Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in Knotty Green

"An important architectural and historical stop, Westminster Abbey is where kings and queens are crowned still today and where many famous figures are buried. The cathedral is immensely popular with tourists, so be prepared to wait. Highlights include the Gothic-style nave, built in the 13th century, and the ornate coronation chair."

"In June 2018, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries opened. The galleries, which are reached by the newly build Weston Tower, house historical exhibit and treasures owned by the Abbey. Admission to the Galleries is currently an extra £5.00 and requires a timed ticket as space is limited."

"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."

"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."

"While visiting the historically important Tower of London does require a paid entrance ticket, the daily Ceremony of the Keys – the traditional ‘locking up’ of the Tower – is completely free to watch. At exactly 21:53 each evening, the Chief Yeoman Warder (or ‘Beefeater’) marches through the Tower carrying the Queen’s Keys. Escorted by four armed guards, he performs a series of specific rituals as he locks the gates to the Tower for the night before returning the keys to the Queen’s House at 10pm."

"The Tower of London – Built by William the Conqueror in 1078, the Tower of London was turned into a prison in 1100. Some of its most famous prisoners included King Henry VI, the wives of King Henry VII, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard and Sir Thomas More. These days the Tower is a museum rather than a prison. A great way to see some of the grounds is with an entertaining tour hosted by the Yeoman Warders who will frighten and dazzle you with tales of the Towers past."

"The Tower of London is one of the top tourist activities in London and a great one for families. This is where you’ll see the Crown Jewels and tour the tower with a yeoman warder. The Tower may be better suited for older children, but younger children will enjoy playing make-believe in this real-life castle and fortress."

"Day 1: Arrive in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, the London EyeDay 2: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Whitehall, Covent GardenDay 3: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky GardenDay 4: National Gallery, Greenwich, Prime Meridian, Up at the O2Day 5: British Museum, Portobello Road Market, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrod’s"

"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."

"Just across from Westminster Abbey are the incredible Houses of Parliament Building, with that iconic clock tower, home to the giant bell – Big Ben. My favourite place to shoot the Houses of Parliament is from the other side of the river, or atop Westminster Bridge. Here you can get some excellent long-exposure shots of passing traffic (try and frame a passing bus if you can!), with the light lines leading your eye to the Houses of Parliament themselves."

"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."

"The Houses of Parliament—also known as the Palace of Westminster—is the seat of Britain’s political power. Completed in 1870, the Gothic-style building, and its Elizabeth Tower (housing the 13-ton bell, Big Ben) is one of the most iconic London attractions. Book a tour and get the political scoop on the House of Commons and House of Lords."

"To escape the crowded streets and enjoy a picturesque, waterside side stretch of North London, take to the canals that once played such a vital role in the transport of goods across the capital. The towpath of the Regent's Canal also makes an excellent shortcut across North London, either on foot or by bike. In full, the ribbon of water runs 9 miles from Little Venice (where it connects with the Grand Union Canal) to the Thames at Limehouse."

"30 St Mary Axe was one of the tallest buildings in London when completed in 2004. It quickly became one of the most recognisable icons of London, and remains one of its best-known contemporary buildings. The 180-metre-high structure owes its nickname to its curved upper storeys, which give it the shape of a certain vegetable."

"The Gherkin at 30 St Mary Axe is so named due to its strange vegetable-like shape. It is situated in the heart of London’s financial district and was designed by legendary architect Norman Foster. The Gherkin is often used as one of London’s best examples of brilliant contemporary architecture."

"The Gherkin, also known as 30 St. Mary Axe, is the bullet or gherkin shaped structure situated among the others on the skyline. It is not open to the public, but it is well worth checking out to see how modern architecture can fit seamlessly into a city as old as London."

"The Royal Observatory, Greenwich is an observatory in London that has played a major historical part in astronomy over the last several centuries. The prime meridian passes through the observatory, which established Greenwich Mean Time. The observatory got its start in 1675 as the Old Royal Observatory when King Charles II commissioned its construction; at the same time, he created the position of Astronomer Royal to serve as an advisor to the king."

"Visit the Royal Museums Greenwich and immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this UNESCO World Heritage site. All a few minutes from each other, the group includes the National Maritime Museum, the Queen's House, the Royal Observatory (incorporating the Peter Harrison Planetarium) and the spectacular tea clipper Cutty Sark."

"Royal Observatory and the Prime Meridian Here is your chance to stand over 0° longitude, placing one foot in the eastern hemisphere and one foot in the western hemisphere. You can also visit the planetarium museum. Since this observatory sits on top of a hill, you have a great view over Greenwich and the River Thames from here."

"According to regulars, this terrific Thai eatery in Belgravia serves simply unforgettable fare, from deep-fried filet of whitefish with sweet and spicy sauce to fresh prawns steamed in tom yum sauce with chilli and garlic. The attractive dining room bears the influence of feng shui principles and Eastern minimalism, both of which impart a sleek, futuristic feel that seems to suit the place's fashion-conscious clientele. Reservations are a must."

"Dine on fine, seasonal British ingredients prepared with French influences at Marcus, acclaimed chef Marcus Wareing's flagship Michelin-starred restaurant in Belgravia. Lake District sirloin with bordelaise sauce, Cornish lobster with scorched yam or pan-roasted foie gras with cep and brioche: the menu is packed with bold and indulgent flavours."

"Located on Wilton Place, this Knightsbridge restaurant is a must for all food lovers. The perfect place for a special occasion, this Marcus Wareing-led spot serves up gorgeous plates like slow-cooked egg with courgette, truffle and girolles alongside desserts that combine coffee with mascarpone and bourbon."

"In the summer of 2020 chef Stevie Parle teamed up with designer Tom Dixon for this cheerful pop up, and it’s back for spring. Under a banner proclaiming Joy in sunshine-yellow letters, a path leads down to an outdoor restaurant alongside the canal. The Goods Shed flanks the entrance, selling freshly grown produce from nearby farms, and outside large pots of seasonal flowers sit between tables along the terrace."

"Stevie Parle, the chef behind Pastaio, and British designer Tom Dixon have opened Joy on Portobello Docks. The space includes a bar, fresh produce shop The Goods Shed, bee hives producing honey to purchase and pop-up restaurant Flora, all in a beautiful al fresco setting. The seasonal menu features dishes such as clams cooked with butter and fresh peas, and red prawns with burned lemon and marjoram."

"With Joy King Lau you’re in reliably good hands in this cosy yet unassuminglooking room on the third floor. The speciality here is the freshly-made dim sum, steamed or fried, which are only served before 5 pm. The rest of the menu is on-point too though, and good value."

"Uli is the second coming of Michael Lim’s modern Asian restaurant featuring the food of the Chinese diaspora – from regional China through Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. The place originally opened in All Saints Road, but Lim retired three years ago leaving a loyal clientele bereft. Now he’s back, with partner Graham Rebak, and they’ve revamped the operation with a bright new identity and lighter cooking for the clean-eating generation."

"Fans of the minuscule Uli Chinese/Asian on All Saints Road were gutted when it shut a few years ago. Two of them, Graham Rebak and Adam Wilkie, decided to relaunch the restaurant, along with founder Michael Lim. It's small but smart and an outdoor terrace adds space."

"‘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/?"