Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Forest Hill

"With nearly 6 million visitors a year, the British Museum, is the UK's most popular tourist attraction, and provides visitors to London with free public access to important objects from human history and culture. Founded in 1753, The British Museum was the first national public museum in the world. The immense building is dominated by the round, domed Reading Room and airy Great Court, which opened in 2000."

"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."

"This museum located in Brompton is positively regal – and not just because it was named after (and opened by) Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert. The huge Victorian Gothic building is striking enough (fittingly so for a museum dedicated to design) – but wait until you get inside. The V&A has a broad collection loosely focused around art and design, with more than two million pieces in total spread out over five acres."

"The V&A has a world-class collection of art and design objects from across the globe. Its galleries have a wealth of artefacts covering fashion, furniture, sculpture, photography, jewellery and much more. Museum entry is still free, but you will need to pre-book a timed ticket online."

"The V&A is the world’s largest collection of art and design with over 4.5 million objects. Explore 5000 years of creativity from ancient Chinese ceramics to Alexander McQueen dresses."

"Another free museum in South Kensington, dedicated to the miracle of technological progress… and all the neat things we’ve discovered along the way. Some of the ‘classic’ galleries focusing on the birth of steam power are a little fusty, but the bit about space travel is neat, and there are tons of neat interactive exhibitions to play with. The Wonderlab area (which isn’t free alas) is full of hands-on experiments that kids will go absolutely bananas for."

"Behind the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum amazes me with its immense size and impressive exhibits. It’s packed with everything from object galleries to interactive spaces, an IMAX Theatre, and simulators. There are places to engage in virtual reality and rooms to see airplanes suspended in mid-air."

"Of all the museums in London, my top pick for toddlers is the Science Museum. Head down to the basement area where you’ll find the “Garden,” a wonderful play place with water play, soft toys and building blocks so your toddler can immerse themselves in the world of science at their own pace."

"From Michelangelo to Monet and Raphael to Rembrandt, almost all of the old European masters can be found on the walls of the National Gallery, overlooking London’s famous Trafalgar Square. Crowd favorites include Van Gogh’s "Sunflowers"; Botticelli’s "Venus and Mars;" and Monet’s "The Water-Lily Pond." (If you’re short on time, you can pre-plan your trip around the gallery’s 30 must-see paintings.)"

"Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Turner, Renoir and Van Gogh—a roll call of Western European masters await you at London’s National Gallery. Boasting more than 2,000 paintings from the 13th to the 19th century, the overwhelming collection is yours to discover free of charge. And if you’re hungry for more art, stop by the National Portrait Gallery next door."

"Located in Hoxton Square, Gigi's is a colourful restaurant and bar with some of the best outdoor seating in East London. Whether you're hungry for Sriracha wings, want to try a gin of two from their 18-strong selection or you're ready for a night of dancing to big-name DJs, this is the place for you."

"The Old Ticket Hall can provide you with all of your live music needs. If you want to enjoy some sort of live music during your weekend in Windsor this venue will be perfect. Keep an eye out on their website for what they have on during your stay."

"A well-established cocktail bar, Be At One is just minutes from the water's edge. From innovative concoctions to extended happy hours, this is an ideal pick for drinks in Richmond, just make sure to book ahead, because chances are you won't be the only one feeling thirsty."

"This 49.5m-tall eight-sided pagoda (1762), designed by William Chambers (who designed Somerset House), is one of Kew Gardens' architectural icons. During WWII, the pagoda withstood the blast from a stick of Luftwaffe bombs exploding nearby, and was also secretly employed by the Ministry of Defence to test bomb trajectories (which involved cutting holes in each floor). Current restorations – due to be completed in 2018 – will return its former full colours, along with the 80 dragons that once decorated the pagoda."

"The Great Pagoda was built in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta. It was designed by Sir William Chambers at a time when Asian architecture was beginning to become fashionable in Europe. Kew Gardens: The Pagoda and Bridge (1762) by Richard Wilson RA, 1714–1782, British, active in Italy (1750–56)Yale Center for British Art"

"The Great Pagoda was completed in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta, who founded Kew Gardens. When it was constructed, 80 dragons carved from gilded wood adorned the roofs of its 10 floors. The dragons were removed in 1784."

"Tahini cookie with finely chopped hazelnuts and dark chocolate chips, it’s earthy and nutty, with a lovely crispness from the sesame seeds on top. 11 Goldhurst Terrace, London NW6 3HY.Open for take-away and local delivery."

"Restaurants Australian Exmouth Market. The only thing better than getting a table inside this Exmouth Market hotspot is snagging one of the 20-odd alfresco seats. There are tables sheltered by an awning, although others are prey to the weather."

"If you've ever opened one of Yotam Ottolenghi's cookbooks, you'll have an idea of what you're in for here. Food is full of color and spices, rooted in the Middle East but open to new ideas, and wines are natural-leaning and sourced from small producers. And of course the most important items: the decadent cakes (one isn't enough. Before you leave, pick up some supplies from the deli: jars of fragrant dukkah and za’atar, plus the lemon and vanilla marmalade."

"Restaurants Pâtisseries Islington. Breakfast at Ottolenghi’s Islington branch – the one with the on-table toasters – is a rite of passage for posh kids who live locally. Evenings are more grown up, although small people will easily be won over by the colourful counter displays – plus cakes for the journey home."

"The array of cakes and desserts displayed in the windows of Ottolenghi delis across town is awe-inspiring. You can’t really go wrong with the cakes, which change daily, but if you can get it go for a passion fruit meringue tart and the cheesecakes are perfection – we enjoyed a salted caramel and hazelnut one. The Spitalfields location is the biggest Ottolenghi venue."

"This family-run coffee house and bakery, based out in Battersea, is who you should be visiting if you want to get a taste of a real-deal Filipino panaderia. Kapihan does the business on a range of sweet and savoury Filipino-style pastries with light and airy pandesal bread being the real hero item on the menu. The pan de coco (a pandan-infused brioche with a coconutty sweet cream filling) and chocolate Spanish bread (a fluffy pandesal filled with a slightly molten mixture of 75% South Cotabato chocolate and hazelnut raw creme) are perfect for pairing with a cup of freshly brewed coffee."

"Nigel and David Motley’s new home in Battersea Park delivers beautiful, exacting Filipino baking, but also single origin coffee from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar, countries which speciality coffee has either recently deigned to recognise, or remain systemically overlooked. Now serving coffee through the hatch Monday — Saturday, guest roasts from Barcelona’s Nomad are complemented by a natural Filipino coffee that tastes of peaches and caramel. Reopens Saturday 9 January."

"Kapihan in Battersea celebrates the best of Filipino cafe culture, so as well as brewing speciality coffee sourced from the islands it serves up traditional bakes too. Pandesal is a classic bread and this version has chorizo and a blend of three cheeses in it, with some extra pecorino on top for good measure."

"Vegetarian , Vegan ,  Middle Eastern"