Best Shopping Malls, Outlet and Places in Basildon Close Area

"As far as beautiful things to see in London, Big Ben has nothing on Kappacasein’s cheese wheels being melted before your eyes. Using the Swiss technique, the artists flame the cheese and when a gorgeous brown crust forms, the molten gold is scraped onto your plate of potatoes. They also have the best toastie, which gives this cheese-encrusted grilled cheese a run for its money."

"Some of its food markets rival those found anywhere else in the world. A favorite is Borough Market, the largest in the city, tucked away south of the Thames —walking distance from the Tower Bridge and Tower of London. Families love sampling from a variety of stalls or shopping for incredible picnic fixings to take to the Southwark Cathedral grounds nearby."

"If you did some advance research on the food scene in London, you probably heard that we have a lot of food markets around town. Borough Market is the most famous. It’s particularly known for fresh produce, but there are literally a hundred food stalls dotted around."

"This covered market in Spitalfields offers a plethora of fashion stalls selling everything from vintage clothes and accessories to jewellery. There's also an impressive choice of home decor and arts stalls where you can pick up one-of-a-kind pieces for your home. When to visit: The market is open even days a week, but opening times vary each day."

"One of London’s best street food markets is by far Old Spitafields, which is open every day from 10 am. Located in Horner Square, the market is at walking distance from Liverpool Street Train and Tube station, and it can also be reached from Shoreditch, Whitechapel and Aldgate. It isn’t just a food market, let alone a street food market."

"This lively east London market has an eclectic mix of stalls that will satisfy any shopper. It’s open seven days a week, so naturally it’s one of London’s busiest shopping destinations. There are antiques, clothes, jewellery - you name it, they’ve got it."

"You’ll love Columbia Road Flower Market for the vibrancy of colour and wonderful smells that permeate the neighbourhood on Sundays. Open from 8am till 3pm be sure to get there early for the freshest flowers but also arriving late on can grab you some bargains as sellers want to move stock, especially cut flowers, but beware of all stock selling out if you plan to arrive later in the day. Located on a historic street in the East End of London, the area springs up like an oasis in the concrete desert with all manner of plants from cut flowers to small bedding plants, to small and large trees."

"Every Sunday between 8am and 3pm, Columbia Road in East London is transformed into the capital’s biggest flower market, with many independent growers selling flowers, plants and more. Even if you’re not out to buy any plants yourself, the market is still a great free place to visit in London – a colourful oasis filled with the scent of florals and sound of bargaining traders."

"London has a wealth of renowned markets, but perhaps the most beautiful is the weekly Columbia Road Flower Market. Every Sunday, this road of Victorian shops is taken over by market stalls selling seasonal blooms and houseplants. For the best bargains, visit around 3 p.m."

"Another market for food lovers is set up across an outdoor space at Southbank Centre, with both street food and fresh produce to tempt passers-by. A trip to the market can be combined with further exploration of the Southbank Centre, which continually hosts cultural exhibitions and events. Southbank Centre Market: Friday Midday-8pm, Saturday 11am-8pm, Sunday and Monday Midday-6pm."

"The best thing about Southbank Centre Market is its location right by some of London’s major attractions and overlooking the Thames. If you’re booked on the London Eye or going to see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament on the right day, you can visit the market as an added bonus to your trip. There are two markets which focus on food and books."

"There’s a food market behind the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank, with a good mix of food from all over the world alongside local produce and plenty of cakes. It’s open until 8pm on Friday and Saturday. Perfect for a cheap bite to eat in the evening."

"One of our very favourite outdoor markets in London, Maltby Street Market is back with a slightly different look. Like Camden Market, they’ll be using a one-way system to ensure social distancing, and street food traders are making a slow, distanced return to the market. The market’s permanent residents will be selling produce from the railway arches, and opening hours are 8am-3pm on Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sunday."

"Source: Photo by user William Harold Amos used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Opened in 2010 in south-east London, Maltby Street Market is a small market and the creators have carefully curated a select list of vendors. At this market, you’ll find seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, delicious coffee, and plenty of street food, including food from Venezuela, Japan and several vendors offering modern takes on British classics."

"You won't just find your usual street food offering here (although there is plenty of that too). At Maltby, you can also expect some more gourmet twists on traditional dishes, alongside craft beers and fresh local produce - all in a very laidback setting under picturesque railway arches. When to visit: It's open on weekends, Saturdays from 10am-5pm and Sundays from 11am-4pm."

"In the early 1800s, art enthusiast Sir Francis Bourgeois instructed that his entire collection be turned into a gallery open to the public, handpicking architect John Soane to create the Dulwich Picture Gallery from scratch. Look up, and you can see for yourself the innovative techniques Soane used to bathe the whole gallery in sunlight, which became the prototype for all galleries to this day. Still, don't forget to look down too, to see the great Baroque masterpieces that line the walls and the mausoleum Soane designed for his friend and patron."

"London's Dulwich Picture Gallery is the oldest public art gallery in the country, opening its doors in 1817. The gallery was designed by architect Sir John Soane and is a Grade II listing on England's National Heritage List for its design. Today, the Dulwich Picture Gallery has one of England's best collections of Old Masters."

"Bhavi Beauty Wembley is an independent beauty spa located at the foot of London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. Right in the heart of the London Designer Outlet, they offer a sanctuary of pampering away from the bustling atmosphere of the area. Specialising in the ancient, Indian arts of threading and massages, they also provide a range of beauty treatments to help you feel both refreshed and refined."

"Located in the heart of London’s financial district, the Royal Exchange previously hosted the centre of commerce for the City of London. Today, however, the Royal Exchange hosts a variety of luxury shops, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., Hermes, Gucci…just to give an idea. Luxury restaurants and champagne bars are a great place to take a shopping break and the location of the Royal Exchange, the opposite side of town from our other shopping centres, means it is oftentimes not as busy as the better-known shopping locations of London."

"Not a single shop, but a collection of exclusive boutiques and restaurants, founded in the 16th century and housed in a striking building constructed in 1837. Shops include Hermès, Georg Jensen and Tiffany & Co, and goods available to buy range from fashion and accessories to beauty products and homewares. 3 Royal Court, Royal Exchange, Unit 15C, London EC3V 3LN"

"The Royal Exchange building opposite the Bank of England is the third building on the site. It’s one of the most familiar and famous sites in London because of its position at such a busy junction, on several major bus routes. The present building dates from the 1840s, and its highlight is its graceful Classical Greek portico."

"A globe-trotting, eat-all-you-like buffet concept, COSMO brings the ultimate crowd-pleasing dining experience to Reading. Launched by Tom Chan back in 2003, COSMO offers a set-price menu, with guests invited to choose from over 150 recipes from the…"

"Exactly what it says on the tin, Dumplings & Baos specialise in perfectly doughy baos and delicate dumplings. While they have an extensive menu, this is one place it clearly makes sense to try dumplings at, with our top pick being their deliciously rich lobster dumplings and their king scallop and prawn equivalent. This is also one of the few Chinese restaurants in London that offers a BYOB option (with a corkage fee of just £2.50), making for a nice little bonus on top of what is already a pretty sweet deal."

"Source: Photo by user Carole Raddato used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Take an easy 10-minute walk across Verulamium Park and find an unimpressive, low, white building - but don’t ignore it, because inside this protective shell is a spectacular Roman mosaic, preserved in the very place it was built, nearly 2000 years ago. Once part of a floor for the reception rooms of a large Roman townhouse, this intricate mosaic is a fantastically preserved example of this ancient artform."

"The Roman Mosaic and Hypocaust is an ancient underfloor heating system that ran beneath a mosaic floor. It was discovered during a 1930s excavation and is estimated to be around 1800 years old. The floor is remarkably well preserved, and the design is very detailed, with many geometric patterns."

"This striking Arts and Craft church was built in 1888-90, at the south-eastern side of Sloane Street. It was paid for by the 5th Earl of Cadogan, in whose estate it stood. John Dando Sedding’s design blends late Victorian trends of Pre-Raphaelite medieval and Italianate styles."

"This Anglican parish church was built in the late 19th-century and it’s so wide that it its width even exceeds that of St. Paul’s Cathedral"