Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Burnt Oak

"Hyde Park may be nearly 7 times larger, but I’ve always been partial to St. James’s Park, flanked on the east by Buckingham Palace and on the west by Number 10 Downing Street, the British government headquarters. I’m a particular fan of the St. James’s Parks lakes as well as the wildlife it supports, which include pelicans, ducks (lots of ducks!) and foxes!"

"Despite being the home of Winter Wonderland every year, Hyde park is not short on things to do in the summer. Here you can find the Serpentine, London’s oldest boating lake, where you can rent a boat or swim in if the weather allows. As well as that, there’s a rose garden and a meadow if you want some pretty views with your picnic."

"Once a royal hunting ground, Hyde Park is popular for its vast open space and numerous attractions and one of our favourite London sights to Instagram. Best shot: Hyde Park is so vast that it’s best to pick a focal point such as the Victoria and Albert Memorial, or the Italian Gardens."

"Another iconic London building, Westminster Abbey is a royal church and UNESCO World Heritage site with over 1000 years of history. But it’s the stunning exterior and well placed red phone boxes that make this one of the most Instagrammable places in London!. Walk away from Westminster Abbey to the corner of Tothill Road where you’ll find red phone boxes gracing each side."

"An important architectural and historical stop, Westminster Abbey is where kings and queens are crowned still today and where many famous figures are buried. The cathedral is immensely popular with tourists, so be prepared to wait. Highlights include the Gothic-style nave, built in the 13th century, and the ornate coronation chair."

"The Abbey was built by Edward the Confessor, and William the Conqueror was crowned in it on Christmas Day 1066. Thousands of people are buried, or have their ashes interred, in it. Many others have plaques."

"If unparalleled views are what you’re after, you’ll find them at the Shard’s Shangri-La hotel. Stretching 306 metres into the sky, the Shard is London’s tallest building and the Shangri-La occupies floors 34 to 52. With Borough Market, the Globe, Tate Modern and the Tower Bride close by, your days will easily fill with sightseeing but the hotel's rooms, with views across the city, will easily lure you back come nightfall – as will the hotel’s restaurant, Ting, which offers tasting menus starting from £55."

"When Asian hospitality chain Shangri-La opened in the Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building, in 2014, it was literally head and shoulders above the rest of London – as well as being the first luxury hotel south of the river. The hotel, which occupies the floors from level 35 upwards, pairs its pared-back guestrooms – lots of business-friendly beige and black lacquer – with panoramic views across the entire city. Deep baths are positioned by the glass windows to maximise the views."

"Another building that took no time establishing itself as a London icon is the Shard, aka the United Kingdom’s tallest building. At over 309 metres tall, it towers over the rest of London with its unique pyramid shape and sharp point. Its unique and imposing design means there are endless options for capturing dramatic and beautiful shots featuring the Shard."

"It includes all the major attractions (e.g., Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the National Gallery), but also includes several lesser known sites and encourages you to explore several of London’s diverse neighborhoods including Westminster, Greenwich, Kensington, and Camden. We suggest using this itinerary as a starting point for planning your 6 days in London, not as a definitive itinerary, and you can edit it to put together your own personal itinerary that reflects your own needs and interests."

"The Tower of London is one of the top places to visit in London. The White Tower, the one bona fide castle in London, dates back to the late 11th century. Along with Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Place and St Paul’s, it should be essential for London first time visitors."

"The London Pass is a pre-paid sightseeing card which gives you FREE fast-track entry to the city’s top tourist attractions, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour. The view from the Shard"

"The best view of Tower Bridge (in my opinion) is from the water; however, not everyone has a chance to do a Thames River Cruise. If that’s not on your itinerary, try to get a photo of Tower Bridge from afar, featuring something else iconic – perhaps City Hall?. Alternatively, a head on shot crossing the bridge is pretty incredible, too!"

"After the houses of Parliament, this bridge is London’s most well known site. There are several excellent angles to photograph this bridge from. – A very popular photo to take is traffic light trails going through the archways of the bridge."

"Source: Photo by user Carole Raddato used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Take an easy 10-minute walk across Verulamium Park and find an unimpressive, low, white building - but don’t ignore it, because inside this protective shell is a spectacular Roman mosaic, preserved in the very place it was built, nearly 2000 years ago. Once part of a floor for the reception rooms of a large Roman townhouse, this intricate mosaic is a fantastically preserved example of this ancient artform."

"Address:in Verulamium Park, St Albans AL3 4SWSave on Google Maps | Visit Website. In the centre of Verulamium Park, you’ll find a small building that houses the remains of a Roman hypocaust, the name given to an underfloor heating system that was discovered in the 1930s. In this free exhibition, you can learn about how the system used to work whilst marvelling at the intricate mosaics."

"The Roman Mosaic and Hypocaust is an ancient underfloor heating system that ran beneath a mosaic floor. It was discovered during a 1930s excavation and is estimated to be around 1800 years old. The floor is remarkably well preserved, and the design is very detailed, with many geometric patterns."

"You will find a paddling pool and water splash area as well as a family enclosure. There is also a zip line, boating lake and playground, and a light railway."

"Sandwiched between Columbia Road Flower Market and Broadway Market, there’s lots going on at Haggerston Park thanks to the tennis courts football grounds and Hackney City Farm. It’s far less crowded than nearby London Fields so if you need a bit more calm, then head here."

"In contrast to the West End's grand aristocratic townhouses, this charming museum is devoted to the life of the city's middle class over…"

"Fulham Palace is a site dedicated to tracing its own history. Items found on the palace's grounds date all the way back to prehistoric times; the archaeological finds are part of the museum's impressive collection of artifacts and objects. The site has been a residence of the Bishops of London since 704 and played a major role as a hospital during World War I and a refugee spot during World War II."

"A beautiful open garden, glasshouses, flowers in bloom, and brick walls, all in a place less visited by tourists which make for one great location for a photo shoot or a private event. And if you’re looking for some diversity, just walk a few steps out of Fulham Palaceand you’re right on the shore of river Thames."

"With all there is to see at Kew Gardens, you might easily miss the attractive red brick building housing the Marianne North Gallery. But don’t hesitate to take a look inside — the exquisite interior, which incorporates different kinds of wood and stenciled floor tile, is home to more than 800 works of botanical art. Marianne North was a wealthy, single Victorian woman who traveled the world solo in pursuit of interesting plants to paint."

"Another attraction in Kew Gardens, this gallery is dedicated to the work of Marianne North, a Victorian artist who specialised in botanical paintings. The walls of the gallery are covered in her stunning and colourful designs, which show off her incredible natural talent."

"The Saatchi Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art for London, gets over 1.5 million visitors every year, drawn to the former army barracks on the King’s Road, to see its mix of blockbuster exhibitions, new artists, and controversy-stirring displays. It’s a massive museum and its emphasis is on making art accessible and inspiring to the public. Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4RY Free entrysaatchigallery.com"

"The Saatchi Gallery is best known for its Young British Artists exhibit, which focuses on undiscovered talent. The exhibit was first held in the late 1980s, when owner Charles Saatchi sold his original collection of US art and replaced it with work from completely unknown artists. These artists included Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, both of whom are now world-renowned."

"In the last five years, Saatchi Gallery has presented 15 of the 20 most visited museum exhibitions in London. Oh and they’re also hosting the last ever tour of Tutankhamun’s treasures."

"Strolling around idyllic Bonnington Square is a balm for the soul by itself — it’s easy to forget this oasis is just around the corner from the labyrinth of roads and relentless traffic outside Vauxhall station. And deli and cafe Italo makes the leafy neighbourhood even more dreamy. As it gets chilly, order a steaming bowl of porridge laced with maple syrup or one of the mega sandwiches on ciabatta."

"Pull up a bright red chair outside the bright blue Italo deli on the corner of a leafy street in Vauxhall. Current chef Sherri Dymond’s short menu is Italian through and through. There’s vitello tonnato, cold sliced veal with a heavy slick of creamy sauce with capers, and to welcome in autumn, plates nearly overflowing with golden polenta, wild mushrooms and sage."

"Who else is excited to sit and catch up with a nice cup of coffee?. Luckily, now you can. Black Sheep Coffee are reopening their outdoor seating area come 12th April so you can have that much-needed chinwag with your friends or family."

"When it comes to delicious vegetarian comfort food in London, Pizza Pilgrims are pros. Head over to their Shoreditch eatery for an evening spent chomping on portobello and truffle-topped sices, rosemary flatbreads and Nutella bites."