Must See Sights and Landmarks in Ilford Area

"Another iconic London building, Westminster Abbey is a royal church and UNESCO World Heritage site with over 1000 years of history. But it’s the stunning exterior and well placed red phone boxes that make this one of the most Instagrammable places in London!. Walk away from Westminster Abbey to the corner of Tothill Road where you’ll find red phone boxes gracing each side."

"With its beautiful architecture, it’s only natural that Westminster Abbey would feature on this list. My personal favourite spot to photograph it from is from the phone boxes in front of Barclays Bank. That way you can, once again, combine a famous London landmark with a London icon."

"Westminster Abbey is a pretty imposing building with stunning architecture. Needless to say, it makes for some pretty beautiful Instagram shots. If you want the perfect Instagram shot just walk a little further away from it along one of the roads that lead to it."

"The Shard has one of the most beautiful and photogenic views over London (if you manage to go on a sunny day, unlike the one when I went and snapped the photo below). My advice for visiting The Shard is to go enjoy the view from the cocktail bar, instead of the viewing floor. As you can imagine cocktails are expensive, however they are only a couple pounds more expensive than the entry ticket to the viewing deck."

"Have a luxurious stay at London’s very first elevated deluxe hotel with sweeping views of the city. It sprawls over the 34th to 52nd floor of the iconic Shard building – a masterpiece by architect Renzo Piano. With a closeness to the Tower of London and London Bridge railway and tube station, you can easily get around the city and enjoy the best attractions."

"For a truly spectacular view of London, you’re going to want to head up London’s tallest building, the Shard. This 95 storey skyscraper was opened in 2012, with the viewing deck opened in 2013."

"The Tower of London is such a great place to visit with kids if they’re into learning about the history of London, castles and stories of kings and queens – including a bit of blood and gore!. Kids will be enthralled by the stories of the famous tower ravens, Henry the VIII and his many wives, the Guy Fawkes plot, the yeoman warders and Beefeaters with their pomp and ceremony. Save the best until last – the spectacular Crown Jewels including dazzling crowns and jewellery that are still in use today."

"London is an eminently walkable city, and you’ll be able to take in the majority of the key highlights, from the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace through to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Then, on your second day, take advantage of that car and head out to some of the attractions outside of London. I’m thinking Windsor Castle, or Hampton Court Palace – both eminently explorable, and easy to reach with a car."

"Delve into British Royal history by exploring London’s Royal historic buildings. The Tower of London sits on the bank of the Thames, right by Tower Bridge and it’s an absolute must for history lovers in London. Look around the original structure where some of the most famous (and infamous) moments in British history took place."

"Finally, we have reached the number one spot in the best buildings and architecture in London and we have picked Tower Bridge. Of course, bridges are not always the top attractions on the list, but in London, the Tower Bridge is a must-see for the architectural views that one will be exposed to. It’s a combined bascule and suspension bridge that was built between 1886 and 1894."

"The best view of Tower Bridge (in my opinion) is from the water; however, not everyone has a chance to do a Thames River Cruise. If that’s not on your itinerary, try to get a photo of Tower Bridge from afar, featuring something else iconic – perhaps City Hall?. Alternatively, a head on shot crossing the bridge is pretty incredible, too!"

"The Bascule suspension bridge was built in the mid to late 1800s. It stands more than 200 feet tall and runs more than 800 feet long. The Tower Bridge Exhibition is in the bridge towers."

"A ride on the London Eye is another ultra-touristy thing to do in London, but if this is your first time in the city, it’s thrilling to look down on the River Thames, Parliament, and out at the London skyline. Cost (online): £25.20; Fast-track £34.20Hours: 10:00 am – 8:00pm, although hours change frequently depending on the season. Visit the London Eye website for more information.Getting here: Use the bus tour to get here, hop off and ride the London Eye, and then hop back on the bus to complete the loop back to your hotel (or your starting destination)."

"The Houses of Parliament, or the Westminster Palace, is designed in the gothic-architectural style. It is the meeting place for the two Houses of Parliament, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The current palace was built in 1847 after a fire destroyed the original building."

"Big Ben & The Houses of Parliament – Iconic Big Ben is the name of the bell in the giant clock tower at the end of the Houses of Parliament, where the UK Parliament meets. This iconic sight is best viewed from the Westminster Bridge or from the south side of the Thames."

"St Etheldreda’s Church is the oldest church in London, and one of only two in the city which have survived since the reign of Edward I. The exact date in which the building was constructed is unknown but is expected to be between 1250 and 1290. Dedicated to the Anglo-Saxon saint Etheldreda who founded the monastery at Ely back in 673 the church was purchased by the Catholic Church in 1874 and opened in 1878. As such it’s now one of the oldest operational churches in England owned by the Catholic Church."

"St Ethelreda Ely is a fragment of a medieval ecclesiastical palace belonging to the Bishop of Ely. It used to be the chapel and dates from 1293. The crypt incorporates older walls that may have been part of the Roman basilica."

"However, today visitors can still see one remaining section of the palace complex, the Banqueting Hall (fee*) designed by famous architect Inigo Jones with a ceiling painted by Peter Paul Reubens. Today Whitehall is the center of the Government of the United Kingdom and you’ll pass a number of buildings home to various departments and ministries, including the Ministry of Defense and the Cabinet Office. Along this street you’ll also find The Household Calvary Museum (fee*), located in the 18th century stables of the Horse Guards, which gives information on the history of the Household Cavalry and displays a small collection of uniforms and weapons."

"This is one of my personal favourite sunset spots in London. From here you can see the sun setting behind the Houses of Parliament, and flooding both the London Eye and River Thames with beautiful golden light. It might not be the most Instagrammable shot since if you want to get all elements in you will have to shoot landscape (and we all know portrait is better for Instagram) but it’s still going to be a breath taking photo."

"I have been photographing this second composition ever since I started photographing London. I love the way the London Eye is dominant in the frame and towers over the smaller buildings that surround it. As you can see from the image here, this is a cracking location to capture the London Eye as a long exposure which I cover in a previous post featuring my top 5 locations to capture long exposure photos in London."

"Quick Tip: If you have time, walk across the Hungerford Bridge which is also lovely at night and has a great view of the London Eye. Have more time to spend in London?"

"To even speak of Bone Daddies after having dined there is a sort of synesthetic exercise. Memories of chicken scratchings, miso, pork neck chashu, chicken bone stock, make for an exhausting culinary love. But we'll take those sesame sweats any day: Bone Daddies is the most mouth-wateringly thrilling ramen experience you're likely to get in London, and you can find it in one of London's most entertaining neighborhoods."

"Bone Daddies has launched a new delivery and collection service, ‘#BoneAtHome’. Available for delivery via Deliveroo, the menu includes classics such as Bone Daddies’ Tonkotsu ramen, ‘T22’, and ‘vegetarian mushroom ramen’, plus ‘soul food’ dishes such as Korean fried chicken wings, sweet spicy pig bones, and tofu poke. Further information can be found at bonedaddies.com."

"You might think of ramen as more nourishing soul food than junk, but when it’s topped with some of Bone Daddies’ ‘cock scratchings’ (crunchy crumbed chicken skin) served with a side of chicken wings and a pork belly bun, it’s definitely going to satisfy your cravings for some high-fat food."

"A new delivery service from Japanese chef Angelo Sato, YATAI champions traditional Japanese cooking. Previously operating from a permanent site in the West End’s Market Halls, YATAI aims to “create high quality, authentic Japanese dishes that don’t compromise on premium ingredients or classical cooking techniques, at an affordable price that rivals those of high street chains”. Currently available on Deliveroo, or to collect, the menu includes YATAI favourites such as the ‘Humble Chicken Katsu Curry’; ‘Pride of Japan’ – a tuna-based sushi bowl; and a selection of katsu sandos."

"Take a Michelin star chef, an intimidatingly swanky location, and a near theatrical take on detail and decor, and you have Umu, one of the shining jewels in Mayfair's menagerie of high-end Japanese luxury restaurants. Head Chef Yoshinori Ishii has been displaying his flair for exquisitely delicate Kyoto-inspired cuisine since taking over at Umu in 2010, and he has curated an experience which will leave both Japanese-food-pedants and poshies in awe. For £45 a set lunch will get you a selection of fresh sashimi with kinshi and shiitake, or go a la carte and try Ibushi smoked "a la minute" with plum-shiso for £28."

"Down a cobbled street in Mayfair hidden behind a sliding door, Umu, meaning ‘born of nature’, uses the freshest ingredients sourced from Japan to create Kyoto-style Kaiseki cuisine. Each plate is meticulously created and presented like a work of art. Try the ‘Kaiseki’ tasting menu for the full experience."

"Restaurants Chinese Mayfair. Pink cherry blossoms, swathes of rich red velvet and taffeta, a jazz quartet playing – welcome to Park Chinois, Mayfair’s sumptuous take on a 1930s Shanghai speakeasy. It’s a long way from spaghetti and meatballs, but you can indulge your deepest ‘Lady and the Tramp’ fantasies here by ordering the udon ‘carbonara’– an Asian ode to Italian trattoria richness that’s perfect for the restaurant’s slinky boudoir glitz."

"Dripping in decadence, the takeaway menu from Park Chinois is every bit as luxurious as the restaurant’s signature over the top interiors. Kick things off with a whole crispy duck or go all-in with one of the three choices of caviar (although you’ll have to have a spare £100-300 spare for that). Mains include Wagyu beef, Iberico pork, black cod, lobster and king crab."

"This sophisticated restaurant in the heart of Mayfair specializes in French Chinese cuisine. The era of 1930s Shanghai inspires the decor and there is live music, creating a vibran..."

"Full of rare and unusual trees and shrubs, the Isabella Plantation is a beautiful spot set in the depths of Richmond Park. It’s a green space for most of the year, but in April & May, the azaleas bloom and Isabella Plantation becomes a perfect pink paradise. COVID-19 UPDATE: Isabella Plantation is currently closed to the public."

"The Davies Alpine House is a somewhat different greenhouse, it is quite long (16m) and high (10m) and was designed to provide ideal conditions, fresh with natural wind for the best conditions the mountain plants. The collection features a wide range of campanulas, dianthus, small ferns, helichrysum, small lavenders, primulas, saxifrage, thymus, tulips and verbascums along with lesser known species."

"Many of the plants at Kew couldn't survive in Britain's grey, damp climate. The Davies Alpine House supports those that thrive in dry, cool, windy conditions of mountainous areas such as succulents and campanulas,"

"Alternatives: There are many other things to see in the area (mostly in Chelsea), including the Chelsea Physic Garden (fee*), Leighton House Museum (fee), Design Museum, Portobello Road Market, Chelsea Football Club Stadium Tour & Museum (fee*), and the recently renovated National Army Museum. London Itinerary Day 6 – Greenwich or Free Day"