The Fountains at Granary Square - Kings Cross London

Hands down the most popular thing for kids to do at King’s Cross is to splash and play in the fountains at Granary Square. There are an incredible 1,080 choreographed jets, each individually controlled and lit. The jets squirt and splash in patterns, surprising and delighting kids of all ages. It’s the perfect way to cool off on a warm day. Even a bit of cloud and a chill in the air usually isn’t enough to stop a kid’s urge to take their socks off and get wet. It’s virtually car-free here so your children can have fun without the noise and worry of London traffic.

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REGENTS CANAL KAYAKING - LONDON

Experience Regents Canal like never before with this fantastic tour of the picturesque sites of London. WIth an experienced BCU tour guide, you'll be out exploring the canal.

This magnificent Regent's Canal tour gives you a great opportunity to enjoy the sights of London while indulging in the sport of Kayaking. Seeing the sights of central London from a kayak is an unusual and exciting adventure. Paddle along in your own kayak on Regents Canal passing Regents Park Zoo towards the buzz of Camden Town and the old English Camden lock. Get up close and personal to the Giraffe House and Snowdon Aviary from your very own first class seat. The experience will last 90 minutes and will start with a full safety briefing. Your fully qualified British Canoe Union Instructor will then take you along Regent's Canal on an unforgettable adventure! Once you have arrived and been welcomed to the centre, either just before sunrise or just before sunset, your Thames River Kayak experience will begin by meeting the instructors and getting into your gear for the day. The Regents Canal Tour will then begin (and end at) Primrose Hill Bridge as you, the group and the BCU qualified instructor paddle towards Camden Town passing by a range of fantastic landmark sights, such as London Zoo, Snowdon Aviary and the Giraffe House. You will also pass Cumberland basin and head towards Little Venice, the Royal Park of Regents Park and Lords Cricket Grounds on this wonderful River Thames Kayaking journey.

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BUNGEE JUMP IN LONDON

Experience the ultimate thrill of Bungee Jumping next to the London O2 Arena! Experience the drop from 160ft outside the famous building in our Capital City!
Adding to our bungees in London, we've managed to get another fantastic jump in the Capital City! The success and enjoyment of the Exclusive Central London Bungee Jump persuaded us to seek other places to hurl ourselves out of a 160ft high cage, and here it is next to the O2! The stunning setting of the O2 Arena adds an extra visual dimension to the experience that you won't ever forget!

Once you've arrived and been welcomed to the centre, you will be required to complete a Bungee Jump membership form. You will then be weighed twice, ensuring that the correct bungee rope is used for your jump. It is then time for you to get harnessed and strapped in by the ankles! The professional instructors are uber-safety-conscious and perform extensive safety checks, further extending your anticipation of what's about to come! You will then enter the cage where you will be lifted to a height of circa 160ft. Now all you have to do is jump off! There will be a digital video and merchandise available for you to buy on the day to remember your experience with.

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WINCHESTER PALACE - Things to see in London - English Heritage

Clink Street, Southwark, London, SE1 9DG
Open to view at any time. No access to the interior - Free Entry

Winchester Palace was once one of the largest and most important buildings in all of medieval London. Built in the early 13th century as a home to the powerful Bishops of Winchester, the palace was mostly destroyed by fire in 1814.

Today visitors can see the impressive architecture of the remaining walls of the Great Hall, including a magnificent rose window that adorns the west gable.

Winchester Palace is managed by Bankside Open Spaces Trust, which has planted a medieval-style garden in the remains of the Great Hall.

Read more about the history of Winchester Palace.

BEFORE YOU GO

How to Find It: The ruins of Winchester Palace can be viewed from the pavement on Clink Street between the Golden Hinde replica ship and the Clink Prison Museum, just to the east of corner with Stoney Street.

Parking: There is no car park at Winchester Palace and very limited metered on-street parking in Park Street, Southwark Street and just off St Thomas' Street, or in Jubilee Place at Borough Market. Please be aware the site is in the Congestion Charging Zone.

Public Transport: It is advisable to use public transport to get to Winchester Palace if possible. The site is very close to London Bridge train station and is just off a number of bus routes.

Facilities: The nearest public toilets are at Borough Market, either in Jubilee Place or in Market Hall.

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LONDON WALL - Things to see in London - English Heritage

Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4DJ - Free Entry
Open any reasonable time during daylight hours

Set immediately north of the Tower of London, right in the heart of Tower Hill, stands one of the most substantial and impressive surviving sections of the London Wall. Built around AD 200, the Roman wall not only provided defence and security to the citizens of London, but also represented the status of the city itself.

Once around two and a half miles long, over time it was modified, adapted and added to, before finally being obscured and partially destroyed as new buildings were constructed around it. Today however, many of the buildings which had formerly hidden it have been cleared away, and visitors to the site can enjoy a clear view of the monument that defined both the size and shape of the city for over a millennium.

Read more about the history of London Wall.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO

How to Find It: This section of the wall is located at the edge of a small garden to the southeast of Tower Hill underground station. From the station the garden is accessed just off the path to the Tower of London, and is halfway down the steps to the Tower Hill underpass on the left hand side.

Parking: There is no car park at London Wall. The nearest car park is Tower Hill Car and Coach Park on Lower Thames Street, and there is very limited metered parking in the surrounding area - try Pepys Street or Muscovy Street. Please be aware the site is in the Congestion Charging Zone.

Public Transport: It is advisable to use public transport to get to London Wall if possible. The site is very close to underground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) stations and is just off a number of bus routes.

An alternative is to walk to London Wall on the way to or from visiting the Roman London Gallery at the Museum of London via the London Wall Walk. The walk is 1 3/4 miles long, following the original line of the Wall and passing other surviving sections of it.

Facilities: The closest public toilets are in the coach park on Tower Hill near the Tower of London.

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Dulwich Picture Gallery - London Sightseeing

Dulwich Picture Gallery is the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery: it was founded in 1811 when Sir Francis Bourgeois RA bequeathed his collection of old masters “for the inspection of the public”.

Today the Gallery is a vibrant cultural hub hosting some of the UK’s leading exhibitions alongside its Permanent Collection of Baroque masterpieces while staging a wide-ranging programme of public events, practical art and community engagement.

Opening Times 

Admission Prices

The Gallery owns one of the finest collections of Old Master paintings in the world especially rich in French, Italian and Spanish Baroque paintings and in British portraits from Tudor times to the 19th century. Famous works include those by Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Poussin, Watteau, Canaletto, Rubens, Veronese and Murillo amongst many others. Founded in 1811, it was the first purpose-built public art gallery to open to the public and remains one of Britain’s most valued artistic and architectural treasures.

Dulwich Picture Gallery is one of the finest examples of gallery architecture in Britain. It was designed and built by the leading architect Sir John Soane (1753-1837) at the personal request of his friend Sir Francis Bourgeois, who had left a fund of £2,000 to establish a permanent home for his collection. The commission also included a mausoleum for the Gallery’s founders, as well as almshouses.

The initial idea was to display the paintings in the existing west wing of the College, but finding it in a state of disrepair on his first site visit, Soane proposed they construct a new building altogether. He submitted a number of designs to Dulwich College, including perspective views in watercolour to show how the building would look in daylight and in its surrounding landscape. After numerous alterations, Soane’s plans were finally approved in July 1811. The foundations were laid on 19 October and the Gallery opened to the public in 1817.

The authorities wanted the new gallery to be in keeping with the existing Jacobean architecture of the old college. While Soane’s initial designs incorporated some of these characteristics, he ultimately created a building with simplified forms that subtly alluded to the Classical style in a series of vertical brick projections, a type of pilaster, on the wings. He estimated that this new building would cost in the region of £11,270, substantially more than Bourgeois had provisioned. The deficit was generously met by the College, as well as Margaret Desenfans. Soane did not charge for his services and he constructed the gallery in low-cost London stock bricks, only using expensive Portland stone in the lantern, frieze and along the base of the building. His use of brick was met with criticism at the time as it was a material considered too humble for such an important structure, but it is a testimony to the economy of his design.

The mausoleum is one of the Gallery’s defining features. Located to the west of the building, it is shaped to recall a funeral monument, with urns atop the building, sarcophagi above the doors and sacrificial altars in the corners. Each tier of the structure carefully relates to one another in proportion. Bourgeois, Noel and Margaret Desenfans are buried here.

Inside, the Gallery originally consisted of only five rooms linked by a series of arches, creating an endless sense of space. The pioneering roof-lanterns diffuse a natural top light that is ideal for viewing paintings, while also leaving as much space as possible for the hanging of pictures. The building has influenced the design of art galleries ever since, such as the Kimbell Art Museum, Texas and the Getty Museum, Los Angeles.

The Gallery has undergone a number of alterations since Soane’s day. In 1866 Charles Barry Jr added a lobby to the south end of the gallery (removed in 1953), and in 1884 the almshouses were converted into galleries. Further rooms were added in 1910 by the College’s architect E.S. Hall, but not completed until 1937 under the supervision of Goodhart-Rendel. The building was severely bomb-damaged in 1944 during the Second World War but was rebuilt in replica by the architects Austin Vernon Associates under the guidance of Arthur Davies RA and Sir Edward Maufe RA. More recently in 2000, a further extension designed by Rick Mather was added to provide essential education facilities as well as modern-day amenities. The old and new buildings are sympathetically connected by a glass cloister.

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Chelsea Physic Gardens - London Sightseeing

The Chelsea Physic Garden established as the Apothecaries’ Garden in London, England, in 1673. (The word "Physic" here refers to the science of healing.) This physic garden is the second oldest botanical garden in Britain, after the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, founded in 1621.

The rock garden is the oldest English garden devoted to alpine plants. The largest fruiting olive tree in Britain is there, protected by the garden’s heat-trapping high brick walls, along with what is doubtless the world’s northernmost grapefruit growing outdoors. Jealously Guarded during the tenure of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, in 1983 the Garden became a registered charity, and opened to the general public for the first time. The garden is a member of the London Museums of Health & Medicine.

Opening Times


History of the Garden

Admission Prices

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Photographers' Guided Tour: Highgate Gothic Cemetery

The Experience:

Join Jude for a photographer's fully guided tour of Highgate East Cemetery. 
The tour is specifically designed for photographers & combines tips & tuition from an professional photographer & experienced teacher & guide with a fascinating historical tour of one of England's most famous & beautiful Victorian Gothic burial grounds that will engage your creativity & inspire your photographs.

All levels of experience are welcome - from beginners to pro - just bring along your DSLR, mirrorless or compact camera, or even just a smart phone!   
Situated some 400 feet above sea level, in a nature reserve high above London with awesome panoramic views, Highgate is a spectacular & poignant resting place - a photographer's gift of landscape & macro images - colour, light & shade - to convey pathos & tranquility. 

Explore the wood lined terraces at a photographer's pace enabling you to think about your compositions & create images with the background narrative of  tales of many remarkable & varied lives.
Jude will explain the various "grave " symbolisms & lead you to the final resting places of fascinating people including Karl Marx, George Elliot, Douglas Adams, Ralph Richardson, Anna Mahler, Patrick Caulfield, Jeremy Beadle ... and an eclectic selection of bohemian artists, film producers, TV personalities  architects, eminent politicians, theatre designers and doctors amongst the 55,000 graves.

All this with photographic observations, tips & approaches to creating memorable & magical memories of this architectural paradise & of course a great day out.  

Please bring:

• Comfortable shoes
• Definitely extra camera batteries
• No tripods are permitted

Please note that all images shot will be only for private use - i.e. social media -not commercial use!

Experience includes:

• Guided tour of Highgate East Cemetery specifically designed for photographers combing history with tips & tuition by a professional photographer & experienced guide
• Feedback on images is offered
• Ticket entry to the East Cemetery is additional to the photographic guided tour cost - £4 for adults  & free for U18's. Tickets are purchased at the entrance to the cemetery
• You may wish to buy a combined entrance to also visit the West cemetery on a walking tour (only) after the photography tour. These can be purchased at the Cemetery entrance. 

Raiders of the Lost Archive: A Museum Adventure! - Adults £20 Child £15

The Experience:

A high-stakes curatorial caper!  When the clock starts, your team will have 90 minutes to crack the clues and hunt down the hidden secrets in one of London's museums.  

With a live leaderboard, cryptic clues and a roaming curator you'll have to race against time to defeat teams of rival adventurers.

You'll have competition from up to twenty other teams of Raiders at the same time. There are bonus points for the first team to crack each clue - and, more importantly, not everybody gets every clue at the same time. Keep an eye out. Follow each other. Lay false trails. Trust nobody. Stay alert. With a live leaderboard on your phone, you'll know exactly who to watch out for. 

Only one team will become the Raiders of the Lost Archive before time runs out…

Experience includes:

• Amazing real-life video game
• Teamwork - bond with friends or make new ones
• Unique experience
• Scavenger hunt in a London museum

Things To Do London 4th Sept

Fire, Pestilence and Plague - Free Event

The Experience:The City of London has been ‘plagued’ by disaster for Centuries. From the sacking by Queen Boudicca to the bombings of two World Wars. However, despite all of this adversity, London has grown from strength to strength.

This tour takes you from Pudding Lane, where the Great Fire of London started, to Pye Corner, where it ended. Along the way you’ll encounter mass graveyards from the Plague, bomb damage from the Blitz, execution sites from Medieval times and ancient Roman ruins.

Andrew (or one of his expert guides), will take you around the old city, amusing and entertaining you every step of the way. Please make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes before at the meeting point - this is one tour not to be missed!

Experience includes:

• The Monument
• St Paul's Cathedral
• Guildhall
• Smithfields
• The Old Bailey
• Roman Wall
• Loads of tragic stories along the way!

Here are some other things to do for Sunday 4th Sept

Street Art Tour & Spray Painting Workshop

Experience True Sushi with Keiko 

Experience the Unique Spirit of Spitalfields

Jack the Ripper Mystery Walks

Get to Know your Camera South Bank

London's Swinging 60s Experience

All Experiences - Sunday 4th Sept

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SEA LIFE London Aquarium – Priority Entrance

Relax, unwind and delve into the depths of the exciting and diverse underwater world at the London Aquarium.

Priority Entrance Tickets!

SEA LIFE London Aquarium features thousands of marine creatures from every part of the world including 46 sharks and some breathtaking features including a stunning tropical glass tunnel walkway and a nerve testing Shark Walk finale. The Aquarium has recently had a grand refurbishment to its main entrance and to celebrate this we wanted to share some interesting facts with you about some of our favourite inhabitants of the attraction.

There are over 500 different species of Rays and Skate in our oceans and rivers. Their closest relative is the Shark; Rays evolved from Sharks around 150 million years ago! Just like Sharks, Rays don’t have a bony skeleton. Instead, their skeleton is made of cartilage (just like our nose and ears!) This makes them lighter, so it is easier for Rays to glide through the ocean.

Penguins are playful! They love to slide down icy patches on their bellies and take turns to dive into the ocean. Did you know their black and white pattern is a form of camouflage? It helps them blend in with the water and keep safe from predators. SEA LIFE has helped breed baby King Penguins, Gentoo Penguins, and Humboldt Penguins.

Sharks have lived in our oceans for more than 420 million years! That makes them older than trees! Their brains have evolved to become more intelligent and devoted to their senses - mainly their ability to smell. There are over 500 species of shark in our oceans, and you’ll meet lots of them when you explore our Pacific Shipwreck!

You can find seahorses in oceans all over the world! There are over 40 species. Some live on coral reefs, others amongst mangrove roots and many life in seagrass meadows. Pigmy Seahorses are as tiny as your little finger nail, but Big-belly Seahorses will be even bigger than your hand!

New for 2017: Ocean Invaders: Enter the world of jellyfish

Immerse yourselves in the fascinating world of the jellyfish in the new sensory experience that will enlighten you to this mysterious, fascinating and beautiful species.

As you float into of this new experience, you will move through three different interactive spaces. In the first area ‘Discover’ - you’ll explore the world of the jellyfish and find out about their lifecycle and incredible survival skills. Continue your gelatinous journey in the ‘Understand’ area - where you’ll get to know the various species, the most dangerous, and the most spectacular and have the chance to create your own digital swarm while testing the strength of the jellyfish sting. Finally, enter the ‘Wow’ area where you’ll witness a jaw-dropping spectacular and be surrounded by the jellyfish invasion

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The London Dungeon – Priority Entrance

Highlights

Discover the all new, bigger and bolder The London Dungeon.

Sweeney Todd, Mrs. Lovett, Jack the Ripper, Guy Fawkes, Henry VIII and a vast supporting cast of historical characters take centre stage at the NEW, bigger, better, bolder London Dungeon in County Hall, next to the EDF London Eye.

Embark on a journey through a dramatic London landscape going back ten centuries. You will be guided through ghastly plague-ridden streets, witness Guy Fawkes' dramatic plot to blow up Parliament, travel back to Jack the Ripper's bleak Whitechapel and walk beneath London's foreboding medieval gates. Anticipate close encounters with non-human ‘talent' including giant cockroaches and the Dungeon's resident family of scurrying rats.

The attraction also boasts two state-of-the art thrill rides with high-tech surprises guaranteed to get the adrenaline pumping. The fast flowing boat ride, Henry's Wrath, sees guests condemned by Henry VIII to a turbulent journey along the dank River Thames towards execution. Whilst on the deadly dark drop ride aptly named Drop Dead; you are literally sentenced to ‘take the drop' as they plunge three storeys in the pitch dark. Meanwhile, Jack's Whitechapel Labyrinth promises to have you screaming as you try and escape the Ripper in a confusing East End maze and a strangely fun journey through Balzelgette's Victorian Sewer system.

With a full cast of 20 brilliant actors in 18 new shows, rich sets, special effects and two exciting new rides, we’ll take you on a unique 90 minute thrill-filled journey through 1000 years of London’s murky past.

The London Dungeon Tavern

The London Dungeon Tavern is now open and welcoming guests to enjoy a drink with a front row seat at the heart of this unique, storytelling experience. Visitors will be transported back to a vibrant, decadent and dodgy Victorian pub of 1896.

Included in the cost of entry, visitors will receive one drink at The London Dungeon Tavern: alcoholic (Draft Ale or Elderflower & Gin Cocktail) or non-alcoholic (Cola Slush or Cloudy Apple Juice) beverages available.

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Up at The O2 Climbing Experience - London Greenwich

Highlights

• Up at The O2 is an exhilarating experience which will take you on an uplifting guided expedition over the roof of The O2 via a fabric walkway.
• Suspended 2m above the surface of The O2 arena's tent canvas, the walkway is 52m above ground level and 380m long.
• At its steepest point the walkway has an incline of 28° on the way up and 30°

Description

At its steepest point the walkway has an incline of 28° on the way up and 30° on the way back down and has a slight bounce to it to replicate the surface of the tent. There's a hand rail on the walkway and a balustrade on the observation platform.

Before you climb, you'll meet your Climb Guide who'll take you through everything you need to know and give you a climb suit, shoes (if necessary) and a safety harness. You'll then make your way onto the walkway, via a short set of stairs, or lift, to the base of the tent ready to start your climb.

There is an observation platform at the summit where you can take in spectacular 360° views of London and its many landmarks. Once on the platform you will be able to move freely to enjoy the views before your descent. At all other times you'll be attached to the climb system on the walkway to keep you safe and your Climb Guide will be nearby to help you and answer any questions.

Madame Tussauds – Priority Entrance Tickets - Beat The Queues

Highlights

• Be part of the experience at Madame Tussauds London and mingle with your favourite celebrity wax figures.
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• Priority Entrance Tickets!
• All tickets include Marvel Super Heroes 4D
• All tickets include the Star Wars Experience 
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• Buy Tickets Here - Online
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• Madame Tussauds London
• Filled with 14 exciting, interactive zones and the amazing Marvel Super Heroes 4D movie experience, Madame Tussauds London combines glitz and glamour with incredible history. Walk down the red carpet and strike a pose with Kate Winslet, before challenging your favourite sports stars like David Beckham or Lewis Hamilton. Start your royal experience with an audience with the Queen, before planting a kiss on Prince William's cheek.
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• Marvel Super Heroes unique 4D experience
• Marvel Entertainment and Madame Tussauds London have joined forces to create a unique new experience: "Marvel Super Heroes 4D" will bring to life some of the world's best-loved Super Heroes through a mix of 4D animation, interactive themed areas, and startlingly realistic wax figures.
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• Atmospheric sets will conjure up the high-tech Super Hero world of S.H.I.E.L.D (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division), and you will be able to get up close to wax figures of six of Marvel's most famous names - Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Wolverine, Nick Fury and The Invisible Woman. There will also be the chance for you to "turn hero" in a series of interactive experiences including walking on the ceiling with Spider-Man and stepping into Iron Man's chest shield.
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• Star Wars™ experience
• Created in close collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm, Star Wars™ at Madame Tussauds is a unique, immersive experience starring extraordinarily life-like wax figures of the favourite heroes and villains of Star Wars™ Episodes I-VI. The figures will appear in authentic walk-in sets inspired by key scenes from the movies. Dynamic special effects will add to the immersion, as fans step right into, and star in, some of the most iconic moments in film history.
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• Sherlock Holmes Experience  - not included in the ticket price
• The ever-fascinating world of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes vividly to life this summer, in a ground-breaking UK visitor attraction first. Opening permanently will be an innovative theatrical live walk through adventure – The Sherlock Holmes Experience. Visitors get to 'don' the great detective’s deerstalker to help Dr. Watson find the enigmatic Sherlock in an interactive theatrical experience fusing storytelling; multi-textured theatrical sets, illusion, actors, sound effects and spectacle.
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• Sherlock Holmes Experience is not included in the ticket price; this can be upgraded at Madame Tussauds on the day
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• Full Details - Buy Tickets Online

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• Venue Information:
  Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5LR
  Nearest Train Station: Marylebone
  Nearest Underground: Baker Street
  Bus Routes: 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82, 113, 139, 189, 205, 274, 453
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