Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Tooting

"The Great Court at the British Museum in London|© David Coleman / Alamy Stock Photo. The world’s first national public museum, which has always been free to all “studious and curious persons”, opened its doors in 1753. The impressive Greek Revivalist building, with its imposing colonnades, is a teaser to the 8 million wondrous objects contained within."

"If you only visit one museum in London, then the British Museum should be it. Dedicated to human history and culture, the collections comprise over eight million items and document human culture from beginning to present."

"Most of the museums in London are free to visit including the British Museum seen below. This hall is huge, so to really capture it you would need a wide-angle lens. I actually used a GoPro for this particular shot."

"Heralded as “the world’s greatest museum of art and design,” the Victoria and Albert Museum can easily boast the claim to being one of London’s most iconic locations. With upcoming exhibitions on wedding dresses and the savage beauty of Alexander McQueen’s gothic fashion, the museum’s expertly curated collections create strong reactionary responses. “The show that made me cry was the incredible retrospective of Diane Arbus, showing her life’s work in images and how she tragically came to kill herself,” recalls Matthew of one of the more stirring of exhibitions."

"This treasure house of art and design is a hit with older children who appreciate the stylish presentation and the focus not only on historic artefacts, but also on contemporary design, fashion and celebrity. There are fabulous fashion, jewellery, architecture, photography and performing arts galleries, plus masses of inspiration for budding artists of all types. Explore stage make-up, fashion illustration, Asian art and digital photography and much more."

"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 Science Museum of London was founded in 1857, and it is one of the historical landmarks in London. It is the most-visited science and technology-related museum in Europe, with more than 3 million people coming through it annually. The museum has more than 15,000 science-related objects on display, including the famous Apollo 10 command capsule and Stephenson's Rocket."

"From the future of space travel to asking that difficult question: "who am I?", the Science Museum makes your brain perform Olympic-standard mental gymnastics. See, touch and experience the major scientific advances of the last 300 years; and don't forget the awesome Imax cinema. Some exhibitions require tickets."

"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"

"The National Gallery is one of the most famous art museums in the world. Constructed in 1937, it attracts more than 4 million tourists yearly. Unlike many other museums, this one is free to enter, so you don't have to worry about paying an admission fee."

"Housing a collection of over 2,000 Western European paintings from the middle ages to the 20th century, the National Gallery is a must-see for art lovers."

"No one should leave Hampton Court Palace without losing themselves in the 800m-long yew maze, included in entry; those not visiting the palace can enter via the gardens."

"Restaurants American Soho. Like it says on the tin, you know where you are with the flashily decorated Burger & Lobster chain. Hand-minced burgers (made with Nebraskan beef) and lobsters (shipped over from Nova Scotia) are the star attractions, with back-up from lobster rolls, oysters and other affordably luxurious hits."

"Like it says on the tin, you know where you are with the flashily decorated Burger & Lobster chain. Hand-minced burgers and lobsters (shipped over from Nova Scotia) are the headliners, with backup from lobster rolls, ‘beast’ combos and other affordably luxurious hits. Flagship site: 29 Clarges Street, W1J 7EF"

"Queen’s Wood is one of the four ancient woods in the London Borough of Haringey. Today it is situated very close to Highgate tube station, but Queen’s wood was originally part of the Forest of Middlesex that spread over the largest part of London. Despite its closeness to the crowded city, the wood succeeded to preserve the largest part of its natural habitat, with a rich flora and fauna: different species of grasses, trees, shrubs, birds (three species of woodpecker), and insects."

"Springfield Park may not be well known but that’s exactly why we love it. Nestled in between Clapton and Walthamstow, the park was originally a combination of grounds from three private houses (only the White House is still standing). Now it’s got cricket, tennis and athletics facilities and is right on the edge of the River Lea."

"Raluca Micu is a one-woman baking machine and her Askew Road bakery is the perfect example of why local businesses matter. Micu makes wonderful artisan hand-made sourdough (baked with Shipton Mill organic flour and heaps of love) and in pre-pandemic times did some pretty banging pastries, too. October 26 is only open on Friday and Saturday with a limited number of loaves available, so make sure to get their early for a hot takeaway loaf."

"With both Argentinian and Australian roots, Abuelo has some diverse influences, and it shows!. Abuelo means “grandfather” in Spanish. The owner’s abuelo was where this all started — he used to bake cakes at home."

"Known as the place angsty teenagers, punks and creatives go to hang out, Camden Market is a must-visit in London if you want to experience an energetic and engaging counterculture. Made up of a number of adjoining markets, you’ll be able to find iconic band t-shirts, sterling silver jewellery, tattoo parlours and bespoke boutiques selling 1950s clothing and serious rock and roll attire. Camden Lock is the place to go for eating, with a huge range of street food stalls selling cuisine from all corners of the globe."

"Camden Town is home to a series of markets, encompassing an astonishingly eclectic array of goods to suit all tastes. Pick up some vintage clothes, handmade jewellery, music, or bric-a-brac. The market around Camden Lock features designers and artists, with a selection of international food vendors, too."