10 Best Reasons to Visit Crystal Palace

2. Crystal Palace is a South London neighborhood named after a giant steel and glass structure built to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. Although the Crystal Palace itself is long gone, there are still plenty of reasons to visit this lovely neighborhood during your stay at any of the hotels near Kensington High Street.

3. Dinosaur Court Located within Crystal Palace Park, this is a series of 33 statues representing fifteen different species, not all of them dinosaurs. They are located on the south section of the park, beside the lakes. Entrance to this part of the park is free.

4. Crystal Palace Park Even if you are not interested in dinosaurs, the 200-acre park itself is worth visiting for its many interesting attractions, such as the Italian Terraces, as well as cafes. Admission to the park is free and opening times are from Monday to Friday are 7:30am, and weekends and holidays at 9am.

5. Haynes Lane Market Located in a two-story building off Westow Street, this market is a mecca for shoppers hunting for antiques and vintage collectibles. The market is open only on Fridays to Sundays from 10.30am to 6pm. You can also read: Hidden London Exhibition - London Transport Museum

6. Crystal Palace Food Market Held every Saturday from 10am to 3pm, the non-profit food market sells organic food produced by small local farmers. There are also stalls selling cooked food from local producers. The market is located at the bottom of Haynes Lane, off Westow Street.

7. Bookseller Crow One of London’s best independent booksellers, their shop features a wide range of books from bestsellers to classics and more unusual titles. Bookseller Crow is located at 50 Westow Street and is open every day, although opening and closing hours vary.

8. Joanna’s Brasserie Open since 1978, this Crystal Palace institution has a menu featuring American-themed and international cuisine as well as British favorites. It is located at 56 Westow Hill and is open everyday from 10am to 10pm, except on Sundays when it closes at 9.30 pm.

9. Westow House The Westow offers the comforts of a traditional pub, but with an eclectic twist – comfy vintage furnishings mingle with board games and quirky artwork. Aside from the expected Pub Quiz Tuesdays, they also have live music on Fridays from local bands. The pub is located at 79 Westow Hill, and opens at 4pm on Monday to Friday, and 12pm Saturday and Sunday.

10. Numidie This family-run bar and bistro features a menu of traditional French and Algerian cuisine. There is also live music every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Numidie is located at 48 Westow Hill and opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday at 5pm to 11pm, and 10pm on Sunday.

11. The Exhibition Room This restaurant is well-known for high quality contemporary British cuisine, which is updated seasonally. There is also a downstairs bar where cocktails are served. It is located at 69 Westow Hill and is open from Tuesday to Friday at 5pm to 10:30pm, Saturday 12nn to 10:30 and Sunday, 12noon until 8pm.

12. Crystal Palace Subway This relic from the neighborhood’s Victorian era heyday is a hidden treasure located underneath the Crystal Palace Parade at A212. However, because it is considered “at risk”, scheduled public access is only available at only a few times a year. But if you can schedule a visit, it is well worth it.

13. If you are travelling to Crystal Palace, you can get there by train or bus. The closest stations by train are Penge West, Gipsy Hill, and Crystal Palace. You can take a rest to our hotel South Kensington.