Must See Sights and Landmarks in Highams Park Area

"Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London are my personal recommendations for travellers interested in English history, though a walk by Buckingham Palace might be a better place to spot one of the royals (or at least some handsome guards!). Art-lovers can spend hours inside the Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery, while theater-goers will want to buy tickets for Shakespeare’s Globe or the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Walking through one of London’s numerous parks is also an option, and so is admiring the architecture of Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, or St. Paul’s Cathedral. In the evenings, have some fish and chips in a pub or enjoy London’s multicultural dining options."

"Westminster Abbey is definitely one of the UK’s most impressive churches. It’s here that key events in the life of the British Royal Family take place including Royal Weddings (17 to date) and Coronations (the majority of British rulers since 1066!)."

"The London Pass is a pre-paid sightseeing card which gives you FREE fast-track entry to the city’s top tourist attractions, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour. The view from the Shard"

"This distinctive skyscraper is equally impressive when viewed from the exterior or the interior with its panoramic views over Tower Bridge and the Thames. Best shot: Rich, aka @paperboyo has become InstaFamous thanks to his playful photographs featuring papercuts of well known landmarks, such as The Shard. I’ve had an incredible variety of experiences this year from shooting ocean sunrises with pro-photographers to climbing rooftops with daredevils and it’s all because of the opportunities Instagram has opened up for me."

"If unparalleled views are what you’re after, you’ll find them at the Shard’s Shangri-La hotel. Stretching 306 metres into the sky, the Shard is London’s tallest building and the Shangri-La occupies floors 34 to 52. With Borough Market, the Globe, Tate Modern and the Tower Bride close by, your days will easily fill with sightseeing but the hotel's rooms, with views across the city, will easily lure you back come nightfall – as will the hotel’s restaurant, Ting, which offers tasting menus starting from £55."

"Designed by Architect Renzo Piano and based in Southwark, London, The Shard stands tall at 309.6 metres. Designed in neo-futuristic and modern style, it houses some of the world’s best offices, restaurants and hotel rooms. It has been open to the public since 2013."

"Over 900 years old, this great castle is located in the centre of the city. It has been used for a wide range of purposes over the years including holding the crown jewels and housing various prisoners. It is for this reason that tourists hardly ever miss a chance to take a trip back in time and explore this medieval masterpiece."

"Another of London’s most famous landmarks, the Tower of London dates from medieval times. This former royal residence and prison houses the Crown Jewels and the six resident ravens which must never leave or legend has it that the kingdom will fall. Best shot: from inside the Tower of London you can capture Tower Bridge as well."

"The London Pass is a pre-paid sightseeing card which gives you FREE fast-track entry to the city’s top tourist attractions, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour. The view from the Shard"

"If there ever was a defining landmark in London, it’s the Tower Bridge. Often mistaken by tourist as the London Bridge, the Tower Bridge is quite a bit more ornate and lovely than the plain London Bridge to it’s west. Traffic (both foot and car) abounds on the Tower Bridge, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit the inner workings of the bridge and learn all about it."

"Definitely up there as one of my favourite bridges in the world, Tower Bridge is marvellous to photograph both during the day…. … and at night, as a long exposure. It’s also good from both sides of the river, although if you go to the south bank then you can frame it with the Tower of London as well, which is nice."

"Basically Tower Bridge is one of the single most photogenic spots in London. From whatever angle you decide to photograph it, it looks brilliant. I personally love photos taken on the bridge, as it really gives you an idea of the scale and size of this architectural feat."

"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)."

"Like Rome’s Colosseum, Paris’s Eiffel Tower, or New York’s Empire State Building, London’s Houses of Parliament & Big Ben are, as they stand sentinel over the River Thames, inextricable symbols of their city. Make sure you get the chance to visit soon, however, as major renovations that will see Parliament temporarily relocate to Whitehall are expected to begin sometime in the next few years."

"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."

"A clock tower is impressive enough, however, the Clock Tower in St. Albans has something extra special to offer. This particular clock tower is the only surviving medieval town belfry in England and as an ancient monument. The tower was built by the people of the city and when it was completed in 1405, it was there to be a symbol of the resistant of the power of the abbot."

"Address:High St, St Albans AL3 4ELSave on Google Maps | Save on Tripadvisor* | Visit Website. Constructed in the early 13th century, The Clock Tower is said to be the only medieval town belfry left in England. The tower is 19.6 metres (64ft) high and visitors are welcome to scale all five floors and enjoy the views from the top for just £2 each."

"St Albans’ Clock Tower is a 15th-century belfry that was constructed from 1403 to 1412. It’s England’s only remaining medieval town belfry and is located in St Albans’ town centre. For a very small fee, you can climb the 93-step narrow spiral staircase to the viewing area at the top."

"Built in 1869 for the Jock Willis Shipping Line, Cutty Sark is the iconic British clipper ship turned museum in Greenwich, London. It was one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest, before sailing ships gave way to steamships domination. It’s a great family day out, with lively characters and crew members telling the many stories of the ship from the past."

"The Cutty Sark Museum is a maritime museum dedicated to celebrating the Cutty Sark, a historic sailing ship that, at its heydey, was the fastest ship on the seas. The British clipper ship was built in 1869, is part of the National Historic Fleet, and is one of only three remaining original composite construction clipper ships from the 1800s."

"Cutty Sark is another of the iconic London landmarks found in Greenwich. At this attraction, you can board and explore the Cutty Sark, a historic British clipper ship. The ship has been restored to the way it was in the mid-1800s."

"If you feel overwhelmed by the highly urbanized and technological environment we live in today, or if you do not want your children to lose connection with the beautiful aspects of the life in a country side farm, Surrey Docks Farm is a great option for a kids day out. Occupying a vast territory on the south bank of the River Thames, the farm gives kids an opportunity to learn more about how animals are raised, how the plants and trees are grown, or about the incredible ways of blacksmithing. The interactive farm experience can serve as an important lesson that no book or technological tool could teach them."

"Occupying a 2.2 acre site on the banks of the Thames in Rotherhithe, Surrey Docks Farm is home to everything from cows to goats to bees. There’s plenty to do and see here, including workshops for children, family cooking classes and baby music classes, as well as the opportunity to adopt a pony or donkey. This spring they’ll be launching a new series of green workshops for adults, which will cover topics such as growing, foraging, herbal remedies, growing fruit and vegetables at home and bee keeping.surreydocksfarm.org.uk"

"A trip here offers more than just plants, as you can also visit art galleries, the Great Pagoda, and tour Kew Palace, a former royal residence located within the gardens. You can explore at your own pace or join one of the garden’s guided walk tours that come free with entry. This is a must-see for any garden lover. Kew Gardens are located in outer London and can be reached by public transportation."

"The Great Pagoda was built in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta. It was designed by Sir William Chambers at a time when Asian architecture was beginning to become fashionable in Europe. Kew Gardens: The Pagoda and Bridge (1762) by Richard Wilson RA, 1714–1782, British, active in Italy (1750–56)Yale Center for British Art"

"The Great Pagoda was completed in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta, who founded Kew Gardens. When it was constructed, 80 dragons carved from gilded wood adorned the roofs of its 10 floors. The dragons were removed in 1784."

"It is believed that the first St Magnus The Martyr Church in London was built in 1128-33. Several wooden London Bridges were constructed during the early years of the building, but they never seemed to last. Finally, in 1209, the Old Medieval London Bridge opened."

"This church near London Bridge on the north side was founded around 1067 and stood at the foot of the old London Bridge. (In the churchyard lie some of the old stones from the bridge. ). As such, it was an important meeting place in medieval times."

"This church used to stand at one end of the legendary London Bridge and has a stone from it outside, plus a model of it inside the door 2"

"A subterranean sanctuary in the heart of central London, The Lanesborough Club & Spa offers a moment of calm away from the city's hectic hustle and bustle. After navigating your way through several corridors and around many corners, you'll find a hidden world of bliss that brings together marble floors, silk touches and brass accents. The luxury begins from the offset with spacious changing rooms featuring a Spa Butler while other amenities include a hydro-therapy pool with loungers, separate male and female sauna and steam rooms, a spa treatment lounge, and five treatment rooms including one double room."

"Awarded England’s Best Hotel Spa 2019 at the World Spa Awards™, The Lanesborough’s attentive staff know exactly how to best pamper guests. Located close to Buckingham Palace, the setting is perfect for a regal style spa break, particularly for those wanting to sample something new… The subterranean club is but two and a half years old, having re-opened in 2017 with stunning interior refurbishments designed by studio 1508. Fireplaces, silk wallpaper, wood panelling, bronze trims, deep blue satin and leather upholstery all create an ambience of refined opulence."

"The award-winning spa at The Lanesborough is undoubtedly one of the most lavish in the city. A subterranean oasis of calm, it houses a vast gym, hydro pool, saunas and steam rooms, as well as its own food and drink offering centered around nutritionally rich dishes that promote inner health. There are three spa day options at The Lanesborough Club & Spa, ranging from a three-hour session to a full day of treatments."

"Over in Notting Hill, Cloud Twelve is a wellness and lifestyle club set across three floors. There’s a salon, spa and holistic wellness clinic, plus a healthy brasserie and creche. Treatments include drawl-worthy massages, facials, pre and post-natal rituals and treatments specifically designed for men."

"‘Interactive oriental fusion’ is the deal at this futuristic, neon-lit restaurant, which has silenced those naysayers who claimed the “gimmicky” idea of ordering your meal through a table touchpad would soon wear thin. Instead, diners love this “great concept” with its entertaining novelty – you can even order a taxi home from your table. The food is an accessible pan-Asian mixed bag with new dishes such as scallop tartare, Malaysian beef rendang and Japanese tofu salad ‘hiyayakko’ alongside soft-shell crab maki rolls, delicate squid and spring onion dumplings, Peking duck and a “winning version” of the ubiquitous black cod."

"Long before we all had devices chock-full of apps on the go 24/7, there was Inamo. Its touch-screen table menus still offer a dose of fun, especially for kids – you can view and order dishes electronically, alter the restaurant’s playlist, and even book a cab home. Check out the Asian-leaning fusion dishes such as sizzling chilli tofu – perfect candidates for a bit of bragging on Instagram."

"Address: 11 - 14 Hanover Place, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9JP / 134 - 136 Wardour Street, London, W1F 8ZP / 265 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7QX. Nearest train station: Covent Garden, Tottenham Court Road, Mornington Crescent. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Z0e1rADXQ/?"

"A fresh and contemporary Japanese eatery in Clapham, you just know that Tsunami's sushi game is going to be strong. Make yourself at home with its dedicated sushi section; the avocado and cucumber, shrimp tempura and scallop and smelt egg rolls would be great place to start."

"Based on the original restaurant in Hawaii's North Shore, Kua 'Aina serves a range of scrumptous burgers, marinated chicken and exclusively imported Hawaiian Beers."

"Preparing their signature dishes with a low and slow smoked barbecue technique using an American-imported smoker, the restaurant brings real flavour to its dishes. The extensive menu includes grilled dishes, ribs, brisket, and fried chicken as well as burgers and a surprising amount of vegetarian options. Enjoy your meal with a British craft beer in the beer garden or in the rustic interior."