Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in The Lee

"Hyde Park is the largest park in central London and another of the capitals important Royal Parks. There are plenty of free things to do in Hyde Park, including taking a stroll through the colourful Rose Garden, visiting the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain (or one of the parks many other statues and memorials), stepping inside the free Serpentine Art Gallery, listening to the speakers at Speakers Corner or sitting beside the large Serpentine Lake to watch the swans and pedalos for a while."

"When a park is home to a few Princes and a Duchess or two, you know it’s going to be good. As well as green spaces abundant enough to dodge the crowds, you’ll find historic monuments to explore, fountains to both splash about in and admire, myriad art installations, and free exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery a short walk away from its namesake lake. Now that’s a walk in the park."

"The Shard has one of the most beautiful and photogenic views over London (if you manage to go on a sunny day, unlike the one when I went and snapped the photo below). My advice for visiting The Shard is to go enjoy the view from the cocktail bar, instead of the viewing floor. As you can imagine cocktails are expensive, however they are only a couple pounds more expensive than the entry ticket to the viewing deck."

"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."

"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..."

"Over 900 years old, this great castle is located in the centre of the city. It has been used for a wide range of purposes over the years including holding the crown jewels and housing various prisoners. It is for this reason that tourists hardly ever miss a chance to take a trip back in time and explore this medieval masterpiece."

"I got the above shot about five minutes before the below shot, and you can see how dramatically quickly the light and clouds have changed!. The other thing to keep in mind are the crowds. Attractions like the Tower of London get really busy."

"Now home to the British Crown Jewels, the Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. It served as a prison from 1100 to the mid twentieth century. This has led to the phrase “sent to the Tower”, meaning imprisoned."

"Finally, we have reached the number one spot in the best buildings and architecture in London and we have picked Tower Bridge. Of course, bridges are not always the top attractions on the list, but in London, the Tower Bridge is a must-see for the architectural views that one will be exposed to. It’s a combined bascule and suspension bridge that was built between 1886 and 1894."

"Tower Bridge is without a doubt the most famous drawbridge in the world. This alone makes it a must-see landmark when visiting London. A lot of photographs have been taken from this spot already and the pedestrian ways seem to be crowded 24/7."

"Easily one the most cherished green spaces in London, this is a very popular and much-loved area of London which can be found in the well-heeled area of Hampstead. The ‘Heath’ is a natural-looking park with a variety of landscapes including hills, ponds, woodlands and open grassy places. For the more active visitors the area is home to eight playgrounds running tracks, three swimming pools, grassland, woodlands, ponds and sports areas."

"Part of what makes Hampstead Heath so special is its wild beauty — check it out in all its rugged glory here. The other part is the stunning views of the capital it boasts, which makes the heath perfect for picnics, as does its proximity to some stellar delis and bakeries. It's also a cracking choice for a weekend ramble — thesetwo take in much of the Heath."

"#sky #hill #earlymorning #goodmorning #lovetheheath #earlymorning #sunrise #spring #walk #longwalk #hampsteadheath #theheath #hampstead #love #london #staystrong #lockdown #socialdistancing. A post shared by Junho Kim (@junbug_london) on May 26, 2020 at 10:32pm PDT. Escape the hustle and bustle of central London a mere four miles away inHampstead Heath."

"St Etheldreda’s Church is the oldest church in London, and one of only two in the city which have survived since the reign of Edward I. The exact date in which the building was constructed is unknown but is expected to be between 1250 and 1290. Dedicated to the Anglo-Saxon saint Etheldreda who founded the monastery at Ely back in 673 the church was purchased by the Catholic Church in 1874 and opened in 1878. As such it’s now one of the oldest operational churches in England owned by the Catholic Church."

"St Ethelreda Ely is a fragment of a medieval ecclesiastical palace belonging to the Bishop of Ely. It used to be the chapel and dates from 1293. The crypt incorporates older walls that may have been part of the Roman basilica."

"Dating from the reign of Edward I, this is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the country and was the private chapel of the Bishops of Ely"

"One of the most iconic landmarks in London is at Trafalgar Square, where Nelson’s Column was erected to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars of 1805 between France and Spain. The square is in the center of London in the Charing Cross area, and has become a central point for visitors to London. As you walk around the square, you’ll notice many sculptures, statues and monuments that were erected at various points in history."

"Two of London's best-known tourist spots, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square lie not far apart and mark the gateways to Soho, London's lively theater and entertainment district. Trafalgar Square was built to commemorate Lord Horatio Nelson's victory over the French and Spanish at Trafalgar in 1805. Nelson's Column, a 183-foot granite monument, overlooks the square's fountains and bronze reliefs, which were cast from French cannons."

"Continue the walk north to Trafalgar Square. This is one of London’s most popular public squares. It has been the site for anti-war demonstrations, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and victory parades."

"Located on an island in the middle of the bustling Strand, St Clement Danes Church church offers an oasis of calm. Explore the famous London church, whose bells are mentioned in the traditional Oranges and Lemons nursery rhyme, and hear them ring out across the City of London several times a day. Reconsecrated as the Central Church of the Royal Air Force in 1958, the church is also home to books of remembrance and more than 1,000 RAF badges."

"St Clement Danes church is one of the best-known churches in Westminster, London. It’s a fine white Baroque building with a prominent spire on a traffic island in the Strand, close to the Royal Courts of Justice. It’s famous for the nursery rhyme ‘Oranges and lemons ring the bells of St Clement’s’, and it’s not the only church in our list to get a mention in."

"Christopher Wren and James Gibbs rebuilt the original 9th-century church, but only its outer walls and steeple survived destruction in the Blitz"

"Kings College London only recently opened this permanent site for the Science Gallery, a dedicated space for showing contemporary artwork that explores scientific questions. Its inaugural exhibition is all about addiction, called Hooked, and previous shows in its travelling days have investigated blood, food and orifices. Think of it as looking at science through the eyes of an artist."

"Science Gallery London is an art-science-and-health inspired gallery in London. The free museum has been open since 2018 in London Bridge after a series of pop-up exhibits across London. The gallery aims to bring together scientists, artists, and communities with three themed seasons every year."

"London's vegan restaurant scene knows no bound, and Genesis is right up there with one of the prettiest places to grab a bite. Not only are plates filled with healthy vegan burgers and bites, the interiors are a dream all their own thanks to pastel pink walls, flashes of cactus green and neon aplenty."

"Rotisserie chicken pros Cocotte have a few locations in Hoxton, Notting Hill, and Parsons Green, and now they’re offering delivery and takeaway too. Head to their website to order whole chickens, roasted pepper salads, and other tasty bits."

"Established in 1917 as an unlicensed Italian café, The Ivy expanded into its current site in 1923, quickly becoming an institution for the highbrow theatre set, including regulars Laurence Olivier and Noel Coward. Having passed through many hands — Corbin and King bought it in the late 80s, Richard Caring has been the owner since 2005 — The Ivy experienced a decline in favour, before benefitting from a makeover in 2015. It didn’t just get a rather impressive art deco bar, but a new menu too — with Asian-influenced dishes rubbing shoulders with the classics (shepherd’s pie, sausage and mash) for which it is so loved."

"Join everyone who is, was or will be anyone at the original celebrity haunt. The Ivy London, perfectly situated in the heart of Theatreland, routinely draws in celebrities from the worlds of film, TV and theatre. Laurence Olivier and Noël Coward have made way for David and Victoria Beckham, Angelina Jolie and Kate Hudson."

"If you’re planning on hitting the theatre and want a classy West End meal to match, you can’t go wrong with The Ivy. You’ll find epic versions of the British classics but also more modern, internationally influenced grub. The Ivy1-5 West StreetLondon WC2H 9NQVisit website: The Ivy"

"Bars and pubs Hotel bars Mayfair. With views of Tadao Ando’s ‘Silence’ fountain, The Terrace at The Connaught is a posh people-watching spot. Along with the drinks, this spring/summer menu includes black truffle and fontina pizza, crispy salmon sushi (not sure how that works, but hey) and a burrata salad with crushed rhubarb, kaffir lime, black pepper and basil."

"Off-the-beaten-track gastropub The Gun is a bit of a walk from Canary Wharf, but it’s well worth going out of your way for. Perched right on the Thames, the stylish pub boasts lovely views of the 02 and Greenwich – particularly from its waterside terrace, which fills up quickly during the summer months. Despite undergoing a lengthy refurbishment last year, The Gun maintains its history and heritage, with long-cherished features such as open fires and wooden panelling."

"What: If you’re someone who believes weekends exist for boozy brunches, then you’re sure to have heard of Gaucho’s Electro Brunch Feast. Hedonistic to the extreme, this banquet – there really is no other way to describe it – includes tables groaning with the weight of unlimited food and drink to the tune of whatever smooth beats the DJ feels like spinning. This all you can eat offering includes all manner of brunch dishes from eggs Benedict to bacon sarnies, steak and eggs, and burrata on sourdough, all served up with an epic line-up of free-flowing cocktails."

"Bringing the vibrance and colour of Argentina to the dreary streets of London, comes Gaucho. Their menu blends both the Mediterranean and the indigenous cooking as Argentine food derives from its European heritage. Whether you like your steak rare, medium or well done, in true Argentinean style it’ll be smokey from an open flame, and slathered in your choice of béarnaise or chimichurri sauce."

"The Gaucho group is back with a new CEO and a new concept (including a beef bar), starting with a reinvention of its Charlotte Street site."