Historic Sites in Keston

"Westminster Abbey is often mistaken as one of the cathedrals of London. It’s an easy mistake to make, but it’s an Abbey which has served as the Coronation Church for Kings and Queens of England for almost a thousand years. Westminster Abbey is one of the big-ticket top three or four things to do in London, and it’s something we suggest you make time for, even if you only have a 1-day London itinerary."

"Westminster Abbey – This large, mostly Gothic, church is one of the most notable religious buildings in the UK and is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for British monarchs. It is simply breathtaking both inside and out but it is inside that you will find so much to explore. Make sure you allow a good few hours to visit properly."

"» The main purpose of Westminster Abbey is coronation and burial vault of ruling monarchs. The building features a special cross shape. » Westminster Abbey is a huge necropolis, where the most famous people of England were buried."

"It includes all the major attractions (e.g., Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the National Gallery), but also includes several lesser known sites and encourages you to explore several of London’s diverse neighborhoods including Westminster, Greenwich, Kensington, and Camden. We suggest using this itinerary as a starting point for planning your 6 days in London, not as a definitive itinerary, and you can edit it to put together your own personal itinerary that reflects your own needs and interests."

"The Tower of London, which is officially known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle in London that sits on the River Thames. The Tower of London has stood since 1066. Beginning in 1100 and lasting through 1952, the Tower of London was used as a prison, though it was intended to be a royal home."

"Home to the Crown Jewels, the iconic beefeaters, and (allegedly) several spooks, the Tower of London’s history dates back nearly 1,000 years. Standing guard by Tower Bridge and the River Thames, the medieval compound has served as a royal palace, prison, and execution site. Legend has it, these royal ghosts haunt Britain to this day!"

"London is an eminently walkable city, and you’ll be able to take in the majority of the key highlights, from the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace through to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Then, on your second day, take advantage of that car and head out to some of the attractions outside of London. I’m thinking Windsor Castle, or Hampton Court Palace – both eminently explorable, and easy to reach with a car."

"A visit to London is not complete without a trip to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Quick Tip: Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the clock tower. The tower is actually known as the Elizabeth Tower."

"Set in a beautiful mansion where the wealthy Seymour family once lived, the Wallace Collection is lovely to walk around and the artworks on display are simply divine. The ensemble of lavish rooms, rich paintings, and stately statues are breathtaking, and you really do feel like you have stepped back in time. Also including fantastic pieces of china, furniture, armor, and ivory, the Wallace Collection is wonderfully presented and conveniently located in the center of London."

"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."

"There was a church on this site during the time of the Romans.Some believe that St Bridget, an Irish saint, established the first Christian church on the site in the 6th century. During the Great Plague of 1665, a plague pit was dug within the churchyard. Pepys mentions having to bribe the gravedigger in order to find room to bury his brother."

"Another of Sir Christopher Wren’s designs from the ashes of the 1666 Great Fire, St Bride’s is the tallest of Wren’s churches after St Paul’s, standing at 69m tall. Located in Fleet Street, it has a long association with newspapers and journalists. It was largely gutted by fire during the Blitz in 1940."

"He is thought to have been inspired by illustrations of the Tower of the Winds in Vitruvius. However, it is best known for its lasting influence on weddings. This originated when a Mr Rich, an 18th-century pastrycook of Fleet Street, modelled his famous wedding cakes on the spire."

"This magnificent neoclassical mansion stands at the northern end of Hampstead Heath in a glorious sweep of landscaped gardens that lead down to a picturesque lake. The 17th-century house was substantially remodelled in the 1760s and rescued from developers by Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, who donated it and the wonderful collection of art it contains to the nation in 1927. Among its treasures are paintings by Rembrandt (one of his many self-portraits), Constable, Gainsborough and Vermeer."

"This largely Palladian villa offers an escape to a gracious country house with a magnificent collection of Old Masters and beautiful…"

"Lambeth Palace is the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England on the banks of the River Thames. The palace has served as the archbishop's home for more than 800 years. While the palace opens to the public via guided tours, it is not open to the public only a daily basis."

"More of a yard than a proper park, Postman’s Park is still one of the largest green spaces in the City of London yet it remains a hidden gem. It’s also full of plaques dedicated to everyday heroes – these stories of self-sacrifice were collected by artist George Frederic Watts and turned into a memorial in 1900 – making it a very peaceful spot."

"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."

"A post shared by Aly Winter (@alyxandramae) on May 8, 2018 at 10:30am PDT. Treat your taste buds to an inventive use of flavours at Mildreds. This Soho stalwart opened in 1988, and has since expanded to Camden, Dalston and King’s Cross."

"Smack bang amid Duke of York Square, one half-expects dazed shoppers to bounce off Vardo’s glass walls like so many exceedingly coiffedpigeons. And yet, inside this purpose-built pavilion, all is serene. An evolution of the Caravan concept, much of the menu will be familiar to the mothership’s regulars,butwithin these surrounds, even long-standing Caravan classics such as seasoned rice with hot-smoked salmon, miso mayonnaise, pickled ginger, furikake — taste that little bit better."

"Situated at the heart of Chelsea’s Duke of York Square is Vardo. This stylish restaurant serves up flavours inspired by countries across the world in a relaxed, modern environment. Their fully retractable 360-degree wall to floor windows are a first in the UK and allow diners to enjoy their meals in an indoor-outdoor setting."

"Brunch , Bakery/Cafe"

"Mark Hix’s plush and moody Brewer Street restaurant wouldn’t be the first place that would come to mind to take a child. But given the chef himself has campaigned for better food in restaurants for children, it’s actually rather apt. It’s not the cheapest restaurant in town, most items on the children's menu cost around £7, but there is a 'kids under 10 eat free' special that pops up on a regular basis."

"Though it's unlikely to spring to mind immediately, Mark Hix’s Soho is a very welcoming to families dining in London. The regular menu is packed with fantastic seafood and great steaks and the hearty kids’ menu is full of great options too, meaning no compromise is necessary for parents and children alike. Well worth a try the next time you’re eating out."

"This is a unique example of a celebrated gourmet restaurant…with a kids’ menu!. HIX Mayfair is the perfect balance between a nice sit-down meal and an experience kids will actually enjoy. The beautiful interior is accented by different pieces of artwork, which gives the place a unique feel."

"The Bankside Gallery in London was opened in 1980 by Her Majesty, the Queen. The public gallery, located near the Thames, houses the Royal Watercolour Society and Royal Society of Painter Printmakers. The gallery displays rotating exhibits focused on modern watercolours and prints."

"Clarendon Fine Art on Hill Street specialises in contemporary paintings and sculpture from some of the world’s most talented emerging artists and from many important and influential names in recent history."