Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Swanley

"3 km from city center 12 out of 40 places to visit in London. Hyde Park is visited by millions of tourists and local people every year and it is one of the eight royal parks in London. The Hyde Park covers an area of 350 acres and is home to a number of famous landmarks like the Serpentine Lake, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain and the Speaker's corner."

"Covering 350 acres, Hyde Park is London's largest open space and has been a destination for sightseers since 1635. One of the park's highlights is the Serpentine, an 18th-century man-made lake popular for boating and swimming. Hyde Park is also where you'll find Speakers' Corner, a traditional forum for free speech — and heckling."

"After visiting Kensnigton Palace, if the weather is nice, I’d spend some time exploring Kensington Gardens and adjacent Hyde Park. Within this large green space, you’ll find a number of gardens, sporting area, statues, biking trails, and boat rentals (seasonal)."

"Standing proudly next to the Westminster Houses of Parliament, the home of British politics, is the beautiful and hugely significant Westminster Abbey. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site back in 1987, this church is one of the most important in the UK and dates back to around 800AD. Westminster Abbey is steeped in history and has been the scene of royalty since William the Conqueror in the 1000s."

"At number ten on our list of the best buildings and architecture in London is the historic Westminster Abbey. It’s one of the Uk’s most notable religious buildings. It’s also the traditional place of coronation and burial site for British Monarchs."

"Westminster Abbey is one of the most important historical places in London. The royal abbey church dates back almost a thousand years. It is also the burial place of many of Britain’s kings and queens."

"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."

"The Shangri-La Suite is the top suite at the Shangri-La at The Shard, designed to maximise the view of London’s skyline from every direction possible. The 2,000 square foot one bedroom suite is plush and homely with one of the best views you’ll see from any hotel room. Click to read about the Shangri-La Luxury Circle programme which gives guests access to a host of added value amenities."

"In a city like London with strict codes, decent architecture and access to the world’s leading architects, is not so easy to actually get things to be built. Big teams of lawyers, political figures and the general public are involved in what gets or doesn’t get built in the capital. So the fact that the Shard, the EU’s tallest building, got approved and erected means a great deal."

"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 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"

"Discover the unique history of this medieval fortress, royal palace and infamous prison. 🏰 The Tower of London is home to the dazzling Crown Jewels 👑 and legendary Beefeaters 💂‍♀️ and ravens."

"Inside Tower Bridge, there’s also a spectacular Glass Floor Walkway from which to admire the views. Take a break at one of the great places to eat near Tower Bridge afterwards. Best shot: from the South side of the river just past the bridge – or on the bridge itself whilst there’s no road traffic."

"A real South East London gem, Ladywell Fields is one of London's best parks to visit with or without kids. A lovely little stream to paddle in or jump over, play areas and loads of space to roam or rest."

"Made up of two lakes surrounded by marshland and filled with all manner of toads, frogs, newts, birds and dragon flies, try one of the many organised activities such as pond dipping, bird watching, close-up observation and sketching of pond invertebrates. For those who want to help the environment, get involved in the Wednesday and Saturday conservation workshops. Thames Park, John Harrison Way, SE10 OQZ, greenwichecologypark.com"

"One of the highlights of visiting Kew Gardens in summer is seeing the stunning Rose Garden behind the Palm House. The Rose Garden at Kew Gardens is home to 170 different species and cultivars of rose, with bold plantings of mixed shrub roses."

"One of London’s best views can be seen from the top of primrose hill, making the hike up well worth it. Passing through meticulously manicured gardens with beautiful flowers and fountains with a walk uphill to where the view awaits. A great place to watch the fireworks or simply get one of London’s best views, with plenty of green space for a picnic or a rest."

"While Primrose Hill isn’t a playground as such, Regent’s Park (and specifically Primrose Hill) is a wonderful place to just spread out a picnic blanket and look at the London skyline. With a toddler in tow, it’s important to bring some bubbles or other things to keep them occupied, but there is plenty of space for them to run around."

"St Mary at Hill is the old fisherman’s church, as for centuries, the fish trade was carried out at nearby Billingsgate and in the surrounding streets. So it is by Wren (1670-6), except the tower of 1780, on the site of an earlier church dating from the twelfth century. The historian Stow says that Thomas Becket was a parson there."

"The one-time Ramsay protégé won over London with Pollen Street Social and now has a mini-empire of restaurants including Social Eating House, Berners Tavern and this small spot near Regent Street. Here, Atherton has created a menu of French bistro classics with modern — and often British — twists. Think Cornish cod with cockles, terrine with smoked duck, ox cheeks with bone marrow, or a cottage pie ‘Bourguignon’."

"Somewhat bemusingly, it claims to be the oldest French restaurant in London despite only being founded in the 1940s. Still, the menu is brimming with classic French dishes, so we’ll forgive this apparent fib."

"Best for: Vegan fine dining so good you’d never know it’s vegan. The London vegan restaurant scene has proven time and time again that just about any food can be made vegan, and made vegan well, at that; take Pied a Terre, for example, a Goodge Street restaurant offering Michelin-star vegan à la carte and tasting menus. Open for nearly 30 years, the restaurant serves a traditional French cuisine with subtle Greek influences under the watchful eye of new head chef Asimakis Chaniotis, who took the reins in 2017."

"One of London's oldest Michelin-starred restaurants – it’s held at least one star since 1993 – has a fantastic vegetarian/vegan menu showcasing the assured classical French with a touch of Greek cooking of chef Asimakis Chaniotis, served in one of the city’s most fun dining rooms."

"White asparagus with samphire, bitter leaves and gem lettuce from the vegan tasting menu at Pied à Terre. Got a special occasion coming up?. Looking to treat someone special?"

"Pastel-coloured scoops, golden shards of sesame brittle and thick slabs of soft serve sandwiched between pistachio and coconut cookies is the vibe of one of London’s most talked about ice cream parlours. What makes it even more unique is the fact it’s vegan. Established in 2017, founder Natalie Slack serves plant-based ice cream made from a cashew nut milk and coconut base."

"If you’re looking for the best desserts in London that are plant-based, dairy free and vegan – then you’re going to love this next suggestion. Black Milq serve up delicious ice cream… and ALSO amazing ice cream sandwiches. And that’s what we’re here to recommend."

"They have a wide range of desserts to choose from, including customisable crepes, waffles and sundaes. Located only five minutes away from our Manhattan Heights apartments, Creams is a great place to visit when you feel like treating yourself to something extra sweet. It’s ideal for friends, children, or the perfect place for a date with your sweetheart!"

"Now, versions of the Peruvian national dish pop up on all sorts of menus across the capital, and that’s largely thanks to its namesake restaurant putting it on our relatively small map. Ceviche’s Soho and Old Street restaurants serve the dish of fish cured in citrusy “tiger’s milk” in a variety of flavour-packed forms: ceviche Peruano offers a traditional mix of seabass, sweet potato, red onion and Andean corn, while the “Passionate” tiradito sees slithers of salmon swim in a passion fruit-infused curing liquor. W1, EC1, cevichefamily.com"

"Restaurants Peruvian Soho"

"Restaurants Australian Shoreditch. Lantana’s weekend brunch menu rings the changes when compared to the standard menus on offer throughout the week. A few classics (think smashed avocado and honey granola with Greek yoghurt) sit alongside more unusual assemblies including duck and sweet potato hash, a salmon poke bowl and a pork belly bánh mì burger with gochujang mayo."