prettycitylondon: Discovering London’s Beautiful Places (The Pretty Cities, 1)

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The walking routes are comprised of five interconnected loops that are clearly signposted around London and link up into a total distance of 15 miles, easily coverable in an afternoon. A garden that is free and on a rooftop? Yep, that’s what’s on offer at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden at the Southbank centre.

At any given time, you’re all but guaranteed to see at least a few new pieces in the making and there are opportunities aplenty to gawp at the sheer talent displayed by many of these artists.There’s also an interesting exhibition on the history of London from its Roman times as Londinium onwards to mooch about in so allow plenty of time to go and discover. Streatham Rookery With direct Eurostar trains whisking you there in less than four hours from London, and super-short flights from elsewhere in the UK, few destinations offer as easy a getaway as the Dutch capital. Amsterdam wears its history lightly, with pretty canal streets dusted with sublime art and architecture, and cosy pubs making it a great city for walking. There are some obvious standouts: the graceful Herengracht has some of the city’s most lavish buildings, particularly along the stretch between Leidsestraat and Vijzelstraat, while Prinsengracht has some of the cutest gables overlooking it (don’t be afraid to look inside either — window-dressing is a statement here).

Still, there’s no denying that some of London’s mews are rather attractive – but as they pop up on the ‘gram with increasing frequency, some of them are starting to feel like a rather boring slow-mo circus of awkwardly posed models. Far from the stuffy suit-fest some people assume it to be, the financial district of The City of London is filled with hidden treasures including many a Roman ruin. Some, like Damien Hirst and Antony Gormley, you’ll know, others less so – well-known or not, each artist has created a work that draws on and complements its surroundings. Still, while some places like the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town and Nightjar have made their way onto most people’s radars, others like Oriole have stayed relatively low-key. Either way, expect to see eclectic architecture, famous bridges and even some quieter more rural sections on the outer fringes of the city.

1. St James's Park, London's oldest royal park

Henry VIII may not have been a stellar husband, but he did have great choice in gardens. You can see for yourself at his old stomping ground, Hampton Court.

Nearest stations are Victoria, Sloane Square, and South Kensington. 24. Berenjak, Soho Photo: Berenjak If you want an all-encompassing walk that takes you past all the main tourist attractions, the Westminster walk is the way to go. If you’re intrigued by the young royals (let’s admit it, aren’t we all?) then you should definitely swing by the Kensington Palace Gardens. We’ve collected ten of the prettiest ones you can easily visit, taken from the book ‘Escape London’ by Yolanda Zappaterra . You may have experienced their period charm in a film or TV show, but nothing beats a leisurely stroll through their winding streets, followed by a well-earned pint by a roaring pub fire.

Tips for Visiting London’s Gardens

Don’t miss In leafy Assistens Cemetery, sunbathing couples and red squirrels neighbour the graves of Hans Christian Andersen and Soren Kierkegaard As such, it found itself as the centre of many a naughty activity including bear baiting, gambling and even duelling. Oh those crazy olden days people. Don’t miss Home to a thriving flamenco scene, Cordoba is also the place where you can visit Centro Flamenco Fosforito, a museum charting the history of the dance with free performances