The South Bank

Question of the week: Do you have a favourite spot/place along the South Bank?

"My favourite spot on the South Bank is the Roof Garden on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall/Purcell Room. Take the yellow spiral staircase up from ground level, and you'll find a café/bar at the top where you can buy a drink and then sit and drink it with the most spectacular view of the river and surrounded by a beautiful garden, lovingly maintained by a local community group. Well worth a visit."- Jamie

* Photo by shaggy359, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

The South Bank

Question of the week: Do you have a favourite spot/place along the South Bank?

"The stretch from London Bridge, past City Hall to Tower Bridge is pretty neat, and if you push on just a few hundred yards more, you suddenly fall back in time as you walk through Shad Thames. Keep going and the modern age re-instates itself – the benches outside the Design Museum are a good spot to people watch, and to river watch, and, at least for me, to look at some London landmarks from the “wrong” side – I walk past Tower Bridge heading downriver fairly often – looking at it heading upriver is a less frequent occurrence, and it always makes me remember how lucky I am to be in London."- Miss Alice

* Photo by .Ines' buddy icon .Ines, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London by Summer

Question of the week: What do you most enjoy about summers in London?

"Summer in London can be most enjoyable because there are many evenings when the temperature is just right: warm and cool at the same time. Since there is no beach around, the river serves as a London substitute, so a pub or cafe along the South Bank can be the perfect host to a warm summer evening. If you walk down along the South Bank, there are a number of great pubs and cafes overlooking the river where you can catch amazing views of the City and watch (not hear!) the water of the Thames flow below. The Anchor is one such place and is a delight in the summer time!"- Christina

* Photo by Ewan-M, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Outdoor London

Question of the week: Can you recommend a cafe or pub with an outdoor patio or rooftop terrace that you think is worth seeing?

"No one’s going to be surprised if I come up with suggestions facing the river, are they? Head east on the north bank to find the Prospect of Whitby, and on the south side of the river, The Mayflower in Rotherhithe – both have history and river view patios to recommend them – and The Mayflower does an excellent Sunday lunch."- Miss Alice

* Photo by Fabiana Zonca, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Share Your View

Question of the week: “In your opinion, where can you find the best view of London?”

"Whitestone Pond in Hampstead is technically London’s highest point and affords a truly spectacular view from the peak of the Northwest, across the centre of the capital. Originally something of a beacon for horse-drawn journeys to reach before the slow decent either side (journeys to and from London were nowhere near as easy as they are now), it currently still serves as a ‘horse bath’ point for the Armed Service’s cavalry. It’s easily found via a short walk from Hampstead tube station and is surrounded by some wonderful attractions such as the Spaniards Inn and Kenwood House."- Hal

* Photo by bortescristian, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Share Your View

Question of the week: “In your opinion, where can you find the best view of London?”

"One of my favourite views is on top of One New Change. Yes, I know it's a mall. Yes, I know that sounds really weird. But the view of St. Paul's is amazing - to be so high up and so close is such a great way to see the cathedral! And, unlike some vantage points, it's free to enjoy. So, head over to One New Change, get in the elevator and hit the highest button. If you go soon, take a coat - it can be chilly up there!"- Kris

* Photo by Peter Alfred Hess, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Share Your View

Question of the week: “In your opinion, where can you find the best view of London?”

"Two great options:

1) The lounge of the Oxo Tower Restaurant, tres chic, but affordable if you just buy a sparkling water. Drop dead views from the glass enclosed tower looking out on the riverscape. A 10 minute walk from Conway Hall.

2) From the road in front of the Holly Bush pub in Hampstead, on Holly Bush Hill. One of the most beautiful and little known spots in London. Night views are best."- Prof Kucich

* Photo by James UK, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Share Your View

Question of the week: “In your opinion, where can you find the best view of London?”

"There’s a point in Nunhead Cemetery, where you reach the top of the hill, and there’s a space cut into the trees and hedges which frames a beautiful view of the city, looking North towards St Pauls and the distinctive tower blocks of the City. It’s that, or the view of Docklands from Greenwich Park, or just the view up or down river any time you cross a bridge in central London – so hard to choose!"- Miss Alice

* Photo by Matthew Black, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Share Your View

Question of the week: “In your opinion, where can you find the best view of London?”

"I'm not sure whether it's categorically the best, but my favourite view of London is the one you get from the top of Primrose Hill. The closest tube station is Chalk Farm, but you can also head to Regent's Park station, and walk all the way up through the park, which is a great thing to do on a sunny day. I hear rumours that they're going to install a mini version of Rio's famous "Christ the Redeemer" in as part of the handover for the 2016 Olympics. Best to get there before that goes up and it becomes a tourist trap!"- Jamie

* Photo by djsosumi, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Trafalgar Square - Kris

Question of the week: What's one of your favourite things about Trafalgar Square?


"Another of my favourite things about Trafalgar Square? The view down Whitehall to the Houses of Parliament. It's beautiful, and really makes me remember why I love living and working in London."
- Kris

* Photo by stollerdos, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London view - Miss Alice

Question of the week: Do you have a favourite London view or vista?

"Dozens of them, but one of the more domestic ones, which always gives me a lift, is seeing Southwark Cathedral from the Thames Path on the north side of the river - you might think at first glance that all the modern office blocks fencing in the Cathedral were completely unsympathetic, so it's a treat when you hit just the right spot on the river, and they part to frame it perfectly.

It's a beautiful building, as well as an active Anglican church, and well worth investigating much more closely. For a second special view, head up the stairs and across London Bridge - because it's so much higher than the original land level, you'll get a closer look at some of the Cathedral's stained glass windows than its builders ever planned for you to get.

The cathedral's garden's are a great place to sit and reflect, a step outside the bustle of the city and Borough Market, and there's huge wealth of detail to appreciate, inside and out, but still - there's something about that unveiling effect as you walk along the opposite bank of the river that's really pleasing to me."
- Miss Alice

* Photo by Yersinia, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London view - Kris

Question of the week: Do you have a favourite London view or vista?

"If there is one view that epotomizes Lonon for me, it's the view from Waterloo Bridge. I love to stand on the bridge and take in all the sites - and I really mean nearly all of them! Look West, and you can see all of the major landmarks that first spring to mind when you think 'London' - the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, and the Southbank Centre. Turn around and look east, and you can see London, old and new - St. Paul's Cathedral and the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf.

But the view isn't the only reason to explore the area around Waterloo Bridge. On the North bank, take a walk through Somerset House, and enjoy the famous fountain, museum and beautiful archetecture. On the South bank, there's, well, the Southbank Centre, where there are concerts, plays, films, exhibitions, restaurants, cafes, you name it!"
- Kris

* Photo by *hoodrat*, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London view - Ric

Question of the week: Do you have a favourite London view or vista?

"Parliament Hill, formerly known as Traitor's Hill, is the gateway to London's Hampstead Heath. It's a natural haven to the north of London, with panoramic views looking south over the city and beyond into Kent and Surrey. The 791 acre heath is an amalgam of the grounds of several large houses that once were in the area. It's thought that Parliament Hill took its name from it being a point of defence during the English Civil War - a place for the troops loyal to Parliament. Due to its centrality and quasi-rural atmosphere, it also has the title: The Lungs of London.

Use Transport for London's website to work out the best was there from either the K-M residences or the London Centre (buses are probably best)"
- Ric

* Photo by Harshilshah100, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.