Strawberry Hill House is an extraordinary Gothic revival villa, originally built by Horace Walpole, the 18th-century poet and son of England's first prime minister. This architectural marvel stands as a testament to Walpole's imagination and flair, embodying his love for gothic style and literature.
The house is a remarkable display of Gothic revival architecture, featuring an array of unique elements that capture the eye. Its whimsical design includes crenellated battlements, pointed arches, and elaborate decorations that give it a fairy-tale appearance. Each room presents a different aspect of Walpole's eclectic taste, from the lavish interiors to the striking stained glass windows.
Besides its architectural allure, Strawberry Hill House holds significant cultural value. As the home of Horace Walpole, it became a hub for intellectuals and artists of the time. Walpole's influence extended beyond architecture, as he was also an author who wrote the first Gothic novel, "The Castle of Otranto", within these walls. This connection to literary history adds another layer of intrigue to the estate.
Surrounding the villa, the gardens of Strawberry Hill offer a serene escape. Designed to complement the house's enchanting character, the landscape features meandering paths, lush greenery, and charming views. These gardens provide a peaceful setting for visitors to reflect on the creativity and vision of Horace Walpole.
Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Hill_House
Church in Piccadilly designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1684. It has a magnificent organ case and baptismal font by Grinling Gibbons.
A modest museum covering local history which relocated in 2010; has an excellent cafe.
The London Mithraeum is a 3rd century Roman mithraeum that was discovered in Walbrook during construction work in 1954. The entire site was relocated several times before being returned to its original site as part of the new Bloomberg building. This temple of the mystery god Mithras became perhaps the most famous 20th-century Roman discovery in London. In addition to the temple structure, there is a display of Roman artefacts found on the site and a contemporary art exhibit responding to the site. Visitor numbers are limited and timed slots are often fully booked up several weeks into the future so plan well ahead.
The great domed cathedral of St Paul's, designed by Sir Christopher Wren to replace the Gothic medieval cathedral destroyed in 1666 in the Great Fire of London, was built between 1675–1710. Of the most famous London sights, St Paul's is the one most conveniently located for the Barbican. It's a significant building in British history, having been the site of the funerals of several British military leaders (Nelson, Wellington, Churchill), and significantly held peace services marking the end of the two world wars. The cathedral is also famous for its Whispering Wall, as well as its stunning view over the city. The crypt is also open to the public, holding the tombs of Nelson, Wellington and Christopher Wren. It is possible to sidestep the admission charge by entering for one of the midday services, even if you don't take part, or for the daily choral evensong in the late afternoon. However, you'd still need a ticket to get to the top. Photography is not allowed.
Museum at the former home of Dickens exhibiting writings, paintings, furniture and other items relating to the writer.
The largest square in London. It was established in 1806 by the 5th Duke of Bedford and his statue can still be seen in the square. There is also a café.
The TfL-backed Hidden London offers tours around the disused Aldwych tube station which had its own branch on the Piccadilly line. The tour explains the station's unusual history including its use for protection (for both people and historical artefacts held by the British Museum) from the Blitz during WWII. More recently, it was used as a filming location and for testing station equipment and decor. Of note, it was used for filming James Bond: Die Another Day, V for Vendetta and the Prodigy music video for Firestarter. Tours are roughly an 1 hour and 15 minutes long, wear sturdy shoes (not sandals).
Fine stone bridge linking Twickenham/St Margarets with Richmond. It is the oldest surviving Thames bridge in London, dating from 1777.
An enormous, 135-metre-high observation wheel with 32 exterior glass-walled capsules. It offers incomparable views over central London and up to 40 km (25 mi) away on a good day. Tickets are sold for specific times, so if visitors wish to go on the London Eye at a specific time, they are strongly advised to book in advance, particularly in the summer. On a busy day, you can easily spend 1-3 hr queuing just to buy a ticket. However, you can also purchase tickets in advance online. Then you can collect your tickets at the London Eye in a separate queue, which takes a few minutes or less.
This gallery houses the Tate collection of British art from 1500 through to contemporary art. A side wing collects together the gallery's collection of paintings by Turner, including some stunning seascapes. Temporary exhibitions are exceedingly varied: examples include exhibitions of Turner's paintings of Venice and the work of photographer Wolfgang Tillmans. The best known exhibition is the Turner Prize, consists of works by four artists shortlisted for the annual contemporary art prize, which runs from late October to January each year.