Best Outdoor Activities in West Kingsdown

"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."

"Art galleries don’t come much more cutting edge than White Cube, which was set up by Jay Jopling, a key figure in the famous Brit Art movement of the 90s. The gallery made its name by curating works from art megastars Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Marc Quinn before they hit the big time; so you can be sure the stuff on show now is worth making a note of!. 144 – 152 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ Free entrywhitecube.com"

"Above the gallery’s corridor spans almost 70 metres ©Courtesy White Cube Bermondsey. White Cube is a gallery in Bermondsey, South London owned by art dealer Jay Jopling. The building was designed by CMK architect’s Marianne Mueller and Olaf Kneer Jay Jopling’s newWhite Cube arises in Bermondsey."

"Designed in 1775 for government departments and royal societies – perhaps the world's first office block – Somerset House now contains galleries, restaurants and cafes that encircle a lovely open courtyard and extend to an elevated sun-trap terrace. The Embankment Galleries are devoted to temporary exhibitions (usually related to photography, design or fashion). In summer, the grand courtyard hosts open-air live performances, dancing fountains for kids to cool off in and the Film4 Summer Screen, plus an atmospheric ice-skating rink in winter."

"A stately home with as opulent an exterior as the art it holds within, Somerset house was once a palace for the Duke of Somerset Edward Seymour in 1547. Now one of the more grandiose of London’s institutions, the palace hosts exhibitions from all over the world and continually draws enormous crowds. The gallery is “known for the breadth of cultural collaborations across photography, fashion, art, film and music."

"Every winter, skating at the ice rink in Somerset House is one of the most fun things to do in London. There are several other ice rinks around London (including at the Tower of London and Natural History Museum) but it’s pretty hard to top Somerset House. The courtyard is a great place to spend time in summer too, when th fountains in the courtyard are a great place to splash and cool off."

"The Atlas Gallery’s artist list reads like a who’s who of twentieth century photography. From Irving Penn to Robert Capa, Man Ray to Henri Cartier-Bresson, this is one to get your autograph book out for. Upcoming shows include a spring exhibition on Bauhaus artist Florence Henri."

"Restaurants Cafés Highbury. With its serene but welcoming atmosphere and short but tempting food menu – think breaded halloumi with romesco sauce and Israeli couscous or treacle-cured bacon sarnie with smoked garlic and tomato chutney – Franks will fix your day before it’s even had a chance to go wrong. Good coffee, efficient staff, generous portions and a playlist full of memorable tracks will gently transform you from a duvet zombie to a chipper day-seizer with minimum fuss."

"British , Brunch"

"Restaurants British Fitzrovia. Surely the grandest and most glamorous of Jason Atherton’s Midas-touch restaurants, this place is a real humdinger and a shoo-in for seduction. The huge lobby bar looks fabulous, but the vast baroque-style dining room, with its ornate plasterwork ceiling and portrait-lined walls, is even more alluring."

"A post shared by Berners Tavern (@bernerstavern) on Dec 10, 2017 at 4:18am PST. Take your date’s breath away as you enjoy Jason Atherton's innovative dishes and marvel at the stunning art-covered walls of Berners Tavern. Raise the bar and also order a creative cocktail, and you’ll surely be guaranteed a second date."

"With chandeliers, oak tables and a changing British menu, this is a grand romantic option. 10 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 3NP. Tube: Tottenham Court Road Station , Goodge Street Station, Oxford Circus Station"

"It turns out The Ritz is not only a place for adults, children are welcome too. Enjoy the beautiful interior of one of London's most prestigious hotels alongside your children, but be prepared to pay a bot more for your meal- it is The Ritz after all. Reviews say: "Beautiful surroundings, efficient and charming service and imaginative food perfectly cooked."

"John Williams' Michelin-starred cooking is great any time, but we can't think of a more beautiful spot for a lunch than overlooking the gardens at The Ritz. If you're after something a little more casual, head to the hotel's Secret Garden bar where they serve up club sandwiches alongside caviar and champagne."

"We really could’ve included The Ritz anywhere in this article, with it being iconic in so many ways. Historic and traditional, great for tourists and celeb-spotting, not to mention Michelin starred. A right old British stalwart and just a must for Afternoon Tea."

"The pandemic has postponed the ‘launch proper’ of new West Dulwich modern Indian restaurant Heritage, but the team behind it are raring to go. So much so that, in this interim period, they’ve launched a takeaway service featuring a range of set dining sharing boxes (£38 – £42 for two). The restaurant comes from executive chef Dayashankar Sharma, who honed his skills in the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants, Tamarind and Zaika among them."

"Coming from an ex-Tamarind chef, Heritage aims to cook "nostalgic family-taught dishes and unusual foods from lesser-known Indian regions and communities"."