Popular Gardens in Banyards

"Less than an hour from central London, Kew Gardens provides the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city – and of course some Instagram gems. Set over 300 acres and comprised of over 50,000 living plants, this UNESCO World Heritage Site will take you on a captivating journey through a variety of ecosystems. There’s plenty of things to do in Kew Gardens, so set aside at least a few hours, although you could easily turn it into a full day trip from London!"

"Whether you’re a fan of gardens or not, Kew Gardens is one of the most beautiful places in London. The Hive is a unique new structure exploring the story of the honey bee, and children will love the Treetop Walkway. Best shot: the Waterlily House or the spiral staircase make for superb captures."

"Founded in 1840, using plants from Kew Park in Middlesex, Kew Gardens is one of the largest and lushest botanic gardens in the world."

"Located on the 43rd floor of the Walkie Talkie building in the City of London, the Sky Garden is the capital’s highest public garden and one of the coolest places to visit in London for free. The garden’s large plant-filled atrium has floor-to-ceiling windows with amazing panoramic views out over the city below and is open throughout the day and into the evenings on weekends – making it one the best free things to do in London at night too!. There’s also an open-air covered terrace on one side."

"Set atop 20 Fenchurch Street (aka the Walkie Talkie building), Sky Garden is the highest public garden in London. Amidst a lush urban jungle, it offers stunning 360° panoramic views of the city. The unique setting and spectacular views easily make this one of the most Instagrammable places in London."

"The Horniman Museum is somewhere which often gets overlooked by visitors to London, as it’s further out of the centre, but is actually a great museum with toddlers and kids as it’s a manageable size and has a mix of different exhibits – part natural history museum, part aquarium, a few mummies and other exhibits which might not be out of place at the British Museum. The new World Gallery also explores what it means to be human while the stuffed walrus has his own Twitter account… There are also 16 acres of grounds with a nature trail, a sound garden, butterfly house and some small animals in a mini zoo, including alpacas, goats, sheep, guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens. And while many of the sections are small, including the compact aquarium, it makes it one of the best for toddlers who’ll be as fascinated and happy to gaze for ages."

"The Horniman Museum is a brilliant London museum for kids located in Forest Hill, South London. This museum features a natural history gallery with a large collection of taxidermy, a musical instrument gallery, an aquarium with 15 exhibits (with ticket purchase) and a calendar of special exhibitions and events. The famous Horniman walrus that has been on display in the museum for over a century, sits in the middle of the natural history gallery with a large collection of taxidermy, skeletons and fossils."

"One of the most famous palaces in England, Hampton Court is known for its lush gardens and unusual architecture (half-Tudor, half-Baroque). Get lost in the Hampton Court maze, see the largest grapevine in the world, and take a behind-the-scenes look at a palace kitchen that was once used to serve hundreds of guests. Historical reenactments take place during the day and are a delight for travellers interested in British royalty. Hampton Court is within walking distance of the nearby train station and the River Thames for easy access back to London."

"Built by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in 1515 but coaxed from him by Henry VIII just before Wolsey (as chancellor) fell from favour, Hampton Court Palace is England's largest and grandest Tudor structure. It was already one of Europe's most sophisticated palaces when, in the 17th century, Christopher Wren designed an extension. The result is a beautiful blend of Tudor and 'restrained baroque' architecture. You could easily spend a day exploring the palace and its 24 hectares of riverside gardens, including a 300-year-old maze."

"The Bonsai House was formerly known as the Alpine House No. 24 prior to the construction of the Davies Alpine House."

"Summer is the best time of year to stop by the Waterlily House, a small, square glasshouse by the Palm House, to see the amazing Santa Cruz waterlilies, lotus flowers and other aquatic plants. The lily pads of the Santa Cruz waterlilies grow up to two metres wide!. Fun fact: the circular pond spans over 10 metres and is dyed black (using a harmless food dye) weekly to stop algae growth"

"The Waterlily House is the hottest and most humid of the houses at Kew and contains a large pond with varieties of water lily, surrounded by a display of economically important heat-loving plants. It closes during the winter months. It was built to house Victoria amazonica, the largest of the water lily family Nymphaeaceae."

"Located in the heart of Chelsea, The Phene is a charming gastropub that has got a slick choice come lunchtime. From light lunches that let you combine proteins and salads through to open sandwiches, lunch here is a healthy and tasty affair."

"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."

"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 – whether you’re 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 aren’t many tables, so be prepared to wait for your chosen treat – perhaps ‘glorious Victoria’ sponge, dark chocolate truffle cake or something seasonal such as the Easter-themed ‘speckled nest vanilla cloud’ topped with mini chocolate eggs."

"Possibly the original Instagram cafe, this place has become Insta-famous, renowned for its epic floral displays and fabulous cupcakes. The popularity of Peggy Porschen has even led to them opening a second cafe on King’s Road in Chelsea. Not only is this adorable pink cafe absolute Instagram heaven, Peggy Porschen cakes and coffee are also delicious."

"That’s what you’ll find at these posh, pink patisseries in Belgravia and Chelsea. Creating not only beautiful and flavour-filled baked goods, Peggy Porschen is famed for its dreamlike setting which will make you feel like an absolute queen."

"A stalwart on London's brunch scene, Megan's certainly know how to kick your weekend off right. With venues spanning the city, from Clapham to Islington, you're never far from their signature blue-checkered table cloths, twinkling fairy lights and healthy breakfast plates."

"If you're looking to update your Insta-feed with a few beautiful food snaps in a pretty restaurant, look no further than Megan's. A favourite among celebrities and bloggers, the restaurant boasts beautiful interiors paired with equally tantalising food offerings."

"You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Megan's 💙 (@megansrestaurants)"

"Two Tree Island is a small island just southwest of Leigh-on-Sea and connected only by a bridge. With its breathtaking sights and a wealth of various wildlife to observe and explore, it’s no wonder that Two Tree Island is so popular with bird watchers and nature enthusiasts."

"No trip to London is complete without indulging in the British classic, fish and chips. Every Londoner will lay claim to his or her favorite neighborhood “chippy,” so the options for enjoying this greasy goodness are endless. For a more upscale experience, try The Chipping Forecast in charming Notting Hill."

"Reminiscent of places like Morton's or Smith & Wollensky in Manhattan, Hawksmoor is unique in offering well-aged porterhouse steaks in larger sizes, which can be shared among several diners. The beef may be British but the values are very much all-American, where huge slabs of meat and incredible side dishes are main-staples of the steakhouse. This is as good an experience as you'll get in London."

"If you’re all about the home comforts when it comes to your desserts then you’ll be hard pressed to find a better option than the peanut butter shortbread at Hawksmoor. Just make sure you save some room for it after your roast dinner!"

"Restaurants British Seven Dials"