Most magical places in London? Feeling so depressed to be back. Help me find some joy and wonder!

[Bionacan]

All that in the title really…

Hampstead Ladies’ Pond is my most magical London space.

Please give me some others and stop me from feeling gutted to be back (was living abroad in my favourite country but had to return for family reasons).

Aire Roman spa baths

Wandering round the side streets in St James's - especially Pickering Place it is so sweet and hidden it feels like a secret space.

The Thames path from Kew to Teddington - one fabulous stately home after another and if you go at low tide the trees growing on the river bank look a bit prehistoric.

Any area that has late Georgian/early Victorian architecture - ideally in south London as it is more varied - Kennington/Clapham/Stockwell - have some lovely streets and garden squares to wander through.

Bermondsey High Street and the Fashion Museum (has an Andy Warhol fashion illustration exhibition on at the moment. There are some amazing cafes and restaurants for lunch.

Barnes for the duck pond and wild life centre, some great charity shops and then walk along the river to Putney, ideally when there are boats on the river.

Oasis sports centre on Endell st. Outdoor rooftop, open air swimming pool at reasonable prices (it is a local authority pool). It is rather magical on a hot day, swimming above the bustling city

Shepherd Market off Mayfair, a great secret little street full of traditional working London pubs.

What a lovely thread. Saving the list for the next time I visit - I adore London and miss it terribly.

Liberty of London is quite something, such a beautiful shop.

I love walking and like a pp love the little back streets and alleys - you often find a little private square or a small park to stop in (Marylebone and Soho have loads, very peaceful even though they're so close to the bustle of WC1).

If you do go to Eltham Palace OP, go a little further. Down the hill of Well Hall Road from the High Street at the junction with Kidbrooke Lane (still Eltham, not Kidbrooke) there's the Well Hall Pleasunce, a formal garden with seating and moated bar/restaurant. It's a little oasis.

Any church in the City of London. They are all beautiful.
The Dean's Garden and Little Cloister at Westminster Abbey.
The bar of the Lamb pub in Lamb's Conduit Street (@ the very back down the steps).

Can't wait to do some of these things with my kids when they are old enough to visit London.

....the Well Hall Pleasunce, a formal garden with seating and moated bar/restaurant. It's a little oasis.

The children's author E. Nesbit lived there for a time. The house (no longer there) features in a couple of her books. In the gardens are wood sculptures of some of the fantasy characters from her books.

And off the other side of Well Hall Road is the Progress Estate, built for workers at Woolwich Arsenal in WW1. It's notable in that although it was built very quickly under wartime conditions, it was designed and built in accordance with Garden Suburb principles.

Another vote for the Sky garden. Breakfast in the Darwin brasserie there is amazing.

Go to the more sightseeing type places at night. I think London looks magical when it’s lit up, love strolling along the Thames after a night/meal out.

Kensington Gardens.

Getting a boat along the river, and drinking wine from a plastic cup as you do so.

St Dunstan's in the East church garden - a magical place in the ruins of a Wren church

St Dunstan in the East Church Garden - City of London

Lots of other hidden City gardens in the link.

The Lamb was looking a bit worse for wear last time we went, but it’s a gorgeous area in general.

If you go to the Phoenix Garden, look for the memorial bench for Sheila, at the far end. An amazing friend who knew absolutely everything. And there's a hidden message under one of the arms, a joke from an Internet talkboard where I and many others met her.

This one might divide opinion as they get dirty and I'm guessing need to be removed by someone.

But the little paintings someone does on the floor of the bridge from the Tate to St Paul's.

Chiswick house and gardens (watch the film The Duchess to immerse yourself in its history) followed by a walk down to the Thames/Chiswick pier which takes you onto the Thames path where you walk along the river towards Griffin Brewery (for a tour… or not), past the Eyot, walking along the riverside until you come to the small but mighty and gorgeous Cafe Mari owned and run by a wonderful Neapolitan family. After a bite, keep on walking until you hit the riverside pubs of Hammersmith or catch some sun in Furnival gardens where you can watch life on the river go by. Have a pint. There’s a beautiful old pub, The Dove just next to Furnival Gardens. You can keep on walking along the riverside, underneath Hammersmith Bridge, coming to Fulham Reach where you can stop at the bar or watch a film at Riverside Studios. There are lovely restaurants by Fulham Reach as well. Keep in mind that you’re still firmly by the river. I’m basically taking you on a long river walk! 😆 You can keep walking all the way down to Bishop’s Park/Fulham Palace, which is beautiful! And there’s a lovely little tea house in Bishops Park. From there you come out at Putney Bridge and loads of public transport options taking you to where you want to get to next.

Also, another totally different perspective: Waterstones books by UCL/Gower Street. Regents Park and the British Museum are so close. I always feel like London is the best city in the world when I’m inside that particular Waterstones. It’s my own Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

I am shamelessly place-marking as DH has a corporate rental here for another 6 months, but I'd like to recommend an hour or so visiting Leighton House (perhaps combine it with nearby Holland Park (nice Japanese Garden) or the Design Museum.

https://mappinglondon.co.uk/2022/illuminated-river/

And look at all the bridges lit up.

I love flying into London when it's dark and seeing the river snaking between all the lights.

A pp has already mentioned it, but if you explore that little corner of west London and intend going to the (wonderful) Leighton House, I highly recommend going on a day when you can combine it with a visit to nearby Linley Sambourne House.
The Victorian interiors are astonishing and you’re likely to recognise them if you watch a lot of films because they’re so often used for locations.

Covent Garden and London Zoo in Regents Park. Magical

(Blatant Placemarking tactic )

One of the Jack The Ripper tours

They go along places I would never think aout walking on my own but in a group you are safr and it is fascinating to hear the history .
Though low on the Magical Factor I fear !

What a lovely thread.
Crossing the Thames at night always fills me with joy. Especially Waterloo Bridge.
Clapham Common bandstand.
South Bank (don't forget to look up at the architecture at Waterloo Station if getting there by train)
Brockwell Lido.
Brixton Village.
Crystal Palace Park.
Carshalton Ponds (and the local The Sun pub)
Russell Square and Bloomsbury

I adore my city.

Oh what a lovely thread.

I’ve been having a falling back in love with London time atm. The other night I went to the National theatre ( so much amazing theatre on at the moment all over London!), it was fairly warm and I walked back across the river to embankment. It was buzzing with a mixture of tourists and Londoners. Really took time to look down the river with everything lit up, knew I was so lucky to have all this culture available and be able to get back on the tube late at night on my own and I had a proper ‘I love this city despite it being maddening at times’ feeling.

I also did an amazing architecture tour at the Barbican the other day - so interesting and helped me see it in a totally different way. Would definitely recommend!