Free museums in London

1. British Museum

Photo: David Bank

Despite the name, this sprawling building in London’s academic Bloomsbury district is only
fleetingly concerned with British history. Instead, it aims to represent the entire sweep of
human endeavour, from pre-historic man through Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
Absolutely marble-ous. This is a free museum to visit with occasional paid
exhibitions. Lates: open until 8.30pm on Fridays. Find out more about… the British
Museum. It is open daily from 10am until 5:30pm daily (except Fridays, when closing is 8:30pm).

2. Natural History Museum

Photo: @nemcova_kate, Instagram

This gorgeous museum in South Kensington’s free museum district is most famous for the
stunning Hintze Hall, dominated by the suspended skeleton of Hope the Whale. (In the Earth
Gallery, meanwhile, you can take an escalator through the centre of the earth!) The Natural
History Museum is dedicated to the flora, fauna and geology of the planet we call home, with
exhibits on dinosaurs, earthquakes, venomous insects and other bad-ass features of the natural
world. In the winter months, there’s a picturesque ice rink outside; late opening is the last
Friday of each month and often includes activities like crime scene investigations and silent
discos. Find out more.

4. Victoria & Albert Museum

Photo: @glassdoorsss, Instagram

Documenting 5,000 years of art and design, the free Victoria & Albert Museum is the
third in the South Kensington museum trilogy. Known to most simply as the V&A, head
here for amazing outfits, glittering jewellery, intricate mosaics and ancient sculptures in
their constantly changing collection. Opens late on the last Friday of each month, until
10pm. Find out more. Museum opening hours

Daily: 10.00 – 17.45

Friday: 10.00 – 22.00

Exhibitions close 15 minutes prior to Museum closing.

Reduced gallery openings on Fridays after 17.30.

Tunnel entrance

Daily: 10.00 – 17.40

Friday: 10.00 – 22.00

5. Museum of London
The greatest city in the world deserves its own museum, and that’s exactly what the Museum
of London provides! Set somewhat incongruously in the middle of a brutalist roundabout,
exhibits here cover everything from the city’s ancient past as a Roman settlement right up to
the present day, featuring both the 2012 Olympic cauldron… to a congealed lump of sewer
blockage from our city’s great nemisis, the Fatberg. Find out more. FREE daily 10am - 6pm

6. Museum of London Docklands

Photo: magdarakis_

Ths sister to the Museum of London, this Docklands museum explores London’s heritage as
a port city: the home of sailors, globe-spanning import-export business, and all that salty jazz.
A ‘Sailortown’ recreates the ramshackle neighbourhoods of the city in the 1800s, and even
has a fake pub, so why not crack open a few tinnies to really bring the exhibit to life? (N.B
you’ll probs get asked to leave if you do this.) Find out more. FREE daily 10am - 6pm

9. Horniman Museum
 Photo: @wendy_goldsmith

One of the further-flung museums on our list, head south-east to Forest Hill for this fantastic
all-rounder. Based upon the eclectic collections of Frederick John Horniman, you’ll find a
gallery of taxidermy (including a famously over-stuffed walrus), a new World Gallery based
on diverse civilisations around the globe, a butterfly house, an underground aquarium (this
has an admission charge) and even some cute llamas outside in the beautiful gardens. A
perfect family day out.

11. Sir John Soane’s Museum

This house in Holborn holds over 45,000 fascinating items amassed by the 19th-century
architect Sir John Soane. Find out more. Opening times

Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00

Last entry at 16:30

12. Wellcome Collection

Investigate bodies beautiful and bizarre at the Wellcome

Collection, a free museum near Euston concentrating on the human body. A permanent
collection of anatomical curios is on display, and their programme of temporary exhibitions is
usually pretty cool too. The beautiful reading room upstairs is an especially tranquil spot to
enjoy a book or catch up on some emails. Find out more. Galleries and Reading Room:
Monday Closed

Tuesday 10:00—18:00

Wednesday 10:00—18:00

Thursday 10:00—21:00

Friday 10:00—18:00

Saturday 10:00—18:00

Sunday 10:00—18:00

13. Grant Museum of Zoology

Photo: @cult_status, Instagram

This little free museum from University College London boasts over 60,000 zoological
specimens, which mostly means weird skeletons and pickled creatures in jars. (Don’t miss
the disturbing ‘jar of dead moles’!) Bone up on your animal knowledge – find out more here.
Free entry Open Mon - Sat 13:00–17:00

14. RAF Museum

Fresh off a multi-million pound upgrade in celebration of the Royal Air Force’s 100th
anniversary, the RAF’s free museum in Colindale, north London, now boasts interactive
galleries and immersive activities… along with lots and lots of planes. Find out more. 
March - October

 10.00am - 6.00pm [last entry 5.30pm]

15. The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

 Photo: @fearlesschimera0000, Instagram

The free museum in Greenwich celebrates London’s seafaring past with permanent
exhibitions along with temporary attractions throughout the year, including a fun area
especially for kids. More info here. Open daily from 10am - 5pm

Non-free museums in London (that are still great)

20. Viktor Wynd’s Cabinet Of Curiosities

Photo: @chip.vicious

This bizarre collection of curiosities offers everything from ‘the intriguing beauty of
McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys, to old master etchings to prison inmates & mad
women’s doodles, occultists paintings and pop art prints, the horrors and wonders of
nature, two-headed kittens and living coral.’ Tickets are £6. More information here.
The Museum is Open Wednesday - Sunday 12pm -10:30pm Admission £6
including a cup of tea upon request. Please note parts, and indeed the whole of
the museum are sometimes hired out for private events and filming - if
travelling far please ring 02079983617 to check. Adult admission £6 including
a cup of tea upon request. Children's tickets £3. The Last Tuesday Society
receives no government funding and is entirely reliant on YOUR support.
Thursday evening admission 5pm-10pm £2.50

23. Body Worlds


Newly arrived in London, this fascinatingly invasive exhibit features hundreds of
bodies, perfectly preserved in plastic. Far from being gruesome, the museum is highly
educational, teaching us to take care of ourselves. Learn more here. Location: The
London Pavillion, 1 Piccadilly Circus, W1J 0DA. Nearest station is Piccadilly Circus. See it on
Google Maps.
Opening hours: 9:30am-7pm (Sun to Thurs), 9:30am-9pm (Fri and Sat).
Entry: their Spring Saver deal means adult tickets are £22.50 (normally £28), kids tickets are
£15.50 (normally £22), and concessions are £20 (normally £25). Available until March 31st,
and redeemable throughout 2019, you can pick them up here.
More information: from their website.

Make no mistake: Body Worlds is not for the squeamish.

The human body is a fascinating thing. And if you’d like to know more about it, without
studying for a medical degree, we’ve got just the thing for you. The groundbreaking Body
Worlds exhibition, which has toured the globe since 1995, moved into a permanent home in
Piccadilly Circus last year. Now firmly amongst the capital’s hottest attractions, they’ve just
released their Spring Saver deals – so now is the perfect time to pick up a reduced ticket!
Body Worlds is a museum of the human body, explored via a series of corpses and internal
organs, all preserved in plastic. A little like Madame Tussauds, except gorier. Whilst the
effect may look a little gruesome, it’s designed as a learning experience, showing the impact
our lifestyles and diet have upon the human body, often in rather visceral ways.

Photo: @theclassydeuce

I’d wager you aren’t going to touch a cigarette again after seeing the lungs of a lifelong
smoker… They’ve also got animals, too, with the biggest plastinated object being this
impressive marriage of man and horse, which isn’t something you’re going to forget in a
hurry:

Photo: @jennalogic

Body Worlds is the work of German doctor Gunther van Hagens, who may be better known
to UK audiences as the man who performed an autopsy live on Channel 4 back in 2002. Since
it began touring in 1995, roughly 47 million people have been to a Body Worlds exhibit –
you may even have seen it in Bond flick Casino Royale. Now, it becomes one of the more
out-there London attractions, which is no bad thing.
 Photo: @gabrielleheap

The exhibition has set up in the former home of Ripley’s Believe It or Not, so the space has
precedent as a repository of the unusual. It’s a more immersive experience than the travelling
show, so expect to get up close and personal in the name of education. You can also sign
yourself up for plastination upon your death, and live forever as a suspended corpse – if you
fancy sticking around the exhibit for a little longer…

Location: The London Pavillion, 1 Piccadilly Circus, W1J 0DA. Nearest station is Piccadilly
Circus. See it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: 9:30am-7pm (Sun to Thurs), 9:30am-9pm (Fri and Sat).
Entry: their Spring Saver deal means adult tickets are £22.50 (normally £28), kids tickets are
£15.50 (normally £22), and concessions are £20 (normally £25). Available until March 31st,
and redeemable throughout 2019, you can pick them up here.
More information: from their website.

24. Dennis Severs’ House

Beautifully eccentric, this place has been frozen in time, transporting you back to Georgian
London. The museum tells the story of the fictional Jervis family, with the space left as if
they’d just popped out. Lucky visitors will see Madge, the mouse-hunter-in-residence,
standing watch over the home. See more here. Location: 18 Folgate Street, London E1 6BX.
Nearest stations: Shoreditch High Street or Liverpool Street. Find it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: Selected dates and times – see website.
Price: from £15
More information: on their website.

25. The Clink Prison Museum

 Photo: @peeyushkaushik

A rather arresting spot amongst London museums, The Clink spent some 600 years as one of
the city’s most feared prisons. Far from the charming spot it is today, Southwark used to be a
lawless place; prostitutes, heretics, and drunkards all graced the cells of The Clink at one
point or another. Why not join them? More info.

Summer (July – September)

Monday to Friday 10.00 – 21.00

Weekend 10.00 - 21.00

Winter (October – June)

Monday to Friday 10.00 – 18.00

Weekend 10.00 - 19.30

Please note that the last admission is 30 minutes before closing

Ticket Prices

Adults £7.50
26. The Old Operating Theatre Museum

Photo: @barszott

The blood and viscera has long since been scoured away, making this museum a
fascinating place to visit. Pioneering medical techniques were trialled here back in the
day, and today, it holds the crown as the oldest surviving surgical theatre in Europe.
Check it out here. Opening times

The museum is open Mondays 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm and Tue-Sun 10:30 am - 5:00 pm.

Admission prices

 Full price adult - £6.50

28. Leighton House Museum

Photo: @elisajalava

Once upon a time, an eccentric fellow known as Frederic, Lord Leighton decided to turn his
house into a palace of art. The result is a splendid museum, with mosaic walls, sculptures
aplenty, and even a fountain built into the floor. A little impractical to live in, but well worth
a visit.
With tiled halls and intricate artwork, Leighton House
Museum will give you serious home envy.
Deep in the heart of Kensington, you’ll find a place called the Leighton House Museum.
From the outside, it looks like any other Kensington townhouse – albeit a rather nice one.
(See our guide to the best museums in London.)

Photo: @lapetite_olive

You won’t see it by looking from the street, but Leighton House Museum is hiding a secret
on the inside. It is, in fact, a magnificent palace of art.
 Photo: @s3la

Each floor is crammed to the rafters with paintings, sculptures, and magnificently tiled
rooms. The person we have to thank for this is the house’s former owner: artist and aristocrat
Frederic, Lord Leighton, who decided that his home would make the best canvas of all. Here
he is, looking splendidly beardy:

Photo: @leightonhousemuseum

Like most of the famous Victorians, Freddy was a colourful fellow. Amongst his
achievements were commanding a battalion in the British army composed entirely of artists.
Leighton also holds the record for the shortest peerage in British history – having been made
a baron on January 24, 1896, he promptly celebrated by dropping dead the next day. Well, at
least his house was nice. Very nice indeed, particularly the famous Arab Hall at the heart of
the museum.
 Photo: @julietkinsman

Arab Hall was inspired by Leighton’s visit to Syria in 1873. Apparently, it went so well that
he recreated the sights inside his own house, using antique tiles from Damascus. Because
that’s just what people did in the days before cameras. Aside from being drop-dead gorgeous,
the hall also features a working fountain (#lifegoals).

Photo: @elisajalava

You’ll find paintings by Leighton’s contemporaries (including Millais, Watts, and Sargent)
adorning the walls, as well as work by Frederic himself. With all this Victorian bling lying
around, it’s easy to see why Queen Victoria dropped by Frederic’s palace for a visit.
 Photo: @lindydowling

Leighton House Museum is also used for filming, photoshoots, and as a wedding venue.
However, if you don’t have the funds for any of those, simply wandering around the house is
a rather lovely way to spend an afternoon. If you fancy making a day of it, the Design
Museum and Holland Park are both nearby.

Location: 12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ. Nearest station is Kensington Olympia. See it
on Google Maps.
Opening hours: 10am – 5:30pm daily, but they’re closed on Tuesdays.
Entry: £9 for adults, £7 for concessions. Tickets are only available on the door.

The Oldest Pubs In London (And Why You Should Drink There)
Fires, wars, gentrification: the oldest pubs in London
have endured a lot throughout the centuries.
Aside from queueing, there are few things the British have perfected more so than the humble
pub. With the nights starting to draw in, it’s the perfect time to prop up the bar with a pint and
a packet of pork scratchings. So why not add a bit of history by drinking at one of the oldest
pubs in London?

There’s no definitive answer to the question of which one is actually the oldest – the only
thing anyone can agree on is that Charles Dickens patronised pretty much all of them. We’re
of the opinion that it doesn’t much matter, as long as they’ve got an interesting story to
tell! Here are thirteen you should sink a pint at, all you need to choose is your tipple of
choice.

1. The Guinea, Mayfair.

Whilst the building itself only dates back to 1720, there has been an inn standing on this site
since 1423, which warrants The Guinea a spot on this list. In more recent times, it’s become
famous for the steaks served at The Guinea Grill. They’ll set you back a fair bit though, so
maybe save the sirloin for next time?

30 Bruton Pl, Mayfair, near Green Park station, W1J 6NL

2. The Spaniards Inn, Hampstead.

Drink here and you’ll be following in the footsteps of literary luminaries such as Keats,
Byron, and Dickens (we did warn you he got around!). It also achieved notoriety as the
supposed birthplace and favoured haunt of highwayman Dick Turpin. Their Tap Takeover is
worth checking out too, as they’ll be rotating a selection of excellent craft beers throughout
the year.

Spaniards Rd, Hampstead, near Golders Green station, NW3 7JJ

3. Hoop & Grapes, Aldgate.

Not to be confused with an identically named, slightly younger pub in Farringdon, this
establishment is one of the few timber buildings to have survived the Great Fire of 1666.
Reportedly, the flames stopped only fifty yards from the door, which we think may have been
a little divine intervention. Here’s hoping your pint is heavenly!

47 Aldgate High St, near Aldgate East station, EC3N 1AL

4. Lamb & Flag, Covent Garden.

 One of the smaller venues on this list, the Lamb & Flag can
also claim one of the bloodier histories. The poet John Dryden was nearly murdered on this
spot (albeit a hundred years before it was built in 1772), and in the nineteenth-century,
regular bare-knuckle fights in the alley earned it an alternative name: ‘The Bucket of Blood’.
Mercifully, things have quietened down since then.

33 Rose St, near Leicester Square station, WC2E 9EB

5. Cittie of Yorke, Holborn.

Okay, so the current building is a replica built in 1920, but a pub has been standing here for
almost six hundred years, so it’s still one of the oldest pubs in London. The Samuel Smith
Brewery owns and operates this place, so you won’t get as much variety here. Having said
that, the lower prices make up for it, and the Taddy lager is a crowdpleaser.

22 High Holborn, near Chancery Lane station, WC1V 6BN

6. The Old Bell, Fleet Street.

No other pub on this list can boast as impressive an architect as The Old Bell, which was
built by Sir Christopher Wren for his masons, who were rebuilding St Bride’s Church after
that pesky Great Fire. It’s not even the only pub he’s rumoured to have built, as nearby Ye
Olde Watling (run by the same chain) also has a place in his portfolio.

95 Fleet Street, near Blackfriars station, EC4Y 1DH

7. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street.

Easily winning the prize for best-named pub on this list, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is not the
place to go if you want to sit by a window and watch the world go by. Gloomy, and with
almost no natural light, it’s more suited to imagining yourself as the lead in a Victorian crime
thriller. We’ll take our pint with a side of murder and intrigue, please.

145 Fleet St, near Blackfriars station, EC4A 2BU

8. Ye Olde Mitre, Hatton Garden.

A land issue meant that this pub was technically part of Cambridgeshire until the early
twentieth century, so the Mitre makes a slightly dubious claim to be London’s oldest. Still,
Elizabeth I was rumoured to have danced round the cherry tree that once stood outside, so
why not emulate her and have a boogie with your ale of choice?

1 Ely Place, near Chancery Lane station, EC1N 6SJ

9. The Prospect of Whitby, Wapping.

The oldest riverside pub in London offers lovely views of the Thames – we’re sure that’s
what used to draw the sailors and smugglers to the pub once known as ‘The Devil’s Tavern’.
It’s been standing since 1520, and a reminder of its dark past can be seen with the noose and
gallows that hang off of the balcony.

57 Wapping Wall, near Wapping station, E1W 3SH

10. The Seven Stars, Aldwych.

How many of the oldest pubs in London give you the opportunity to pick up free legal
advice? The Seven Stars definitely will; it predates the neighbouring Royal Courts of Justice
by the small matter of 280 years, and now plays host to crowds of lawyers at the close of day.

53 Carey St, near Chancery Lane station, WC2A 2JB

12. The Mayflower, Rotherhithe.

Unsurprisingly, this pub gets its name from the famous ship, which moored next door before
sailing to the New World. If you can prove a family link to one of the voyageurs, why not
sign their book of Mayflower Descendants? They also claim to serve the best fish and chips
in London, but that’s definitely an argument for another time.

117 Rotherhithe St, Rotherhithe, near Rotherhithe station, SE16 4NF

13. The Grapes, Limehouse.

Dickens makes another appearance here, as The Grapes is supposedly the pub described in
the opening of Our Mutual Friend. It’s another inn with a dark history, as unsavoury
longshoremen reportedly drowned drunk patrons in the Thames – something the current
owner, actor Ian McKellen, chose to gloss over in his history of the place. Monday is the day
to visit, as the thespian has been known to run the pub quiz from time to time!

76 Narrow Street, Limehouse, near Westferry station, E14 8BP

PARKS

Walthamstow Wetlands
A huge, free, new nature reserve is now open to the public:
say hello to Walthamstow Wetlands!
Offering over 13 miles of paths to explore across an untamed, wildlife-friendly site, the local
authorities have opened up the areas around the Walthamstow reservoirs for all to enjoy,
totally free of charge. (It was previously only open to anglers, birdwatchers, and other
dedicated types who’d got themselves a permit.)

There are four entrances to the park, well served by local tube stations: Tottenham Hale is a
seven-minute walk away, and Blackhorse Road just ten minutes. Door-to-door, it’s under
thirty minutes from Oxford Street.

The site is open 9.30am to 4pm until March, and it stays open until 5pm in the summer.
Walkers and cyclists are welcome, but dogs (except service dogs), booze and barbecues
aren’t allowed.
There’s also a neat new café and visitor’s centre, where you can grab a warming cuppa and
enjoy some panoramic views.

This new park is the largest urban wetlands in Europe (sorry Barnes) and is already home to
all kinds of interesting birdlife from waders to warblers, playing an important part in our
capital’s ecological diversity.

Opening it up for everyone to enjoy is £10m well spent, we reckon – and perfect for a bracing
autumn walk.

Location: 2 Forest Road, London N17 9NH. Nearest stations are Blackhorse Road and
Tottenham Hale. See it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: seven days a week, 9.30am to 5pm.
Price: it’s free to visit!
More information: from their website.

Hampstead Hill Gardens and Pergola.

The Ravishingly Run-Down Terrace In London You Need To Explore •

Hampstead Pergola

Hampstead Pergola is full of rundown splendour.

You may not have heard the news, but Hampstead really is rather lovely. With cute shops,
fancy coffee shops, and Hampstead Heath next door, you’re spoiled for choice on a visit here.
However, the most beautiful part of Hampstead is also the most criminally underrated: the
Hampstead Pergola. Aside from offering lovely views over the Heath and Hampstead Hill
Gardens, it also happens to be a splendiferous spot for a wander.

Photo: @denimoise

If you think this place looks like the frivolous construct of someone with too much money,
you’d be spot on. It was commissioned by Lord Leverhulme, who made his fortune selling
soap. One summer’s eve in 1904, he decided that his nearby mansion needed an extravagant
terrace, to host garden parties and lazy summer nights. So, being filthy rich, he decided to
build it.

Viv Lynch

Though beautiful, Hampstead Pergola suffered in the aftermath of Leverhulme’s death and
the onset of World War 2. By the time the City of London took it over in 1989, the place was
almost falling apart. Resurrection is still underway, but in the faded glory of the pillars and
arches, you’ll find a serenely beautiful spot with views aplenty.

Photo: @esmitaa

Overgrown with vines and flowers, Hampstead Pergola is pretty magical, whether it be in the
green of summer…

Viv Lynch
…or looking moody under grey skies.

Photo: @londonbota

Hampstead Pergola really is a place for all seasons, equally beautiful when it’s hidden under
winter snow, or braving the summer sun. In spring, wisteria curls around the trellises, whilst a
carpet of autumn leaves makes the place even more special.

Photo: @alexvangoethem

All this beauty explains why Hampstead Pergola is an immensely popular spot for
photoshoots. It also happens to be a licensed wedding venue, and if you stump up £2300, you
can tie the knot in this magical spot.
 Photo: @anne_a.h

That’s a big commitment to make to a place you just discovered, though. Maybe you’re better
starting off with a peek around Hampstead Pergola some sunny day?

Photo: @krisrududu

Location: The Pergola, Inverforth Close, Hampstead, NW3 7EX. Nearest stations are
Hampstead and Golders Green. See it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: are ridiculously complex. The pergola opens at 8:30am, but closing time
depends entirely on the seasons – find the full list of closing times here.
Entry: the Hampstead Pergola is free to enter (see more free things to do in London), but
filming and photoshoots will require a permit.
More information: from the City of London website.

Opening times
Throughout the year, the Hill Garden and Pergola opens at 8.30am. The closing times are as
follows:
Period from Closing times
1 January 3.30pm
11 February 4.30pm
11 March 5.30pm
31 March 7.00pm
22 April 7.30pm
27 May 8.15pm
22 July 7.30pm
26 August 6.30pm

St Dunstan in the East

The Ruined Church That’s Now A Beautiful City Park • St. Dunstan in the East

Horticulture is the new religion at St Dunstan in the East.

If you’ve ever wandered around the City of London on a weekend, you’ll know it’s an
oddly serene place. Freed from the weekly crowd of bankers and hedge fund types, a strange
peace descends upon the City. But there’s one place that stands out from the crowd, as
beautiful as it is tranquil: the bombed-out ruins of the church of St Dunstan in the East.

Photo: @jennylijic
The church was named for St Dunstan, a tenth century monk with a colourful past. He
survived brushes with black magic, leprosy, and the Devil himself to become Archbishop of
Canterbury. St Dunstan in the East, following the saint’s example, boasts its own difficult
history.

Photo: @philipcherukara

This church has certainly suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in the near-
millennium it’s been standing. Like so much of the City, it was badly damaged by the Great
Fire of London. As a consolation prize, it got a new tower built by Sir Christopher Wren, but
the misfortunes didn’t stop. The tower and steeple, along with the north and south walls, are
the only parts that still stand today – the rest having been wiped out in 1941 by a German
bomb.

Photo: @_corstiaan

Deciding it had become too much of a hassle to rebuild, the Anglican Church was forced to
abandon it. In 1967 the City of London turned the ruins of St Dunstan into a public park, and
the Church’s loss became London’s gain. Personally, I’ve been converted to the cause, now
believing that every park should have stunning ruins in the middle.

Photo: @a.littlemickey

Trees grow through windows and vines wind themselves around walls of St Dunstan in the
East, whilst palm trees make for positively tropical addition. All in all, it’s a gorgeously green
spot when the sun shines.

Photo: @reisegal.no

Although having said that, grey skies and a dusting of snow make St Dunstan look simply
magical.

Photo: @lunadecoco2
Those with some cash can hire St Dunstan in the East for parties, wedding receptions, or just
for a lark about. A quick browse through Instagram proves that it’s a stunning spot for a
moody photoshoot too. But if you aren’t striking a dramatic pose for your adoring followers,
St Dunstan still makes for a lovely day out. Maybe it’s time for you to make a pilgrimage?

Photo: @gaiamuser

Location: St Dunstan’s Hill, London EC3R 5DD. Nearest stations are Tower Hill and
Monument. See it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: Seven days a week, from 8am to 7pm/dusk, whichever is earlier.
Entry: free, and you can enter at Idol Lane or St Dunstan’s Hill.
More information: from the City of London website.

The Incredible Temple You Won’t Believe Is In London • BAPS Shri

Swaminarayan Mandir

Check out this amazing Hindu temple in Neasden, London: the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
Mandir.

The lightly-industrial A-roads of Neasden aren’t on every tourist’s ‘must-visit’ list, but this
north-west neighbourhood is home to one of the most remarkable buildings in London,
one which also makes visitors welcome – it’s a beautiful, traditional Hindu temple, standing
some 70 feet high, carved entirely out of stone, and free to visit to boot. [Header
photo: Saurabh Chatterjee]

And the story behind it is actually rather surprising!

 Photo: BAPS

Although the mandir was designed and built using traditional techniques dating back
donkeys-years, it’s actually a rather modern miracle: construction only started in 1993, and
was, somehow, completed by the community in just two years. (We should’ve called these
guys about Crossrail, in retrospect.) When completed it was, for a time, the largest Hindu
temple outside of India, and as you can see, there were no half-measures taken.

Photo: @willian_raphael_barcelo

This mandir is constructed out of 8,000 tonnes of Indian and Italian marble and Bulgarian
limestone, all of which had to be shipped to a mini-township in Kandla, India, where 650
artisans intricately carved the stone into 23,000 different pieces.

Photo: BAPS
Back in the UK, the local community came together to raise the £12 million required to build
the chapel, and then, as the pieces of the world’s heaviest jigsaw puzzle arrived, over 1,000
volunteers assisted in their assembly.

Photo: @vdpatel_1

As impressive as it might be from afar, head closer (and then inside!) to check out the mandir
in more detail. Marvel at all the incredible carvings that make up the building itself, and pay a
respectful visit to the deities, each in their own shrine.

Photo: @nilkanthpatel_

They do have a rather welcoming presence, actually.

The whole place is well worth the mission and, like any fine place of worship, has a deeply
calming and uplifting effect on the old emotional innards.

Photo: @londonpass

(Tip: don’t then immediately visit the IKEA around the corner – ‘oh but, it’s so convenient!
we’ll just pop in for a bathroom mirror!’ – and gradually obliterate your inner calm over the
next several hours.)

Guided tours and audio tours are available, and the website is really quite informative –
they’re obviously hugely proud of this place, and with excellent reason. As a place of
worship, there are some (modest) dress code requirements, and it’s also proper to remove
one’s shoes once inside, so make sure you wear some nice socks, you scruffbag.
Location: 105-119 Brentfield Road, NW10 8LD. Nearest station: Neasden (which still isn’t
particularly close.)
Opening hours: Seven days a week, 9am – 6pm.
Entry: Free, but don’t be stingy – visit the Understanding Hinduism exhibition within for £2

Visit the mysterious Roman temple in the City.

Inside The Mysterious Roman Temple In The City Of London

Originally a hit for our predecessor Secret Londinium, the enigmatic Temple of Mithras is
free to visit.

If you’re Roman around for something to do this week, we’ll Nero down your options.

Deep beneath the headquarters of media giant Bloomberg lies the Mithraeum, a
painstaking restoration of an ancient Roman temple, once a site of worship by a cult
dedicated to the god Mithras. (It’s one of many awesome free things to do in London.)

Photo: allybyers

The temple was founded back in 300 AD, when the cryptic organisation was popular with
‘merchants, soldiers and imperial administrators.’ Sunken into the earth, the temple was
designed to resemble the cave where Mithras once slayed a bull in an iconic scene that would
have once been depicted prominently inside.

Rediscovered in the 1950s, this ultra-modern exhibit was opened to the public in November
2017.

Pay a visit and you’ll also find ancient artefacts, projections, and interactive exhibits,
revealing what archeologists have discovered about the historic site.
 Photo: @oto_jest_viola

Joining the Mithraic cult once required ascending through seven different levels of initiation,
and full members described themselves as ‘united by the handshake.’ Fortunately, no rites,
rituals or secret signs are required to attend in 2018, and entry is free, with na’ry an animal
sacrifice demanded. Booking ahead online is advised, however.

Location: visit London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE at 12 Walbrook, City of London,

EC4N 8AA. Nearest station: Bank.
Opening hours: closed Monday, 10am-6pm Tuesday-Saturday, 12pm-5pm on Sunday.
Entry: Free, but the venue has a limited capacity and often hosts school trips and tour
groups, so book in advance to guarantee admission.
More information: on their website. https://www.londonmithraeum.com/

London’s Incredible Lavender Field Has Reopened For Summer 2018 •

Mayfield Lavender Farm

Picture this: it’s a gorgeous summer’s day, and the wind gently ruffles your hair as
you wander lazily through a field of lavender. Does that sound like perfection to you? If the
answer is yes, you need to get yourselves down to Mayfield Lavender Farm. (If the answer
is no, you clearly need to rediscover the joy in life, so head there anyway.) This perfectly
purple paradise reopened for 2018 on June 1, and it really is the place to be this summer.

Photo: @blossomandbabe

You can guarantee one thing when Mayfield Lavender Farm opens for the summer: you’re
going to see it all over social media. The place is hella ‘grammable – with photo shoots
getting more creative each year – and it’s also the destination du jour for folks in need of a
new Facebook profile picture.
 Planning on just sitting amongst the
lavender? You’d better up your game… Photo: @devise.inspire

Drawing the eye, and drawing the crowds with it, is the red London phone box standing
proud in the heart of Mayfield Lavender Farm. You can’t make any calls here, but it makes
for a dramatic centrepiece for your photoshoot. Having said that, it’s worth putting the
camera down for a spell to drink in the beauty of this place. Cue cries of “if you didn’t take a
picture, did you even go?”. Seriously folks, just appreciate this place with your eyes, not your
lens.
 Photo: @tmnikonian

If your meanders through the lavender leave you feeling a little peckish, you’re well catered
for. Mayfield Lavender Farm operates a cute-as-a-button al fresco restaurant, overlooking
that sea of purple. On offer here are burgers, paninis, cakes, and a range of alcohol, including
a rather unique lavender cider. Mayfield Lavender also lay on a picture-perfect afternoon tea,
exploring the flavours of – yep, you guessed it – lavender.

Photo: @mayfieldlavender

Currently, Mayfield Lavender Farm are buzzing about their new bee safari. Aspiring apiarists
will want to join this tour, which features an introduction to beekeeping, and a taste of
lavender honey, fresh from the comb. Really, it’s the dreamiest way to experience a charming
English summer.
 Photo: @findjoel

Before all of that, the first thing you need to tick off your Mayfield Lavender bucket list is
simply taking a deep breath. The welcome whiff of lavender makes this easily the best-
smelling place in London, and you can take the scent home with you by visiting their nearby
shop, which sells more lavender products than you can shake a stick at.

Photo: @travler1334

To conclude; it’s great for the ‘gram, and even better for the soul. Mayfield Lavender might
just be heaven on earth.

Location: 1 Carshalton Road, Banstead, SM7 3JA. See it on Google Maps. (Mayfield
Lavender provide directions here)
Opening hours: The summer season runs from June 1st to September 16th. Opening hours
are 9am to 6pm, every day.
Entry: £2 for adults. Afternoon tea starts from £20, the bee safari begins at £55.
More information: on their website

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Osterley,+Isleworth,+Royaume-
Uni/Mayfield+Lavender+Farm,+1+Carshalton+Rd,+Banstead+SM7+3JA,+Royaume-
Uni/@51.4092791,-
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