Historic Sites in Swanscombe

"Of course you will want to check off primary attractions such as The Big Ben, The London Eye, or Westminster Abbey off your list. If you’re a keen shopper, you will want to hit the shopping mecca that is Oxford Street. But also make sure you experience luxurious afternoon tea in London , take an offbeat food tour, sample street art, and hit a few alternative bars in town. Check out our Guide To London for loads of offbeat and fun ideas of things to do in London."

"From the Houses of Parliament, walk around Parliament Square, head south on Abingdon Street for literally no more than 3 minutes, and find yourself face-to-face with Westminster Abbey. Over 1,000 years old (founded 960), Westminster Abbey is, besides being beautifully preserved, famous as the traditional site of the British monarchy’s coronations and funerals."

"» 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."

"What better place to start your London itinerary than with a visit to the Tower of London, home to the English Crown Jewels and the site of numerous key historical events, including the execution of all sorts of people who were deemed inappropriate by whoever was in charge at the time. These days there’s less blood running on the grass, but you will still find plenty to do, from popping in to see the monarch’s crown through to exploring the White Castle at the centre of the keep. My advice for getting the most out of your visit is to arrive as soon as the Tower opens, which is around 9am, and beating the crowds to the crown jewels. You’re likely going to want to spend at least an hour here, if not two – there is a lot to see (and photograph!) here."

"Still working towards East London, location number seven is a classic view of Tower bridge. There are so many places to capture this epic landmark but the cobbled street and ornate lamp add a nice finishing touch to this composition. If you like to add people to your photos, then this spot is perfect as you can place someone walking along the path or even sitting on the bench looking out across the river."

"The White Tower, popularly known as the Tower of London, is definitely one of the must-see historical landmarks in London. It was constructed almost 1000 years ago in 1097, and this old monument has been used as an execution site, prison, and royal residence. The walls of the Tower of London are rich in history, making it one of the most-visited English landmarks in the city."

"A ride on the London Eye is another ultra-touristy thing to do in London, but if this is your first time in the city, it’s thrilling to look down on the River Thames, Parliament, and out at the London skyline. Cost (online): £25.20; Fast-track £34.20Hours: 10:00 am – 8:00pm, although hours change frequently depending on the season. Visit the London Eye website for more information.Getting here: Use the bus tour to get here, hop off and ride the London Eye, and then hop back on the bus to complete the loop back to your hotel (or your starting destination)."

"Home to the world’s most famous clock, Big Ben (officially the Queen Elizabeth Tower, but no one calls it that), the Houses of Parliament is a neo-Gothic wonder built in the mid-19th century. All tours are currently suspended, so for now would-be visitors will have to make do with a 360º virtual tour."

"Big Ben & The Houses of Parliament – Iconic Big Ben is the name of the bell in the giant clock tower at the end of the Houses of Parliament, where the UK Parliament meets. This iconic sight is best viewed from the Westminster Bridge or from the south side of the Thames."

"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."

"If you’re into pageantry, just round the corner from Buckingham Palace, and officially part of the grounds, the Royal Mews is a fascinating place to visit, and much less popular than its exhibits deserve. Finally, if you’re into afternoon tea, you can experience a fashionable take on the high tea experience at the Berkeley."

"You can visit the Royal Mews (fee*) which showcases the royal collection of historic carriages and coaches, including the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. Art lovers will want to stop at the Queen’s Gallery (fee*) which displays regularly changing exhibitions of art from the royal collection."

"Raised off the ground and surrounded by glass on the Thames riverbank in Greenwich, the Cutty Sark is the world’s last surviving tea clipper. This 19th century boat used to sail to China and back, bringing back a cargo of tea in exchange for other goods. Today, you can climb aboard and explore the sleeping quarters of the captain and officers, mess about with the interactive maps, play hide and seek behind boxes of cargo and take the helm at the ship’s wheel."

"The Cutty Sark Museum is a maritime museum dedicated to celebrating the Cutty Sark, a historic sailing ship that, at its heydey, was the fastest ship on the seas. The British clipper ship was built in 1869, is part of the National Historic Fleet, and is one of only three remaining original composite construction clipper ships from the 1800s."

"Cutty Sark is another of the iconic London landmarks found in Greenwich. At this attraction, you can board and explore the Cutty Sark, a historic British clipper ship. The ship has been restored to the way it was in the mid-1800s."

"Next suggested stop is HMS Belfast(fee*), which is permanently moored on the Thames a short walk from Tower Bridge on the south bank. 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."

"After you’ve crossed tower bridge, you might consider visiting HMS Belfast, which is permanently moored on the Thames a short walk from Tower Bridge on the south bank. This historic warship, operated today by Imperial War Museums, will definitely be of interest to military buffs, or anyone with even a slight interest in boats."

"Ham House is a dreamy place to go if you want to escape the inner city for a while. Explore magical gardens and immerse yourself in the 17th Century. COVID-19 UPDATE: The gardens at Ham House have reopened to the public, but you’ll need to book your visit in advance."

"It was built in 1610 and is lavishly decorated with many unique treasures hiding inside its walls. It epitomises the absolute height of luxury in this era. There are also formal gardens and an on-site café."

"The elegant redbrick exterior of the smallest of Britain's royal palaces seems almost humble when compared with the grandeur of, say,…"

"Find vendors from across London selling unique finds in Eccleston Yards every Sunday, just around the corner from Victoria Station. Pick up illustrated children’s books, handmade candles, stunning ceramics, bespoke jewellery and more. Fuel your shopping spree with food from the variety of traders each week."

"At just over 1000 metres long, Walthamstow Market is the longest in Europe and, because it’s not really part of the London tourist track, it’s one of the best London markets for real budget bargains. It’s open every day (except for Sundays and Mondays) from dawn until dusk, and is used by locals on a daily basis to buy food, clothes, gifts, electrical equipment, music, body care products and household goods. Whatever you need, Walthamstow Market has it, and if you can’t see what you want, someone will get it for you by the following week."

"Unashamedly flash, Arkady Novikov’s double-handed celebrity magnet, touting both Asian or Italian dishes, comes with a broad remit for the big-money crowd. The headlining pan-Asian option might seem a tad heavy-handedly “exotic”, though the menu is ripe for cross-border plundering – from Padrón peppers to prawn tempura or sweet-and-sour chicken. Sashimi salads, spicy tuna rolls and various dim sum might open your account, while other dishes such as seared Wagyu sirloin or a porcini and truffle rice hotpot represent a line-up rich in eccentricities."

"Cuisine: Italian/AsianHalal Options: Various Halal options, indicated on the menuAddress: 50A Berkeley St, Mayfair, London, W1J 8HAWebsite:https://www.novikovrestaurant.co.uk/Nearest Tube Stop: Green Park"

"Cuisine: IndianHalal Options: All meat HalalAddress: 1 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 5NPWebsite: http://www.zaika-restaurant.co.ukNearest Tube Stop: High Street Kensington"

"A short walk from Paddington tube station, Smith's Bar & Grill is one of the best outdoor restaurants in West London. Join them on the terrace for a slick Christmas offering, complete with roast turkey and pudding with brandy custard."

"Sprawling over 13 acres of land and exhibiting more than 145 galleries; Victoria and Albert Museum has maintained a significant place in the league of famous museums in London, England. Founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, this museum boasts of 2.3 million objects related to fashion, architecture, textile, photography, jewelry, sculpture, painting and books. Key features: Adrabil Carpet, Rock Crystal Ewer, Chinese lacquerware table, porcelain, ceramic and glass items and manuscripts of famous artists of the World.Opening hours: 10:00 am to 5:45 pmEntrance charge: Free"

"No design nerd’s visit to London would be complete without a trip to the V&A Museum. You could potentially spend a week roaming its 145 galleries and still not see everything; the permanent collection alone includes over 2.3 million objects spanning some 5,000 years. Those visiting in the month of September are in for an additional treat, as the museum becomes a hub for the London Design Festival and plays host to installations by both established and emerging designers."

"The Victoria and Albert Museum, commonly called the V&A, is a collection of decorative arts and ornate objects from around the world, housed within one of the city’s most beautiful buildings. The Victoria & Albert Flickr © Tony Hisgett"

"It may look like a mild-mannered café from the outside, but the mask comes off when you step inside to discover a down-and-dirty hangout where you can groove and grind to anything from electro to disco and 90s R&B. Consistently packed with it-boys and -girls, the well-worn dance floor is a definite testament to their loyal following. Address: 117 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2PBContact: 020 7254 2273Website:dalstonsuperstore.com"

"As part of one of the biggest arts centre’s in Europe, the Barbican’s art gallery is known for pushing the boundaries with brilliant shows. As well as this kudos, it has a reputation for bringing artists and subjects on the outskirts of modern art history to a wider audience through incisive exhibitions. Recent shows have included retrospectives on Dorothea Lange, Lee Krasner, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and an exploration of artistic couples."

"Another of London’s brutalist structures, the Barbican Centre hosts regular film screenings, art exhibitions and other events. It is surrounded by the Barbican Housing Estate, making it tricky to navigate round its multiple entrances but giving it a unique architectural feel."

"The Barbican was designed by Chamberlin, Powell, and Bon as an initiative to revitalize an area devastated by bombing during the Second World War. It is a great example of Brutalist architecture in Britain."