Popular Gardens in South Bank

"In 1759 botanists began rummaging around the world for specimens to plant in the 3-hectare Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. They never stopped collecting, and the gardens, which have bloomed to 121 hectares, provide the most comprehensive botanical collection on earth (including the world's largest collection of orchids). A Unesco World Heritage Site, the gardens can easily devour a day's exploration; for those pressed for time, the Kew Explorer hop-on/hop-off road train takes in the main sights."

"12 km from city center 9 out of 40 places to visit in London. A World Heritage Site, London’s Kew Gardens is famous for its sprawling landscape and an impressive collection of flora and fauna. It is home to the world’s most diverse and enchanting species of flora, spread over 121 hectares, and in existence for more than 250 years."

"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."

"🌳🌲🌿☘️🍃🍀🌱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 garden🌲🌳🌴🌱🍀☘️🌿 #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"

"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."

"Number two on our list of the bests building and architecture in London is the stunning sky gardens. This is one of the most modern buildings found in the city. Also, its one of the highest public gardens to be found in the United Kingdom."

"One of the further-flung museums on our list, head south-east to Forest Hill for this fantastic all-rounder. Based upon the eclectic collections of Frederick John Horniman, you’ll find a gallery of taxidermy (including a famously over-stuffed walrus), a new World Gallery based on diverse civilisations around the globe, a butterfly house, an underground aquarium (this has an admission charge) and even some cute llamas outside in the beautiful gardens. A perfect family day out."

"Frederick John Horniman was quite the hoarder, but with his eclectic collection of natural history specimens, anthropology artefacts and, er, musical instruments now on display, we’ll let him off for that. Among the natural science galleries you’ll find taxidermied animals aplenty – including a hilariously overstuffed walrus – alongside living exhibits in the form of the inhabitants of an aquarium and a butterfly house. 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ, horniman.ac.uk"

"Founded in 1901 by Frederick John Horniman, a tea merchant who wanted a space to display his private collection of natural history, the Horniman Museum is a nature lover’s dream. See African art or visit the tiny aquarium. We especially like the conservatory, set in a grand Victorian glasshouse with views over the rolling gardens."

"Hampton Court Palace (fee*) is a former royal palace, originally built in the 16th century for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a powerful person during the time of King Henry VIII. However, Wolsey would fall out of favor with the king (as most people did) and Henry would confiscate his house and use it as his own palace. The huge Tudor and Baroque style royal palace was used by British monarchs until the 18th century and is now a popular tourist destination. The palace is huge and you could spend all day exploring its many rooms, but luckily the self-guided tours are broken up by themes so you can decide which parts of the palace are of most interest to you. The gardens, the tennis court, and hedge maze are also definitely worth exploring here."

"Another great Thames-side attraction, Hampton Court is one of Europe's most famous palaces. Its Great Hall dates from Henry VIII's time (two of his six wives supposedly haunt the palace), and it's where Elizabeth I learned of the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Other interesting features include the Clock Court with its fascinating astronomical clock dating from 1540, the State Apartments with their Haunted Gallery, the Chapel, the King's Apartments, and the Tudor tennis court."

"The Princess Diana memorial playground in Kensington Gardens is a fantasy land, very much inspired by Peter Pan, for children up to about 12. It is a safe, fenched area for families only. This playground has remained open, but with reduced capacity, maximum 150 children at a time, because of this you may have to queue to get in."

"On the other side of the rose pergola from the Agius Evolution Garden, you’ll find the Kitchen Garden where Kew Gardens grow edible plants to learn more about producing healthy and sustainable food. I love bringing the kids here during the summer to see the various crops, and in the autumn to see the pumpkin patch. Keep an eye out for their Kitchen Garden sales, where they sell fruits and vegetables from the garden from May to September."

"The Kitchen Garden is a vegetable garden with fruits and vegetables, and can be seen growing different products in all seasons. Vegetables are selected for maximum flavor and to provide mature products in all seasons. There you find asparagus, potatoes, peas, spinach, strawberries, carrot varieties (including purple and yellow), gooseberries, garlic, beans and many other foods."

"Valentines Mansion & Gardens is a Grade II on the National Heritage List for both building and garden. Built in 1696, the mansion was for the widow of Archbishop of Canterbury John Tillotson's widow, Lady Tillotson. It later was the home of Sir Charles Raymond."

"Full of rare and unusual trees and shrubs, the Isabella Plantation is a beautiful spot set in the depths of Richmond Park. It’s a green space for most of the year, but in April & May, the azaleas bloom and Isabella Plantation becomes a perfect pink paradise. COVID-19 UPDATE: Isabella Plantation is currently closed to the public."

"This small Victorian woodland plantation was planted in the 1830s, but not opened to the public until 1953. It’s famed for its evergreen azaleas, which are best viewed in late April or early May. The garden includes the National Collection of Wilson 50 Kurume Azaleas, as well as other rare and unusual shrubs and trees."

"13/06/2021: Non so se sia cambiato qualcosa nel corso degli anni, ma come rapporto qualitá / prezzo è sempre stato ottimo. Si puó scegliere il grado di piccante del pollo ( veramente buono ) e le bibite sono self service e a volontá ,con un prezzo fisso nel menú che si sceglie.Mi sono fermato piu volte da Nando's e sono contento che questa catena sia resistita nel corso degli anni.Consigliato. 29/05/2021: Went to Nando's because we were starving."

"This Portuguese chain is the people’s choice for peri-peri chicken, but also makes its money with burgers, wraps, pittas, salads and steaks. As a family-friendly go-to option, it has special menus for young ‘nandinos’ too. Flagship site: 10 Frith Street, W1D 3JF"

"Good news for regulars of Barry’s and Hotpod Yoga in Eccleston Yards, as Atis – the East London salad bar – brings its bowls of goodness to the wellness hub in West. The menu includes Atis’ staples like Miso Hungry (shredded kale, wild rice, edamame, charred lemon broccoli, miso lime and ginger dressing) and Seiz’a Ceasar (a riff on the the chicken Ceasar salad), but there’s also the option to build your own bowl from scratch. 1-2 Eccleston Yards, Belgravia, SW1W 9AZ | 145 City Road, London, EC1V 1AZ"

"Mildreds is a bit of a classic, having served vegetarian meals in Soho since 1988. It now caters to vegans too, offering up flavors from Asia, South and Central America and the Middle East, alongside British classics and Mildreds’ famous burgers. I highly recommend the Sri Lankan sweet potato curry, and the shimeji mushroom gyoza dumplings are delicious, too."

"True to its Soho location, Mildreds combines the eclectic and the fun. With a no-booking policy, this spot is perennially full and bustling. Once you gain entry to the crowded restaurant, the options promise a culinary trip around the world."

"The Brunel museum is situated above the Thames Tunnel, Brunel's amazing feat of engineering which saw him construct the oldest tunnel under water in the oldest metro system in the world. A visit to the museum tells visitors how he built the tunnel, which took 18 long years and cost many lives, and if you book a guided tour, you can climb down in to the shaft which used to serve the tunnel, and listen to an actor guide recreate the conditions that Brunel and his workers faced more than 185 years ago when they started construction. It is a fascinating piece of history and the museum is simply but fascinatingly done."

"It’s time to get physical with this museum, which is dedicated to the Industrial Revolution’s biggest engineering science don, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The museum is actually housed inside one of Brunel’s extraordinary creations: the Thames Tunnel, which is the oldest tunnel to run under a river in the world. Discover how the tunnel was constructed and explore the chamber where Brunel nearly drowned trying to build it."

"Fronted by a pair of intimidating 15in naval guns and a piece of the Berlin Wall, this riveting museum is housed in what was the Bethlem Royal Hospital, a psychiatric hospital also known as Bedlam. Although the museum’s focus is on military action involving British or Commonwealth troops largely during the 20th century, it covers war in the wider sense. Must-see exhibits include the state-of-the-art First World War Galleries and Witnesses to War in the forecourt and atrium above."

"This historic warship, operated today by Imperial War Museums, will definitely be of interest to military buffs, or anyone with an interest in boats. Launched just before the outbreak of World War 2, this Royal Navy Light Cruiser saw action in both World War 2 and the Korean War, before being decommissioned in 1963."

"Despite its name, the cultural venue formerly known as the Imperial War Museum (one of five IWM branches around the country) does not…"

"Based in south London’s Brixton, the Black Cultural Archives is the only place in Britain that is dedicated to the history of the country’s black communities. The museum has a great collection of modern and historical artefacts and photographs that all tell their own stories on the topic of black British culture. When the museum was first coming together 30 years ago, it was a time when the African and Caribbean community in London was severely underappreciated, so the co-founder Len Garrison began collecting what is now one of the most comprehensive collections documenting the cultural heritage of Black Britain."