Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Norbiton

"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."

"The British Museum is a treasure trove of artifacts from around the world. Among its treasures, you’ve got bits of the Greek Acropolis, the Rosetta Stone, a burial helmet from Sutton Hoo and an Easter Island statute. There is so much to see among the permanent collections but there are also excellent temporary exhibits."

"The Victoria and Albert Museum (aka the V&A) is part of a South Kensington-based group of museums that includes the Natural History Museum and Science Museum. Founded in 1852, the V&A covers close to 13 acres and contains 145 galleries spanning some 5,000 years of art and related artifacts. Exhibits include ceramics and glass, textiles and costumes, silver and jewelry, ironwork, sculpture, prints, and photos, and are conveniently arranged into four main categories: Asia; Furniture, Textiles, and Fashion; Sculpture, Metalwork, Ceramics, and Glass; and Word and Image."

"Not just one of the best museums in London but also the world’s largest collection of decorative arts and design, the V&A is comprised of more than 150 separate galleries over seven floors of furniture, ceramics, sculpture, paintings, posters, jewellery, metalwork, glass, textiles, dress, architecture and photography spanning several centuries. Plus it’s home to the beautiful William Morris tearoom and a water-filled courtyard; both excellent spots for a scone break."

"The Victoria and Albert Museum, commonly called the V&A, is a collection of decorative arts and ornate objects from around the world, housed within one of the city’s most beautiful buildings. The Victoria & Albert Flickr © Tony Hisgett"

"With over 3 million visitors each year the Science museum is a firm favourite amongst children and adults. There are seven floors of educational and entertaining exhibits, including the ground floor Exploring Space Gallery with the Apollo 10 command module, rockets, satellites, a piece of moon rock, a 600kg Spacelab X-ray telescope and a full size replica of the Eagle moon lander. Opened in 2000, the Wellcome Wing looks at the future of science, medicine and technology."

"A futuristic museum that is spread across seven floors of interactive and entertaining exhibits and explores everything from space travel to the Industrial Revolution. There’s something here for kids of all ages, including toddlers. Highlights include the giant telescope in the Exploring Space section, flying machines in the Flight Gallery – from hot air balloons to vintage planes, and the IMAX cinema shows on deep space and the underwater world."

"PRACTICAL INFORMATION: The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission is free but you are required to book a time-slot here. NEAREST METRO STATION: South Kensington"

"Housing masterpieces by painters including van Gogh, Renoir, da Vinci and Michelangelo, the National Gallery is home to one of the world’s most impressive art collections, and sees over six million visitors every year. Avoid the hordes by visiting on weekday mornings or Friday evenings. Whatever time you go, the permanent collections are always free."

"It’s worth battling past the floating Yodas to get to the crown jewel of Trafalgar Square; the National Gallery. The formidable building sits resplendently behind the Fourth Plinth - always a talking point for art lovers - and contains some of the most famous paintings in the world. Here you’ll find works by Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner, Botticelli and Van Gogh - and you won’t be charged a penny to enjoy them."

"Beer Merchants have distributed on behalf of European breweries ­— Belgian ones especially ­— for the past 30 years. That history has culminated in a substantial taproom around the corner from Hackney Wick Overground station, from where beers that are a challenge to find on draught elsewhere are being poured: Cantillon, De Dolle, De La Senne, to name but a few. Hundreds of others stock the fridges, while the taproom will soon have its own “blendery” — the first of its kind in Britain."

"A post shared by Beer Merchants Tap (@beer_merchants_tap) on Jan 19, 2019 at 10:28am PST. Though not technically a brewery (yet), we’d feel remiss not to mention Beer Merchants Tap on our list. This establishment serves over 500 ciders and beers from across the globe – that’s quite the tasting session if you have the stomach for it."

"Terence Conran's first hotel – whoops, 'multi-functional space' – comprises a dozen large, expensively pared-down rooms in a converted warehouse in Shoreditch, showcasing the work of Conran's favourite designers (Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe) against gallery-style white walls and exposed brick. On the third and fourth floor there are also four duplex lofts and studios, plus a further suite designed by Sir David Tang. The good looks continue in Albion, a self-styled 'caff' with shop and bakery attached, and the swishy restaurant, where City swells and media types nibble on frogs' legs and do their best to deplete the well-stocked wine cellar."

"Opened in 2009, this rooftop bar is an east London institution, offering 360-degree views of London come rain or shine. In the cooler months, cosy up in the heated glass orangery adorned with strings of twinkling lights, while the outdoor terrace is perfect for sipping gin and tonics as the sun sets. Share boards of charcuterie, squidgy chunks of warm focaccia and bowls of olives, or keep things light with simple salads."

"Escape the streets of Shoreditch on a warm evening and head to The Boundary Project, where the chic rooftop features both an outdoor terrace and a glass-covered orangery for all-weather enjoyment. But before the night descends into a rosé-tinted haze, order snacks like charcuterie, skewers from the robata grill or a chic seafood platter for two."

"It may be surrounded by some of South London’s busiest roads, but damn it is beautiful. With BBQ areas, an outdoor gym and quiet hidden away leafy corners as well as an awesome lake you could almost forget you are in London when in Burgess Park."

"Soho is proudly unique and non-conforming, so you’d expect any gin distilled there to offer something that bit different. With 12 botanicals and made according to 11th century methods, the King of Soho doesn’t disappoint. Made by the son of late Soho personality Paul Raymond, this tipple is a love letter to the borough."

"It’s a cultured pairing and the precise reason why Bel Canto is so unique amongst the best French restaurants in London. The waiters at this Hyde Park eatery are talented opera singers with professional training, singing to guests every 15 minutes in solos, duets and group arias. On top of that, there’s classic French dishes prepared by Gilles Martin, the Brittany-born and Parisian-trained head chef."

"This opera-themed restaurant near Hyde Park serves up French fine dining with a difference: it’s delivered by waiters singing opera classics. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the music – don’t worry, you’ll not have to sing for your supper."

"Founded in Belgravia in 1982 by Chef Peng (who you’ll still find working the burners today), Hunan is perhaps the most unusual restaurant on this list thanks to the fact that it does not – and never has – had a menu. Rather diners are simply encouraged to tell staff if there’s anything they don’t eat and how spicy they enjoy their food. Then they are invited to sit back and enjoy a parade of tapas-style Chinese small plates that may include traditional dishes from Hunan province alongside the restaurant’s signature crispy frogs’ legs and fermented bamboo shoots."

"Since opening in Pimlico in the early Eighties, Hunan has been a favourite of those in the know. A daily set menu of frequently changing dishes shows both Hunanese and Taiwanese influences – braised pork, spicy aubergine or the renowned broth with pork, Chinese mushroom and ginger. Wine lovers will appreciate the well chosen list, with a focus on Bordeaux and Burgundy."

"Hunan in Pimlico is a London dining experience unlike any other. Upon arrival diners are asked just two questions – 1. Do you have any special dietary requirements?"

"Conrad St James, 22-28 Broadway, Westminster, London SW1H 0BH Why should you care?. Harwood Arms' Sally Abe is now Consultant Chef at the Conrad London St. James hotel in Westminster. She'll be looking after four new openings at the hotel."