Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in Aldenham

"Standing proudly next to the Westminster Houses of Parliament, the home of British politics, is the beautiful and hugely significant Westminster Abbey. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site back in 1987, this church is one of the most important in the UK and dates back to around 800AD. Westminster Abbey is steeped in history and has been the scene of royalty since William the Conqueror in the 1000s."

"Henry of Reyns (1245), Nicholas Hawksmoor (1745), George Gilbert Scott (1865)📕 Page 4. England’s royal history began here. Edward the Confessor rebuilt St Peter’s Abbey, a small Benedictine abbey, to provide himself with a royal burial church."

"Last on my list, and another one where you unfortunately can’t use a tripod if you go inside – the Shard. A relatively new addition to the London Skyline, the Shard offers an incredible view of the London skyline from far above the ground. Like the London Eye, it’s also best visited for sunset – we advise booking your ticket in advance to be sure to get the right time slot for your visit."

"In a city like London with strict codes, decent architecture and access to the world’s leading architects, is not so easy to actually get things to be built. Big teams of lawyers, political figures and the general public are involved in what gets or doesn’t get built in the capital. So the fact that the Shard, the EU’s tallest building, got approved and erected means a great deal."

"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."

"3 km from city center 7 out of 40 places to visit in London. A royal fortress and a World Heritage Site which is also famous for being an infamous prison back in the day, the Tower of London, founded in 1066 and located in the heart of the city, is a majestic fortress, with a history dating back to centuries before the present day. Treat your eyes to the world-famous and priceless jewels, archaic yet riveting architecture, and to a clear view of the River Thames on a day trip to this Tower."

"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."

"Tower Bridge is one part of the London skyline that isn’t always visible and only at certain viewpoints will you catch a glimpse. As Tower Bridge is a lot lower to the ground than the other buildings, it is easily hidden amount surrounding structures. However, that hasn’t stopped it becoming one of the key elements of the iconic image."

"Tower Bridge is without a doubt the most famous drawbridge in the world. This alone makes it a must-see landmark when visiting London. A lot of photographs have been taken from this spot already and the pedestrian ways seem to be crowded 24/7."

"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."

"Another impressive building that we briefly mentioned above is the Houses of Parliament. The Houses of Parliament is also known as the ‘Palace of Westminster’ which is located on the left bank of River Thames. The building was built for Edward the Confessor in the 11th century and was enlarged by William I (the conqueror)."

"A visit to London is not complete without a trip to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Quick Tip: Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the clock tower. The tower is actually known as the Elizabeth Tower."

"You would never guess that slap bang in the middle of Spitalfields is a thriving farmyard, home to sheep, geese, bees, rabbits, parrots and more!. Popular with inner city schools, the farm aims to unite the local community and provide children with a safe and inviting space to connect with nature. The farm’s annual Goat Race, which coincides with the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race in March, has become a much-anticipated part of its events calendar, with plenty of other entertainment, food and drink on the day for spectators to enjoy."

"Heading back into the city again, Spitalfields City Farm brings the country feel to East London. After you’ve strolled around Brick Lane, wandered through the vintage markets and stopped off to feast on some epic street food, take a trip to Spitalfields City Farm - a community space open 6 days a week. Visit the Bug Hotel (apparently there’s free Wi-Fly), hop about with the adorable rabbits and ferrets and come face to face with the impressive goats and donkeys."

"Ben Franklin’s House Ben Franklin, in London?. For sixteen years, from 1757 and 1775, Ben Franklin lived in London. This house is the only surviving house that he called home."

"A wild green space in the heart of King’s Cross, run by the London Wildlife Trust as an urban nature reserve for birds, butterflies, bats and a wide variety of plant life. Come here for peaceful walks in the wetlands, woodlands and meadow, but for an extra dose of tranquillity, spend some time on the newly added floating platform – part island/part hideaway – which offers close up views of both the canal and the park. The park is temporarily closed, but will re-open in Spring 2019."

"An even more ancient ancestor in London’s collection of galleries, the Royal Gallery has been run by artists since 1768. Since celebrating 250 years of championing art and its artists, the Royal Academy has opened up a newly expanded campus with free displays, new spots to eat, drink, shop, and much more. Their exhibitions often present the work of some of the world’s most renowned artists."

"Head to the Royal Academy of Arts to see the evolution of contemporary art unfold before your very eyes. It’s no accident that this is known as the spot for finding London’s hottest talents. The academy is led by its Royal Academicians, a group of peer-elected artists, the works of whom are displayed in their defiant exhibits."

"Not only is St Helen’s one of the oldest surviving churches in the City of London, but it is also the largest, and contains more monuments than any other church in London (except Westminster Abbey of course). The church was designed with two parallel naves, which is why is it is so much wider than a usual church, and it was actually divided in two at one point, with half serving the nuns and the other half serving the parishioners (it is also the only nunnery still standing in the City of London). Among the more famous parishioners of this church was William Shakespeare who lived nearby in the 1590s."

"St Helen Bishopsgate was formed originally of two medieval churches joined together. On the left is the nave of a Benedictine Nunnery, which, in the early 13th century was built onto the existing parish church. The two congregations were then separated by a solid screen (now columns)."

"St Helen’s Church in Bishopsgate is another survivor of the Great Fire, and indeed the Blitz. However, an IRA bomb blew its roof off. It originally belonged to a nunnery which was dissolved in 1538."

"Fortunately, no birds’ mouths were used in the making of Bill or Beak’s stonking burger-style sandwiches, both of which are innovative versions of much-loved poultry classics. The Bill (duck) combo is usually oriental, while Beak (chicken) often gets the American treatment with special caesar dressing, tempura capers, croûtons and parmesan in a brioche bun – although it could also be a sichuan-style burger with miso mayo and fermented chilli sauce. Don’t miss: Slow-braised duck and pork in Vietnamese dressing with mint, coriander, spring onions and tempura shallots (£6.50)."

"A toasted brioche bun with shredded duck and pork, coriander, spring onions, mint, chilli, tempura shallots and Vietnamese dressing — how does that sound?"

"If you fancy rehydrating with a refreshing juice then head to the aptly-named Joe & The Juice in Richmond – concoctions such as The Iron Man (made with strawberry, kiwi and apple) and the Energy Shake (made with raspberry, bananas and vanilla milk) are great refuelers."

"For some classic Moroccan and Medit­er­ra­nean dishes head over to Meimo. Just a short distance away from the castle you will easily be able to walk to this venue. Known for being one of Windsor’s finest restaurants, you will be able to enjoy some delicious dishes and a friendly atmosphere throughout the whole of your time in the venue."

"Adding a much-needed Moroccan edge to this royally British town, Meimo is decorated with luscious red curtains and sofas. Expect excellent tagine served in clay dishes and a selection of well-priced mezze including pastilla, prawn pil pil and aubergine zaalouk. Your mouth is watering already, isn't it."

"Windsor may be a bastion of all that’s British, but Meimo's glass lanterns, draped fabrics and lively colours add a little North African sunshine to the bottom end of pedestrianised Peascod St. Perfectly spiced... French in Windsor & Eton"

"36 Duke Street, St James's, St. James's, London SW1Y 6DF Why should you care?. Taking the former address of Greens, Maison Francois is a brasserie and wine bar, featuring a finalist of Masterchef: The Professionals as chef. Expect Gallic/European cuisine and excellent terrines."

"This French brasserie from Francois O’Neill and MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Matthew Ryle is a purely joyous dining experience from start to finish. Don’t miss the decadent trolley of Parisian puddings which steals the show."

"Whether you're on a date night, family meal or simply catching up with friends, this Victoria restaurant is an ideal choice. Expect all-day dining options with preserved, cured, pickles and brined elements to the dishes."

"From cured dishes that feature confit pork and cider-pickled eggs to veggie options and gorgeous desserts, the food at The Soak is almost too pretty to eat..."

"The Hackney Museum is a local London history museum located in Hackney. Its collection of more than 8,000 different objects is dedicated to exploring the history of Hackney with a special emphasis on immigration, ranging from Anglo-Saxon settlers to early Victorian times and more recent refugees and migrants."

"Tapping into the 21st century, Arcadia Missa is a South London contemporary art gallery in Peckham and publishing house that centres around digital culture and the struggles of the contemporary world. While it mostly focuses on giving rise to young emerging artists, you can also expect the odd Turner Prize winner to be featured too. Although its digitally-inspired artwork is somewhat unconventional compared to classic oil paintings by 17th century Baroque artists, the gallery’s exhibitions are disarmingly relatable and undeniably captivating."