Popular Gardens in Hampton Hill

"Ok, it’s not technically a park, but it most definitely is one of London’s foremost green spaces. Speaking of technicalities, its proper title is actually Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, but when did anyone last call it that?. However you refer to it, Kew is a glorious day out, and with 300 acres and 50,000 plants, you could go every week of the year and discover something new every time."

"Whether you’re a fan of gardens or not, Kew Gardens is one of the most beautiful places in London. The Hive is a unique new structure exploring the story of the honey bee, and children will love the Treetop Walkway. Best shot: the Waterlily House or the spiral staircase make for superb captures."

"Plant Houses Nos. 7 to 14b inclusive were collectively known as the "T" Range because of their T-shaped plan. The extant Aroid House (now the Nash Conservatory) was designated Plant House No. 1 and the Water Lily House was Plant House No. 15."

"🌳🌲🌿☘️🍃🍀🌱The Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street is a unique public space that spans three storeys and offers 360 degree uninterrupted views across the City of London. Visitors can wander around the exquisitely landscaped gardens, observation decks and an open air terrace of what is London's highest public garden🌲🌳🌴🌱🍀☘️🌿 #skygarden #london #beautiful #views #restaurant #stunning #londonbridge #bigben #toweroflondon #theshard #mustsee. A post shared by Life FR (@life_fr_) on Jan 2, 2018 at 10:22am PST"

"Sky Garden pairs epic views with tasty cocktails and an indoors garden, how can you not love that?. Sky Garden has a 360° view all around London and a number of different bars and restaurants inside it. Access to Sky Garden is free but you have to book in advance if you want to skip the queues, don’t worry if you forget about booking, you can still access Sky Garden but you will have to wait a little longer before taking your perfect Instagram shots."

"If a trip up to the stunning viewing gallery of one of London’s tallest buildings sounds like a pocket drainer, think again. Situated inside a glass oasis at the top of the “Walkie Talkie”, Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden, filled with greenery and boasting panoramic views of the capital. It’s totally free to head up there, but you’ll need to book in advance, with post-lockdown visits starting up again from July 29."

"Frederick John Horniman was quite the hoarder, but with his eclectic collection of natural history specimens, anthropology artefacts and, er, musical instruments now on display, we’ll let him off for that. Among the natural science galleries you’ll find taxidermied animals aplenty – including a hilariously overstuffed walrus – alongside living exhibits in the form of the inhabitants of an aquarium and a butterfly house. 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ, horniman.ac.uk"

"Founded in 1901 by Frederick John Horniman, a tea merchant who wanted a space to display his private collection of natural history, the Horniman Museum is a nature lover’s dream. See African art or visit the tiny aquarium. We especially like the conservatory, set in a grand Victorian glasshouse with views over the rolling gardens."

"The Horniman Museum and Gardens is a London museum dating back to the early 1900s. The museum's collection of more than 350,000 objects focuses on natural history, anthropology, and instruments. It has a well known and impressive collection of taxidermied animals."

"One of the most famous palaces in England, Hampton Court is known for its lush gardens and unusual architecture (half-Tudor, half-Baroque). Get lost in the Hampton Court maze, see the largest grapevine in the world, and take a behind-the-scenes look at a palace kitchen that was once used to serve hundreds of guests. Historical reenactments take place during the day and are a delight for travellers interested in British royalty. Hampton Court is within walking distance of the nearby train station and the River Thames for easy access back to London."

"While not exactly in Central London, Hampton Court Palace does fall within the boundaries of London. It’s still a minor transport effort to get here, but totally worth it. Hampton Court Palace isn’t an inhabited Royal Palace, but it has plenty of Royal history, most notably as it was one of the principal residences of Henry VIII, he of the many wives."

"This is Henry VIII’s favourite Royal hangout located in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London. Hampton Court is definitely worth a visit and the gardens are outstanding. In fact, they are internationally renowned for being amongst the most beautiful gardens in the world."

"Once the home of Princess Diana (and before that, a young Queen Victoria), Kensington Palace is currently one of the residences of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge—that’s William and Kate. The lush gardens and the King’s and Queen’s state apartments are open to visitors year round. Here’s what Kensington Palace looked like right after Princess Diana’s death."

"Kensington Palace is the second residential home of the British royal family on this list. While not nearly as impressive as its competition, Kensington Palace is still a remarkable building. It has been the home of the royal family from the 17th century onwards and can be found the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea."

"In the early 1800s, art enthusiast Sir Francis Bourgeois instructed that his entire collection be turned into a gallery open to the public, handpicking architect John Soane to create the Dulwich Picture Gallery from scratch. Look up, and you can see for yourself the innovative techniques Soane used to bathe the whole gallery in sunlight, which became the prototype for all galleries to this day. Still, don't forget to look down too, to see the great Baroque masterpieces that line the walls and the mausoleum Soane designed for his friend and patron."

"Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare is a small garden temple built in 1756 on the River Thames. The temple was built by actor David Garrick to honor William Shakespeare; it has since turned into a museum meant to honor Garrick, as well. The temple displayed Garrick's extensive personal collection of Shakespearean artifacts."

"Located in the heart of Chelsea, The Phene is a charming gastropub that has got a slick choice come lunchtime. From light lunches that let you combine proteins and salads through to open sandwiches, lunch here is a healthy and tasty affair."

"St Ethelburga, entirely destroyed by an IRA bomb in 1993, is the smallest of the City churches at 56 feet long and 30 feet wide. The parish covered just three acres, an acre more petite than the area covered by the Bank of England. The church had survived since 1390, having been outside the area destroyed by the Great Fire."

"Lemoni opened up at The Oracle Riverside in April, and has since become a firm favourite. Offering diners a mix of pork and chicken souvlaki, healthy salad dishes and delicious pita bred, the Greek restaurant is well worth a visit. It took over the old Jamie's Italian, which closed in July 2018 and was replaced by the Casa Bacardi pop up bar."

"Arguably the city’s most flamboyant restaurant, Richard Caring’s Sexy Fish is a sight to behold. Apparently it cost £15 million to produce – which won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has stepped inside. With bronze Damien Hirst-designed bronze mermaids adorning the bar, a coral reef ceiling, a giant gold-plated crocodile on display and walls running with water, the space feels like some kind of mystical, underwater-inspired wonderland."

"You've definitely arrived when the maître d' hands you your very own Sexy Fish silver key-ring engraved with a VIP hotline number that allows you to reserve a table at short notice!. Failing that, book ahead and you may be sitting next to Kendall Jenner, Nicole Scherzinger, Ciara or Jennifer Lawrence here as you enjoy Asian-inspired fare at this opulent celebrity favourite."

"Have you ever thought “I like fish, but I just wish it was sexier?. ” Look no further than Berkeley Square, where Sexy Fish is solving just that problem. The interior of the restaurant is certainly alluring: a pair of Damien Hirst mermaid sculptures adorn the bar, and a glittering crocodile takes to the walls."

"The Guinea Grill specialises in the sort of wayward jollity that is rarely planned for but almost always welcome; the breakfasts which start with good intentions and end with Champagne, the lunch hours which grow into afternoons, the dinners that dissolve into fits of red-wine soaked laughter. Given many in the loud, lively dining room tend to walk out on the slant, perhaps it would seem needless for the food to be any good – but it is; very, very good. Their steaks are always spot on, they’ve beautiful lamb chops, and always buy in the best oysters."

"Back when it first opened (in the 1400s) the inn on this site was mainly for local farmworkers. Now you're more likely to be sitting beside a table of hedge funders or - just as likely - a foodie lured over to the posh part of town by the fact that the ebullient Oisin Rogers is in charge of things here. Meat is the order of the day either in the form of Aberdeenshire dry-aged steaks or in the multi-award-winning steak and kidney pies."

"Occupying disused bare-brick railway arches in Waterloo underground station, The Vaults is a striking space for alternative arts and immersive theatre. As well as jazz sets, indie plays, and alien-themed musicals, you can discover a continual rotation of art in its tunnels. This unique contemporary art gallery is said to feature artists who ‘have a natural affinity for the unusual, the daring, and the unknown’, and that is easy to see."

"Situated opposite the famous Green, Richmond Theatre is one the South East’s leading entertainment venues showcasing the best UK and West End productions throughout the year. Richmond Theatre welcomes a quarter of a million visitors to over 40 productions annually, performing for about 49 weeks per year. Built in 1899, by the famous theatre architect Frank Matcham, the theatre is a charming Grade 1 listed building which retains most of its original features."

"This Frank Matcham theatre was built in 1899 and refurbished in 1991. It is an incredibly successful theatre and offers a wide programme of events. Over a quarter of a million visitors attend every year to watch one of around 40 different productions."

"Join everyone who is, was or will be anyone at the original celebrity haunt. The Ivy London, perfectly situated in the heart of Theatreland, routinely draws in celebrities from the worlds of film, TV and theatre. Laurence Olivier and Noël Coward have made way for David and Victoria Beckham, Angelina Jolie and Kate Hudson."

"This famous Covent Garden restaurant is all about style and glamour, with stained glass windows and contemporary art fixtures. It’s an A-list favourite too – everyone from Kate Moss and the Beckhams, to Elton John and even the Royal Family. So if you fancy some star spotting, this is the place to be."

"If you’re planning on hitting the theatre and want a classy West End meal to match, you can’t go wrong with The Ivy. You’ll find epic versions of the British classics but also more modern, internationally influenced grub. The Ivy1-5 West StreetLondon WC2H 9NQVisit website: The Ivy"

"One of the swishest Champagne bars in London is back in business this spring. Head over to Kings Cross St Pancras where Searcys has dusted off its pretty patio to welcome you in for fine fizz and outdoor dining."