Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Leigh Common

"Hyde Park is the largest of London’s four Royal Parks at 350 acres, which means there is a lot to see and do throughout on your romantic visit. Whether you two like debate and want to take in Speakers’ Corner or wind around the Serpentine lake, there are romantic activities to suit all types throughout Hyde Park. Several hotels also border the park with great views onto it, so consider booking one of them to have a beautiful view every morning."

"This includes the V&A, Natural History Museum, The Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park!. What’s more, all the other London landmarks are just a hop, skip, and jump away. This makes it our top choice for a short summer getaway in London"

"Never has a traffic jam on the Old Kent Road looked so enchanting – everything seen from The Shangri-La looks enchanting. The hotel occupies floors 34 to the 52 of Renzo Piano's 87-storey London landmark. The rooms (contemporary, creamy, Asian-influenced), restaurants (especially the romantic Ting) and bar (gin and rosemary – divine) are all fantastic, though nothing can compete with the extraordinary views over London, which turn every guest into a slack-jawed infant, lost in wonder, gazing out, palms to the window, all day long."

"Last on my list, and another one where you unfortunately can’t use a tripod if you go inside – the Shard. A relatively new addition to the London Skyline, the Shard offers an incredible view of the London skyline from far above the ground. Like the London Eye, it’s also best visited for sunset – we advise booking your ticket in advance to be sure to get the right time slot for your visit."

"Another of London’s most famous landmarks, the Tower of London dates from medieval times. This former royal residence and prison houses the Crown Jewels and the six resident ravens which must never leave or legend has it that the kingdom will fall. Best shot: from inside the Tower of London you can capture Tower Bridge as well."

"This well-preserved medieval castle is one of London’s premier attractions for families – adults and children love it. Interior exhibits are interactive and informative. The castle was eventually converted to a prison and the site of many executions."

"From prison to palace, treasure vault to private zoo, the magnificent Tower of London has fulfilled many different roles down the centuries. One of Britain's most iconic structures, this spectacular World Heritage Site offers hours of fascination for visitors curious about the country's rich history - after all, so much of it happened here. Inside the massive White Tower, built in 1078 by William the Conqueror, is the 17th-century Line of Kings with its remarkable displays of royal armaments and armor."

"Tower Bridge is one part of the London skyline that isn’t always visible and only at certain viewpoints will you catch a glimpse. As Tower Bridge is a lot lower to the ground than the other buildings, it is easily hidden amount surrounding structures. However, that hasn’t stopped it becoming one of the key elements of the iconic image."

"Sprawling Hampstead Heath, with its rolling woodlands and meadows, feels a million miles away – despite being approximately four – from the City of London. Covering 320 hectares, most of it woods, hills and meadows, it's home to about 180 bird species, 23 species of butterflies, grass snakes, bats and a rich array of flora. It's a wonderful place for a ramble, especially to the top of Parliament Hill, which offers expansive views across the city."

"One of the more natural and untamed parks in London, Hamstead Heath is 320 hectares of parklands with stunning views over London from the top of Parliament Hill."

"When you’re done, you’ll emerge blinking into the light, where you might want to take a stroll around St. James Park, or head through Whitehall to see the home of the British Prime Minster at No. 10 Downing Street, before finishing up at Trafalgar Square, where you’ve got full access to all the shows in the West End – an excellent way to spend the evening ahead! The Churchill War Rooms are very popular, so we advise booking in advance or using a London Pass, which has free entry to the War Rooms and access to the pre-booked ticket queue, which is a lot faster. You can see prices and opening times here."

"Whitehall is the main street running south from Trafalgar Square towards Parliament Square. This area was once home to the Palace of Whitehall, a sprawling royal palace complex and the largest palace in the world until it burned in 1698. However, today visitors can still see one remaining section of the palace complex, the Banqueting Hall (fee*) designed by famous architect Inigo Jones with a ceiling painted by Peter Paul Reubens."

"Day 1: Arrive in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, the London EyeDay 2: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Whitehall, Covent GardenDay 3: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky GardenDay 4: National Gallery, Greenwich, Prime Meridian, Up at the O2Day 5: British Museum, Portobello Road Market, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrod’s"

"After strolling through South Bank, feel free to cross the pedestrian-only Millennium Bridge and visit the world-famous Shakespeare’s Globe, lying literally just a few hundred feet south of the Thames. Needing little introduction, Shakespeare’s Globe is a modern reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre that still produces open-air plays and performances on a daily basis!"

"Along the south bank (always worth a wander), you can stop in at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern Art Gallery, and even quickly cross the Millennium bridge for a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Globe and St. Paul’s Cathedral are both included on the London Pass, whilst the Tate Modern is free to enter."

"Speakers Corner in the north-east corner of London’s Hyde Park is an area where open-air public speaking, debate and discussion are allowed and encouraged. While Hyde Park isn’t the only speaker’s corner in the world or even London itself, it is the original and is often referred to as the ‘home of free speech‘. Anyone can turn up unannounced to speak on any subject they want, with speakers discussing everything from politics, religion and world conflicts to healthy lifestyle choices and more."

"There are a number of famous landmarks within the park including Serpentine Lake where you can hire a row boat, Speakers’ Corner and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain along with countless statues. Enjoy a coffee or bite to eat from one of the two cafes on the lake or just get lost walking around the miles and miles of pathways."

"St Michael’s Church is a beautiful little old church next to the Verulamium Museum. It’s considered one of the most significant surviving Anglo-Saxon buildings in England, making it one of the best historical places to visit in St Albans. The church was built either in the late 10th century or early 11th century and partly constructed using Roman bricks."

"By now you might have realised that St. Albans is a city that is packed full of religious history and St. Michael’s Church is no different. A church that is open for worship, there is regular church service held here each and every week. This includes your more standard services, as well as evening worships and children’s services too."

"There are a number of famous landmarks within the park including Serpentine Lake where you can hire a row boat, Speakers’ Corner and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain along with countless statues. Enjoy a coffee or bite to eat from one of the two cafes on the lake or just get lost walking around the miles and miles of pathways."

"Although the fountain isn’t deep enough for swimming, it is still a beautiful spot in Hyde Park to explore in the summertime, especially with kids!. A stream of water flows down the riverbed and collects in a lower pool. So for a refreshing treat, explorers are encouraged to get in the water!"

"Some of the notable places to see or visit include the Serpentine Gallery, Serpentine Sackler Gallery, the Princess Diana Memorial, Peter Pan statue, the Elfin Oak, and the ornate Albert Memorial. An easy place to spend an hour or two."

"With restaurants in Islington and Hammersmith already, Zia Lucia have won many fans for their pizzas - available in four types of dough from vegetable charcoal to the more traditional. This sees them heading to the City with their third pizza restaurant. (Soft launch to 13 February)"

"Whether you're curing a hangover, indulging those carb carvings or just fancy a slice of deliciously gooey goodness, head to Zia Lucia as their vegan friendly options hail all the flavours of Italy without any guilt."

"They do say heat rises: Chinese restaurant Hutong is for thrill-seekers who love a bit of spice with their heights. Positioned on the 33rd level of The Shard – London’s tallest building by quite a stretch – a night at Hutong comes with a view of pretty much the entire city and its twinkling lights, as well as fiery pepper-packed Sichuan dishes. Head one level down at the Shard and you’ll find Aqua Shard and Oblix, a duo of restaurants with similarly stunning views and a little less numbing of the tongue."

"London Bridge (33, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY) With a menu which originated in the first Hutong restaurant in Hong Kong, London’s own version is located in the Shard, one of the city’s most distinctive buildings. This enormous skyscraper provides the ideal backdrop for a delicious meal – promising an intoxicating combination of great views and great food. The décor is also designed to reflect Hutong’s roots, with classic dishes from Northern China providing meals worth raving about."

"On the 33rd floor of The Shard, Hutong, whose name comes from the narrow lanes of the former capital of Peking, specialises in the seafood- and vinegar-based 'Lu' food of Shantong northern province and the fiery chilli accented Sichuan cuisine. There's a real sense of occasion here and the view at nighttime is mesmerising. Luxurious dim sum available at lunch include iberico xiao lang bao soup dumplings."

"Around Hackney’s London Fields are a network of creative complexes, so there’s plenty to explore around this vibrant area. Netil Market is the quirky little sister of Netil House and a street food spot worth checking out. With its rickety stands and interesting array of vendors – from ‘Afro-tacos’ to delicious cakes and delectable Bao Buns, you’re bound to find something new to try."

"A little bro to the creative complex of Netil House just down the road, this London Fields hub is a quirky gem, filled with an ever-changing rotation of rickety stands and more charming than the nearby Broadway and Schoolyard markets. There’s not much cover, but you can brave the hipsters and plonk down in the park on sunny days. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm."

"A bustling hub with creative food, art and clothing, Netil Market has burst onto the scene in the past decade as one of the best food markets in London. Don’t miss Death by Pizza, serving up pizza that’s 100% vegan and 100% delicious. Who would have thought it possible?"

"At its best, seafood relies on unpredictability, freshness trumping all, so calling this shoal of restaurants across London “dependable” might come across the wrong way. That said, a reliable supplier is a good one, and Wright Brothers — which gets much of its catch from its own wholesale operation — offers up daily specials alongside dishes served everyday. Whether fish soup and rouille, a pint of Atlantic prawns, or Cornish sardines on toast, it’s quality fish treated well."

"One of the original seafood restaurants in London, the Wright Brothers are well-known for their oysters, farmed at their own Cornish Duchy oyster farm, as well as selecting the best from the British Isles and France. From ceviche style to a Mediterranean twist with pomegranate, balsamic and spring onion, the Wright Brothers are truly the kings of oysters. If oysters aren’t your thing, don’t despair as the rest of their menu is just as delicious."

"The seafood experts of Spitalfields (shown in lead image) focus heavily on responsible sourcing. And, having their own wholesale branch, they are heavily involved in how they get their produce. Fresh and sustainable seafood is key, ensuring the menu is always changing, depending on what was caught that day."