Historic Sites in Hyde Park

"Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London are my personal recommendations for travellers interested in English history, though a walk by Buckingham Palace might be a better place to spot one of the royals (or at least some handsome guards!). Art-lovers can spend hours inside the Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery, while theater-goers will want to buy tickets for Shakespeare’s Globe or the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Walking through one of London’s numerous parks is also an option, and so is admiring the architecture of Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, or St. Paul’s Cathedral. In the evenings, have some fish and chips in a pub or enjoy London’s multicultural dining options."

"A post shared by Constantine Konovalov (@ckonovalov) on Jun 12, 2017 at 2:01pm PDT. Be wowed by more than a thousand years of history at the world-famous Westminster Abbey. One of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the United Kingdom, the London landmark began its life in 1245 and its history traces back to 10th-century Benedictine monks."

"Steeped in millennia of rich and often bloody history, Westminster Abbey is one of England's most iconic buildings. An abbey has stood…"

"Built by William the Conqueror in 1066, this uncompromising slab of a building has been many things—including the site where Henry VIII ordered the execution of two of his wives. Now the Tower is most famous as the home of the Crown Jewels. Come, take a tour from one of the Beefeaters (offered every half hour), and gawp at the sparkling and the frightening alike."

"A view of the Elizabeth Tower and the Houses of Parliament through a pedestrian tunnel on London’s South Bank|© Beatrice Preve / Alamy Stock Photo. One of the finest examples of Gothic Revivalist architecture in the world, the Palace of Westminster was built by 19th-century architect Sir Charles Barry, but the real brains behind it was the incredibly talented Augustus Pugin. He was just 23 when Barry enlisted him to help with the design of the building and was instrumental in its Gothic detailing (his superior was more of a Classicist)."

"At present it’s a hotch-potch of scaffolding and sheets holding the magnificent old building together like a set of sticking-plasters. And then there’s Big Ben, the famous clock-tower shorn of all its slender grace by a mass of scaffolding. Big Ben is perennially near the top of any London must see list, especially in the age of digital photography and Instagram."

"The Houses of Parliament, or the Westminster Palace, is designed in the gothic-architectural style. It is the meeting place for the two Houses of Parliament, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The current palace was built in 1847 after a fire destroyed the original building."

"One of London's best small galleries, hidden away just north of Oxford Street, the Wallace Collection is an enthralling glimpse into 18th-century aristocratic life, set up in a lavishly restored Italianate mansion stuffed with 17th and 18th century art."

"The Wallace Collection is a London art gallery made up of the collection of the Marquess family. The art all dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries and was gathered by five generations of the Marquesses along with Sir Richard Wallace, who was an illegitimate Marquess son. Today, the collection contains more than five thousand pieces."

"The Wallace Collection is an interesting free art museum located inside a large townhouse in Marylebone known as Hertford House. The museum has a collection of paintings from the 15th to 19th century, as well as antiques and sculptures sourced from around the globe by Sir Richard Wallace. Nearest tube station: Bond Street."

"Marble Hill House is a beautifully proportioned Palladian villa overlooking the Thames at Twickenham. It’s in a fine location, just across the river from one of the main entrances to Richmond Park. It’s also one of the loveliest visitor attractions in London, and one of several things to see in Richmond and around."

"The new Globe was designed to resemble the original as closely as possible, which means having the arena open to the fickle London skies, leaving the 700 ‘groundlings’ (standing spectators) to weather London’s spectacular downpours. Visits to the Globe include tours of the theatre (half-hourly) as well as access to the exhibition space, which has fascinating exhibits on Shakespeare, life in Bankside and theatre in the 17th century."

"Along the south bank (always worth a wander), you can stop in at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern Art Gallery, and even quickly cross the Millennium bridge for a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Globe and St. Paul’s Cathedral are both included on the London Pass, whilst the Tate Modern is free to enter."

"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."

"The famous Diana Memorial Playground is important for London’ culture for two distinct reasons: it is a real children’s wonderland on one hand and a wonderful tribute for the People’s Princess, who was always characterized by her immense love for children and the innocent period of childhood in general. The free playground is situated near her Kensington Palace home, on the site of Peter Pan’s playground. Perfect for a day out in nature, Diana Memorial Playground attracts children of all ages with the wooden pirate ship, which can be explored by the most adventurous kids, and with all the other facilities: swings, slides, sculptures, and sand pits."

"When in London, the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is easily one of the best things to do in London with kids. Located next to Kensington Palace, the playground is in a central location and is easy to get to by the Tube. Peter Pan was the inspiration for the design and a large wooden pirate ship sits centre stage."

"The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground boasts a pirate ship and a teepee camp and is perfect for unleashing a bit of imagination."

"The new Globe was designed to resemble the original as closely as possible, which means having the arena open to the fickle London skies, leaving the 700 ‘groundlings’ (standing spectators) to weather London’s spectacular downpours. Visits to the Globe include tours of the theatre (half-hourly) as well as access to the exhibition space, which has fascinating exhibits on Shakespeare, life in Bankside and theatre in the 17th century."

"Along the south bank (always worth a wander), you can stop in at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern Art Gallery, and even quickly cross the Millennium bridge for a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Globe and St. Paul’s Cathedral are both included on the London Pass, whilst the Tate Modern is free to enter."

"Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London are my personal recommendations for travellers interested in English history, though a walk by Buckingham Palace might be a better place to spot one of the royals (or at least some handsome guards!). Art-lovers can spend hours inside the Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery, while theater-goers will want to buy tickets for Shakespeare’s Globe or the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Walking through one of London’s numerous parks is also an option, and so is admiring the architecture of Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, or St. Paul’s Cathedral. In the evenings, have some fish and chips in a pub or enjoy London’s multicultural dining options."

"A post shared by Constantine Konovalov (@ckonovalov) on Jun 12, 2017 at 2:01pm PDT. Be wowed by more than a thousand years of history at the world-famous Westminster Abbey. One of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the United Kingdom, the London landmark began its life in 1245 and its history traces back to 10th-century Benedictine monks."

"Steeped in millennia of rich and often bloody history, Westminster Abbey is one of England's most iconic buildings. An abbey has stood…"

"Barnet Museum in London focuses on the history of Barnet with a special emphasis on the Battle of Barnet, the Barnet Fair, and the Barnet Market. With a library and reference collection on site, the Barnet Museum is one of the most comprehensive resources on the Battle of Barnet. The museum first opened its doors in 1938, and it remains in its original Georgian building."