It’s hard to beat the location — between Hyde Park and Knightsbridge. Its Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal specializes in historic British gastronomy. Tipsy cake, anyone?
Royals of all kinds — from Queen Victoria to Audrey Hepburn — have stayed at this glamorous landmark. Why? It wraps incredible family-friendly service in a beautiful package.
The British Museum began from the collection of naturalist Sir Hans Sloane which he left to the nation on his death in 1753. Now it houses 7 million objects including more than 100 Egyptian mummies.
The Bankside Power Station was built as a ‘cathedral of power’ in 1963, but closed in 1981. It reopened as one of Europe’s finest modern art galleries in 2000. The Turbine Hall is 35m high.
A wonderful place for people watching on a sunny day or as a romantic meeting place at dusk, but look out for the pigeons. A visit to the National Gallery is also highly recommended.
The gallery opened in 1824 to exhibit 38 paintings purchased by the government. The UK national collection is relatively small because unlike in Europe, the monarch’s collection was not nationalised.
You could walk past the door of this Soho speakeasy every day and never know it was there, and that's just how the owners like it. Read more.
A late-closing cocktail bar that boasts live jazz and a gifted bunch of bartenders who have compiled a well-crafted list featuring liquid legacies from the cocktail's golden era. Read more.
Royal China is still the place in London to get high-quality, authentic dim sum at a reasonable price. The original branch in Queensway does a roaring trade on a Sunday. Read more.
This terrific gastropub is the worst-kept secret in Fulham. It serves dishes that are far beyond the standard of any other pub in west London. As a result, you need to book well in advance. Read more.
Gelupo is one of the London’s best-kept secrets – an outstanding ice-cream parlour not even five minutes from Piccadilly Circus. Step inside, and feast your senses. Read more.
This legendary queer performance pub has a star-studded past (the gay Kray used to drink here, Regina Fong held court and Lily Savage got her start behind the bar) and insistently eclectic line-up. Read more.
This late-night cabaret-burlesque-drag-DJ club and live music venue is a Soho institution with a long and colourful history. Read more.
There’s no doubt about it, the Comedy Store is the daddy of all comedy clubs, and what most other gigs strive to be. Read more.
Given its reputation, you wouldn’t think the Jazz Café was such a newbie on London’s music map, but the venue was only converted from a branch of Barclays in 1990. Read more.
The 100 Club is synonymous with punk, hosting shows by the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie And The Banshees and Buzzcocks in September 1976 alone. Read more.
The last word in factional conceit, 221b’s study is a loving Victorian recreation and a splendid photo op. Read more.
Check out the Kensington Gardens to see the statue of Queen Victoria, the only other British Monarch aside from Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate a Diamon Jubilee with a 63 year rein.
Every year a Norway Spruce is erected here and decorated as part of the Christmas festivities. The tree is a gift of thanks from the Norwegians for Britain's support during the Second World War
At 1.5 acres Kensington Roof gardens is the largest roof garden in the whole of Europe. The gardens have been owned by Richard Branson's Virgin group since 1981.
Opened in 1927, Veeraswamy's is said to be the oldest surving Indian restaurant in the UK. Famous diners have included Ghandi, Charlie Chaplin, Marlon Brando and the Prince of Wales.
In 1837 The Royal Opera house was the first ever theatre to use limelight. Limelight comes from the mixing of oxygen and hydrogen and then adding real burning lime to achieve a bright light.
This pub takes its monastic theme from the Dominican priory which once stood here. The elaborate and witty decorations date from 1904 and make this a unique London watering hole.
The home of the artist William Hogarth (d.1764) has been open to the public since 1904. The mulberry tree at the front of the house is 300 years old, so Hogarth would’ve known it well.
This legendary jazz club in Soho has played host to some of the world’s biggest music greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix who played his last live performance there and now Amy Winehouse. Read more.
A beautiful Hampstead house and the great psychoanalyst’s home after he fled Austria, the Freud Museum is not only preserved as it was when Sigmund died, but as it was in Austria when he fled in 1938. Read more.
