Take a trip south of the river to take in some of the loveliest parts of London.

Borough Market

Under cover and open daily, Borough Market is the most vibrant food market in London. A must-visit for foodies, you’ll find fresh fruit and vegetables side by side with locally produced delicacies, fresh meat and fish and artisan breads and charcuterie.

Borough Market, London, England, UK by DAVID ILIFF

On its busiest days, the stalls spill out onto the streets around the market hall with even more choice of food to sample. As well as delicacies you can get to experiment with at home, there are plenty of things you can eat on the spot from rare breed pork sausages in freshly baked bread rolls through to curry and paella.

If you fancy making your own picnic on the hoof try grabbing some bread you can tear, some soft cheese from one of the fromageries and a bottle of fizz complete with plastic flutes and take it to the grounds of the neighbouring Southwark Cathedral for an al fresco feast.

Southwark Cathedral

Once you’ve enjoyed your picnic, take some time to explore the majestic cathedral inside as well as out. A place of Christian worship for over 1,000 years, St Saviour’s was first documented in the Doomsday Book in 1066, although there are suggestions that it was a site of religious significance as long ago as the fifth century.

The current structure and facade of the cathedral are in the Gothic style, dating from the 13th century, although the nave was rebuilt in the 19th century in a gothic style. Its construction in the early 1200s made it the first Gothic church in London, but it wasn’t made a cathedral until shortly before World War I.

Southwark Cathedral, London, England, UK by Adrian Pingstone

The cathedral has a vast, soaring ceiling and some beautiful stained glass windows that glow to the south of the building on the side of Borough Market. If you happen to be in the area during the week the Thursday Singers, made up of local community members with a love of choral music, take to the choir stalls to sing for choral Evensong and Festival Eucharists.

After the hustle and bustle of the Market and before taking to the South Bank, Southwark Cathedral provides an oasis of calm in the middle of the busy city.

Bermondsey Street

Noted by The Guardian as the most up-and-coming area in London, Bermondsey is seeing something of a surge in popularity in recent years. At its heart lies Bermondsey Street, with its chic collection of boutique shops and independent cafes and eateries with something for all tastes.

In the middle of Bermondsey Street lies the Fashion and Textile Museum. Established and curated by local fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, the museum offers a fascinating insight into the use of fabric and textiles to create clothes that are works of art in their own right. The museum also has a lovely tea shop that offers loose-leaf teas including one brewed from pure dried rosebuds and a range of homemade cakes.

Conclusion

Fast becoming one of the most popular and fashionable areas in London, Southwark has plenty to offer the visitor. Whether it is shopping, history or the village feel of Bermondsey, the district will make you feel right at home. If you want to see the area from the air why not try a London Helicopter tour, visit the website link here for more information.

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Tower of London, England, UK by xiquinhosilva

1. The Tower of London

One of London’s oldest and most popular attractions, the Tower of London was built in 1078, and remains one of the most well preserved medieval castles in the country. Its central location within the skyscrapers of the City of London financial district make it even more unique, as does its multiple galleries, and housing of the Crown Jewels.

2. St. Paul’s Cathedral

Located on the outskirts of the City of London financial district (about 10 minutes by Tube from the West End), St. Paul’s Cathedral has survived fire and the WWII Blitz to remain one of the capital’s most loved landmarks. Giving yourself the time to explore its artifacts, and the Whispering Gallery on the upper levels, is recommended.

Photo of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England, UK by Garry Knight

3. Westminster Abbey

While a visit to Westminster, which contains the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, is always recommended, it’s worth taking the time to visit Westminster Abbey. The Gothic church is a regular destination for Royal weddings, contains a number of important burial sites, and includes fascinating museums exhibits.

Photo of Westminster Abbey, London by thetravelguru

4. Buckingham Palace

The Queen’s main residence is a constant favourite of visitors to London, and can be explored via guided tours of certain areas of the Palace. The Palace also includes art galleries, a gift shop, and the daily sight of the Changing of the Palace Guards.

Photo of Buckingham Palace, London by OwenXu

5. British Museum

Home to one of the world’s best collections of art and rare items, this Bloomsbury-based museum demands repeated exploration. First developed in the 18th century, the Museum, only a short walk from the West End, is particularly recommended for its Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts.

Photo of British Museum, London by DAVID HOLT

6. Victoria & Albert Museum

Part of a street of famous museums in Kensington, which also includes the National History Museum and the Science Museum, the V&A was opened in 1852 as a home for decorative art, and today represents one of the best places to see photography and contemporary design exhibits.

Photo of Victoria & Albert Museum, London by gailf548

7. London Eye

This enormous Ferris wheel represents the best way to get a panoramic view of London. Based by the Thames, and near to London Waterloo train station, the Eye offers 30 minute rides in its passenger capsules, with varying prices.

Photo of London Eye, England by Jim Bahn

8. The National Gallery

This art gallery by Trafalgar Square is home to over 2,300 paintings, and is free to enter. The gallery’s pillared facade takes you into a vast holding of art from painters such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Van Gogh.

Photo of The National Gallery on Trafalgar square, London by Maurice

9. Tate Modern

London’s best modern art gallery sits on the banks of the Thames, and faces towards St Paul’s on the other side of the river. The gallery contains changing and permanent exhibitions, and is free to enter.

Photo of Tate Modern, London by aaron.bihari

10. Natural History Museum

Another of Kensington’s world class museums, the Natural History Museum is dedicated to the natural sciences, and animal and insect collections. Particularly recommended is the enormous Blue Whale, and the museum’s dinosaur exhibits.

Photo of Natural History Museum, London by Heather Cowper

Author bio: Liam Ohm is a keen writer with a particular interest in things-to-do in London. He highly recommends Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tickets for another great day out during your time in London.

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Pulteney Bridge / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Heather Cowper

Where to Visit

Start your tour of this beautiful city at the Roman Baths. Built around 2000 years ago and then rediscovered by the Victorians, the unique attraction is an essential visit on your weekend and the only mineral hot springs in England. Although it’s rather pricey for the full spa treatment today, you can still taste the spa water from the fountain and dip your fingers in the Great Bath to test the waters. Wandering the underground rooms and exploring all the different areas, however, is so fascinating that you can easily while away a few hours just visiting.

If you come out of the Baths, you’ll see Bath Abbey ahead of you. The last Gothic church built in England, the impressive building is certainly worth a second look. Great views over the city can also be glimpsed from the top of the abbey tower.

From the abbey, turn right and meander your way to Parade Gardens to find Pulteney Bridge, a quaint spot on the River Avon. The bridge is also one of only four bridges in the world with shops across the length of the bridge on both sides, like the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Crossing the bridge will bring you to Great Pulteney Street, a fantastic example of the city’s Georgian architecture and a great place for a stroll.

For a lazy Sunday afternoon, head over to Victoria Gardens for a glimpse of the famous Royal Crescent and an ideal picnic spot. The Botanical Gardens in the park also make a pleasant spot to wander and you can go inside the museum at No.1 Royal Crescent to experience the grandeur of 18^th century England.

Roman Baths / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by MonkeyMyshkin

Where to Eat

Although Bath is a small city, there’s a good range of restaurants and pubs for eating out. If you want to treat yourself for the weekend, indulge in a classy French meal at Raphael Restaurant (Upper Borough Walls). There are seasonal chef specials, plus an extensive wine list and an excellent pre-theatre menu for those catching a show at the nearby Theatre Royal.

There’s only one place in Bath for afternoon tea – the famous and undeniably elegant Pump Room, where you’ll sample part of the city’s history as well as some delicious cakes. For those on a budget, try a traditional Bath bun with cinnamon butter (a steal at £3.25) or go all out with the magnificent Searcys Champagne Tea (£48 for two).

Where to eat in Roman baths / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Heather Cowper

Where to Drink

Bath also has a great number of old fashioned pubs for some peaceful evening drinks. The Salamander (Quiet Street) is just the place to sample some of the local Bath Ales, whilst The Old Green Tree (Green Street) is a tiny historic pub that’s well worth the squeeze.

For a livelier weekend, try The Bell (Walcot Street) which has a bohemian atmosphere, a large beer garden perfect for summer afternoons and regular live music. Gascoyne Place (Saw Close), meanwhile, has an extensive range of beers and live jazz on Sundays.

Where to Sleep

Within walking distance from the Roman Baths and city centre, Villa Claudia is the ideal bed and breakfast in Bath for a short weekend getaway. There are three beautiful period rooms and the house itself dates back to 1896 – a great reflection of the city’s history and charm.

A few miles and a short drive outside the city, Lorne House B&B is a smart, sophisticated retreat for visitors seeking a more peaceful weekend in Bath. Recently refurbished, it has lovely solid oak floors, plush furnishings and a relaxing atmosphere.

Alice Woolliams is the Editor for Enjoybedandbreakfast.com, a travel website for accommodation with personality in the UK. The website offers a growing selection of quaint B&Bs, charming inns, small boutique hotels and guest houses. You can find her on twitter @enjoybnb when she’s not travelling the world!

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The fort is protected by the state since 1904, first as a national monument, and later as a place of cultural interest. The castle itself was rebuilt in the 20th century. It was built of red bricks which is typical for that area.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by MANUEL ZALDÍVAR

Castillo de la Mota has two main parts, its own citadel of three massive stone towers guarding the original Muslim town, and the dilapidated abbey of Santa Maria Mayor. Here we find the Gothic church of Iglesia San Miguel with a Renaissance facade and painting by El Greco and a mosque rebuilt in 1341 to the Church of Santo Domingo de Silos. If a hot weather is not a problem for you, you could climb to the tower of the fort where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the whole neighbourhood and the ancient town walls.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Kristian Dela Cour

Final finishing works were carried out under the guidance of architect Henry Hetzel. From 1529 until 1945 it served to the Protestants. It was destroyed during the World War II and then undergone extensive reconstruction, just like many other monuments in Poland. The interior of the church is furnished with a Gothic, manneristic and baroque furniture. You can see here also several memorial plaques of the leading local families.

This truly monstrous Gothic building has the shape of the cross and features a great nave and huge windows along the entire perimeter. You should visit it early in the morning when the sun is still low – it’s worth to wake up early!

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The first mention of the original village dates back to the 12th century. Most of the monuments in this city, as well as throughout Luxembourg, were bombed during the war.

The village is now a popular summer resort with a swimming pool, camping and a youth hostel. You can follow any of the numerous trails which lead you through the forests of the Mullerthal valley.

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The most important monument in the town of Kutna Hora is undoubtedly a monumental and unique late Gothic church of St. Barbara, patron saint of miners. Another important object is Italian Court (Vlašský dvůr) from 14 century, which served as a mint. Other tourist attractions include the Church of St. James (Kostel sv. Jakuba) from 1330, Cathedral of Our Lady (Chrám Nanebevzetí Pany Marie) on the square, Hradek (Czech Museum of Silver), Gothic fortification, the baroque Jesuit College, a stone house, a Gothic fountain and Church of Ursuline Convent (Kostel Kláštera Voršilek). In the Sedlec suburb there is a former Cistercian monastery, founded in 1142.

Historic Centre of Kutna Hora was together with Sedlec added into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 . There is a wide range of accommodation, restaurants, shops and clubs. You can visit the underground city of Kutna Hora, where the silver was mined in the Middle Ages and is now available to the public. Kutna Hora has now more than 21 thousand inhabitants.

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One of the most beautiful buildings in Dunkerque is certainly the local town hall dating from the early 20th century. Amongst others, we can notice the facade of the hero image of Jean Bart and his crew. Hall is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Equally beautiful is the Gothic church of Saint-Eloi. During the Second World War was almost completely destroyed, retained only the front wall. Reconstruction took place at the beginning of this millennium, as a reminder of the horrors of war were left craters in the facade of bullet holes. Church of Saint-Eloi was originally connected with a bell tower, in the late 19th century, these buildings were separated. Now, there is a busy street between them. Even the bell tower is part of UNESCO.

Near the port of Dunkerque is Leughenaer tower, which was originally part of the fortifications. Interesting is also the chapel of Notre Dame des Dunes.

In the port we can visit the Maritime Museum, just opposite is a beautiful ship Duchesse Anne, which is also a popular destination for visitors.

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Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Barcelona, Spain by Ramon Llorensi

Barcelona is also Europe’s largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast and a home to one of Europe’s principal Mediterranean ports. Barcelona international airport handles approx. 30 million passengers every year.

Barcelona was the 12th-most-visited city in the world and 4th most visited in Europe after London, Paris and Rome. It is in addition the most popular tourist destination in Spain (receiving above 5 million tourists every year). Barcelona is the 4th richest city by GDP in the European Union (after London, Paris and Madrid).

Barcelona was probably founded by the Carthaginians and later became a Roman colony of Barcino. The city became famous mainly for its remarkable architecture, but Summer Olympic Games in 1992 promoted the city much more. The popularity and the huge attendance certainly also contributes to the fact that it lies at sea. A lot of people are coming here from nearby France.

Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona, Spain by WikiMapa

Most remarkable symbol of the city is the cathedral Sagrada Familia designed by the famous architect Antonio Gaudí. Its construction began in 1884 and is still not finished. Meanwhile Gaudí died in 1926 and the following construction is already not according to his original plan. The huge building with twelve towers became the most admired place of Barcelona. Construction is funded by donations and is progressing quite slowly. It is planned that could be completed in 2026, the 100th anniversary of the death of Antonio Gaudí. But whether it actually happens, it is not entirely certain.

But the cathedral is not the only signature of Gaudí in Barcelona. Among his other major works are the Park Güell with Gaudi Museum, the Palau Güell palace, quite controversial building La Pedrera (or Casa Milà) and Casa Batlló. Many of Gaudí’s work at the time of its inception, were considered ugly, but today, however, they are most popular sights of Barcelona. They are also registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List (some of them since 1984, but more were added later in 2005).

The city gave to the world and especially to itself yet another famous architect – Lluís Domenech i Montaner. In Barcelona he designed a building of Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, that was constructed between 1901 and 1930, and the Palau de la Música Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music) from 1905 – 1908. Both buildings have also been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997.

Gothic Quarter, Barcelona, Spain by Alberto Carrasco Casado

But Barcelona does not offer only modern architecture. The city boasts plenty of Gothic monuments, and even has a Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic), forming the basis of the Old Town. The area also contains the walls from Roman times or other non-gothic buildings. Walking through the old streets is really a great experience. Gothic Quarter is dominated by the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia.

In addition there is a huge variety of museums, galleries and cultural booths in Barcelona. There are many sports facilities, some of which hosted major sporting events (e.g. Olympic Games), two large football stadiums, or racing circuit for MotoGP World Championship and Formula I.

Barcelona is a live city at all (in terms of traffic intensity sometimes even too live…), full of culture, art and all sorts of activities.

Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral, Barcelona, Spain by Ferran Pestaña

Top sights to see in Barcelona

• Sagrada Família, the international symbol of Barcelona – still unfinished church
• Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau
• Park Güell
• Palau Güell
• Casa Milà
• Casa Vicens
• Casa Batlló
• Crypt in Colonia Güell
• The Cathedral of St. Eulalia
• Church of Santa Maria del Mar
• Gothic church of Santa Maria del Pi
• Church of Sant Pau del Camp
• Palau Reial Major
• The Columbus Monument
• Forum Building
• The Arc de Triomf, a triumphal arch built in 1888

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Parma Baptisterium, Italy by Philip Schäfer

Up until the middle ages, the town of Parma was regularly attacked, plundered and destroyed. There were many such occasions in which the entire town was rebuilt from the ground up. However, there are still a number of beautiful sites in this small Italian town that dates back to the 11th century. The most famous attraction in Parma is a pink marble tower which can be found in the town’s center. Taking more than 60 years to construct, the Parma Baptisterium has become a symbol of the city. Shortly after its completion, the tower had been damaged by an earthquake requiring it to be rebuilt.

Anyone who visits Parma will have to make their way over to the Teatro Regio which is the city’s own opera house. Arturo Toscanini, the famous conductor was born in Parma and the Theater is now a museum which is dedicated to the life and genius of Toscanini.

Of course we would not have parmesan cheese if it were not for the town of Parma. The town is also known for its special ham recipes too. Today, Parma stands as the European Association for Food Safety’s official home. One cannot go to Parma without trying the many local delicacies which are world renowned. While the town may not have a lot in architectural attractions, the cheese and hams of Parma are an attraction in their own right.

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