Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in River Lea

"The Shard may not seem like a top romantic spot for Valentine’s Day, but with all it has to offer, it may be a one-stop shop. Stay at the Shangri-La hotel, dine in the restaurants, and even take in the tallest view of the city from the building’s observation floors. Even if you don’t opt to spend more than an hour or two of your Valentine’s Day here, it can still be your base of operations for anywhere you visit in London."

"A list of famous London buildings wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Britain’s tallest building. The Shard is one of the newest additions to the city’s skyline and one of the most astonishing architectural designs in the world. Take a stroll across the famous London Bridge and snap a photo as you stand at the foot of the incredible glass tower."

"The Tower of London is one of the top places to visit in London. The White Tower, the one bona fide castle in London, dates back to the late 11th century. Along with Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Place and St Paul’s, it should be essential for London first time visitors."

"The Tower Of London is an iconic London stop so make sure to see it during your 4 day London itinerary. Skip The Line At The Tower Of London And Crown Jewels and buy advance tickets here!"

"You’ll want to leave the capital with some iconic panoramas of the city, and they don’t come much more iconic than the Tower Bridge. This gorgeous bridge over the Thames has been an integral part of the London landscape since the late 1800s, and continues to fascinate visitors – and delight photographers. While some might say it’s been done to death, I think there’s always a new take to be found."

"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!"

"I spent two years working in a corporate office just next to it, and despite hating my job, I used to love looking out of the window and seeing Tower Bridge. Like all photogenic landmarks it has more than one angle from which it looks Instagrammable and fabulous."

"Sprawling Hampstead Heath, with its rolling woodlands and meadows, feels a million miles away – despite being approximately four – from the City of London. Covering 320 hectares, most of it woods, hills and meadows, it's home to about 180 bird species, 23 species of butterflies, grass snakes, bats and a rich array of flora. It's a wonderful place for a ramble, especially to the top of Parliament Hill, which offers expansive views across the city."

"Escape to the country without leaving the city with a trip to Hampstead Heath, just a few kilometres from Central London. This wild and undulating expanse of green space spans nearly 800 acres, with woodland, playing fields, swimming ponds and meadows. Hike up Parliament Hill for unbeatable views or take a dip in the Hampstead ponds on a hot summer’s day."

"For generations, Londoners have headed to Hampstead Heath to escape the dirt and noise of the city, and this unique 791-acre expanse…"

"A magnificent three-floor space, Sky Garden hosts two of the most exclusive rooftop restaurants in London: Fenchurch Restaurant and Darwin Brasserie, and two exciting rooftop bars: Sky Pod Bar and City Garden. Sky Pod Rooftop Bar is open all day from early morning coffees, through to lunchtime bites and afternoon drinks, while at night it comes alive with music, lights and cocktails.skygarden.london"

"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"

"St Sepulchre is dominated by its grey 15th century Gothic tower. Captain John Smith, the famous Governor of Virginia, rescued by Pocahontas, was buried here in 1631. But St Sepulchre also has darker associations."

"If in need of a break while exploring the luxury boutiques of Mount Street in Mayfair, or the surrounding gourmet offerings, Mount Street Gardens are beautifully maintained and almost hidden. Perch on one of the many benches and admire the trees of this exotic hideaway."

"A big Kidadler favourite, Aldenham Country Park is one of North West London’s hidden gems and is set to reopen from June 20th!. Head over to the farm any day of the week from 9am to 6pm where you’ll find plenty of furry farmyard animals including rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs. Aldenham are taking lots of measures to keep their farm attractions safe which you can find details of on their website."

"This secluded park in the middle of the City Of London is a hidden gem just waiting to be explored. Set within the ruins of St Dunstan Church which was severely damaged during WW2, St Dunstan In The East is home to a series of benches from which you can sit and admire the greenery which wraps itself around the ruins’ walls."

"Drawing of St Dunstan-in-the-East in the City of London 1695-1700. Source: British Library. St Dunstan-in-the-East is one of Wren’s most structurally adventurous works, with a spire rising daringly on four free-standing flying buttresses."

"St Dunstan in the East is one of the more unique London Instagram spots. This location once housed a church, however, in the Second World War it was largely destroyed. The ruins have since been turned into a public garden."

"Why: Wild West décor and a hefty menu make this Texas-style grill in Hoxton a worthy addition to this list of the best American restaurants in London. Whether you’re in the mood for a mighty slab of quality meat slow-cooked in a hickory-burning smoker, fried chicken and fries, or a pimped-up burger, we promise you won’t go hungry at Red Dog Saloon. If you’re feeling particularly famished and reckon you can eat a lot in a short space of time, why not enter the ‘crabby patty challenge’?"

"Complete with a Man vs Food eating challenge (break the record for most patties in your cheeseburger and you get it for free), all the dishes on the menu at Red Dog Saloon are reminiscent of any good chain in the USA. With burgers and pulled pork sandwiches, mac 'n' cheese and St Louis pork ribs, plus hot (and extra hot) chicken wings you pay for by the platter, Red Dog will fill almost every craving you can imagine. Which is what great American food is all about, isn't it?"

"Located in Hoxton and Soho, the Red Dog Saloon serves old-school Austin barbeque and world-famous burgers. From classic bar snacks like Buffalo wings, tacos and nachos to barbeque favourites like southern fried chicken, burgers and cheesesteaks. The saloon also gives brave customers the chance to take on their famous crabby patty challenge, allowing you to add as many patties as you can handle for the chance to eat for free."

"The reign of the gourmet burger is over – the benevolent rule of the expertly crafted dirty burger is here. Nowhere in London is it done with such all-American flair than at Five Guys. Fifties diner vibes are pleasingly utilitarian, as straightforward as what happens back in the open kitchen: never-frozen patties are fried before your very eyes, chips are hand-cut daily and every burger is made to precise order, with as many or as little toppings as you like."

"Jerry Murrell and his sons (none of them named Moe) are the Five Guys behind this US burger chain, which is proving a hit this side of the pond. Expect garish red colours, noisy queues, Coke from a freestyle machine and endless pick-your-own toppings. It’s all very down-home Yankee."

"A post shared by Jessica Lalau (@jesslalau) on Aug 19, 2016 at 2:26am PDT. London is sadly lacking when it comes to great Southern food places, but, luckily, The Fat Bear delivers if you’ve got a hankering for New Orleans gumbo or the bizarre yet brilliant Southern staple dish of fried chicken and waffles."

"The doughnuts at Dum Dum have a lower fat content but are full of flavour|© Jeffrey Blackler / Alamy Stock Photo. Although the doughnuts sold at Dum Dum are technically more like buns, that hasn’t stopped it from rising to fame due to a low-fat, patisserie-style baking process that allows plenty of room for taste. Due to this popularity, Dum Dum is now able to offer bespoke doughnuts and a doughnut courier service, and it is planning to expand from its four current outlets to many more over the course of the next few years."

"While lots of doughnut shops fry their products, Dum Dum Donutterie only bakes its delicious selection. Dum Dum offers its own take on the cronut, but with some far-out toppings, you won’t see anywhere else. The options at any of their three locations include the dulce de leche Peter Andre’s Yum Yum Dum Dum, the coconut-infused Croconut, and the super-popular Zebra with layered traditional and chocolate croissant dough."

"A post shared by Rinkoff Bakery (@rinkoffbakery) on Oct 19, 2018 at 12:16am PDT. Most famous for the invention of the Crodough — a croissant-doughnut hybrid — it's actually the savouries we're here for. A perfect Rinkoff's order is as much of their plaited challah as you can reasonably get through while it's still fresh."

"Established in 1911, Rinkoff bakery is a family run business in the heart of Whitechapel. With over a hundred years of honing its baking skills, Rinkoff bakery is sure to sell you the perfect doughnut. Crodoughs, a gorgeous croissant-doughnut hybrid is Rinkoff’s most renowned menu item."

"Bakery/Cafe , Jewish"

"Open for both lunch and dinner, this quaint restaurant tucked away in the heart of Smithfield is said to serve the best cote de boeuf around. Café du Marché offers fixed price two and three-course menus, as well as an a la carte menu with an array of soups, salads and terrines for starter; guinea fowl, salt beef and calves’ liver for main; and cheese, tarts and sorbets for dessert. Go on a Friday night to sit back in a cushioned wicker chair, sip decanted wine and listen to the jazz pianist playing softly against a bare brickwall backdrop."

"Perfect for a romantic evening drink, Champagne and Fromage is for lovers of authentic French produce. The small bistro tucked away on Wellington street, offers a variety of 25 award winning Grower Champagnes and artisanal charcuterie platters. The outdoor seating provides soft blankets, outside heating and baked cheese to warm our hearts up."

"Whatever the time of day, we have a dish to suit your mood; from steak frites and boeuf bourguignon to a selection of croques, baguettes and vegan options too – all on our menu of classic French food with a contemporary twist.” They offer breakfast and brunch dishes such as the Grande Breakfast (two free-range eggs, two Cumberland sausages, sweet cure bacon, beans, mushroom, tomato, black pudding, sautéed potatoes and sourdough toast), Pancakes (three warm pancakes topped with your choice of sweet cure bacon, banana and maple syrup, or fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and pineapple with fruit compot, and French Toast (two slices of sweet brioche bread topped with your choice of sweet cure bacon, banana and maple syrup, chocolate sauce, banana and hazelnuts or fresh seasonal fruit, honey and vanilla crème fraîche)."

"With a combination of delicious food, great wines and a real ambience, Café Rouge has embodied the style and je ne sais quoi of French dining since i ..."