Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Kingston upon Thames

"Two million years worth of artifacts, sculptures and antiquities—including Egyptian mummies, the Elgin Marbles and the hieroglyph-busting Rosetta Stone—call the British Museum home. Don’t be surprised if your family’s history buff goes missing for several days. Psst—here are 20+ history lessons your teacher lied about."

"The mummies in the Ancient Egypt section are a particular favourite. There’s so much to explore whether you’re into the Aztecs and the Incas, the Vikings or Ancient Greece. It’s best to pick just one area to visit each time you go or it’s just too much to take in."

"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."

"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"

"This beautiful grand museum takes you back in time to experience the decorative arts and designs of our past ancestors. Discover the fashion through the eras as well as beautiful jewels and statues of important aristocrats. With the beautiful grounds that surrounds one of the world's largest museum it is simply breathtaking."

"Ideal for left-brainers, London’s Science Museum celebrates scientific, technological, and mathematical achievements—but that makes it sound so serious. With interactive exhibits, flight simulators, an IMAX theater, and even a milkshake bar, a trip to the Science Museum is far from the snore-worthy science lessons from back in the day. Some of the coolest things to spy?"

"The Science Museum has sections specifically for preschool children. The Garden is an interactive gallery based around water, light, sound and construction where toddlers can learn about floating, sinking, shadows and reflections. The Pattern Pod is a multi-sensory area for children aged under 8, which encourages children to recognise and copy patterns."

"1824: The première of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9; the Egyptians capture Crete; ‘New Holland’ becomes ‘Australia’; some government guys in Britain bought 38 paintings. Now: Beethoven’s no longer in the charts, Australia still has an identity crisis, and The National Gallery has over 2,300 works tracing the complete development of Western European painting from virtually every European school of art."

"0 km from city center 11 out of 40 places to visit in London. The National Gallery is a art gallery situated in London which displays more than 2000 Western European paintings from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. The works of renowned artists like Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Turner, Van Gogh, etc are displayed here."

"The National Gallery is my personal favourite gallery in the world. You’ll find some of Europe’s greatest masterpieces here, from Van Gogh, to Monet, to Rembrandt. I still remember being brought to tears by the doleful beauty of Turner’s Margate (?) from the Sea."

"One of the top 50 brunches in London, Bashment Brunch is bringing Carnival vibes to secret locations across the city. Expect the party to be in full swing, with unlimited rum punch, Carribbean eats and a soundtrack of reggae, soca and dancehall hits."

"If you're craving some seriously good BBQ food, you don't need to book a flight to Memphis. Hop on the train to Camden, where Porky's offers deliciously deep-fried, juicy southern-fried chicken, whisky by the glass and a rock 'n' roll playlist to boot."

"You can get that exact dish in Porky’s, another mini-chain of American diners in London. But, as the name suggests, pigs are what you want. Porky’s pulled pork, a dish very much a la mode, is hard to beat."

"Awarded England’s Best Hotel Spa 2019 at the World Spa Awards™, The Lanesborough’s attentive staff know exactly how to best pamper guests. Located close to Buckingham Palace, the setting is perfect for a regal style spa break, particularly for those wanting to sample something new… The subterranean club is but two and a half years old, having re-opened in 2017 with stunning interior refurbishments designed by studio 1508. Fireplaces, silk wallpaper, wood panelling, bronze trims, deep blue satin and leather upholstery all create an ambience of refined opulence."

"The Lanesborough Hotel’s swanky spa in Knightsbridge offers fantastic facilities (and some of the most ‘grammable changing rooms we’ve seen), but it’s open to members only (aside from hotel guests). Membership costs from £3,500/year or £300/month, plus a joining fee from £1,000. Inside, there’s a vast gym with every machine you can think of; a cold mist, mint-infused “shower,” to cool you down post-workout; thermal suites and hydrotherapy pools to unwind in; as well as a dedicated parlour offering top notch manis."

"The award-winning spa at The Lanesborough is undoubtedly one of the most lavish in the city. A subterranean oasis of calm, it houses a vast gym, hydro pool, saunas and steam rooms, as well as its own food and drink offering centered around nutritionally rich dishes that promote inner health. There are three spa day options at The Lanesborough Club & Spa, ranging from a three-hour session to a full day of treatments."

"It’s not just in Mexico and the Middle East that they know how to wrap it up – Kolkati proves that Indian food can bundle it up with the best of them. This Camden Market trader serves kati rolls: flaky paratha flatbreads which are cooked in ghee and rolled up to hold a variety of spiced up ingredients. Fillings include masala chicken and paneer, which come drenched in lashings of coconut and coriander raita, as well as tamarind and date ketchup."

"At Kate de Lord and Jack Hogarth’s ‘kati roll’ stand, all the warmth and spice of fragrant homemade curry gets wrapped up in what’s basically Indian eggy bread – a flaky, soft paratha crisped in ghee and a freshly cracked egg. If you’re looking for a meat-free main, they don’t come more satisfying than its paneer roll; hearty but not heavy, spicy and not spendy. Also, be sure to add some tamarind and date ketchup."

"As Jonathan Nunn puts it: “A good fish and chip shop has to understand what fish and chips is about. There is no point trying to gussy it up...Fladda in Camberwell gets this, but isn’t shy to make improvements and alterations. Anonymous ‘chip shop’ sausages and pert, scarlet saveloys sit alongside battered sausages from The Butchery; homemade steak and ale pies alongside Pukka; whole fish fillets alongside a £5 fish bites..."

"Bon Vivant, an unassuming French restaurant with classic Parisian outside seating and sumptuous interior design, is a lovely, low-key option in Bloomsbury. The staff hail from all over Europe and are led by a French manager, who ensures they all partake in French lessons after joining his team, so as to keep things feeling as authentic as possible. And it works, particularly alongside the oh-so-French menu, which sees classics given a modern update: think escargots (snails) doused in a buttery mix of garlic, so that the parsley and shallots drip down your chin and need mopping up with a warm slice of the restaurant’s homemade bread."

"Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all on the cards at Bon Vivant, which also includes such delights as bavette steak and an Earl Grey crème brûlée. Yeah, we’re drooling too."

"Somewhat bemusingly, it claims to be the oldest French restaurant in London despite only being founded in the 1940s. Still, the menu is brimming with classic French dishes, so we’ll forgive this apparent fib."

"In the centre of Richmond, just a stone’s throw from the river, this branch of the Côte brasserie chain has all the Francophile trappings you could wish for – from striped awnings, fold-back french doors and modish light fittings to ‘formule’ breakfasts, ‘plat rapides’ and a menu that revels in pissaladière, steak frites, moules marinière and chargrilled Breton chicken. The drinks list is also as Gallic as can be."

"There are Francophiles behind this nationwide French brasserie group – that much is obvious. Every last detail, from the rattan terrace furniture ..." Read our full review"