Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Thornton Heath

"If you have absolutely no knowledge of London and are unable to find England on a map, you’ve probably still heard of Hyde Park. Being the most famous of London’s parks, it’s arguably the most touristy, but you won't see anyone it's huge. Hyde Park stretches across 350 acres of royal expanse, where visitors can enjoy a spot of boating, tennis and even horse riding."

"Hyde Park is another enormous park to explore, located right in the bustling centre of the city. The Royal Park was founded by Henry VIII in 1536 when he took the land from Westminster Abbey and used it as a hunting ground. It opened to the public in 1637 and has been popular with Londoners ever since."

"London’s most popular and famous park is a sprawling 350 acres in the heart of the city with miles of walking paths, dozens of statues and fountains and a beautiful lake perfect for relaxing by."

"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."

"Westminster Abbey is a pretty imposing building with stunning architecture. Needless to say, it makes for some pretty beautiful Instagram shots. If you want the perfect Instagram shot just walk a little further away from it along one of the roads that lead to it."

"Henry of Reyns (1245), Nicholas Hawksmoor (1745), George Gilbert Scott (1865)📕 Page 4. England’s royal history began here. Edward the Confessor rebuilt St Peter’s Abbey, a small Benedictine abbey, to provide himself with a royal burial church."

"This is an example of modern luxury, being part of the famous Shard building that towers above London. The building was completed in 2012 and was the tallest structure in Europe at the time. The multi-award-winning hotel takes up floors 34-52."

"With magnificent exhibits including the Crown Jewels and ravens around the grounds, the Tower of London is a showcase of British history and culture. During a visit to the tower, you can see where prisoners were kept before they were hung, drawn and quartered as well as walk around rooms which used to be the royal palaces. Dating back to 1075, the Tower of London brings six palaces together into a historical landmark right in the centre of London, which continues to attract those who want to learn all about British history."

"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."

"For a building still significant but just a bit (okay, a lot!) older, walk right across the River Thames to the Tower of London, which, having been founded in 1066, is nearly 1,000 years old!. Tours include exploring several different parts of the property – my favorite part of the tour during my visit was checking out the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom!"

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Since opening over 30 years ago, education has become a core part of Stepney City Farm, a rural oasis amid the bustling Tower Hamlets district. The farm caters to a wide range of different ages and interests: schools cake take part in projects such as potato growing and egg hatching, while adults can sign up to courses including bee keeping, rural arts and permaculture. Other initiatives include their Furry Tales project, which aims to bring different generations together and combat loneliness, and their Young Volunteers programme, whcih encourages 12-18 year olds to get hands-on experience of animal care and growing."

"16A Ash Avenue, Park Central East, Elephant Park, Elephant & Castle, London SE17 1GQ Why should you care?. 400 Rabbits have settled on Elephant and Castle as their latest pizzeria, bringing both their London sourdough pizzas and a brand new range of gelato made in-house."

"Founded in Florence before opening parlours all over London, Badiani is best known for its signature, award-winning gelato flavour La Dolce Vita. Just milk, sugar and eggs with swirls of cocoa and Piedmont hazelnut sauce, it’s sweet and rich, super thick and completely true to its name."

"The Rose is a Lewisham favourite for its expansive alfresco drinking and dining space. Raise a glass to the weekend with your nearest and dearest at this friendly local when temperatures start to rise."

"With two locations in South London, Three Little Birds are keeping vegans well fed with their wide range of Jamaican tapas dishes. From roasted jerk cauliflower to classic rice and peas, this place is unmissable for those who love their rum, reggae and Caribbean vibes."

"Not only does Aubaine deliver exceptional French cuisine, they also deliver on Instagrammable interiors. You already know we’re a sucker for a floral installation but seriously, how cute are these wisteria shots?!. Pull up a pew, grab yourself a cocktail and soak up these dreamy interiors."

"This Chinatown bakery has taken a classic Japanese sweet treat and made it both bigger and (possibly) better. Bake’s signature serve is inspired by taiyaki cakes – tiny cakes made in a waffle iron that are shaped to resemble a Japanese fish called a tai. Bake makes relatively massive taiyaki, opens their mouths, and uses them as cones for its green tea-flavoured soft serve."

"Ice Cream , Bakery/Cafe"