Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Queen's Park

"Established in 1536 by Henry VIII, Hyde Park is one of London’s largest green spaces, with more than 4,000 trees, vibrant flower gardens and a large meadow which plays host to many public concerts and celebrations. Check out the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, enjoy a bite in the royal park’s lakeside restaurants, or rent a row boat for a leisurely paddle on the Serpentine. Here are nine secrets no one knew about Princess Diana until after her death."

"Hyde Park sits between Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, adjacent to Kensington Gardens. Hyde Park's most prominent feature is The Serpentine, a 40-acre lake best known for its swimming club, which races here each year on Christmas Day. The park covers a total of 350 acres with numerous walking and cycling trails lined by trees, gardens, and plenty of benches."

"Hyde Park opened to the general public in 1637, and this was by order of King Charles, but it was not the reason why the park came into existence. In 1536, the park was acquired by Henry VIII, the first member of the royal family. The primary reason he acquired this large area of space was to turn it into a hunting ground."

"Of course you will want to check off primary attractions such as The Big Ben, The London Eye, or Westminster Abbey off your list. If you’re a keen shopper, you will want to hit the shopping mecca that is Oxford Street. But also make sure you experience luxurious afternoon tea in London , take an offbeat food tour, sample street art, and hit a few alternative bars in town. Check out our Guide To London for loads of offbeat and fun ideas of things to do in London."

"Famous for being the spot where coronations take place, Westminster Abbey is another tourist top spot. It’s a stunning, majestic building that has been around since 1090 when it was originally built. Various monarchs have ensured the upkeep of the building, guaranteeing that Westminster Abbey continues to be one of the crown jewels of London."

"Renzo Piano, its designer, is said to have been inspired by London’s railway lines when building this 95-floor behemoth. Visit the viewing area at The Shard, The View from The Shard observatory, stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, or visit one of The Shard’s restaurants."

"Just over 5 years old, The Shard, as both the European Union’s and United Kingdom’s tallest building, has quickly become a London skyline fixture. For unforgettable City of London views, head to the open-air observation tower on the Shard’s 72nd floor!"

"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 Tower Of London is an iconic London stop so make sure to see it during your 4 day London itinerary. Skip The Line At The Tower Of London And Crown Jewels and buy advance tickets here!"

"London is an eminently walkable city, and you’ll be able to take in the majority of the key highlights, from the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace through to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Then, on your second day, take advantage of that car and head out to some of the attractions outside of London. I’m thinking Windsor Castle, or Hampton Court Palace – both eminently explorable, and easy to reach with a car."

"You’ll want to leave the capital with some iconic panoramas of the city, and they don’t come much more iconic than the Tower Bridge. This gorgeous bridge over the Thames has been an integral part of the London landscape since the late 1800s, and continues to fascinate visitors – and delight photographers. While some might say it’s been done to death, I think there’s always a new take to be found."

"Some people thought I was being brave when I posted shots like this on Instagram, but this composition is actually taken from an island in the middle of the road (so it’s totally safe). Try using a tripod, long exposure and taking pictures at night for a similar result to below. Best time for pics: Blue hour/nightCost: FreeLocation:Link on Google Maps"

"One of St Albans most unusual museums is the delightful Signal Box Museum, housed in a restored 1892 signal box. See how trains were signalled during the days of steam locomotives and try your hand at the restored Victorian signals. A small museum on the ground floor of the signal box looks at the history of the railway in Hertfordshire and hosts a display of railway ephemera."

"A post shared by t m s c (@tschlagi) on Sep 26, 2018 at 10:56am PDT. If you want to visit this charming railway attraction, you will need to plan your visit, as it is only open on the afternoons of the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. But, having said that, if you make it here, you can expect an afternoon of railway fabulousness, especially if you have young children."

"The tower of St Mary Somerset stands forlorn in a heavily blitzed stretch of the City. However, it was not a victim of the second world war but was demolished by an Act of Parliament in 1874. Only the efforts of an architect, Ewan Christian, managed to save the tower for posterity."

"The highest point in Richmond Park affords uninterrupted views of the London skyline. This is the largest of the Royal Parks where you will be able to observe wild deer running freely. Be sure to visit the Isabella Plantation, an ornamental woodland garden full of exotic plants."

"Plateau offers liveliness and luxury in the centre of London’s business district, Canary Wharf|Courtesy of Plateau Restaurant. Offering a mesmerising view over London’s cityscape, Plateau restaurant is situated on the fourth floor of Canada Place in Canary Wharf. Serving contemporary French cuisine, Plateau gives guests a range of different seating options depending on the occasion."

"Plateau offers liveliness and luxury in the centre of London’s business district, Canary Wharf|Courtesy of Plateau Restaurant. Sitting on the border of Canada Place in Canary Wharf, Plateau boasts a truly sensational view of the cityscape. The restaurant features two dining rooms: one more formal main space for fine dining, and a more relaxed grill area."

"Hark on down to Battersea and enjoy your lunch with a gastro twist as this South London favourite promises guests a true British dose of dining in a comfortable, charming and welcoming environment."

"Restaurants Oyster bars South Kensington. After gazing at the fossilised fish and piscine rarities in the Natural History Museum, your kids can sample the real thing at this branch of the Wright Brothers’ seafood chain. Slurping fresh oysters straight from the shell is probably not a good idea for the little ones, although fail-safes such as smoked haddock croquettes or good old fish pie should keep them happy."

"Unit 1032, Lower Southern Terrace, Westfield White City, London W12 7GF Why should you care?. This is the second of Stevie Parle's fresh pasta bars, following the original in Soho. Expect affordable fresh pasta and this time they also have some cheesy soft serve."