Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Elephant & Castle

"The British Museum is one of London's top attractions, and absolutely free. It is bursting at the seams with enthralling artifacts from all over the world, from Egyptian mummies to samurai armor and Anglo-Saxon burial treasures to the Rosetta Stone. Remarkably, the 80,000 objects on display at any one time only make up 1% of the eight million objects in the museum’s possession."

"Inside the British Museum, you’ll find Europe’s largest covered public square. Named The Queen Elizabeth II Great Court, it encompasses two-acres and is enclosed by a magnificent glass roof. It looks just as cool swarming with tourists as it does without, so anytime is ideal for snapping shots."

"See two million years of human history at the British Museum. From Egyptian mummies to samurai armour and the Sutton Hoo helmet, there’s something for everyone."

"London’s largest art museum – the eighth-biggest art museum in the world – has more than 100 galleries displaying everything from photography to jewellery. It has put on some of the city’s most talked-about exhibitions in recent years: the curators have become known for their hot-ticket fashion displays of designers including Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen. Make sure to visit the permanent Rapid Response Collection, which has contemporary pieces that react to significant moments in recent history, such as the pussyhats worn at protests against the election of Donald Trump to a 3D-printed Extinction Rebellion coin."

"The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is the world's largest museum of applied and decorative arts and design. With a permanent collection of more than 2.2 million works, the V&A sits on more than 12 acres that contain 145 different galleries. The museum was founded in 1852, with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert serving as its namesakes."

"Harrods, the world famous shopping experience, is a brief walk from the V&A museum. You could also really go museum crazy, and drop in at either the Natural History Museum or Science Museum, both of which are free."

"Because it’s filled with everything you know about, but probably don’t really know about. Like exhibitions on space exploration with the Apollo 10 command module; a flight simulator; a three-metre-high, 600kg Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope; an immersive VR descent from space with astronaut Tim Peake; and displays on developments in contemporary psychological science, medicine, climate and 3D printing. And an IMAX theatre."

"The National Gallery is the first place to go if you want to see work by some of the most famous artists from history. Nearly seven hundred years of work from the world’s greatest artists can be found here, including Leonardo, Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Vermeer, Rubens – seriously we could go on for a while. A wander from the The Wilton Diptych in the 14th century galleries to Pablo Picasso’s early works is both an intensely pleasant afternoon and a pretty consummate art history lesson."

"Day 1: Arrive in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, the London EyeDay 2: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Whitehall, Covent GardenDay 3: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky GardenDay 4: National Gallery, Greenwich, Prime Meridian, Up at the O2Day 5: British Museum, Portobello Road Market, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrod’s"

"A day is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights: Cardiff Castle, the National Museum, and Cardiff Bay. Learn about Welsh history, culture, and language on a walking tour or by talking to locals. Spend the evening in Cardiff."

"The Langham has connected its courtyard garden with the terrace from The Wigmore to create an idyllic retreat in the middle of Regent Street. It’s set to be the perfect spot for leisurely lunches that merge into afternoon drinks, with a newly erected pergola adorned with climbing vines and fresh greenery, plus an outdoor bar area serving G&Ts and cold beers on tap. Should the weather take a turn for the worse, fear not: there are heat lamps and covered areas too."

"Restaurants Spanish Chinatown. A tapas bar from the kings of imported Spanish provisions, Brindisa’s Soho canteen blends superb ingredients with impressively refined cooking. Just add an easy-going vibe, reasonable prices, inventive child-friendly finger food and sophisticated Iberian wines to keep the grown-ups on side."

"This popular tapas restaurant has an outpost in Borough Market, dishing up their famous chorizo. The flavorful Spanish sausage is served in ciabatta with peppers, and is one of the tastiest street foods you can get in London. Where: Borough Market"

"Bustling Spanish Tapas restaurant serving a range of small plates including cured meat, cheese and fish from Spain's best producers."

"Affectionately known as ‘Ally Pally’ by locals, this 1873 grade II listed events venue is situated between Wood Green and Muswell Hill. This is one of the best parks and gardens London has to offer for kids; from skateboarding in the skate park to zip wiring through an urban tree top jungle at Go Ape. The more demure visitors can call on Alexandra Palace's garden centre or treat themselves to homemade pies at the (overpriced) farmer’s market."

"The classical Alexander Palace, built by Quarenghi between 1792 and 1796 for the future Alexander I, is surrounded by the charming Alexander Park. Nicholas II, the last Russian tsar, was its main tenant and he made it his residence for much of his reign.The palace is currently undergoing renovation and is closed to the public, with completion due in 2018 at the earliest."

"Stefan Kalmár, the Director of the ICA London states: The Institute of Contemporary Arts in London has been the model for most ICAs that exist in the world today. Since its founding in 1946, the ICA contextualises contemporary culture within the socio-political conditions of the times. The ICA was created as an institute (not a museum), for the contemporary (not just modern) and for all the arts (not just art)."

"The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an art gallery near London's Trafalgar Square. In addition to exhibits on contemporary art, the ICA includes two cinemas, a bookshop, a theatre, and a bar. Established in 1947, ICA creators wanted to create a place for artists and other creative and science folk to debate ideas without being constricted by the rules and traditions of the Royal Academy."

"Rich Mix allows creativity in all its magnificent forms – live music, theatre, poetry, film, art, design and drawing, so it’s a little distinct from the other places on the list, but the charity behind the cross-media arts centre, The Rich Mix Cultural Foundation, has a pretty inspiring goal. And that’s to offer the public space to discover more about the creative offerings of people from various migrant populations. Since taking over the former clothing factory on Bethnal Green Road, Rich Mix has put on many free exhibitions, screenings and concerts."

"This fantastic creative space in the East End, on the site of what used to be in a leather factory, has regular exhibitions featuring emerging and established artists. 39-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Free entryrichmix.org.uk"

"A relative newcomer to north London’s new-wave clique has fully pivoted to wine and grocery store. Shop Cuvee — “born out necessity” — offers ready meals (terrines, soups, pastas, salads, and tarts) designed for different party sizes, a massive selection of low-intervention wine, cocktails, spirits, Vichy Catalan sparkling water, and deli items, such as tins of La Morena’s chipotle peppers in adobo."

"Modern European , Wine Bar"

"Swanky Barcelona export Amazónico has become one of the most-talked-about restaurants in London since arriving in Berkeley Square, promising big, bold design, exotic dishes and an upbeat atmosphere already giving neighbour Sexy Fish a serious run for its money. Housed in an old bank, Amazónico is South American-themed, with verdant greenery, wood fittings, parrot-feather pops of colour and even an under-the-sea-style sushi area. It’s really rather reminiscent of an ultra-chic rainforest café, and we mean that in a good way."

"The Berkeley Square haunt has become the go-to place to head for a next level date night. Inspired quite literally by the Amazon rainforest, expect a flurry of shrubbery and hanging palms, and even the occasional peacock running around…. Where: 10 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, W1J 6BRWebsite:www.amazonicorestaurant.com"

"Amazonico London follows on from its successful Madrid sibling which has been known to host notable guests - from celebs to politicians. The interiors are jungle-themed and the menu is a mix of Asian, Mediterranean and Brazilian food."

"Ross Brown is one of London coffee’s most irreverent, reluctant ambassadors. His eponymous shop is as much pillar of the citywide landscape as it is a neighbourhood essential; Square Mile’s iconic (if “steady”) Red Brick anchors the espresso offering, while DROP — a Swedish roastery focussed on juicy, expressive coffees, (sadly missed since Flat White’s defection to Dark Arts) — is a regular option on filter. A recent refurbishment has expanded and brightened the shop, but taken away none of its personality, which can also be found at St David’s in Forest Hill and Bon in East Dulwich."

"Browns of Brockley is a lovely, quaint coffee shop where you can fuel up on great espresso and homemade sandwiches. Founder Ross Brown knows that the secret to an excellent coffee shop is plenty of froth and friendliness – with both of those being found in abundance at his Coulgate Street latte lair. The Square Mile coffee is impeccably roasted and the baked goods from Little Bread Pedlar don’t go amiss, either."

"Philippe Conticini is a legend of pâtisserie and both of his eponymous Londoncafés are home to some of the finest gourmet pastries on this side of the channel. Paying a visit to Phillipe Conticini is like paying your respects to the butter gods. His Paris Brest is a thing of delicate, complicated beauty; his vanilla flan a reminder of what heights custard can achieve; and his pain au chocolat, a pastry so layered and flaky that it makes all pretenders seem a sham."

"Mini Éphémère, a lemon and yuzu meringue and cream version of the Merveilleux. Finding a delicious sweet treat for less than £2 anywhere in London is rare but finding something that will put your sweet tooth into a trance in South Kensington for £1.20 is some kind of miracle. At Aux Merveilleux de Fred, the mini versions of their namesake confections are so light – and inexpensive – that you can indulge without guilt."

"For the melt-in-the-mouth pastry experience only a true French chef such as Frédéric Vaucamps can achieve, book yourself in at Aux Merveilleux de Fred. Famed for their brioches, meringues and truffles, which are must-buys, the whole menu is highly acclaimed. Do yourself a favour and get some takeaway buns to enjoy as you travel around the rest of the city – they are truly merveilleux."