Image: Alamy
Rising 18 metres above the ground, the Xstrata Treetop Walkway at Kew
Gardens gives naturalists the opportunity to examine soaring lime,
chestnut and oak trees up close, as well as providing impressive views of
the Gardens’ sprawling grounds.
30. Drink in history
London’s mottled history means interesting stories are never far away. You
can drink in some of the city’s most curious tales by undertaking a tour of
the historically relevant pubs and bars that stand throughout the capital.
From the tavern where the Great Train Robbery was planned to Lenin’s
favourite haunt, they’re all listed in our guide to London’s
best historical pubs.
31. Bypass Brick Lane’s curry houses, Tower Hamlets
Continued problems with touts and variable quality levels mean going for a
curry on Brick Lane isn’t always as pleasant and experience as you’d expect
it to be. A worthy alternative is food bloggers’ favourite Tayyabs
on Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, a 15-minute walk away. Constant queues
attest to its popularity.
32. See Tower Bridge rise up
Image: Alamy
Tower Bridge is raised about 1,000 times per year, but at irregular intervals
dependent on when the need to let ships pass occurs. To be sure of seeing
the spectacle – or of avoiding it if you need to cross the Thames in a hurry
– you can find scheduled lift times on the Tower Bridge website.
33. Watch the Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace
The Changing
of the Guard takes place at Buckingham Palace at 11.30am on set days
throughout the year – see the website for the most up-to-date info on
timings – but to watch the process away from the main crowd consider waiting
for the Horse Guards to pass up the Mall at 10.45am. Then wait at St James’s
Palace to see the Old Guard and band depart for the palace at 11.15am.
34. Traverse the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, Greenwich
Renovated in celebration of its centenary in 2012, the atmospheric Greenwich
Foot Tunnel allows pedestrians to burrow under the surging Thames. The
exit at the Greenwich Discovery Centre leads to Greenwich’s Old Naval
Hospital, Maritime Museum and Observatory.
35. Take a candlelight tour of Sir John Soane’s Museum, Holborn
A cornucopia of antiquities and curiosities rests in the 18th-century home of
the architect Sir John Soane. Now a charming, anachronistic museum, it’s
beautifully illuminated during its candlelit
openings on the first Tuesday evening of each month. It’s a wonderfully
different way to experience this venue but expect crowds and queues – only
the first 200 people in line are admitted to this evening session.
36. Visit London’s listed Tube stations
For those who work in the city, commuting in London is an ordeal. Travel on
the Tube outside of peak hours, however, and the experience could
conceivably considered pleasant. One of the network’s most impressive
attributes is the range of architectural styles and design flourishes it
features. In fact, many stations have been listed as a result of these
features and you can see a guide to those stations here.
37. Eat somewhere new
London is unquestionably one of the world’s best culinary destinations, and
that position is being consolidated year-on-year by the opening of
innumerable innovative restaurants and bars. Each month I preview the most
promising new venues scheduled to open in the city, alongside information on
unusual new pop-ups, menu launches and dining experiences. To stay informed,
have a look each month at the Telegraph’s guide to London’s
best new restaurants and bars.
38. See shows for free at The Scoop, London Bridge
Seating 800 people, The
Scoop at More London is an outdoor sunken amphitheatre. Throughout
summer it hosts a varied programme of free cultural events, from film
screenings to music performances to theatre shows.
39. Walk through London’s Royal Parks
Five of London’s Royal
Parks are in the centre of the city, and a walk through them shows how
lush and leisurely central London can be if you know which way to go. The Royal
Parks website has interactive maps showing you what facilities are
available in each one. A stroll that incorporates visits to St James’s Park,
Green Park, Regent’s Park Primrose Hill, Hyde Park and Kensington
gardens should take about three hours to complete.
40. Investigate London at the London Metropolitan Archives, Clerkenwell
If you really want to learn more about London then a visit to the London
Metropolitan Archives is there to assist you. The centre hosts regular
exhibitions, talks and shows relating to the heritage of London and its vast
collections of historical records are accessible to the public too.
41. Eat at Brixton Village, Brixton
Image: Alamy
In Brixton, the dining scene has improved drastically with the opening of
Brixton Village (a three-minute walk from the Tube station, just off
Altantic Road). In a converted shopping arcade, its dozen or so affordable,
unpretentious eateries have sprouted from supper clubs, interesting pop-up
projects and the like, and are youthful, exciting and welcoming – the food,
of course, is reliably tasty and inventive too.
42. Explore Eltham Palace, Greenwich
The luxurious Art Deco Eltham
Palace was a royal residence and, later, the stylish 1930s home of
Stephen and Virginia Courtauld, and their pet lemur. A sumptuous stately
home with tranquil manicured lawns, it’s a popular spot with day-tripping
couples.
43. Indulge in a spa treatment
The Espa Life spa and Away spa at the Corinthia Hotel
London’s most luxurious hotels are fighting hard for custom, and a number have
revitalised the offerings at their on-site spas. We profile which
properties’ spas are worth a visit – and which should be avoided – here.
44. Walk around the issues
Anyone who considers political issues humdrum and predictable will be set
right by this ultimate
political tour of London. From revealing the Soho home of Karl Marx to
the Atheneaeum Club’s regal connections, it unveils the historic settings
that many of us pass by unknowingly daily.
45. Visit the London Canal Museum, King’s Cross
One of London’s lesser-known museums, the small London
Canal Museum enthusiastically recounts the story of England’s canals. It
often shows archive films, leads towpath walks and hosts occasional
children’s activities.
46. Bob along on the bookshop barge
Paddy Screech, co-owner of Word on the Water. Image: Ril Schroer
The bookshop barge Word
on the Water is – as you’d probably expect – London’s only floating
second-hand bookshop. Generally for two weeks at a time, it moors in Camden
Lock, Angel, Hackney and Paddington, and offers music performances and
poetry slams in addition to the books on sale.
47. Join a chocolate-making workshop at William Curley, Belgravia
Chocolatiers William Curley and his wife Suzue met while working at the Savoy
and now run the irresistible William Curley chocolate emporium in Belgravia.
Aspiring confectioners can join weekend
classes at the shop to learn how to make their most popular treats,
including velvety chocolate truffles and salted caramels.
48. Tour Fuller’s Brewery, Chiswick
Fuller’s London Pride beer is available in pubs throughout the capital so
touring the brewery where it’s made could be considered an expression of
local patriotism. Hosting about 20 tours
a week – but on weekdays only unfortunately – the brewery explains the
entire brewing process to visitors, and awards all those over 18 with a pint
at the end.
49. See the Lord Mayor’s Coach in situ at the Museum of London, London Wall
The ornate Lord Mayor’s Coach can be seen during the Lord Mayor’s Parade each
year, but, if you miss it then, it’s still possible to view the lavish gold
and red carriage at its permanent display space in the Museum
of London.
50. Get back to nature at Mudchute City Farm, the Isle of Dogs
Image: Alamy
There are city farms throughout London, but 32-acre Mudchute
is the biggest. Open throughout the year, but best in spring and summer, it
houses all the farm animals you’d expect, and llamas. Its on-site riding
school is also popular.
This article was first published on April 18, 2012, and updated in full
on August 12, 2014.
Read more
100
things to do in London: 51-75
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