dessert – unless it’s in the hands of Cutter & Squidge, that is. Enter the Biskie, the Soho bakery’s signature dessert which sees two discs of a cake-cookie hybrid sandwich an array of flavoured creamy fillings. The chocolate s’more version is filled with buttercream and a handmade marshmallow, while the blueberry cheesecake version layers jam, cheesecake cream and a wedge of digestive biscuit."
"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."
"We make everything from scratch and where possible we use real British ingredients or source from British producers where we can’t.’. The sweet stuff: Cakes and (wince) ‘biskies’. The stuff looks next-level, though, and the mixed selection boxes would make anyone’s day."
"Be sure while you’re here to stop into Choccywoccydoodah – one of the coolest chocolate shops in London!. Check out the wedding cake alternatives, the huge eggs, and many other items ready to be devoured by even the shyest of chocolate enthusiasts."
"It also means smashing it on your socials, because EL&N (which confusingly rebranded from Élan Café) is arguably the most Instagrammable place in town, perhaps due to its insatiable flower and love heart walls. EL&N started out on Park Lane and quickly became the influencers’ hangout of choice thanks to more pink than you’ll find in Elton John’s walk-in wardrobe."
"A Middle Eastern version of tres leches cake with saffron-spiced sponge, whipped cream and lots of sweet vanilla milk – this is soft, melt-in-your-mouth moist, so refreshing and just mind-blowingly good. EL&N isn’t just a pink, picture-perfect spot for the ‘gram."
"This west London local hero has been hosting with the most for more than 140 years, but its looking better than ever since its 2016 revamp. The bar area serves booze-soaking snacks such as sausage rolls and Welsh rarebit as well as roasts on a Sunday, while the even more sophisticated surrounds of its dining room host a daily changing, ingredient-dependent menu of thoughtfully constructed classics: a Barnsley chop comes with braised flageolet beans and salsa verde, while a smoked salmon rillette comes with pickled cucumber. 55 Shirland Road, W9 2JD, theheromaidavale.co.uk"
"One of the top 50 brunches in London, Bashment Brunch is bringing Carnival vibes to secret locations across the city. Expect the party to be in full swing, with unlimited rum punch, Carribbean eats and a soundtrack of reggae, soca and dancehall hits."
"The Orrery in Marylebone Village holds one of London's best-kept secret rooftop terraces, serving elegant and traditional French food in the heart of W1. Physically (and metaphorically) elevated from the traffic and crowds of Marylebone, it's a flower-lined sanctuary that's kept its culinary standards high. Come for a cocktail, stay all afternoon."
"While there is a special terrace menu of small dishes upstairs at this Marylebone restaurant, what you're really after with your chilled glass of wine is a cheese plate from Orrery’s famous trolley. Enjoy the French food and on when the sun is shining, with the traffic noise of Marylebone a distant hum, you could easily be in Provence."
"Orrery, located on the first floor of a converted stable block, has a beautiful terrace overlooking St Marylebone Church gardens in the heart of Marylebone Village. An elegant spot for cocktails and dinner in the sun."
"This brightly coloured bistro on Brick Lane ticks just about every stereotype box, from poster-clad walls, candles and the kind of furniture that looks as if it might belong on a patio, through to a menu of unashamed clichés. From tartare to confit via terrines, moules and escargot, Chez Elles serves exactly what people want at very decent prices, taking itself with far too little seriousness to feel French at all. Bravo.Chez Elles, 45 Brick Lane, E1 6P"
"Plush as they come, Chiswell Street Dining Rooms make no bones about it, their forte is strictly to be one of the best fine dining restaurants in London, and they're doing a darn good job at it. From their botanical theming down to their British plates, this is not one to miss."
"A chilled out space of contemporary elegance, this is a great place in the city to unwind and reflect on your day. The venue serves up tasty and immaculately presented British fare, with friendly service and an array of cocktails, wines and quality microbeers to match."
"Sister restaurant to the next-door Jugged Hare, Chiswell Street Dining Rooms has been serving the good people of The City for years. The vibe is subtly luxurious, with unpretentious food made from the best ingredients."
"The Shard may not be the first place you think of when planning to take your family out for a meal, but one of its restaurants comes in at number three. Yes, according to reviews on Bookatable, Aqua Shard is the perfect place for children, meaning you don't need to sacrifice a fantastic setting, just because you are bringing an army of little ones along. "Food fabulous, service great and friendly and of course the view ......" says one review."
"Several of the most luxurious London restaurants with a view can be found inside the Shard – London’s tallest building. One such restaurant is Aqua Shard, a super swanky and ultra-modern British restaurant and bar inside a three-story glass atrium on level 31 of the Shard, with stunning 360-degree views across London. Open throughout the day, Aqua Shard is probably best known for its themed British Afternoon Tea experiences every afternoon."
"Fast becoming one of the most iconic views of London, Aqua Shard is the ultimate venue for special occasions. Offering a modern take on traditional British produce, the chic interiors include soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing a panoramic view of London’s skyline.aquashard.co.uk"
"As far as I’m concerned, drinking in the capital’s most impressive sights at the same time as drinking alcohol should be a year-round activity. Winter doesn’t need to be a period of mourning for your social life. Instead of staying cooped up waiting for summer, venture out and up to a few of these drinking spots in the sky."