Mentioned by Secret London
31 Fascinating & Free Museums Every Londoner Should Visit At Least Once
"š³š²šæāļøššš±The 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 gardenš²š³š“š±šāļøšæ #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"
"Sky Garden pairs epic views with tasty cocktails and an indoors garden, how can you not love that?. Sky Garden has a 360Ā° view all around London and a number of different bars and restaurants inside it. Access to Sky Garden is free but you have to book in advance if you want to skip the queues, donāt worry if you forget about booking, you can still access Sky Garden but you will have to wait a little longer before taking your perfect Instagram shots."
"Offering perhaps the best free vantage point in Central London, the indoor viewing decks and restaurants occupying the top three floors of 20 Fenchurch Street (known to locals as the "walkie-talkie") are a great place to hang out without spending a penny. It is open daily, just book your free visit in advance."
"Londonās first ice cream parlour made using liquid nitrogen, Chin Chin Labs is best known for their bold flavours, big scoops and scientific methods. The team wanted to create something which hadnāt been explored before and itās certainly done the trick because they now boast three outposts in London. Designed as a grab-and-go pit stop, their ice creams are great for scoring a āgram worthy image and fuelling you on your Sunday stroll around the city."
"For truly breathtaking ice-cream creations, head on down to Chin Chin. This little dessert spot is famous for its extravagant flavors (you can find things like meringue pie and tonka bean on the menu!), and you can even grab a signature hot chocolate if you want something to enjoy on the go. Such a great option if youāre looking for the best desserts in London."
"I remember my first Chin Chin ice cream years ago back in Camden Market. At that point the brand was pretty new and out there, making ice cream sundaes using liquid nitrogen. It was theatrical and fun, but also really sweet and delicious."
"If you gave a bunch of five year olds a box of crayons and told them to draw birthday cakes, youād probably end up with something that looks quite a bit like the celebration cakes at this Soho bakery and cafĆ©. Thatās not a bad thing. Cakes with names like āStrawberry Eat-On Messā*, āSāMoresā, āApple Pieā ā as a cake, and āPopcorn Dripā are short on cake and very long on globs of frosting, fillings, toppings and childlike humor."
"Nestled in the heart of Soho lives Cutter & Squidge, artisan cake makers who specialise in extravagance and wonder. Serving up slices of uniquely flavoured and decorated cakes along with their signature Biskie - a mix of cake, biscuit and cookie topped with marshmallow, buttercream and other goodies - itās a one-of-a-kind shop in London. And itās not just for the dairy eaters and gluten-friendly."
"Itās pretty, itās pink and the cakes and treats are equally as gorgeous to eat as well as look at. Their famous for their ābiskieā creations which are a cross between a cake and a cookie sandwiched with cream or chocolate. If you prefer you can go for one of their perfectly presented cakes by the slice."
"You can find GAIL's in numerous different locations, but the Kingās Road one makes the list simply for its classic black shop front that reminds us of a Victorian apothecary. Its cinnamon buns are a little crispier than the traditional soft dough kanelbulle but still delicious, and their chocolate pecan brownies are possibly the best in London. Various locations; gailsbread.co.uk"
"A long time favourite, Gailās is a great bakery to go for some of the best coffee in London and a baked snack. Thereās an all day (ātil 3pm) brunch menu as well. If youāre up for something a little more hearty, this is a great pick."
"GAILās is extremely popular among the London crowd, and itās easy to see why. One of the best desserts in London is the gorgeous Lemon & Rose cake. It is quite small for the price you pay, but the flavors are unbeatable."
"What: Now, the main thing to remember when brunching at this friendly all-day British restaurant in Dalston is that you can only order your next round of food when the whole table has finished. That means leaving 97-year-old granny and your mate āDave the slothā at home if you want to make the most of whatās on offer here. Once youāve rounded up your fast-eating friends, you can look forward to unlimited plates of classic breakfast and brunch fare, such as croissants, pancakes, various things on toast and, at risk of holding everyone else up, a full English (meaty, vegetarian or vegan)."
"Recent runner-up in the World Cup of Reading Restaurants, my Twitter poll to find Readingās best restaurant, Bakery House is a superb place for a sit-down dinner but its lunch options are equally impressive and much underrated. A quick hop across the IDR but easily reachable in a lunch break, they do magnificent wraps for around four quid. The falafel are faultless, but for non-vegetarians the lamb shawarma ā intense, savoury shards of meat (and lots of them too) is very hard to beat."
"Opened in June 2015, Bakery House focuses on the best of Lebanese food in a relaxed, informal dining environment. Mezze, grills, pastries are the specialty..."
"The popular Bakery House in London Street is taking orders for delivery and is registered with Deliveroo. Address: 82 London Street, Reading"
"After an energetic swim alfresco at the beautifully-restored Thames Lido, the chances are youāll want to eat; luckily in the restaurant youāll find a most appealing menu on offer. Thanks to strong connections with local producers the menu is tailored to suit the seasons and delivered with sustainability in mind. Weād whole-heartedly recommend the scallops and wood roast hake if youāre in the mood for fish; but check with the team to see whatās looking good for the day."
"The recently restored Grade II swimming pool located by the River Thames, first opened in 1902 as the Ladies Swimming Bath. Now offering Spa packages or a great dining experience."
"The bar and bistro in Valpy Street specialises in classic dishes, perfect for a quick lunch or a hearty main course. Along with a burger and sandwich menu plus seasonal daily specials, the place has lunch covered. Address: 17 to 19 Valpy Street, Reading, RG1 1AR"
"Valpys is a cellar bar and bistro nestled in the heart of the town, just a minutes walk from Reading Station. They have a real love of all things food, drink and service....."
"Valpys is a cellar bar and bistro nestled in the heart of the town, just a minutes walk from Reading Station. They have a real love of all things food, drink and service..."
"Charles Saatchi opened it in 1985 to exhibit his collection to the public. After having occupied different premises in North London, then the South Bank by the River Thames, the gallery is now located in Chelsea."
"Also known as the Temple of Mithras, this museum is centered around the remains of an ancient Roman temple in the City of London, left from the days of Roman rule, and is one of the lesser-known free museums in the capital. Named as one of the UKās most significant archaeological sites, the museum showcases the ancient temple and a selection of interesting Roman artefacts found during excavations, including fragments of writing-tablets which feature the first known reference to London and the earliest hand-written document in Britain."
"One of Londonās quirkier and lesser-known spots is literally a blend of old and new. The London Mithraeum is a museum centred around the ruins of a Roman Temple and is located, rather oddly, underneath the shiny glass Bloomberg Buildings in the middle of the city. A visit to the Mithraeum is not just looking at old artefacts, but a full on sensory experience."
"Year Built: c.240 CE Location: Modern-day Walbrook Purpose:Ā Temple/sanctuary Still Standing:Ā No ā only partial ruins remain. photo source: Wikimedia Commons. The Temple of Mithras is one of the few remnants leftover from the Roman Empireās time in the area and is one of the oldest buildings ever discovered in London."