Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in New Ash Green

"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!"

"A huge 350 acres, you won't struggle for a decent walk here. There's space to swim, too: Hyde Park houses a lido and is famous for the Serpentine. Both offer bracing dips, and the Serpentine can be enjoyed by hiring a pedalo, rowing boat, or scooting about as a passenger on the solar-powered SolarShuttle."

"Touring the mystical cathedrals and abbeys of London and the country is a must-do experience in England. The construction of the current Westminster Abbey began in 1245 by Henry III, and since then, it has become England's main religious building. Westminster Abbey receives more than a million visitors annually, making it one of the most famous landmarks in London."

"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"

"Steeped in millennia of rich and often bloody history, Westminster Abbey is one of England's most iconic buildings. An abbey has stood…"

"The tallest building in London is The Shard, constructed in 2012 it broke a number of records, many of which it still retains. It was the tallest building in Europe until 2013 and is still the tallest building in Western Europe, with the only taller buildings being located in Moscow. The Shard is also the second tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom after the Emley Moor transmitting station located in West Yorkshire."

"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."

"Unsurprisingly for a hotel occupying levels 34 to 52 of the Shard, there are breathtaking views everywhere you look in the 202-room Shangri-La: be it the floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedrooms, the panoramic..."

"3 km from city center 7 out of 40 places to visit in London. A royal fortress and a World Heritage Site which is also famous for being an infamous prison back in the day, the Tower of London, founded in 1066 and located in the heart of the city, is a majestic fortress, with a history dating back to centuries before the present day. Treat your eyes to the world-famous and priceless jewels, archaic yet riveting architecture, and to a clear view of the River Thames on a day trip to this Tower."

"This is one of the oldest fortresses in London, built after the Norman Conquest of England, to house the new royalty who had just moved into the country and needed a nice secure palace to live in. As such, it’s a highly defensible castle, with two defensive walls and a moat, so it feels very castle-like. It’s also the home to the English Crown Jewels and has played host to notable historical events, in particular, the executions of 112 people, including Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey."

"The Tower of London, which is officially known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle in London that sits on the River Thames. The Tower of London has stood since 1066. Beginning in 1100 and lasting through 1952, the Tower of London was used as a prison, though it was intended to be a royal home."

"If there ever was a defining landmark in London, it’s the Tower Bridge. Often mistaken by tourist as the London Bridge, the Tower Bridge is quite a bit more ornate and lovely than the plain London Bridge to it’s west. Traffic (both foot and car) abounds on the Tower Bridge, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit the inner workings of the bridge and learn all about it."

"The bridge opens and closes almost 1000 times a year (schedule posted online and at the bridge). The Tower Bridge Exhibition provides a history of the bridge and allows access to the bridge’s top walkway by way of an elevator. You can see the river below through the reinforced glass section in the middle of the walkway."

"It’s one of the most iconic London tourist attractions, and certainly unmissable during your visit to the capital. This 19th century bridge across the Thames is an instantly recognisable symbol of London, so be sure to take a tour (you can book online) and get some great photos."

"Tucked behind Lambeth Palace, the playground here won’t thrill anyone over the age of about four – though there are things to climb on, a sandbox, and swings. But the location, in central London, make this a good pit-stop between cultural visits – particularly if the Jubilee Gardens playground by the London Eye, with its climbing web and little else, is too crowded. Archbishop’s park is completely cut off from the street, so children can roam freely across the large grassy field."

"On the cusp of Westminster and Lambeth you’ll find the excellently located Archbishop’s Park, which is great for little ones aged four and under. It makes an excellent place to have a rest in between sightseeing and it isn’t known for being too crowded."

"It is also home to Regent’s Park and the London Zoo, and Camden Lock is a popular place to start a canal boat ride along the Regent’s Canal. View of Regent’s Canal from Camden Lock Market"

"Designed in 1775 for government departments and royal societies – perhaps the world's first office block – Somerset House now contains galleries, restaurants and cafes that encircle a lovely open courtyard and extend to an elevated sun-trap terrace. The Embankment Galleries are devoted to temporary exhibitions (usually related to photography, design or fashion). In summer, the grand courtyard hosts open-air live performances, dancing fountains for kids to cool off in and the Film4 Summer Screen, plus an atmospheric ice-skating rink in winter."

"Somerset House is a museum and historic house located in a Neoclassical building that overlooks the River Thames. The Somerset House, built in 1796, is an arts centre that is open to the public with free admission almost every day of the year. Free guided tours of the grounds are offered twice per week and the museum often offers special exhibits like Mary Sibande's I Came Apart At The Seams."

"This is my nomination as the most beautiful of the churches in the City of London. It was also built bySir Christopher Wren, and I’d go so far as to say that it’s a London must see. It’s a beautifully proportioned Church, appearing quite small from outside but inside there’s a soaring, lofty central dome and wonderful sense of space."

"St Stephen Walbrook has the most beautiful interior of all Wren’s churches reputedly. He was experimenting with his plans for St Paul’s Cathedral. St Stephen is a variation on the same theme – an un-English central dome married to a traditional English church plan of nave with aisles, chancel and crossing transepts."

"Wildly regarded as Wren’s best City church, this was damaged during the Blitz so they commissioned Henry Moore to design a new altar"

"You can BBQ in Highbury Fields so it’s always a popular spot with North Londoners come summertime but the park also has plenty to offer all year round. It’s got plenty of sports facilities and a playground for the kiddies, and is a great place to escape to when Upper Street gets a bit too much."

"The Davies Alpine House is a somewhat different greenhouse, it is quite long (16m) and high (10m) and was designed to provide ideal conditions, fresh with natural wind for the best conditions the mountain plants. The collection features a wide range of campanulas, dianthus, small ferns, helichrysum, small lavenders, primulas, saxifrage, thymus, tulips and verbascums along with lesser known species."

"Many of the plants at Kew couldn't survive in Britain's grey, damp climate. The Davies Alpine House supports those that thrive in dry, cool, windy conditions of mountainous areas such as succulents and campanulas,"

"Full of rare and unusual trees and shrubs, the Isabella Plantation is a beautiful spot set in the depths of Richmond Park. It’s a green space for most of the year, but in April & May, the azaleas bloom and Isabella Plantation becomes a perfect pink paradise. COVID-19 UPDATE: Isabella Plantation is currently closed to the public."

"A trip here offers more than just plants, as you can also visit art galleries, the Great Pagoda, and tour Kew Palace, a former royal residence located within the gardens. You can explore at your own pace or join one of the garden’s guided walk tours that come free with entry. This is a must-see for any garden lover. Kew Gardens are located in outer London and can be reached by public transportation."

"One of London’s Historic Royal Palaces, Kew Palace is located within the Royal Botanic Gardens. It’s not open in the winter months, but in the spring and summer, it’s worth entering this intimate royal family retreat. You can also access The Great Pagoda and climb its 235 steps for stunning views across London."

"The 17th-century home of King George III, who preferred the countryside to the urban St James's Palace. Today only the building known as the Dutch House remains, however it is kept in immaculate condition."

"Moving on from the V&A, and the last stop on the tour is Buckingham Palace. Depending on the time of year you visit, you have a number of options for visiting Buckingham Palace. Personally, I’d advise going in the afternoon, after you’ve visited all the above, and to finish off your day. You’ll avoid the crowds associated with the changing of the guard ceremony, and have an overall far more pleasant experience."

"Aside from viewing the gorgeous estate located on the east end of St. James’s Park, visitors to Buckingham Palace can view the Changing of the Guard, one of the most quintessentially British traditions."