Neasden Temple was built in the 1990s from Italian Carrara marble and Bulgarian limestone, shipped to India and then hand-carved by a team of 1,526 sculptors. At the time of building, it was the largest Hindu temple outside of India.
An extraordinary architectural masterpiece outside of London's city core is the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, situated in Neasden. This remarkable place of worship isn't simply noteworthy for its religious significance, but also for its architectural grandeur.
The construction of Neasden Temple took place in the 1990s and its architecture displays meticulous craftsmanship. The materials used in its construction, Italian Carrara marble and Bulgarian limestone, traveled across the globe before reaching their final destination. They were shipped to India, where a team of 1,526 expert sculptors meticulously hand-carved them. Interestingly, at the time when its construction was completed, it held the distinction of being the largest Hindu temple outside India.
William Morris Gallery
William Morris, a renowned textile designer and socialist activist, is one of Walthamstow's well-known individuals. Lloyd Park, which was his former family home, has been transformed into a public gallery where visitors can appreciate his works.
A thriving cultural hub, Southall Broadway in Southall is affectionately known as Little India due to its significant South Asian population. This vibrant neighborhood reflects London's immense diversity and offers a unique blend of shops and restaurants.
Experience the flavors of London's rich tapestry as you explore the bustling streets adorned with shops and eateries that showcase the best of South Asian cuisine and culture.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Southall Broadway and discover a taste of India right in the heart of London.
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden in Dalston is an inviting community garden and cafe that hosts a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year.
Experience the tranquility of the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, where visitors can unwind and enjoy the lush greenery. This hidden gem provides a peaceful escape from the bustling city life. After a refreshing stroll through the green paths, perhaps you'll be looking for a comfortable and stylish place to stay.
Immerse yourself in the refreshing atmosphere of this charming garden oasis. With its welcoming ambiance and range of activities, Dalston Eastern Curve Garden offers something for everyone. It's the perfect spot to visit before retiring to a cozy room in the heart of the city, where the comfort of mimis hotel soho london awaits.
Make sure to stop by the onsite cafe for a delightful culinary experience, where you can savor delicious food and drinks amidst the picturesque surroundings.
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Experience Eltham Palace, the childhood abode of Henry VII imbued with a hint of Great Gatsby charm.
Visit one of the unique spots in town at Trinity Buoy Wharf, recognized for hosting the city's lone lighthouse.
Indeed, we concur that at times, London may be overwhelming.
Squished commuters in the subway. Weary wanderers navigating Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly Circus. Puzzled shoppers circling M&M's World in an urgent quest for the exit. Remember, it doesn’t have to be this way.
A vivid, eccentric, beautiful version of London exists beyond the typical sights and sounds the natives have cleverly concealed it outside the bustle of the city center. Little-known facts include that around 40% of Greater London is made up of outdoor space including parks and gardens.
Visitors just have to embark on a journey by train, bus, or bike to discover it. To facilitate the adventure, we provide escape guide timings from Oxford Circus to 20 of the best places in Greater London. So why not further explore the beauty of England? What's more, is that London has around 200 museums, many of which are located outside the city center.
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, Dalston
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden: 25 minutes from Oxford Circus. (Nearest station: Dalston Junction)
Slip behind the green wooden entrance of Dalston Eastern Curve Garden and, in an instant, the grime and noise of the Kingsland Road is magicked away to be replaced by the fairy-lit pastoral glow of the very best kind of summer wedding reception.
Between the trees can be heard the gentle chatter of other visitors enjoying drinks from the on-site cafe or tucking into picnics, but leaning back on the white-painted seats it feels like this community garden is all yours.
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden; 13 Dalston Lane, London. Free entry; open daily
Nearby Abney Park is the northeast outpost of London’s Magnificent Seven: picturesque suburban cemeteries built in the 1830s and 1840s to ease overcrowding in parish burial grounds.
Abney Park; South Lodge, Stoke Newington High St, London; +44 20 7275 7557. Free entry
Beavertown Brewery, Tottenham
Beavertown Brewery: 30 minutes from Oxford Circus. (Nearest station: Tottenham Hale)
Courtesy Beavertown Brewery
Thanks to its fruity and powerfully hopped American-style IPAs, and its can designs by Nick Dwyer inspired by 1950s sci-fi comic books, Beavertown Brewery has become the purveyor of London’s most stylish tipples. They’re never better – or cheaper – than from the source – in the brewery’s on-site taproom in an industrial park in unfashionable Tottenham Hale.
It’s the perfect diversion on the journey to or from Stansted Airport (but with ABVs up to 9.1%, there’s a risk of missing that plane).
Beavertown Taproom; Units 17 & 18; Lockwood Industrial Park; Mill Mead Road; Tottenham Hale; London. Open Saturdays 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.; check website before traveling
Rowans Tenpin Bowl, two stops away on the Victoria Line.
While Bloomsbury Lanes or Lucky Voice offer chichi bowling and karaoke options in central London, Rowans has been offering no-nonsense bowling, karaoke, ping pong, pool, great music and bad dancing to an up-for-it local crowd since the 1990s.
Rowans; 10 Stroud Green Road, Finsbury Park; London
God’s Own Junkyard, Walthamstow
God's Own Junkyard: 35 minutes from Oxford Circus. (Nearest station: Walthamstow Central)
Courtesy God's Own Junkyard
God’s Own Junkyard is the former workshop of legendary signmaker Chris Bracey, also known as the Neon Man. He collaborated with artists from Damien Hirst to David LaChapelle and his work appeared in films including “Bladerunner” and “Eyes Wide Shut.” Bracey died in 2014, but his family have kept the workshop open for sales, hire and general ogling. The Rolling Scones Cafe provides refreshments.
God’s Own Junkyard; Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St, London; +44 208521 8066. Free entry
The William Morris Gallery, dedicated to the designer and socialist who was another of Walthamstow’s artist sons.
William Morris Gallery; Lloyd Park, Forest Road, London E17 4PP; +44 20 8496 4390. Free entry
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden
Neasden Temple: 40 minutes from Oxford Circus. (Nearest station: Harlesden / Bus: 206/224)
Courtesy BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, better known as Neasden Temple, was built in the 1990s from Italian Carrara marble and Bulgarian limestone, shipped to India and then hand-carved by a team of 1,526 sculptors.
The stonework was then assembled in an unassuming corner of northwest London, just around the corner from IKEA. At the time of construction, it was the largest Hindu temple outside of India.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir; 105-119 Brentfield Rd, London; +44 20 8965 2651. Free entry
Like that? Try this: The west London neighborhood of Southall, whose large South Asian population has earned it the nickname Little India. Southall Broadway has shops selling everything from food, spices, clothes to jewelry, as well as great restaurants.
Southall; visitsouthall.co.uk
Trinity Buoy Wharf, Docklands
Travel approximately 40 minutes from Oxford Circus to discover the artistic haven known as Trinity Buoy Wharf. This innovative, cultural hub is conveniently located near the East India station.
Experience the unique charm of Trinity Buoy Wharf, an atmospheric and trendy arts district in East London. Here, you can enjoy an eclectic blend of studios, art galleries, and displays of bold street art, against the backdrop of London's only lighthouse and the O2 Arena, one of the city’s most extensive concert venues visible across the river. Add a culinary adventure by trying out the delights of a pristine 1940s-style American diner.
Entry to this vibrant area at 64 Orchard Place, London, is free, allowing for an enriching and affordable escapade outside the city center.
Further enhance your exploration of London's history by visiting The Prospect of Whitby. Known for being London’s oldest riverside pub, it adds to the city's rich maritime history. This venerable establishment is located at 57 Wapping Wall and is famous for more than just its ales. Sight the distinctive hangman’s noose hanging from the Thameside balcony, a remnant of its colorful past.
Reach the Prospect of Whitby on +44 207 481 1095 for a unique drinking experience while basking in historical intrigue. Both of these venues promise enriching encounters, taking your London experience beyond the conventional tourist routes.
Hampstead Heath Ponds, Hampstead
Hampstead Heath Mixed Pond. 40 minutes from Oxford Circus. (Nearest station: Kentish Town / Hampstead Heath)
London’s greatest park is so vast and wild it’s not even a park – it’s a gosh-darned heath. In typical heath fashion, it’s a terribly romantic place where you can imagine Heathcliff and Cathy in a stolen embrace, or Colin Firth as Mr Darcy emerging dripping from the Men’s Bathing Pond.
Highgate Men’s Pond and Kenwood Ladies’ Pond offer single-sex outdoor bathing and are open all year round, while the mixed pond – on the other side of the Heath – is open May to September. There’s also a lido at the foot of the Heath’s Parliament Hill.
Hampstead Heath swimming; +44 20 7485 3873
Tooting Bec Lido. At 100 yards long, this south London institution is the capital’s biggest outdoor pool.
Tooting Bec Lido; Tooting Bec Road, London; +44 20 8871 7198
Rivoli Ballroom, Brockley
Rivoli Ballroom: 45 minutes from Oxford Circus. Nearest station: Crofton Park / Brockley
Peter Dazeley
For anyone who’s ever wanted to jitterbug the night away inside a “Twin Peaks” dream sequence, Brockley’s 1950s-style Rivoli Ballroom is sumptuous, sexy and fully authentic. More than 100 years after it first opened its doors in 1913, the Rivoli still hosts regular cabaret evenings, pop-up cinema nights and jive parties.
Rivoli Ballroom; 350 Brockley Road, Crofton Park, SE4 2BY; +44 208 692 5130
Like that? Try this: The Troxy in Limehouse. The first feature this monster 3,520-seat art deco cinema screened was “King Kong,” back in 1933. Now it’s an ultraglamorous events space, with upcoming shows including a stop on RuPaul’s Drag Race’s world tour.
The Troxy; 490 Commercial Road, London; +44 207 790 9000
Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, Crystal Palace
Travel just 50 minutes from Oxford Circus and you'll find yourself amidst the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. To get there, the nearest station is Crystal Palace or Penge West.
In the southeast London, Crystal Palace Park is renowned as the site of the first ever dinosaur exhibition in the world, a full 140 years prior to the release of popular film "Jurassic Park".
In 1854, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins created life-sized sculptures of prehistoric beasts. These were based on latest findings from the burgeoning field of paleontology, coming to existence five years ahead of Darwin’s revolutionary work, “The Origin of Species”. Today, these depictions might seem off-kilter, however, they are charmingly representative of early scientific efforts.
Crystal Palace Park sits on Thicket Road, London. An enhancement to your visit can be Darwin and the Dinosaurs audio trail
Another must-see destination for families lies in the Horniman Museum. It combines an eclectic array of exhibits and an on-site petting zoo. Among its notable displays, an amusingly overstuffed walrus stands out.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens can be located at 100 London Road, London, reachable at +44 20 8699 1872.
King Henry’s Mound, Richmond
King Henry's Mound: 55 minutes from Oxford Circus. (Nearest station: Richmond. Bus: 65/371)
Richmond Park is the largest of London’s eight Royal Parks and is famously home to herds of Red and Fallow deer. But hidden away in Pembroke Lodge Gardens is a little hill offering a tree-lined view all the way to St. Paul’s Cathedral, 10 miles to the east.
This is one of London’s eight “protected views” of St Paul’s, carefully tended by generations of gardeners and kept clear by building legislation that ensures no new constructions get in the way.
King Henry’s Mound; Queen’s Rd, Richmond, London
Harrow View Point. While there are plenty of incredible vantage points in the city, from Primrose Hill to Alexandra Palace, for a hillside amble all to yourself in a quiet corner of northwest London, there’s Harrow View Point in Old Redding.
Harrow View Point; Old Redding; Harrow
Eltham Palace, Eltham
Eltham Palace: A convenient 70-minute journey from Oxford Circus. (Closest station: Eltham)
Nestled in Eltham Palace, you'll find an enchanting fusion of the medieval era, as showcased in the series "Wolf Hall," and the stark, luxurious glamour of "The Great Gatsby". This royal abode, marked by King Henry VIII's childhood days was re-touched with striking Art Deco inspiration in 1933. The transformation was guided by the affluent textile magnate Stephen Courtauld and his spouse, Virginia.
The Courtaulds' expertise restored the palace's opulent interiors - marked by the unique Rolf Engstromer’s Swedish-designed curved entrance hall - to their original splendor. The cutting-edge design of the palace incorporated the most recent conveniences of the time. While the 14th-century facade, the Great Hall, and luxurious grounds serve as a memorial to the past grandeur.
Eltham Palace; Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, London
Moving on, 2 Willow Road is a captivating testament to Modernist architectural prowess, crafted by renowned architect Ernö Goldfinger in 1939. He made this distinctive building his abode for an expansive period crossing four decades. A fun fact worth noting - Goldfinger served as an inspiration for the villain Auric Goldfinger in the iconic Bond series.
2 Willow Road; Hampstead, London