prettycitylondon: Discovering London’s Beautiful Places (The Pretty Cities, 1)

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It’s not all serious though – there’s also a huge maze, which is great fun for kids (and kids-at-heart). Fenton House The Tamsin Trail is a good starting point for exploring the park as it circles the park’s periphery. In fact, the city had such a problem with the clear stuff in the 18th Century that there’s a bonafide period in London’s history known as the Gin Craze (go look it up if you don’t believe us).

From City Hall to the Tate Modern, and from St. Pauls to Trafalgar square with stops at pretty much every other major landmark you can name, this one is ideal for tourists and London enthusiasts alike.

Gardens in London: Palaces + Stately Homes 

In fact, calling in a “flower patch” is quite the understatement. Laid out over 300 acres with over 30,000 species of plants, this botanical garden in London is really something. Another gem nestled in Richmond Park is the Isabella Garden, 40-acres of woodland inside a Victorian garden planted in the 1830’s. Eltham Palace was bought in 1931 by the wealthy Stephen Courtauld who started a period of transformation and extension that led to some of the best-preserved Art Deco interiors you can find today. He spent years teaching himself everything he could about botany and landscaping. He then put his knowledge to work and designed the amazing eight-acre gardens at Myddelton House. Prior to Crystal Palace being named Crystal Palace after the giant Victorian construction, the area was just a part of Sydenham Hill – and that in turn was a part of the Great North Wood that covered much of South London.

Don’t miss In leafy Assistens Cemetery, sunbathing couples and red squirrels neighbour the graves of Hans Christian Andersen and Soren Kierkegaard A number of these gardens are managed by the National Trust or English Heritage. Members are entitled to free entry. Overseas visitors can also sign up for a temporary overseas membership. Here, you’ll find over 60 acres of perfectly manicured garden. It’s all very aristocratic, with perfectly polished hedgerows and imposing statues. It might seem weird for us to say that the city’s oldest restaurant is one of the secret spots in London, but bear with me… because I’m not talking about the restaurant itself, we’re talking about its absolutely jaw-dropping upstairs bar. Ye Olde Mitre bills itself as one of the most difficult to find pubs in London and, you know, they might just be right.Like the fact that there’s been a market here since the 14th century. At first it was just for butchers and fishmongers (both long gone) before it became one of London’s most important markets. It’s all a bit strange. The temple was dedicated to the god Mithras, only worshipped by a devout (some say a bit cray cray) cult of male followers who’d sacrifice live bulls in his honour.

Just note that it’s only open in summer; the rest of the time it’s just for Queen Liz and her corgis. Syon House Gardens Flowers abound in this garden – if you want to know more, you can even join a free tour of them. St. John’s Lodge Gardens In fact, there are more than 85 different types of roses in the garden. You’re sure to leave with more rose knowledge than you ever thought possible.Home to more than 200 species of trees and plants, it’s also blessed with a variety of animals, fungi and birds and is a great place for a walk. Henry VIII may not have been a stellar husband, but he did have great choice in gardens. You can see for yourself at his old stomping ground, Hampton Court. Instead of restoring it, it has been left to be slowly reclaimed by the plants and flowers around it.

If art isn’t your thing then listen up, the second walk tours the parks 560 acres of beautiful nature, pointing out places to spot rare birds of prey, kingfishers, delightful flowers and all the rest of that good stuff. And If you’re not into nature, well, you’re a lost cause. Don’t miss Home to a thriving flamenco scene, Cordoba is also the place where you can visit Centro Flamenco Fosforito, a museum charting the history of the dance with free performances

This former royal palace used to be a favourite until Henry VIII decided he liked his one at Greenwich better and it was sold off during the Commonwealth period before falling into disrepair for centuries. Underneath the behemoth that is Waterloo Station, in the bowels of the maze of arches that crisscross below the ground, you’ll find another of London’s cool spots – Leake Street Tunnel.