Top 10 Must-See Sights In London
Be warned: this is not your average sight-seeing list because these are not your traditional sights and the internet really does not need another article about those. So, I have endeavoured to list another 10 sights that I believe do not always get the hype that they are due and also form part of the fabric that is London. The first four suggestions will require you to venture out of the Centre of London ever-so-slightly (and one quite a bit more).
(1) The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre that can be found in Richmond and is simply bonkers beautiful all year round. We all know that there is nothing like botanical gardens in spring and summer, but the autumn leaves are equally as captivating and the lights in winter are dazzling.
If you’re enjoying the great outdoors in the area, then why not take a horse ride through (2) Richmond Park? There is no better way to stare out over the vista of South-West London that tourists who stay up North often miss out on.
Heading a little further South will take you to Wimbledon: a must-see for tennis fans. However, if it is the (3) Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum you’re interested in, then rather go during the off-season to fully appreciate this exhibition featuring both historical artefacts and modern interactive technology.
The next suggestion is a full day trip and is considerably further away from London: but oh, so worth it. (4) The Warner Brother’s Studio Tour completely envelopes you in all things Harry Potter and is the perfect treat for families – even those naughty members who only watched the films!
Heading back to the bustle of Central London – where you shrewdly used your Premier Club Rewards points to redeem your free night stay at Park Grand London Kensington– you need only take a short walk to Holland Park to be briefly transported to Japan by viewing the incredible (5) Kyoto Gardens (can you tell that I am rather a fan of a good garden?). This is one particularly underrated London beauty.
Not far from that is the ever-so-posh (6)Portobello Market on the famous Portobello Road in the lovely Notting Hill. This is not your dusty tourist trap filled with cheap trinkets – but one of the more up-market markets you’ll ever find.
Another shopper’s dream is (7) Brick Lane in Shoreditch where you will find the most amazing street art decorating the facades of funky boutiques and niche restaurants. It is a trendy hipster paradise.
More commercially is (8) Leister Square, which I have put on this list for the incredible street performers that give this area the vibe that makes it famous. You never know whose performance you are going to see and what weird-but-wonderful talents they have – it really is different every time you go.
Just around the corner, you will find London’s very own (9) China Town where the streets are lines with red roof tiles and the windows are full of Peking Ducks. There are beautifully ornate Chinese decorations everywhere in and outside the many authentic restaurants and even some street performers taking their unique spin on traditional Chinese instruments.
Lastly, one of the most British simple pleasures is the honourable (10) Sunday Roast, which you can get from just about anywhere that has a kitchen and is open on a Sunday. Naturally some are better than others, so be sure to read reviews before you go! And an insider tip: if the reviews are raving, you may need to book your spot in advance.
