Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in Barnes Pond

"From the Houses of Parliament, walk around Parliament Square, head south on Abingdon Street for literally no more than 3 minutes, and find yourself face-to-face with Westminster Abbey. Over 1,000 years old (founded 960), Westminster Abbey is, besides being beautifully preserved, famous as the traditional site of the British monarchy’s coronations and funerals."

"Famous for being the spot where coronations take place, Westminster Abbey is another tourist top spot. It’s a stunning, majestic building that has been around since 1090 when it was originally built. Various monarchs have ensured the upkeep of the building, guaranteeing that Westminster Abbey continues to be one of the crown jewels of London."

"The Westminster Abbey Museum, or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, sits 52 feet above the abbey floor in the 13th century triforium. Guests will take in incredible views of the abbey as they climb the Weston Tower to the museum. The secret space that houses the galleries was hidden for more than 700 years."

"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."

"The list of London’s most famous skyscrapers continues with the tallest building inthe city, as well as all of Europe with the exception of Russian skyscrapers. The Shard was inaugurated in 2012 after 3 years’ work. Standing 1015 feet 9 inches tall, it was designed by the firmRPBW Architects led by Renzo Piano, who said he had been inspired by Canaletto’s paintings depicting eighteenth-century London."

"The United Kingdom’s tallest building dominates the London skyline, and offers incredible views from its three-storey viewing platform, The View at the Shard. Book your ticket online, or perhaps grab some cocktails in one of their charming bars. Read Next: Using the London Pass – The Most Cost-Effective Way to See London’s Biggest Sights"

"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."

"I got the above shot about five minutes before the below shot, and you can see how dramatically quickly the light and clouds have changed!. The other thing to keep in mind are the crowds. Attractions like the Tower of London get really busy."

"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."

"Enjoy one of the best tea experiences ever which includes not only the usual sweets and savories, but also a guided tour of some of the most famous landmarks in the city including Parliament, Notting Hill, and Trafalgar Square. Don’t worry about safety on a moving vehicle!. Hot beverages are served in secure travel mugs that are the most adorable cups you’ve ever seen, and everything is anchored to the tables. This is such a fun thing to add to your 4 day London itinerary and the best way to enjoy afternoon tea in England!"

"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."

"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)."

"Monument was built between 1671 and 1676 to commemorate the Great Fire of London. Today, you can access the viewpoint at the top for some great views of the city. However, you will be required to climb a spiral staircase comprised of 311 stairs (although it felt like a thousand!) and pay a small entrance fee."

"The Monument to the Great Fire of London is a structure that commemorates one of the famous events that occurred in London's history. The renowned event is the Great Fire of London, which affected the city. This monument serves as a way of remembering how the city survived the effects of the fire."

"The Monument is, apparently, the tallest isolated column in the world. It's not horrifically high at just 202 feet and, visitors can only reach 160 feet high as that's where the caged-in viewing platform is. You do have to walk all the way up, and all the way down, and there are 311 steps."

"A Gothic wonderland of shrouded urns, obelisks, broken columns, sleeping angels, Egyptian-style tombs and overgrown graves, Highgate is a Victorian Valhalla spread over 20 wonderfully wild and atmospheric hectares. On the eastern side, you can pay your respects to the graves of Karl Marx and Mary Ann Evans (better known as novelist George Eliot). The real highlight, however, is the overgrown West Cemetery, which can only be visited on a guided tour."

"It may sound a bit sinister, although it’s actually anything but. London is home to a selection of stunning cemeteries, known as the ‘Magnificent Seven’. During the Victorian era, Londoners realised they had run out of space to bury their loved ones so built seven new private plots - which were the first of their kind."

"Most people come to see Karl Marx’s tomb in the eastern half of the cemetery, but it’s the huge monuments in the west that are really worth seeing 6"

"I wonder how many of those souls queuing for hours to enter Westminster Abbey have ever broken away to venture inside this fascinating Westminster church. St Margaret’s Church Westminster is located in the churchyard of the Abbey,and is often called the ‘parish church of the House of Commons’. It is often frequented by politicians and parliamentarians, and the connection dates back to the 17th century when Puritan MPs started to worship there as they disapproved of the style of worship in Westminster Abbey."

"The parish church of Parliament is next to Westminster Abbey. Samuel Pepys got wed here and Sir Walter Raleigh is buried in the yard"

"Another hidden gem in the City of London, St Dunstans in the East is the ruins of an impressive Gothic church which has been turned into a peaceful public garden unsuspectingly nestled between the much busier attractions of London Bridge and the Tower of London. The church has a long and interesting history, having been built in the 12th century, severely damaged in the Great Fire of London in 1666, rebuilt and upgraded by Sir Christopher Wren then finally severely damaged again in the Blitz of 1941 before falling to ruins."

"If you’re looking for a place steeped in history, then look no further than St Dunstan in the East Church Garden. Having been built around the year 1100, St Dunstan’s Church had a new south aisle added in 1391 which was later repaired in 1631. However, just 35 years down the line in 1666, the entire church was severely damaged by the Great Fire of London."

"An example of an old yet well-preserved Roman Catholic church. St Etheldreda’s is dedicated to Etheldreda, an Anglo-Saxon saint. It’s also one of two churches that survived Edward I’s reign."

"Restaurants Italian Highbury. Canonbury’s star Italian has made the restaurant biz look like child’s play since day one by combining irresistible food with spot-on service and affordable prices. It’s home to some of London’s best pasta (its pappardelle with slow-cooked beef-shin ragù is a silky delight) and there’s brilliant stuff from the charcoal grill too, while a comprehensive all-Italian wine list emphasises Trullo’s calibre."

"A sleek, chic dining room in Islington sets the scene for Trullo’s unfussy Italian food. Dishes take the best of seasonal British produce and spin it into great antipasti, fantastic pastas, and secondi fresh from the charcoal grill. Skip the queues at Padella, the fresh pasta spot in Borough Market, and enjoy the signature beef shin pappardelle or pici cacio e pepe at a slower pace."

"The team behind Chinatown’s Experimental Cocktail Bar opened its first London hotel in 2017, and has been a hit with the Instagram set ever since. A sumptuous boutique number in Covent Garden, the Henrietta has 18 bedrooms dressed with handpainted wallpaper, upholstered headboards and marble details - yet this room number could soon double as an expansion plan has been permitted. The beating heart of the hotel is its eponymous restaurant, a chic fusion of ornate Victorian and sleek Art Deco led by star chef Sylvain Roucayrol."

"Although Henrietta is run by bartenders—the hotel is part of the Experimental Group, which runs the speakeasy-style Experimental Cocktail Club in Chinatown—it doesn’t feel built for the night. The interiors, rather, are light, whimsical, and irreverently French. The lobby's spring shades and splashes of leopard print continue upstairs in the 18 spacious rooms, which are interesting without being over-the-top."

"Restaurants Italian Covent Garden. Wunderkind Ollie Dabbous was here for a while, but this boutique hotel dining room is now a Basque-influenced small plates eatery overseen by chef Sylvain Roucayrol. During the week they serve Spanish-inflected breakfasts, but on Sundays an extended version (till noon) moves into brunch territory."

"A post shared by London Restaurant Interiors 🇬🇧 (@resturantsoflondon) on Jul 4, 2019 at 11:11am PDT. A cosy and slightly more casual seafood restaurant than its sibling nextdoor, J Sheekey Atlantic Bar is perfect for a first date with a seafood lover. Don't be shellfish and share a platter, or to really impress, ask for the off-menu dessert (frozen berries and white chocolate)."

"It’s a piece of prime gastronomic real estate, but M&Ms aside, there isn’t much to eat in Leicester Square itself. A claw-cracker’s throw from the neon, though, is some of London’s best seafood, courtesy of J."