Mentioned by Secret London
31 Fascinating & Free Museums Every Londoner Should Visit At Least Once
"đłđ˛đżâď¸đđđąThe Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street is a unique public space that spans three storeys and offers 360 degree uninterrupted views across the City of London. Visitors can wander around the exquisitely landscaped gardens, observation decks and an open air terrace of what is London's highest public gardenđ˛đłđ´đąđâď¸đż #skygarden #london #beautiful #views #restaurant #stunning #londonbridge #bigben #toweroflondon #theshard #mustsee. A post shared by Life FR (@life_fr_) on Jan 2, 2018 at 10:22am PST"
"The ferns, fig trees and purple African lilies that clamber up the final three storeys of the 'Walkie Talkie' skyscraper are mere wallflowers at this 155m-high rooftop garden â it's the rather extraordinary 360-degree views of London (the best in the City) that make this vast, airport-terminal-like space so popular (advance booking recommended). Located on the 35th floor of 20 Fenchurch St, the Sky Garden has front-row seats for the Shard and vistas that gallop for miles east and west."
"Get the lift to the top of 20 Fenchurch Street and let your toddler explore Londonâs highest public garden. There are 360 degree views of the London skyline, gardens to run around in and a cafĂŠ where you can buy cakes and pastries. Cost â Free, but you need to prebook."
"When Chin Chin first opened their first place in a former condom shop (yes, really) in Camden their crazy take on making ice cream with liquid nitrogen may have been pre-Instagram but it was still an almost instant sensation. The thing is that it's not just a party trick, the ice cream they make here really does taste smoother because there are no ice crystals. They've also used their USP to devise a clever way of chilling ice cream down to a level that it can actually be sent by post."
"Restaurants Ice-cream parlours Soho. Those nitro-fuelled experimentalists at Chin Chin are the Willy Wonkas of the ice-cream world, and this Soho shop is an ostentatious showcase for their wares. Not only their signature ices, but also full-on desserts â thereâs some seriously elaborate stuff going on here amid all the bells and whistles (try the decadent tiramisu sundae)."
"Address: 49-50 Camden Lock, Camden Town, London NW1 8AF and 54 Greek Street, London W1D 3DS. Whether you're a science buff or not, you have to head here just for the experience - you get to watch as your dessert is frozen to order using liquid nitrogen. Toppings and sauces are kept in beakers to complete the science lab vibe, and flavours are outlandish - think pandan leaf and black sesame cake."
"If you gave a bunch of five year olds a box of crayons and told them to draw birthday cakes, youâd probably end up with something that looks quite a bit like the celebration cakes at this Soho bakery and cafĂŠ. Thatâs not a bad thing. Cakes with names like âStrawberry Eat-On Messâ*, âSâMoresâ, âApple Pieâ â as a cake, and âPopcorn Dripâ are short on cake and very long on globs of frosting, fillings, toppings and childlike humor."
"A biscuit isnât quite a dessert â unless itâs in the hands of Cutter & Squidge, that is. Enter the Biskie, the Soho bakeryâs signature dessert which sees two discs of a cake-cookie hybrid sandwich an array of flavoured creamy fillings. The chocolate sâmore version is filled with buttercream and a handmade marshmallow, while the blueberry cheesecake version layers jam, cheesecake cream and a wedge of digestive biscuit."
"We make everything from scratch and where possible we use real British ingredients or source from British producers where we canât.â. The sweet stuff: Cakes and (wince) âbiskiesâ. The stuff looks next-level, though, and the mixed selection boxes would make anyoneâs day."
"How did a chicken restaurant become one of the most beloved chains in Britain?. Nandoâs offers so much more than its delicious flame-roasted chicken â they have dozens of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as healthy sides and salads. Itâs no wonder that Nandoâs is amongst the most popular family restaurants in Wembley Park."
"Address: London Designer Outlet, Empire Way, Wembley, Greater London HA9 0PA. Phone number: 0208 902 7388. On the menu: Famed for its chicken."
"Restaurants Bakeries Belgravia. Looking pretty in pink, this cute candy-floss emporium from patisserie queen and cake designer extraordinaire Peggy Porschen is an absolute wow â whether youâre purchasing some of her outrageously elaborate confections from the posh boutique or sitting down for cake and a cuppa in her self-styled parlour. There arenât many tables, so be prepared to wait for your chosen treat â perhaps âglorious Victoriaâ sponge, dark chocolate truffle cake or something seasonal such as the Easter-themed âspeckled nest vanilla cloudâ topped with mini chocolate eggs."
"Thereâs no doubt you will have seen this Belgravia cafĂŠ pop up on your Insta feed. With a façade as pretty pink as their buttercream icing, Peggy Porschen is a celebration of all this unashamedly cute and girly. Order cakes online or head to their outpost for the cakes⌠and for the âgram."
"Few places in London are as pink, as frilly or as social media friendly as the Peggy Porschen cake shop in Londonâs Belgravia. Everything tastes just as good as everything looks with the occasion cakes winning on the style and yumminess factor. They also serve a fabulous afternoon tea."
"Restaurants Bakeries Dalston. It may be little more than a hole-in-the-wall behind Ridley Road market in Dalston, but Araratâs Middle Eastern-style flatbreads (they call them ânaansâ) are the stuff of legend and find their way into countless restaurants and shops across town â as well serving the needs of hungry local boozehounds. The action centres around a huge rotating oven and a trestle table where the naans are bagged up (hot ones are wrapped in paper, cold ones come in environmentally friendly plastic bags)."
"This poky bakery on Ridley Road Market does some of the best flatbreads in the whole of London. This is the spot to visit if youâre in the market for a bread thatâs wonderfully chewy, easy to tear-and-share, and practically begging to be dragged through a pool of hummus. Affable owner Chaudhry Zafar Iqbal has perfected each and every blistered bread that comes out of Araratâs intimidating naan oven."
"This tiny operation on Dalstonâs thrumming Ridley Road Market serves Londonâs most outstanding flatbread. Blistered, pillowy, light, soft â the run of adjectives could go on and on â and wrapped with egg, garlic, or finely-minced meat if a quick lunch is needed, nothing else is needed."
"Unless you've had your head buried in the sand for the last couple of years, you will have noticed Goose Island's takeover of the London craft beer scene. Head to their first UK bar in Shoreditch which delivers pints fresh from the brewing room and deep-pan Chicago-style pizza to soak it all up."
"At Horniman Museum, your kids will get to explore some of the most important elements of the natural and cultural world. Based off the lifelong passion of the Victorian tea trader John Horniman, the museum has a collection of almost thirty thousand elements of the natural history and world culture. The legendary Totem Pole, the Humanity in the House of Circumstance neoclassical mosaic mural, the aquarium, the gigantic walrus and the wonderful galleries and displays are only some of the most popular attractions of the Horniman Museum the kids will love."
"The Horniman Museum, founded in 1901, has around six hectares (16 acres) of gardens to explore, plus daily free activities for children. It also houses dozens of family-friendly exhibits, including the Nature Base, which features live animals; a hands-on display that lets kids touch museum pieces; and an aquarium with 15 exhibits of environments from around the world."
"If in need of a break while exploring the luxury boutiques of Mount Street in Mayfair, or the surrounding gourmet offerings, Mount Street Gardens are beautifully maintained and almost hidden. Perch on one of the many benches and admire the trees of this exotic hideaway."
"Tucked away in Bloomsbury, London's most literary quarter, Russell Square is one of London's best central spaces, an idilic park to enjoy some peace and quiet. Read a book or enjoy the sound of bird song and fountains in this well kept park."
"While Richmond Park is by far the most famous park in the area, Old Deer Park is an open space dedicated to sports facilities and community events. It has play areas, tennis courts, an outdoor gym and sports pitches. You can also access Pools on the Park, a sports, fitness and pool complex."