Best Outdoor Activities in Epping Forest

"Starting just east of Chalkwell Station, this beach is the choice of people who value peace for winter walks or sunbathing hot summer days. Chalkwell Beach is removed from Southend’s bustling arcades and entertainment, and has a vast belt of pebbles and sand tracked by a quiet, residential esplanade. And even if Chalkwell Beach has a more restrained atmosphere, there are shops selling beach paraphernalia and amenities like cafes just behind."

"Out of the way of the hustle and bustle of Southend’s central seaside, Chalkwell beach offers a quieter beach area for relaxation."

"One minute the sea will be there, then at low tide it’s literally completely disappeared. (Hence why the pier needed to be so long back in the day!). The largest beach which is closest to everything is Jubilee Beach."

"A trip here offers more than just plants, as you can also visit art galleries, the Great Pagoda, and tour Kew Palace, a former royal residence located within the gardens. You can explore at your own pace or join one of the garden’s guided walk tours that come free with entry. This is a must-see for any garden lover. Kew Gardens are located in outer London and can be reached by public transportation."

"One of London’s Historic Royal Palaces, Kew Palace is located within the Royal Botanic Gardens. It’s not open in the winter months, but in the spring and summer, it’s worth entering this intimate royal family retreat. You can also access The Great Pagoda and climb its 235 steps for stunning views across London."

"Gardens emerge in the unlikeliest of places, including this tropical beauty atop a railway station. Crossrail hasn’t quite reached Canary Wharf yet, but this stunning spot is open for business—as is the adjacent street food hall!. COVID-19 UPDATE: Crossrail Place Roof Garden is open 8am-9pm daily."

"In a nutshell: Basement Japanese restaurant meets Nordic Where is it?. 19 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8LB Why should you care?. This is the basement restaurant at Belgravia's Pantechnicon, opening a year after the rest of the building."

"One of two restaurants at Nordic/Japanese venue Pantechnicon, the London branch of Cafe Kitsune (there are a handful around the world) offers the feel of a French patisserie-style cafe with a distinct Japanese twist."

"St Albans midweek lunch tried to review the Mad Squirrel its first day of opening but timings didn’t quite work out as they were originally only serving food from 1pm. This week however they were ready to serve us early bird customers with a very enticing lunch deal- 1 pizza and a half of beer (really all you need at lunchtime, whatever your sozzled brain might tell you) from the standard menu for £10 each. For those of you not familiar with The Mad Squirrel, it is on possibly the unluckiest restaurant spot in St Albans, previously home to the Bakehouse, La Vista and No Moo Moo (which didn’t even stick around long enough for us to review it)."

"Berwick Street Market is a small but much-loved market in Soho. As well as some scrumptious street food, there’s an assortment of other stalls selling items like jewellery and clothing. One of the most loved stalls is Savage Salad, selling dishes that are both healthy and delicious."

"There’s been a market on Berwick St in Soho since the late 1770’s. There are a few good street food stalls, especially the tiny Pit Stop Cafe trailer at the south end of the market serves excellent Chinese and Malaysian food. Try their fried sea bass."

"Source: Photo by user Tarquin Binary used under CC BY-SA 2.5. Berwick Street Market has been around since the 18th century. Located in the neighbourhood of SoHo, this street market is now full of trendy stalls with plenty of greet food to try."

"Borough Market is one of the largest and oldest food markets in the capital and certainly one of the most fun and famous places to go in London for free. The large covered market is a great place to simply wander around, taking in the vibrant atmosphere and passing by colourful stalls full of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, cheeses, bread and alcohol, as well as speciality traders selling artisanal products from all across the world. Grab a few samples if you can!"

"London’s oldest market continues to go from strength to strength and has pride of place as the city’s best-known food market. The main market building is mainly the reserve of producers and fresh food – freshly-baked bread, fishmongers, cheesemongers, organic veg grocers – all inspiration enough for you to fill your bags and get cooking in the kitchen. Borough Market Kitchen, at the rear of the market, is the place to go for an array of street food dishes."

"Borough Market is London's oldest food market, which has been in existence for over a century and dates back to the year 1014. This market is not only popular in the UK, but it is also one of the most famous markets in the world. The present structure of the market was built during the 1850s."