For fans of the video game SimCity, the biggest pleasure is not merely to create a prosperous city, but to build a safe place where traffic flows smoothly, where residents are happy and with a minimum number of natural disasters (including Godzilla attacks).
Visiting the Building Centre in central London is like stepping into the video game. Along with an impressive model of London, the Centre encourages visitors to learn about the latest developments in architecture and urban design affecting the capital. Spending an hour or so at the Building Centre shows just how challenging keeping a busy city like London organised, as well as beautiful, can be.
The Centre regularly hosts exhibitions, debates and seminars aimed at these topics. Other exciting events tackle a range of issues from interior design to the psychology of building design for people's well being!
For those passionate about these subjects, there's a bookshop where curious visitors can take books home to feed their interests. Even for those with little knowledge of urban design or the intricacies of environmentally-friendly architecture, spending time at the Building Centre will give you topics to think about next time you wander London...or play SimCity.
Find your way with 222 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Barnsbury Wood is enjoyed by Londoners all year round, but it is at its most glorious in the summer months when the trees are drenched in golden sunlight.
by
The gardens and pergola are open to the public and are a great spot for a walk or a peaceful afternoon with a good book in hand while lying on the grass.
by
The people of Bonnington Square really know how to foster a vibe with leafy exotic plants spraying scattered shadows as you sit and eat...
by
From focaccia to pasta, coffee to cake, this one-stop shop is as much a place to buy your brew and bread as it is to have a lunchtime bite of pasta...
by
Birds sing while trains rumble along atop the parallel railway arches, old men play boule in the shade and planes skim overhead on approach to Heathrow.
by
Of all the reasons why you have to check out this idyllic boozer, perhaps the most important is that this is the home of the finest scotch egg in London.
by
From the run-down chic aesthetic to the strong beer selection and excellent pub garden, there are no chinks in the Dog House's armour...
by
Inside, the bar is a welcoming, tightly-packed vibe with old-fashioned, old-world decor with gorgeous bare wood surfaces & countless pictures on the walls.
by
The unassuming, retro signage outside amidst the noise & din of Waterloo might pull you in, but what makes you stay is the genuine town tavern feel inside.
by
With a rustic French feel, Pierre offers dishes with rich red-wine sauces and tasty meats from much of the spectrum of the French culinary roster.
by
With old-fashioned vintage Guinness branding adoring just about every surface, this is the ideal spot to take a moment and enjoy a perfectly-poured pint.
by
Built back in 2010 on the site of a disused railway line, it’s a local secret: a quiet, forest-like space to retreat to when city life becomes overwhelming.
by
222 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 222 Insider Tips