Great places to visit in London

There’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do in London, but in a city so large it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start. Here are some hidden treasures that are slightly off the beaten track that you won’t want to miss.

Postman’s Park, not far from St Paul’s Cathedral, is one of the largest parks in the walled City of London. At first glance it might look like a rather ordinary courtyard, but this park is home to the Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice. This touching monument was erected in 1900 by George Frederic Watts and has space for 120 tiles commemorating those who lost their lives while trying to save others. The 54th tile was added to the wall in 2009 – the first new addition for 78 years. Candidates for the remaining empty spaces are considered by the Diocese of London.

St. Paul's Cathedral, London

Chelsea Physic Garden, not far from the King’s Road, was founded in 1673 to be the Apothecaries’ Garden to help apprentices learn to identify species of plants. Now it’s home to a collection of over 5,000 edible, historical and medical plants. This is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Britain and prides itself of being home to the largest fruiting olive tree in the UK. Visitors will get to see the rock garden, the oldest English garden to be completely devoted to alpine plant life and is considered the northernmost part of the world growing the subtropical grapefruit tree.

If you’re looking for something unusual to do in the evening, try Bar & Co. This bar on a boat, moored on the banks of the Thames, offers visitors amazing views of the river and sights such as the London Eye and Big Ben. You can hire out the entire boat for special corporate events – the bar has catered for clients such as IBM and American Express in the past – or private parties, and it also hosts regular events featuring top DJs.

The London Eye

Or, for something completely different, head to The Icecreamists, well known in London for their weird and wonderful flavours (breast milk being the most controversial). Their ice cream parlour in Covent Garden is a lively place to meet and sample their wares, which are truly delicious.

Why not apply for a credit card from American Express before your next trip to London, and avoid the hassle of carrying cash? Accepted at numerous establishments throughout the capital, American Express credit cards come with purchase and refund protection, as well as a host of other exclusive membership rewards and benefits.