Yesterday evening I went to see the Lumiere Light Festival. Although I was really disappointed at the standard this year, what I did love was walking and discovering new parts of London. It got me thinking. I was born and bread in the capital and I still live here, but I don’t take full advantage of this privilege. So, today, I set about finding architectural and interior gems that I haven’t heard of and that I aim to explore by the spring.
If you have more suggestions of buildings in London to visit (or elsewhere), let us know in the comments section. We’d love to hear.
So many Londoners, and visitors to the capital, have absolutely no idea that there is a spectacular Hindu Temple in Neasden. Completed in 1995, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (also known as the Neasden Temple), was the first traditional Hindu temple to be built in the Western world. It is a breath-taking architectural masterpiece. The design and construction had to conform with India’s ancient architectural texts, the Vastu and Shastras. It took just two-and-a-half years to complete.
Image taken from Shri Swaminarayan Mandir website
Image taken from Shri Swaminarayan Mandir website
Image taken from Shri Swaminarayan Mandir website
Image taken from Shri Swaminarayan Mandir website
Image taken from Shri Swaminarayan Mandir website
If you’re fed up with nesting at home, and are ready to get back out there now you’ve recovered from the festive season, get down to Wilton’s Music Hall. It is one of the few surviving music halls in the country and still boasts many of its original 18th century features. Grade II listed, Wilton’s Music Hall is a multi-arts performance space; theatre, sing-a-longs, art exhibitions, and music gigs are a-plenty here. You can also drop by for a drink and a bite to eat in their bar and soak up the Victorian interior over a cocktail or five.
Image taken from popupvintagefairs.co.uk
Auditorium | Image taken from Wilton’s Music Hall website
Mahogany Bar | Image taken from Wilton’s Music Hall website
Put a few layers on, take a good book and a hot drink, and have a bit of time out at St Dunstan-in-the-East. This Church of England parish church was largely destroyed during the Blitz and the ruins are now a public garden. It is a much needed sanctuary in this glorious but occasionally soul-destroying city.
Image taken from Maybe It’s Because website
Image taken from Gareth, Flickr
Image taken from Visit London blog
Visit the house that inspired The Castle of Otranto, the first gothic novel. Strawberry Hill House is one of the most brilliant examples of Georgian Gothic Revival architecture in Britain. This ‘little Gothic castle’ was conceived by Horace Walpole (author of The Castle of Otranto) in 1747. Leave yourself plenty of time to amble through the numerous rooms and beautiful gardens. You’ll no doubt leave blown away and inspired.
Image taken from Trip Advisor
Image taken from Pooky blog
Image taken from Strawberry Hill Fields Facebook page
Image taken from an interior website
Image taken from Strawberry Hill Fields Facebook page
Image taken from Strawberry Hill Fields Facebook page
Two Temple Place is easy to miss. Closed to the public for much of the year, it is only open during their exhibition season, which starts in 2018 on the 27 January and ends on the 22 April.
This late Victorian mansion is a visual feast. It was built by architect, John Loughborough Pearson for William Waldorf Astor, who was perhaps the richest man in the world at the time. The interior is just as ornate as the exterior, featuring mahogany carvings, friezes and silver gilt panels.
Their exhibition this is year is Rhythm and Reaction: The Age of Jazz in Britain. Entry is free.
Image taken from Historic Houses Association
Image taken from 1zoom.me
Image taken from Google
Image taken from Wikimedia