Must See Sights and Landmarks in Maypole Area

"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."

"Another building that took no time establishing itself as a London icon is the Shard, aka the United Kingdom’s tallest building. At over 309 metres tall, it towers over the rest of London with its unique pyramid shape and sharp point. Its unique and imposing design means there are endless options for capturing dramatic and beautiful shots featuring the Shard."

"Tour the (in)famous Tower of London, and find out more about its 900-year history. It’s had many uses over the years – as a palace, prison and even a zoo – but today it’s famously the home of the Crown Jewels. Prepare to be dazzled by the Royal Family’s riches – I recommend booking ahead through Get Your Guide so that you can skip the line."

"Home to the Crown Jewels, the iconic beefeaters, and (allegedly) several spooks, the Tower of London’s history dates back nearly 1,000 years. Standing guard by Tower Bridge and the River Thames, the medieval compound has served as a royal palace, prison, and execution site. Legend has it, these royal ghosts haunt Britain to this day!"

"Take a tour with one of the Yeoman Warders around the Tower of London, one of the world's most famous buildings. Discover its 900-year history as a royal palace, prison and place of execution, arsenal, jewel house and zoo!. Gaze up at the White Tower, tiptoe through a medieval king's bedchamber and marvel at the Crown Jewels."

"From prison to palace, treasure vault to private zoo, the magnificent Tower of London has fulfilled many different roles down the centuries. One of Britain's most iconic structures, this spectacular World Heritage Site offers hours of fascination for visitors curious about the country's rich history - after all, so much of it happened here. Inside the massive White Tower, built in 1078 by William the Conqueror, is the 17th-century Line of Kings with its remarkable displays of royal armaments and armor."

"Despite its medieval, fairy-tale appearance, Britain's most iconic bridge was actually built at the tail end of the Victorian age, first…"

"A view of the Elizabeth Tower and the Houses of Parliament through a pedestrian tunnel on London’s South Bank|© Beatrice Preve / Alamy Stock Photo. One of the finest examples of Gothic Revivalist architecture in the world, the Palace of Westminster was built by 19th-century architect Sir Charles Barry, but the real brains behind it was the incredibly talented Augustus Pugin. He was just 23 when Barry enlisted him to help with the design of the building and was instrumental in its Gothic detailing (his superior was more of a Classicist)."

"The Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster) is, of course, one of the most popular buildings to photograph for Instagram. For some of the best spots go directly opposite and take pictures in this little archway and also the steps above that lead from Westminster Bridge down to the walkway. The best bet for good photographs is to get here around sunset for the golden hour as the sun often sets behind the building."

"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."

"Escape the hustle and bustle of London for somewhere altogether more serene – Highgate Cemetery. The final resting place of Karl Marx, Malcolm McLaren and George Eliot is a Victorian gem. Smiling selfies aren’t really appropriate, given that it’s a burial ground but it’s an atmospheric place to pause for reflection."

"London’s most famous cemetery in Highgate is the resting place for some 170,000 – most notably, Karl Marx, although there are many other famous figures. It’s a peaceful and beautiful place. The cemetery is privately owned and operated."

"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"

"St Lawrence Jewry is a splendid Baroque church by Sir Christopher Wren, built on the site of an earlier church destroyed in the Great Fire. It’s across the square from London Guildhall, and is the official church of the Lord Mayor of London and the City of London Corporation. The Jewry in its name refers to the London Jewish ghetto, which was centred around the street named Old Jewry, which can be found less than 100 metres east along Gresham Street from the church – it’s on the right."

"St Lawrence Jewry was founded in the 12th century and dedicated to St Lawrence, roasted alive on a gridiron in 3rd century Rome. The church was rebuilt by Wren in1670-87. It was one of Wren’s most expensive City Churches and was badly gutted on 29th December 1940."

"Situated next to the Guildhall in the old Jewish quarter, this was rebuilt by Wren after the original burned down in the Great Fire"

"The famous Diana Memorial Playground is important for London’ culture for two distinct reasons: it is a real children’s wonderland on one hand and a wonderful tribute for the People’s Princess, who was always characterized by her immense love for children and the innocent period of childhood in general. The free playground is situated near her Kensington Palace home, on the site of Peter Pan’s playground. Perfect for a day out in nature, Diana Memorial Playground attracts children of all ages with the wooden pirate ship, which can be explored by the most adventurous kids, and with all the other facilities: swings, slides, sculptures, and sand pits."

"When in London, the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is easily one of the best things to do in London with kids. Located next to Kensington Palace, the playground is in a central location and is easy to get to by the Tube. Peter Pan was the inspiration for the design and a large wooden pirate ship sits centre stage."

"The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground boasts a pirate ship and a teepee camp and is perfect for unleashing a bit of imagination."

"Fans of the film Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks, will recognise the name as the shrimp company Forrest sets up with his friend Bubba in Alabama: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. The restaurant sticks to the movie theme throughout with fun references and merchandise, and of course plenty of shrimp alongside other dishes from America’s Deep South such as jambalaya."

"Based on hit film Forrest Gump, this southern American eatery near Piccadilly Circus is themed on the movie's main characters and Alabama location. It’s all about the shrimp at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., with lots of crustacean creations; but there’s plenty for all the family to enjoy, from grilled steaks and salads to jambalaya."

"Using proper Sardianian ingredients this place is a perfect blend of authentic Italian and fun British ice cream - the gelo buns (ice cream filled brioche buns) sound incredible. As well as cones and cups you can get waffles, ice cream cakes and frozen yogurt. Get MyLondon news with Alexa"

"What: We debated long and hard as to whether a hybrid deserved a place on this sacred list, but given the fact the cronut now has an international trademark it seems only right and proper to acknowledge it in all its flaky glory. For those who haven’t encountered this creation on their Instagram feeds (firstly where have you been hiding?) the cronut is Dominique Ansel’s unique creation which sees a ring of croissant pastry deep-fried, sugar-coated and filled in much the same way as a doughnut. To ensure we never tire of this ingenious invention, the bakery cunningly release a new flavour combination every month to lure us in."

"Four years ago, acclaimed patissiere Dominique Ansel gave to the pastry world the gift it didn’t know it wanted. The Cronut, a cross between a croissant and a doughnut, was hailed by TIME magazine as one of the greatest inventions of the year. This gratuitously enjoyable creation – a ring of sugary, flakey, layered pastry – is now served up in Ansel’s Belgravia bakery with changing monthly flavours – if you’re popping down today, October is banana and toasted oat ganache."

"No dessert round-up is complete without a mention of the Cronut. This croissant-donut hybrid is the creation of French-American chef, Dominique Ansel. He first served it at his bakery in Soho, Manhattan and is now it is the holy-grail of breakfasts treats in London."

"e5 Bakehouseis an East London artisan bakery and coffee shop that is absolutely sourdough mad. The bakers only deploy the finest organic, locally-sourced ingredients in their daily-baked bread and its the unique mixture of flour in all the different loaves they sell that makes e5 Bakehouse one of the very best bakeries in London. The ‘Hackney Wild’, for example, is a country loaf made with a blend of heritage and modern wheat grains whereas the seedy ‘Multigrain’ loaf they bake contains a blend of four flours (including e5 stoneground wheat, Shipton white wheat and Cann Mill rye and spelt)."

"E5 was one of London’s sourdough standard-bearers when it first opened, but a period of inconsistent bakes and uninspired flavourings saw it drop from the floury pantheon. Now, things are more than back on track, with a rotating cast of galettes, a redoubtable kouign-amann, and what might be the best pain au chocolat in the city right now bolstering the bread that anchors the operation. New additions to the collection menu including sharing pies filled with seasonal fruit, and the chocolate, rye, and sea salt cookies are as reliably brilliant as ever."

"Restaurants London Fields. Some of London’s hottest kitchens get their breads from Ben MacKinnon's tiny bakehouse in the arches beneath London Fields station, and E5’s hand-baked wares are top stuff if you’re stocking up on the staff of life. This independent outfit has its own stone mill and uses only organic grains and the finest ingredients to craft fresh, nutrient-rich loaves – most of which depend on 100 percent sourdough ‘starters’."