Top 10 Kid Friendly Things To Do and Attractions in St. John's Wood

"Established in 1536 by Henry VIII, Hyde Park is one of London’s largest green spaces, with more than 4,000 trees, vibrant flower gardens and a large meadow which plays host to many public concerts and celebrations. Check out the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, enjoy a bite in the royal park’s lakeside restaurants, or rent a row boat for a leisurely paddle on the Serpentine. Here are nine secrets no one knew about Princess Diana until after her death."

"Hyde Park is central London's largest green space, expropriated from the church in 1536 by Henry VIII and turned into a hunting ground and later a venue for duels, executions and horse racing. The 1851 Great Exhibition was held here, and during WWII the park became an enormous potato field. These days, it's a place to stroll and picnic, boat on the Serpentine lake, or to catch a summer concert or outdoor film during the warmer months."

"When a park is home to a few Princes and a Duchess or two, you know it’s going to be good. As well as green spaces abundant enough to dodge the crowds, you’ll find historic monuments to explore, fountains to both splash about in and admire, myriad art installations, and free exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery a short walk away from its namesake lake. Now that’s a walk in the park."

"Moving down to the City of Westminster now, and London’s most famous church, home to Royal Weddings, Coronations (all of them since 1066!) and a whole host of famous dead people – Westminster Abbey. You’re not actually allowed to take photographs inside the Abbey, but that’s ok, because the outside is very photogenic. Unfortunately, the folks in charge of civil planning tend to ignore the needs of photographers, because there’s a rather inconveniently placed road right in front of the Abbey’s two stunning towers."

"With its beautiful architecture, it’s only natural that Westminster Abbey would feature on this list. My personal favourite spot to photograph it from is from the phone boxes in front of Barclays Bank. That way you can, once again, combine a famous London landmark with a London icon."

"This Gothic architectural masterpiece has hosted almost every coronation of English monarchs since 1066, when William the Conqueror was crowned on Christmas Day. Over 3,300 people are buried here, including at least sixteen monarchs, eight Prime Ministers, and the Unknown Warrior."

"The Shard may not seem like a top romantic spot for Valentine’s Day, but with all it has to offer, it may be a one-stop shop. Stay at the Shangri-La hotel, dine in the restaurants, and even take in the tallest view of the city from the building’s observation floors. Even if you don’t opt to spend more than an hour or two of your Valentine’s Day here, it can still be your base of operations for anywhere you visit in London."

"The Shangri-La Suite is the top suite at the Shangri-La at The Shard, designed to maximise the view of London’s skyline from every direction possible. The 2,000 square foot one bedroom suite is plush and homely with one of the best views you’ll see from any hotel room. Click to read about the Shangri-La Luxury Circle programme which gives guests access to a host of added value amenities."

"The Shard is one of the tallest buildings in Europe and it is a popular tourist attraction as it offers a restaurant, bars and a viewing platform. So, many visitors head there to get one of best views in the city. When The Shard was completed in 2012 it was the tallest building in Europe, but it has now been knocked off the top spot by new skyscrapers built in Moscow."

"For a building still significant but just a bit (okay, a lot!) older, walk right across the River Thames to the Tower of London, which, having been founded in 1066, is nearly 1,000 years old!. Tours include exploring several different parts of the property – my favorite part of the tour during my visit was checking out the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom!"

"Tour the (in)famous Tower of London, and find out more about its 900-year history. It’s had many uses over the years – as a palace, prison and even a zoo – but today it’s famously the home of the Crown Jewels. Prepare to be dazzled by the Royal Family’s riches – I recommend booking ahead through Get Your Guide so that you can skip the line."

"Inside Tower Bridge, there’s also a spectacular Glass Floor Walkway from which to admire the views. Take a break at one of the great places to eat near Tower Bridge afterwards. Best shot: from the South side of the river just past the bridge – or on the bridge itself whilst there’s no road traffic."

"It’s one of the most iconic London tourist attractions, and certainly unmissable during your visit to the capital. This 19th century bridge across the Thames is an instantly recognisable symbol of London, so be sure to take a tour (you can book online) and get some great photos."

"After the houses of Parliament, this bridge is London’s most well known site. There are several excellent angles to photograph this bridge from. – A very popular photo to take is traffic light trails going through the archways of the bridge."

"Duci brings Sicilian desserts to Chiswick, offering everything from classic cannoli to brioche con gelato – a toasted, super soft brioche roll filled with two scoops of ice cream – and a sweet, marzipan-like gelato flavour of almonds. 8 Devonshire Rd, London W4 2HD"

"I wonder how many of those souls queuing for hours to enter Westminster Abbey have ever broken away to venture inside this fascinating Westminster church. St Margaret’s Church Westminster is located in the churchyard of the Abbey,and is often called the ‘parish church of the House of Commons’. It is often frequented by politicians and parliamentarians, and the connection dates back to the 17th century when Puritan MPs started to worship there as they disapproved of the style of worship in Westminster Abbey."

"The parish church of Parliament is next to Westminster Abbey. Samuel Pepys got wed here and Sir Walter Raleigh is buried in the yard"

"May sunrise in Bushy Park #bushypark #royalpark #theroyalparks #londonparks #nationalparkcity #teddington #kingstonuponthames #richmonduponthames #hampton #hamptoncourt #visitsurrey #surrey #jessopsmoment #genuinebritain #visitlondon #ukparks #sunrise #ukscenery #ukbestshots #seisbest #igerssurrey #surreyshooters #nikonphotography #nikon #nikonowners #metroLDN. A post shared by Astrid Tontson (@12mm_view) on May 8, 2020 at 11:51pm PDT. Stroll down Chestnut Avenue to Hampton Court Palace or see trees full of mistletoe in Bushy Park, the second largest of London's Royal Parks."

"Designated in September 2014 a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Bushy Park represents an enormous open natural space. The second largest of London’s Royal Parks, Bushy Park is unique through its historical heritage and the large number of outdoor activities that it grants. When visiting Bushy Park, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy activities such as fishing, horse riding, hockey, rugby, cricket or simply relaxing in a comfortable café."

"Lying to the north of Hampton Court Palace, the park, has a distinctly rural character and is home to around 320 free-roaming deer. The famous Arethusa 'Diana' Fountain forms the centerpiece to the famous Chestnut Avenue."

"A lovely park featuring some great design that is particularly very well maintained, the Barham Park is one of the best things to do in Wembley especially in the evenings. There is a lot of space for visitors to enjoy relaxing strolls and even play sport like football and cricket. Local fitness enthusiasts especially visit the park owing to the ...Read more"

"A former Church of England parish, St. Dunstan in the East was largely destroyed in the Second World War, so the ruins are now a public garden. It’s certainly one of London’s hidden gems, as this garden is found between London Bridgeand the Tower of London, in one of the business areas of London, as an oasis of tranquility and history. One could easily miss if you didn’t know about it beforehand."

"This church dates from the 12th century but was badly damaged in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The remains are extremely atmospheric and it’s a good place to seek out shade on a hot day. Best shot: Hone in on the ruined church windows for a moody shot."

"Drawing of St Dunstan-in-the-East in the City of London 1695-1700. Source: British Library. St Dunstan-in-the-East is one of Wren’s most structurally adventurous works, with a spire rising daringly on four free-standing flying buttresses."

"Next I would take some time to appreciate two of London’s most famous bridges, the London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Both bridges have exhibitions you can visit, although in terms of time I would choose to visit only one exhibition or just admire them both from the outside."

"When it comes to luxury, no other in Britain beats or even comes close to the legendary Harrods. Famous for its excellent selection of merchandise, this is the place to shop in London. Rows of expensive shops, products, brands and the outstanding restaurants cover seven floors, and the department store even offers personalized shopping experience with the help of a personal shopper."

"This world-famous department store in Knightsbridge has undergone something of a Renaissance in recent years, with a major update and cool new brands. The Egyptian staircase is one of the top London Instagram spots. Best shot: Harrods looks as beautiful from the inside as it does outside."

"Harrods is one of London’s most well-known luxury department stores. I also worked there when I was in University. While the prices might be a little steep for the obvious, taking pictures is free."

"Duci brings Sicilian desserts to Chiswick, offering everything from classic cannoli to brioche con gelato – a toasted, super soft brioche roll filled with two scoops of ice cream – and a sweet, marzipan-like gelato flavour of almonds. 8 Devonshire Rd, London W4 2HD"

"Restaurants Ice-cream parlours Covent Garden. Voluptuous folds of colourful gelato undulate across Scoop’s freezer cabinet like rows of love handles. Its flavours are classic Italian (biscotto, fior di latte, malaga, pistachio), and they’re made from brag-worthy provenance-led ingredients including Tonda Gentile hazelnuts from Piedmont, Sicilian black cherries and a changing range of single-origin chocolates and coffees."

"There is nothing even slightly fancy or instagrammable about The Brownie Box. The Earl’s Court location on Old Brompton Road is right next to a bus stop and the tables outside are noisy and liberally fumigated with auto exhaust. The tables inside are old fashioned and formica topped, the floor linoleum."

"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)"

"If you love doughnuts, you need to try Longboys in BOXPARK Wembley. Their artisan finger doughnuts are a whole new player in the game, challenging the humble glazed ring, their menu is full of delicious flavour twists and perfect pastries, as well as soft-serve ice-cream. Their menu is always changing but one classic that remains is there Lemon Meringue Pie doughnut and we say try it!"

"Longboys are all about gorgeous doughnuts, excellent coffee, and soft-serve ice cream delights, bringing their joy and passion for food to BOXPARK Wembley. Their doughnuts are made from a light brioche base and gourmet fillings that give them just enough sweetness and a complex flavour profile. These treats are next level decadent without the extra calories."