I mean, the place inspired one of the best rom coms of the 90s so you better believe it's cute,…read morequaint and romantic! Explore the neighborhood of Notting Hill and you'll see streets filled with iconic, colorful houses. But not all the houses are colorful. In some parts of the neighborhood, there are gorgeous white buildings with beautiful architecture! A google search will give you some of the best streets to walk through or even a path to explore from top to bottom! There are a variety of little shops and a regular farmers market (although it's not must on days other than Saturday). Overall, it's a fun visit if you'd like to step away from the busy city and see some cute sights, but I wouldn't put it on the list as an absolute must visit.

Notting Hill is a neighborhood in West London that is known for shopping, and the movie 'Notting…read moreHill'. A lot of the filming for this famous film with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant was done in Notting Hill. This is a fun place to explore, shop and dine

Tucked away at the far north of Wandsworth Common, behind the Fitzhugh housing estate, is one of…read moreSouth London's most remarkable buildings: on the scale - and in the style - of a baronial castle, it has variously been a school, hospital, interrogation centre and a college, and was nearly pulled down. It is now a Grade II-star Listed Building. History The building was paid for by the Royal Victoria Patriotic Fund, established to provide for the widows and orphans of soldiers killed in the Crimean War. The building was intended as a girls' school and opened in 1859. A boys' school was built to the rear in 1872. The original building - designed by Rhode Hawkins - incorporated a number of innovative building techniques, that nearly caused its later downfall. Life for the orphans was extraordinarily hard: from pumping water to the roof cisterns to having their heads shaved to counter lice, they were assembled to be hosed down with cold water every morning in the courtyard. Scandals which involved physical and sexual abuse by staff - and the death of an orphan - nearly resulted in the institution being closed down. The innovative heating system didn't work, so conventional fireplaces were provided for the staff - but not the orphans. Things had improved somewhat by the First World War (for example, central heating had been installed), when it was used as a hospital for injured troops, who arrived at a specially-built temporary railway station close by. After the end of hostilities, it resumed life as a girls' school under 1939. During World War II, it became the London Reception Centre, used by MI5 to process non-British aliens entering the country. After the war it became a teacher training college, and then a comprehensive school, before the decaying fabric - many problems arising as a result of the techniques used to build it - forced them out. The building was sold and gradually restored by its present owners, who had to endure, among other things, a fire in the Great Hall just before it was handed over. Building works took 7 years. The building now contains flats, studios and workshops for businesses in the creative industries, a drama school and a wine bar. The building The main building is built in a Scottish Baronial Gothic style, with Gothic, Jacobean and French elements, in yellow brick with stone dressings. The main façade has an imposing central tower, with matching smaller corner towers. The plan includes two central courtyards, a separate Chapel and various outbuildings, but the main feature is the huge Great Hall, with a hammer-beam ceiling decorated with the coats of arms of towns across Britain and the Empire which contributed to the original funds. The whole edifice really is an astonishing sight, especially as it has now been surrounded on the north side by comfortable suburban housing. Practicalities There is pedestrian access from Fitzhugh Grove, but vehicular access is via Windmill Lane and John Archer Way. Unless you are visiting a business or a resident in the one of the flats, the only public access inside is to the wine bar (the restaurant in the cafe recently closed down).

The first time my daughter and I visited London and we went to Kensington Palace, we got lost when…read moreleaving and ended up on a private street. The street required entry by a guard and we have no idea how we ended up there. The palace is absolutely beautiful and still functions as housing for the royals. We were able to add a memento for Princess Di at the White Garden which still acts as a memorial to her this day.

Our visit to Kensington Palace was unplanned and full of surprises. We were doing a walking tour…read moreand noticed that there were very few visitors and so we easily bought tickets and got right in (after a robust security search). From the outside, the Palace looks institutional to me. The building was built (actually a remodeled farmhouse) in the late 1600's by King William and Queen Mary. A formal garden surrounds the west entrance. I imagine that the garden is quite spectacular in the Spring. The tour includes visits to three "Chambers" with audio tour phones that were easy to use. The audio tour is excellent with lots of interesting information. The staff is friendly and offers talks on interesting aspects of the palace. The oldest chamber visit was that of Queen Mary II (wife of King William III). The Queen's Gallery was most interesting with a fabulous harpsichord that was being played by a member of staff during our visit. The gallery overlooks the lovely gardens. The room is filled with antique pottery and portraits of the Queen. She died in her nearby bedroom chamber at the age of 32 with the King by her side. The Chamber of George II and Queen Caroline is quite opulent. We heard a short and fascinating lecture on a unique wind monitoring device that is still operational today. Family portraits and Renaissance art fill the walls. The third chamber on the tour is that of Queen Victoria where she lived as a child. Some of her childhood toys and books are displayed. Visitors are encourage to play with recreations of toys and dress up clothes. The room of her birth is the final stop of the tour. A gift shop and cafe are available. It would be fun to have tea in the cafe and imagine dining with royalty. I was hoping to run into a few royals, but I didn't. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would recommend. There were few visitors while we were there, which was nice. Plan at least 2 hours (mostly walking) for the tour. GET the audio headsets (they are included with admission). Expect stairs. A restroom is available for visitors.

Take a stroll along the canals through Little Venice, with peaceful surroundings leading to lively…read moredining and entertainment as you wind toward Paddington. Enjoy the eclectic boats parked along the way; maybe the On Air sign will be lit on the radio boat. Be sure to visit Rembrandt Gardens at the canal fork, then decide if you"ll head left toward Regent's. Of course we'll return.

A wonderful part of the city near Paddington Station where you can walk along and around the canal…read morearea and just take in the scenery. It was nice and quiet in the morning, there were a few cafes close by in the area as well. While on the path keep an eye out for bike riders going by as they use the canal path too.

This is where rock legend David Bowie lived in 1973-1974…read more Rock Star madness? It was at the time of the coal miners strike, and he wanted to know what it would be like living in a coal mine, so he painted all the interior of the house totally black (walls, ceilings, t.v. furniture etc.) Can be viewed from outside onlyno idea if it is still black inside. The houses cost just under a million in this street, Captain Scott, Antarctic explorer, lived at No. 56 which carries a blue plaque. Lady Wilde, mother of Oscar Wilde, lived at No 87. Blue plaque. Dame Sybil Thorndike, the actress, and her husband Lewis Casson, lived at No. 74 George Best, footballer, lived at No. 87

It wasn't so Much about the house itself but about the man…read moreand the ideas and songs that may have come out of room. For regular people it was just about walking by a house for me it was more than that.

beautiful cemetery…read more the scenery is gorgeous. lots of nature to take in. plenty of people take their daily walks here so it is cool to be one in the routines.

OMG this place is so cool. It was fun to see all the old tombstones and take a break from the…read morebustling streets. Peaceful spot for a walk with my sweetheart.

This is the place where Marc Bolan crashed and died…read more Location: Queens Ride, Putney, London Watching QI reminded me of this. I remember the sadness at the time and also the jokes about his last hit being a tree. People always make fun of tragedy. This is the place, and you can even find the specific tree, where glam rock god Marc Bolan died on 16 September 1977. The T Rex singer hit a tree here in his girlfriend's Mini, and there's a shrine there too. Marc was killed instantly, Gloria (who was driving) was severely injured but survived, and once she had recovered, returned to America. The car was not being driven at excessive speed. The driver was not drunk, or on drugs. The policeman at the time had reason to understand that a wheel had been removed to have a puncture repaired a few days before the crash. There is a possibilty that the wheel had not been retightened enough, came loose, and affected the steering. Safety crash barriers were installed after the accident. There had been crashes at this spot before. Mourners at his funeral at Golders Green Crematorium included Rod Stewart, Elton John and David Bowie. Flowers and wreaths were sent from Keith Moon, Gary Glitter and Cliff Richard. His ashes are spread under a rose bush in the Keats Rose Bed, at Golders Green. On the 20 anniversary of Marc's Death, their son Rolan, who has no memories of his father, unveiled a monument at the site of the crash, and announced plans to launch his own rock and roll career. People stand around playing guitars etc..very peaceful. Hard to believe it is over 30 years.

This is where Marc Bolan passed away. Often his legacy gets over looked with the recent passings,…read morehowever, he's been just as much of an influence as Bowie etc. This is just a statue to where I believe is the exact crash site. Cool to see and of course if you're heavy into the music in general it's a good way to pay respects.

Situated close to Chelsea Embankment, a short walk from Battersea bridge, Chelsea Old Church…read moreappears as a rather unprepossessing, modern-looking red brick building. There are some nice leafy gardens around, but from the outside it is totally unremarkable. But inside, it's a revelation: for it possesses one of London's outstanding collection of 16th and 17th century tombs and memorials. The church itself dates back to around the 13th century, although was much modified over the years, with significant additions in Tudor period and later. But all this was shattered in 1941, when the church received a direct hit from an enemy bomb, reducing most of it to its foundations. A huge effort was made to collect the remains and restore the church, and the present interior is faithful to the original mediaeval plan, and uses as much of the salvaged fabric as possible. Particularly lovely are the capitals on the More chapel, with faces and delicate relief carvings, reputedly designed by Holbein, to represent the symbols of Sir Thomas More's offices of both church and state. The tombs and memorials dominate the interior. Pride of place has to go to the monument of Sir Thomas More, on the south wall of the sanctuary. A plain perpendicular arch surmounts a marble panel with an inscription he drafted before his death, by beheading, in 1535. It commemorates his first wife and expresses the wish that he and his wife should be buried together. On the south wall, Lord Dacre (1595) and his wife lie, mediaeval style, under a huge classical canopy. Opposite, on the north wall, Lady Jane Cheyne (d 1669) looks out from under a baroque canopy, sculpted by Antonio Raggi, a collaborator of Bernini. Richard Jervoise (1563) is commorated with a huge triumphal arch (unique as a memorial in Britain) which thoroughly dominates the entrance to the Lawrence chapel. The bust of Sir Robert Stanley (1632) forms the centrepiece of another substantial Renaissance piece, just beyond. It is said his representation was one of the earliest to be modelled on his true likeness. Other memorials commemorate the Northumberlands, Brays, Hungerfords, Colvilles and Lawrences. Most poignant for me, though, is a later memorial to four young men who drowned opposite the church when their boat sank in the Thames in 1839, 'erected by a few of their intimate companions'.

A lovely church, the internals of which were partially pieced together from the original medieval…read morechurch, which was badly damaged in WW2. Minimal parking outside. Current incumbent is a nice chap ( as is his brother, also a priest , who sometimes subs for him) .

One of the wonders of my childhood. By the childrens…read moreplayground stands the trunk of an oak tree. it is now surrounded by a high metal fence. I don't think that was always there. It is 900 years old and is carved and painted with elves, fairies, witches and more. Carved by Ivor Innes an illustrator. It is now a grade II listed item and Spike Milligan loved it. In 1996 he led a successful campaign to have it restored and did a lot of work on it himself. He believed in both magic and children. If you have small children take them and watch their faces. If not go and be a child again yourself.

Move in closer and you'll discover that the old tree holds…read morea special secret essay writing services reviews (http://www.essaywritingforum.com/) that the gapes and grooves in the weathered old bark are home to an array of fairies, imps, elves and gnomes along with their little forest friends.