Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Upminster

"One of the world’s greatest collections covering human history, art and culture, the museum has around eight million artefacts (only a tenth are ever on display) in almost 100 galleries. I’ve been visiting the British Museum since I was a child myself, fascinated by the Egyptian galleries – and the sheer scale of items on display, the variety and the fascinating stories behind so many artefacts mean that kids are likely to be just as enthralled, whether it’s by the mummified crocodile, the Easter Island Moai or something else. This is one I’d personally avoid during the early toddler years: preschoolers are old enough to be interested, babies young enough to snooze around, but chasing after enthusiastic 18-month-olds in a gallery of priceless artefacts makes me shiver."

"Today we are going to explore even more of London’s central highlights, including the British Museum, Covent Garden, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Shakespeare’s Globe. Today all of the attractions are within walking distance but you may want to use public transit to reach some of them. It may also be a good day to use a hop-on hop-off bus if you have a free ticket with the London Pass as the bus routes go to or near all the attractions on today’s route."

"London has lots of top class museums and galleries, so picking one out is difficult. The British Museum stands out from a photography perspective. That’s because of the photo you can take there juxtaposing the new modern roofing against the older buildings."

"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."

"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"

"Enjoy high-quality craft activities and then cool off in the courtyard before taking a dip into the paddling pool. The V & A has changing facilities on-site, making it a great place to spend the day."

"Founded in 1857, the Science Museum is one of London’s main tourist attractions. Hosting a collection of over 300,000 items, the museum also features a dedicated library and an IMAX 3D Cinema showing science and nature documentaries. It’s free, and offers loads of interactive exhibits and fascinating history, including the famous 'Puffing Billy', the oldest surviving steam locomotive, dating from 1813-14."

"And why wouldn’t you when there are planes and trains and spaceships and rockets, interactive exhibits, computers and cameras through the ages, and a history of mathematics?. While you’re there, be sure to catch up with Eric, the UK’s first working robot, from 1928, who has been brought back to life by a 2016 Kickstarter campaign. Address: Exhibition Road, SW7 2DDsciencemuseum.org.uk"

"Now in its 53nd year, this unmissable exhibition looks at everything from elephants in their natural habitat to urban foxes peering over fences, and is a sheer delight from start to finish. Date: until 10th September"

"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."

"PRACTICAL INFORMATION: The National Gallery is open every day from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. It closes at 9:00 pm on Fridays. It’s closed on 1 January and from 24 to 26 December."

"Vermuteria is an all-day cafe/bar in Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross inspired by the origins of Vermouth distilling. There is a terrace with space for up to 40 to enjoy their food and drink menu, with dishes such as duck rillettes with cornichons and Highland venison ragù with potato gnocchi and aged Parmesan."

"Far from your conventional brunch in London, the team at The Candlemaker combine copious amounts of alcohol with delicious brunch dishes; and let's not forget the all-important sprinkling of Bingo. Hosted by the Tina Turner Tea Lady, expect to find on their menu Eggs Benedict, tangy Bloody Marys and all the fruity Mimosas a person can handle, this is one of London's quirkier brunch specials."

"If you have any knowledge of London then this casino’s Mayfair address will tell you what to expect in terms of the clientele. Located inside an 18th century townhouse, The Clermont Club promises bespoke gaming to its members. The main gaming takes place in the Grand Salon, but don’t expect to find any electronic machines or jackpots here."

"It was the first venue John Aspinall founded with the aim of hosting the British aristocracy and celebrities. At the beginning, the admissions…. 44 Berkeley Square in LONDON W1J 5AR, Po Box 925, Bath Road, UXBRIDGE UB8 9GJ, London"

"Housed in the old Hampstead Central Library on Finchley Road, Camden Arts Centre began life as a local initiative, providing art classes for the community. Now, it is a powerhouse of contemporary art showing ambitious exhibitions by well-known British and international artists such as Kara Walker, Rose English, Ben Rivers and Jennifer Tee. The bookshop stocks a range of artist’s editions, and the garden is the perfect spot for a sunny afternoon."

"In 1965 a former library was converted into a gallery to promote contemporary art. The exhibitions feature emerging artists, international artists debuting in London, significant historic figures who have inspired contemporary practice, and group shows relevant to current debate. Arkwright Road, NW3 6DG Free entrycamdenartscentre.org"

"Named after the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus, whose impressive work to the taxonomic rank helped communicate our understanding of who we are, and how we as individuals fit into the world surrounding us, Linnaean is a spot that’s on one hell of a health kick. Fused together through a love for health, beauty and lifestyle, all of your girlie needs are catered for here, from the health-driven cafe, natural beauty treatments, to a little lifestyle boutique for all of your self-pampering needs. Unlike most ‘Instagrammable’ venues, Linnaean manages to deliver on all accounts and ticks all of your interior goals as soon as you step inside."

"It's not often can you have pancakes under the same roof as a spa offering manicures, blow-dries, express glow facials and massages. But that’s exactly that kind of luxury treatment on offer at London’s recently-opened Linnaean. As well as offering some of the finest beauty treatments in the capital (it’s interiors alone are enough to have your Instagram feed sorted for weeks), Linnaean’s restaurant offers a plant-rich menu including a variety of vegan and gluten-free pancakes."

"South London’s answer to Instagrammable restaurants is Linnaean: a health-focused café, apothecary and beauty salon named after Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. Located in the heart of London’s Embassy Gardens, Linnaean is a beautiful space, with a very Instagram-friendly flower ceiling, hanging lights and pastel pink bar seats, alongside an equally pretty – and delicious – food offering. Afterwards, pop into the salon for a treatment for a long-awaited self-care day."

"This small Victorian woodland plantation was planted in the 1830s, but not opened to the public until 1953. It’s famed for its evergreen azaleas, which are best viewed in late April or early May. The garden includes the National Collection of Wilson 50 Kurume Azaleas, as well as other rare and unusual shrubs and trees."

"Fulham Palace is a site dedicated to tracing its own history. Items found on the palace's grounds date all the way back to prehistoric times; the archaeological finds are part of the museum's impressive collection of artifacts and objects. The site has been a residence of the Bishops of London since 704 and played a major role as a hospital during World War I and a refugee spot during World War II."

"A beautiful open garden, glasshouses, flowers in bloom, and brick walls, all in a place less visited by tourists which make for one great location for a photo shoot or a private event. And if you’re looking for some diversity, just walk a few steps out of Fulham Palaceand you’re right on the shore of river Thames."

"Lose yourself amongst the stone pines, olive trees, and cypresses of this typical Mediterranean landscape. The King William's Temple stands in the middle of the garden, lending a sense of grandeur to the vibrant landscape."

"The BAO Bakery Goods counter at Cafe BAO has almost single-handedly made King’s Cross a must-visit area for baked goods. Inspired by the western-style yōshoku cafes dotted across Asia, Cafe BAO has got some of the most unique bakes available for purchase in the whole of London. There’s nowhere else in the city that you can get your mitts on a bag of dinky buns filled with molten chocolate and cherry chunks, runny salted egg custard, or sweet red bean and white chocolate."

"Everyone’s favourite Taiwanese street food emporium, Bao, best known for its tiny Soho outlet, has opened a big new café in King’s Cross. Drawing inspiration from western style cafes in Asia, the new eatery will serve – among Bao standards – European dishes with an eastern twist, such as Taiwanese fried chicken kiev. 4 Pancras Square, N1C 4DS Nearest Tube: King’s Cross"

"In a nutshell: Everyone's favourite bao spot ramps it up with an all-day spot in KX Where is it?. 4 Pancras Square, Kings Cross, London N1C 4AG Why should you care?. For their fourth opening, in King's Cross, the folk at BAO have decided to switch things up with an all-day cafe serving breakfast for the first time and with its own bakery."

"For the Mr Darcys and Elizabeth Bennets of this world, a cosy night in a Georgian townhouse should do just the trick. Add the fact that French restaurant L’Escargot has entertained most of Soho’s most famous bon viveurs in its 90-year history, and you’ll detect a frisson of scandal in the air. For ultimate date ambience, be sure to grab a table in the front dining room: plush velvet furnishings, scarlet red walls and a chandelier hanging from its period ceiling are all built for romantic revellers."

"Just a short walk from London’s West End theatres,L’Escargot offers a fantastic pre-theatre menu as well as their usual a la carte fare and Sunday lunch options. Choose a table in front of the roaring wood fire and enjoy a whole lobster, sample the liquorice beef or opt for the traditional snails. All of the dishes on offer are the usual French bistro classics with a L’Escargot twist, and can be accompanied by a bottle of fine French wine; just ask the waiter to hand-pair the wine with the dishes."

"Coco Chanel, Mick Jagger, and Princess Diana have all dined here, so you know it’s going to be good. A fixture in Soho since 1927, you can’t leave without trying the dish the restaurant is named after: the snails."

"It also means smashing it on your socials, because EL&N (which confusingly rebranded from Élan Café) is arguably the most Instagrammable place in town, perhaps due to its insatiable flower and love heart walls. EL&N started out on Park Lane and quickly became the influencers’ hangout of choice thanks to more pink than you’ll find in Elton John’s walk-in wardrobe."

"A Middle Eastern version of tres leches cake with saffron-spiced sponge, whipped cream and lots of sweet vanilla milk – this is soft, melt-in-your-mouth moist, so refreshing and just mind-blowingly good. EL&N isn’t just a pink, picture-perfect spot for the ‘gram."