We walked blocks and blocks to get to this spot to see where Freddie Mercury's last residence and…read morestudio was in London. There isn't much to see but a high wall painted in anti graffiti paint. There isn't much to see or do, no tour to take - therefore it was just an okay experience for me. The highlight was the memories that sprung to mind when being in this place.

I went to visit Freddie's final haunt more for sentiment than expecting to see some great tribute,…read moreor anything much more than a vandalised door and some bricks (as the previous Yelp pictures suggested). I was pleasantly surprised that it seems a compromise has been reached between vandalism and tribute; the bricks directly beside that famous door - now redecorated with 'Garden Lodge' printed on it - are covered in perspex but fans have slipped through letters, notes, doodles, all full of so much love. In reality, Freddie was a private man and I doubt he'd want a shrine (he objected to the place being turned into a museum, apparently) but to see the love people still hold for him nearly 25 years on is beautiful. My sentiments were fulfilled, and I respectfully left listening to 'I'm Going Slightly Mad'. Just around the corner (I kid you not) I bumped into a person dressed as a life-size can of paint. I was already wondering if 'slightly' wasn't quite appropriate for me but that just proved it - hah! Worth going for the sentiment alone, if you're sentimental like that. You won't be bowled over by what you see but more what you feel, if you're that way inclined.

The Chiswick House & Gardens is a beautiful little garden in west London that many people don't…read moreknow about. I have been here during the fall when it is completely quiet, and during their magical lantern festival at night when it is packed with crowds. The grounds are well kept, and the lanterns are most amazing. The lanterns along the little lake are especially stunning thanks to the water reflection, but it's also extremely cold thanks to the water. There are three "rest stops": the cafe upon entrance, the marshmallow roasting station in the middle of the tour (but no warming huts which is desperately needed as it's humid and bone chilling in London), and a small fair ground at the end of the tour with hot food, hot drink, and a ferries wheels. The only problem is that it is so freezing cold, and their inadequate toilets especially for women created a huge problem: long queues, chilling cold temperature inside the loos, and generally uncomfortable dirty conditions. It is to be expected with any festivals but still the organizers could have done a better job at regular cleaning and providing directions.

We just headed here this weekend for the Magical Lantern Festival. Hence my rating and review is of…read morethe festival. However, we did see some gorgeous marble statues and the gardens (what we could see of them in the dark) and Historic House, looked like this place definitely merits another visit. The Magical Lanterns are stunning. After the London Lumiere festival, I was a bit skeptical of what would be on offer. But I was blown away by the displays. Budget 2 hours for the walk itself, especially if you are visiting on a night with crowds. We picked up hot coffees and churros at the entry. Feasted on hot chocolate and hot toddy from Beltane and Pop and roasted marshmallows on the firepit at the midway stop. And there was a good selection of meals at the exit point with a covered marquee to enjoy it in. We however decided that we wanted a proper sit down restaurant that was well warmed for dinner and hence walked across to Chiswick high street for a meal. Do note, that these are all pop ups and food trucks - I assume they are only here during the festival. They do have a permanent coffee shop on the premises that was open. But the number of wailing children on this occasion, kept us away.

Tucked away behind a little gate is Hogarth's House on the busy Great West Road. For fans of…read moreHogarth, it's a treasure with lots of prints and a glimpse into how Hogarth lived here. For people with a passing interest in Hogarth, it's a quick visit but as it's free, definitely worth popping in when you're in the area. I was lucky enough to see the garden on a warm sunny day and it was full of daisies and very pretty indeed.

Tucked away at the far north of Wandsworth Common, behind the Fitzhugh housing estate, is one of…read moreSouth London's most remarkable buildings: on the scale - and in the style - of a baronial castle, it has variously been a school, hospital, interrogation centre and a college, and was nearly pulled down. It is now a Grade II-star Listed Building. History The building was paid for by the Royal Victoria Patriotic Fund, established to provide for the widows and orphans of soldiers killed in the Crimean War. The building was intended as a girls' school and opened in 1859. A boys' school was built to the rear in 1872. The original building - designed by Rhode Hawkins - incorporated a number of innovative building techniques, that nearly caused its later downfall. Life for the orphans was extraordinarily hard: from pumping water to the roof cisterns to having their heads shaved to counter lice, they were assembled to be hosed down with cold water every morning in the courtyard. Scandals which involved physical and sexual abuse by staff - and the death of an orphan - nearly resulted in the institution being closed down. The innovative heating system didn't work, so conventional fireplaces were provided for the staff - but not the orphans. Things had improved somewhat by the First World War (for example, central heating had been installed), when it was used as a hospital for injured troops, who arrived at a specially-built temporary railway station close by. After the end of hostilities, it resumed life as a girls' school under 1939. During World War II, it became the London Reception Centre, used by MI5 to process non-British aliens entering the country. After the war it became a teacher training college, and then a comprehensive school, before the decaying fabric - many problems arising as a result of the techniques used to build it - forced them out. The building was sold and gradually restored by its present owners, who had to endure, among other things, a fire in the Great Hall just before it was handed over. Building works took 7 years. The building now contains flats, studios and workshops for businesses in the creative industries, a drama school and a wine bar. The building The main building is built in a Scottish Baronial Gothic style, with Gothic, Jacobean and French elements, in yellow brick with stone dressings. The main façade has an imposing central tower, with matching smaller corner towers. The plan includes two central courtyards, a separate Chapel and various outbuildings, but the main feature is the huge Great Hall, with a hammer-beam ceiling decorated with the coats of arms of towns across Britain and the Empire which contributed to the original funds. The whole edifice really is an astonishing sight, especially as it has now been surrounded on the north side by comfortable suburban housing. Practicalities There is pedestrian access from Fitzhugh Grove, but vehicular access is via Windmill Lane and John Archer Way. Unless you are visiting a business or a resident in the one of the flats, the only public access inside is to the wine bar (the restaurant in the cafe recently closed down).

I love Richmond! I had to walk along the Thames to get here which was just so scenic and serene.read more

If you're walking along the riverside in beautiful Richmond, continue until you come to Old Palace…read moreLane. Turn-in, keep alert, and after a few paces, on the right-hand side, you'll notice an understated pale plaque on the wall. In pale lettering it informs you that this is the site of the former Richmond Palace, where Queen Elizabeth I spent many of her days and where she died in 1603. Sadly, most of the Palace was demolished after Charles I was executed and the plans for its later rebuilding, designed by Sir William Chambers, never came to fruition. However, if you wander up to the top of the very pretty lane you'll see some remaining walls together with a smaller, light-blue plaque commemorating the site. I stop here on most occasions when I'm in the area. It never fails to move me and to transport my imagination to how people lived then; to envisage late Tudor times and the experiences - sad and joyous - of the 'Virgin Queen'.

One of the wonders of my childhood. By the childrens…read moreplayground stands the trunk of an oak tree. it is now surrounded by a high metal fence. I don't think that was always there. It is 900 years old and is carved and painted with elves, fairies, witches and more. Carved by Ivor Innes an illustrator. It is now a grade II listed item and Spike Milligan loved it. In 1996 he led a successful campaign to have it restored and did a lot of work on it himself. He believed in both magic and children. If you have small children take them and watch their faces. If not go and be a child again yourself.

Move in closer and you'll discover that the old tree holds…read morea special secret essay writing services reviews (http://www.essaywritingforum.com/) that the gapes and grooves in the weathered old bark are home to an array of fairies, imps, elves and gnomes along with their little forest friends.

This is where rock legend David Bowie lived in 1973-1974…read more Rock Star madness? It was at the time of the coal miners strike, and he wanted to know what it would be like living in a coal mine, so he painted all the interior of the house totally black (walls, ceilings, t.v. furniture etc.) Can be viewed from outside onlyno idea if it is still black inside. The houses cost just under a million in this street, Captain Scott, Antarctic explorer, lived at No. 56 which carries a blue plaque. Lady Wilde, mother of Oscar Wilde, lived at No 87. Blue plaque. Dame Sybil Thorndike, the actress, and her husband Lewis Casson, lived at No. 74 George Best, footballer, lived at No. 87

It wasn't so Much about the house itself but about the man…read moreand the ideas and songs that may have come out of room. For regular people it was just about walking by a house for me it was more than that.

This seems to dump the traveller into the middle of a rather glitzy part of London, though while…read morethere are coffee shops around they aren't too expensive (or too snobby either). Yeah, there really isn't all that much that I can criticise with this station, but that is coming from somebody who lives in Australia where we really don't have a metro system like London's, or with the amount of public transport infrastructure that London has. Yeah, I don't mind it at all.

No, you won't find Julia Roberts here, but Hugh Grant is still a possibility. Notting Hill Gate…read moretube station It is on the Central Line between Queensway and Holland Park, on the District/Circle Line between Bayswater and High Street Ken. Expect big crowds here during rush hour with people changing from one to the other. There are also people who take the opportunity to switch if it's a District train and they want Circle or vice-versa. Stairs down to the ticket hall and then escalators to the Central or District/Circle line platforms, this station straddles both Travelcard Zones 1 and 2. TfL helpfully knows the difference and you will pay the lesser fare if you are traveling on an Oyster card. It doesn't really matter what you do, you're always going to exit the station on the wrong side of the road. So there's that. Kensington Gardens is nearby.

Queen Charlotte's Cottage is a perfect little hideaway in a corner of Kew gardens. The house itself…read moreis pretty cute, I especially like the walls painted with flowers by princess Elizabeth on the first floor. It all looks pretty lovely as a spot to come for a royal "picnic". BUT...the best thing about the cottage is that it is set within an ancient bit of woodland that is carpeted with bluebells at this time of year. Last weekend it was looking truly gorgeous, but lots of the flowers were only half open, so I think it'll be even more beautiful next weekend! Bluebell woods are one of England's prettiest displays, so if you have not already visited one - pop over in the next couple of weeks. *extra tip* The cottage and woods are on the opposite side of the gardens to the visitors entrance and the palace. If you manage to arrive early, head in the opposite direction from the crowds and go straight there if you'd like to see it without zillions of other tourists.

A 'sister' building to Kew Palace, this adorable thatched cottage is where Queen Charlotte (wife of…read moreGeorge III) went to escape the rigors of being surrounded by her 15 (yes, really!) children. You can see evidence of her artistic nature and try to imagine what it was like when she spent time here, in the 18th century, when she pioneered exotic animal species by bringing wallabies onto the lawns. Entry is free once you're in Kew Gardens but it only has limited opening times so try to check before you visit.