Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword.
This listings directory of over 950 entries is being phased out.
It now excludes places and things of interest in the North of England, including Yorkshire.
These can be found in ABAB’s Places.
Places to visit in England’s East Midlands are currently being moved to ABAB’s Places.
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Science Gallery London is not a traditional museum with a permanent collection on show. Quoting from their website, “Our programme brings together scientific researchers, students, local communities and artists in surprising and innovative ways. We present three themed seasons every year, incorporating exhibitions, events, performances, live experiments, open discussions and festivals, all with scientific engagement at their core.” Science Gallery London is part of the Global Science Gallery Network.
Southwark
This is Britain's national museum of science and technology, founded in 1857. Its collections include large and small exhibits, with many hands-on activities. The permanent galleries cover such topics as flight, robotics, space exploration, IT, engineering and medicine (the latter largely helped by the collection of Henry Wellcome). Among its larger items are Stephenson's Rocket, several iconic aircraft and the Apollo 10 Command Module.
South Kensington
It was the dream of American actor and director Sam Wanamaker to recreate the Globe Theatre of Shakespeare's day in modern London. The result opened in 1997, about 200 metres from the site of the original, and is believed to be as close a reproduction of the theatres of late Tudor/early Stuart England as possible, bearing in mind modern safety standards. The first production was Henry V. The complex also includes an exhibition and the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, a smaller, more intimate, space inspired by Jacobean theatres.
Sadly, Wanamaker died in 1993. But, thanks to him, you can experience a Shakesperian play almost as it would have been performed 400 years ago.
Bankside
Southwark
The Sherlock Holmes Museum is a privately run attraction dedicated to the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. It isn’t, strictly speaking, a Sherlock Holmes museum because the chap never existed. And, despite the address being 221B Baker Street, just like in the books by Arthur Conan Doyle, it is situated at the north end of Baker Street between numbers 237 and 241. It is in a genuine Georgian house, however. The attraction celebrates the period when Holmes and his side-kick, Dr Watson, were busy and features recreated scenes from the stories. It is immensely popular with visitors, despite a relatively hefty entrance fee; a lesson for us all.
Sir John Soane (1753-1837) architect and collector, left his house and museum to the nation. In his lifetime Sir John - whose works included the Bank of England and the Dulwich Picture Library - amassed a collection of architectural drawings as well as classical and medieval works of art, artefacts, sculptures, paintings (including works by Canaletto, Hogarth and Turner) and other items. His house has astonishing interiors and was used almost as a laboratory for his ideas.
Excellent website!
The SIS Building at Vauxhall Cross has been the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service, popularly known as 'MI6', since 1994 - and quickly became one of London's most recognised buildings, featuring in many movies. Obviously, it is not open to the public and unexpected visitors are discouraged.
From the website of the SIS: "At the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) – otherwise known as MI6 – our mission is clear. We work secretly overseas, developing foreign contacts and gathering intelligence that helps to make the UK safer and more prosperous. We help the UK identify and exploit opportunities as well as navigate risks to our national security, military effectiveness and economy. We work across the globe to counter terrorism, resolve international conflict and prevent the spread of nuclear and other non-conventional weapons. We are here to help protect the UK’s people, economy and interests."
85 Albert Embankment
Lambeth
Sky Garden is a bar and restaurant complex on the top 3 floors of the 'Walkie-Talkie' - 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London. This controversial 38-storey office block was designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly - the footplate actually increases in size as you ascend the building. It cost £200million and was constructed between January 2009 and May 2014. Sky Garden, which has restricted, but free, public access, was opened in 2015. Here you can enjoy an expensive drink or a meal with some fabulous views over Britain's capital city. You need to book in advance via the website (see below).
20 Fenchurch Street
Memorial to the SOE - Special Operations Executive - in front of Lambeth Palace. The SOE was secretly formed to recruit and deploy agents, men and women of all nationalities, who volunteered to continue the fight for freedom in enemy occupied countries during World War Two. 117 agents did not return. The bust is of one of them, Violette Szabo (1921-1945). The memorial also commemorates the Heroes of Telemark, who raided the Norsk Hydro plant in Norway in 1943, and the Maquis, the French Resistance.
Albert Embankment
The cathedral that often gets missed, because everyone tends to flock to Westminster or St Paul's. But Southwark Cathedral is a beautiful oasis of calm and claims to be the earliest Gothic church in London, dating from 1220. Situated adjacent to London Bridge in an area that used to be renowned for its vice, it has a fascinating history and numerous features, including a soaring nave, a wonderful altar screen that dates from the 16th century and several interesting tombs. It became a cathedral in 1905 and its full name is the Cathedral Church of St Saviour and Mary Overie.
One of the oldest pubs in London, said to date from 1585. Full of legends, it was either named because it was once the home of the Spanish Ambassador, or because it was owned by two Spanish brothers, who quarrelled over a woman. Dick Turpin is said to have been a former customer and there are several ghosts. It has appeared in work by Charles Dickens and Bram Stoker - and it has been claimed that Keats wrote 'Ode to a Nightingale' in the garden. The garden, incidentally, is great. A busy, but must visit, kind of place - situated close to Kenwood House and Hampstead Heath.
Hampstead
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