Cool, Hidden and Unusual Things to Do in London

Sky Garden

A stunning garden with panoramic views of London or 'a meagre pair of rockeries in a space designed with all the finess…

London

Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy Arts has been fostering artistic talent for over two centuries now. It is fitting, then, that it is b…

London

Imperial War Museum

Imperial War Museum: a study of Britain at war.

London

Mercato Mayfair

An artisanal food hall based in a Greek revival church, Mercato Mayfair has it all... if by 'it all' you mean delicious…

London

Leadenhall Market

Leadenhall Market was used as the film location to Harry Potter’s Leaky Cauldron pub, was once home to a runaway goose …

London

Barbican Conservatory

A rainforest in the centre of London, Barbican Conservatory is the unlikely home of a reformed gang of turtles that onc…

London

Eltham Palace

Is Eltham Palace one of England’s most haunted places?

London

Gunnersbury Park

Named for a Viking royal, Gunnersbury Park has a fascinating history but perhaps should have been torn down over 90 yea…

London

The Garden at 120

A rooftop Eden in a concrete jungle, Garden at 120 is London's biggest public rooftop garden with some of the best view…

London

Seven Dials Market

A huge foodhall in the heart of one of London's most vibrant and bizarre neighbourhoods, Seven Dials Market is the perf…

London

Southwark Cathedral

As the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark, Southwark Cathedral is the spiritual centre for an area stre…

London

Neasden Temple

Neasden Temple (or BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir as it is properly known) was the first traditional Hindu temple in Eur…

London

221B Baker Street

221B Baker Street: Sherlock Holmes’ legendary address in London.

London

Cadogan Hall

Cadogan Hall in London was the first permanent home of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO).

London

Charing Cross Station: Ten Surprising Facts

War, severed body parts, a 700 year old monument, a fatal roof collapse and the world's first underground railway, Char…

London

Crossness Pumping Station

The Crossness Pumping Station was created after The Great Stink of 1858 nearly drove MPs out of the Palace of Westminst…

London

Primrose Hill London

Primrose Hill is a London park and the site of a mysterious 17th century murder that resulted in the hanging of three i…

London

Leighton House Museum

Leighton House Museum: one man's legacy in London born from the love of two sisters.

London

Highgate Cemetery

Satanism, sex rituals, vampires and duels: Highgate Cemetery was the inspiration behind Christopher Lee's Dracula, but …

London

Mayfield Lavender Farm

Mae Jemison once said, 'when God made the colour purple, God was just showing off'. If this is true, then whoever grew …

London

Chelsea Physic Garden

Founded in 1673, Chelsea Physic Garden is a picturesque reminder of the vital role that botanical gardens played in the…

London

Museum of London Docklands

The Museum of London Docklands: shedding light on the former execution capital of Europe.

London

Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Crossrail Place Roof Garden: is contained within a building that looks like it belongs on Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

London

God’s Own Junkyard

God’s Own Junkyard: the dazzling neon wonderland in the heart of London.

London

Wormwood Scrubs

A London prison made famous by a Michael Caine film, a song by The Jam and a rooftop protest by the IRA, Wormwood Scrub…

London

Vinegar Yard

Featuring the mutoid sculptures of a man infamous for making his own Stonehenge out of tanks, Vinegar Yard is London's …

London

Isabella Plantation

When wandering around Richmond Park, Isabella Plantation can be easily overlooked, but here’s why it shouldn’t be!

London

Rules Restaurant

Is Rules Restaurant London’s oldest restaurant?

London

Foundling Museum

The Foundling Museum commemorates the Foundling Hospital, which is thought to be the world's first incorporated charity…

London

Old Billingsgate

Old Billingsgate: Once the world’s largest fish market, this grand Victorian landmark has transformed into one of the c…

London

Hackney City Farm

As the name suggests, Hackney City Farm is quite literally a farm in the middle of the city!

London

Sir John Soane’s Museum

Sir John Soane's Museum is the former home of one of England's greatest architects.

London

Tobacco Dock

Have you ever heard the story about the Tobacco Dock and the Wild Bengal Tiger?

London

Russell Square

Russell Square was created by the same man who saw those powdered wigs for men tossed out of England.

London

Old Royal Naval College

Old Royal Naval College has had many uses; it was a hospital, a college, the birthplace of a king, and the memorial of …

London

Burlington Arcade

Stunning 19th Century Arcade? Check. Luxury goods? Check. Private militia dolled up in Victorian frock coats? Check. If…

London

Mayflower Pub

The Mayflower Pub is the embodiment of the maritime legacy of Captain Christopher Jones and the historic Mayflower jour…

London

Punch and Judy, Covent Garden

Punch and Judy, Covent Garden: a pub, a puppet show, the birthplace of an icon.

London

Pudding Lane

A street named not for sweets but for animal guts, Pudding Lane is the site of Farriner's bakery, where the Great Fire …

London

Kew Palace

Kew Palace is a regal jewel nestled within the natural beauty of Kew Gardens in the leafy borough of Richmond-upon-Tham…

London

Greenwich Foot Tunnel

The Greenwich Foot Tunnel: transporting pedestrians beneath the River Thames.

London

Greenwich Park

For centuries a royal hunting ground, Greenwich Park is today famous as the birthplace of time as we know it, and a lov…

London

Bethnal Green

The former stomping ground of both Jack the Ripper and the Kray Twins, Bethnal Green was a parish of large, well-to-do …

London

Old London Bridge

Old London Bridge survived for 600 years until it was dismantled and scattered across the city.

London

London Wall

Remains of London’s once formidable barrier built by the Romans in 200 AD.

London

Sambourne House

A perfectly preserved Victorian cartoonist’s domestic and artistic domicile, located in Stafford Terrace, Kensington.

London

St Dunstan-in-the-East

The overgrown ruins of a 900 year old London church, St Dunstan-in-the-East is like a window into an alternate history.

London

Beau Brummell

The definition of a dandy, an influencer before influencers were even a thing, the laziest Officer that the Tenth Royal…

London

Kensal Green Cemetery

Today, Western cultures shy away from the thought of death, but this wasn't always the case. Kensal Green Cemetery is a…

London

Albert Bridge

Did you know the Albert Bridge vibrates?

London

Leake Street Arches

Hidden beneath Waterloo station, Leake Street Arches is a disused Eurostar tunnel that's been transformed into a street…

London

Traitors' Gate

Once you passed through Traitors' Gate there was a good chance you’d never leave—at least, not in one piece.

London

The Maughan Library

Upon completion, The Maughan Library was the largest university library in the UK since World War II.

London

Prospect of Whitby

In its heyday, The Prospect of Whitby witnessed the execution of several infamous pirates. Today its authentic interior…

London

Word on the Water

Word on the Water: a floating bookstore in London.

London

Nelson's Column

An iconic London monument built in honour of Lord Nelson who died leading the British fleet to victory in the Battle of…

London

Blind Beggar Pub

The Blind Beggar Pub: the setting of a real life gangster shoot-out.

London

Garden Lodge

Garden Lodge: accommodating a superstar.

London

Cecil Court aka Flicker Alley

Known locally as Flicker Alley, Cecil Court was a vital hub of early British cinema with international connections.

London

Viktor Wynd Museum

The Viktor Wynd Museum: where else can you find old master etchings alongside celebrity faeces; Happy Meal toys next to…

London

Asylum Chapel

Asylum Chapel hosts weddings that stand the test of time, like it has.

London

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is one of London's 'Magnificent Seven' cemeteries.

London

Bush House

Bush House: The Home of Broadcasting.

London

Arnold Circus

Arnold Circus is a historic bandstand at the centre of one of the worst slums in East London.

London

Shad Thames

Former industrial hub and one-time home of David Hockney and Derek Jarman, Shad Thames is a distinct, hidden London dis…

London

Paternoster Square

Paternoster Square is an urban development that sits on top of England’s former publishing street and is home to three …

London

Little Venice

London's answer to Italy's 'Floating City', or a realtor's cynical attempt to make the most of a couple of canals, Litt…

London

Porchester Hall

Porchester Hall is THE place to host an event in London.

London

Bedlam Asylum

Over eight centuries old, Bethlem Royal Hospital (aka Bedlam Asylum) offers a harrowing look into England's past mistre…

London

Lincoln's Inn

With elements dating back to the 1400s, and from every century since, Lincoln's Inn is a treasure trove of London archi…

London

Victoria Memorial

The Victoria Memorial is the largest and most impressive memorial dedicated to Queen Victoria in England.

London

Cittie of Yorke Pub

The Cittie of Yorke Pub in London is not actually as old as it looks!

London

Woolwich Dockyard

Woolwich Dockyard was one of the leading dockyards in the whole of England.

London

Duchess Theatre London

The Duchess Theatre London holds the distinction of hosting the shortest run production in West End history.

London

St Pancras Old Church

Often claimed to be one of the oldest places of Christian worship in England, St Pancras Old Church and its churchyard …

London

Chancery Lane London

Chancery Lane London was created by the Knights Templar.

London

Handel and Hendrix in London

Handel and Hendrix were born over two hundred years and one thousand miles apart, but, despite this, they had a lot in …

London

Gabriel’s Wharf

Once an unremarkable warehouse, Gabriel’s Wharf is now an artsy enclave on London's South Bank.

London

Queen Mary's Rose Garden

A tranquil garden containing London’s biggest collection of roses, Queen Mary’s Rose Garden is a peaceful place of beau…

London

Bunhill Fields

A spooky legacy of London’s most turbulent historical events; Bunhill Fields is a nonconformist burial ground built on …

London

Kynance Mews

Described as "Insta-famous," Kynance Mews has been listed as one of the most "instagrammable" places to photograph wist…

London

Buddhapadipa Temple

Out of approximately 150 temples in London, the Buddhapadipa temple was the first Thai Buddhist temple to be built in t…

London

Hawley Wharf

Welcome to the world of Hawley Wharf; Camden’s newest playground for shopping, dining, and all-around fun.

London

Crystal Palace Park Dinosaurs

The Crystal Palace Park Dinosaurs: The world's first full-scale reconstruction of the prehistoric creatures.

London

Millennium Mills

Millennium Mills: waiting to be developed since the early 2000s.

London

Wellington Arch

Hyde park's Wellington Arch is the epitomy of a UK public works project: it was left unfinished for years and has a his…

London

Lincoln's Inn Fields

Lincoln’s Inn Fields, once the site of public executions, is now a place to play tennis and watch musical performances.

London

Winchester Palace

Winchester Palace was one of the largest and most important buildings in Mediaeval London. Now it lies in ruins.

London

Temple of Mithras

The remnants of an ancient military cult that once threatened to takeover the world, the Temple of Mithras is a London …

London

Brown Hart Gardens

Idle, disorderly and verminous persons beware: enter Brown Hart Gardens at your risk. And don't even think about practi…

London

Alphabeta Building

The Alphabeta Building: prioritising an award-winning work-life balance for its employees, one basketball game or open-…

London

Twinings Tea Shop

Before there was Starbucks, before there was Coca Cola, before there was even the USA, there was the Twinings tea shop.

London

Goodwin's Court

A Georgian alley thought to be one of the main inspirations of Harry Potter's Diagon Alley, Goodwin's Court is the perf…

London

Pelican Stairs: A Hidden London Beach

Pelican Stairs is an alleyway in East London that leads to a hidden London beach. It runs alongside a historic pub, the…

London

The Burghers of Calais

The Burghers of Calais in London is a cast of the original commemoration in France of a pivotal moment in the Hundred Y…

London

Rembrandt Gardens

Rembrandt Gardens: Saved from destruction and named after a Dutch painter, to honour Dutch-English relations.

London

Beckenham Place Mansion

Beckenham Place Mansion is situated in one of the finest wildlife sites in Lewisham.

London

Crosby Moran Hall

Crosby Moran Hall is a private residence in Chelsea that contains the remains of a 15th-century building; notable occup…

London

Florin Court

Florin Court: The home of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot.

London

St Giles in The Fields

St Giles in The Fields began as a hospital to treat leprosy.

London

Duck Island Cottage

Duck Island Cottage: a charming 17th-century structure that once housed the royal duck keeper.

London

Shepherdess Walk

More than just a road, park and mural name in Hackney, London, Shepherdess Walk is the place to go to see where medieva…

London

Mount Street Gardens

Hidden next to Mayfair's Grosvenor Chapel, Mount Street Gardens is one of London's most peaceful beauty spots. Then aga…

London

St Etheldreda's Church

For many years, St Etheldreda’s Church was the oldest Roman Catholic Church still in use in England.

London

The Rookery Streatham

The Rookery Streatham: a secret garden in south London.

London

Princelet Street

Princelet Street is dedicated to all the immigrants that have come before and called it home.

London

Leinster Gardens

An opulent Victorian terrace concealing secrets that link the railway, BBC’s Sherlock and the author of Peter Pan, J.M …

London

Millbank Prison

Inmates were sent to Millbank Prison instead of being shipped to Australia, while this was considered a mercy at the ti…

London

The Tabernacle Notting Hill

The Tabernacle: Home of the Notting Hill Carnival.

London

Carreras Cigarette Factory

Carreras Cigarette Factory lost much of its former beauty after it found a new purpose as business offices.

London

Crossbones Graveyard

Crossbones Graveyard is the unconsecrated final resting place of Medieval London's sex workers, 'The Winchester Geese'.…

London

The Hardy Tree

Thomas Hardy, author of Far From The Madding Crowd and architect of one of London's strangest landmarks: The Hardy Tree.

London

Pimlico Gardens

Pimlico Gardens was transformed from a marshy swamp into a desirable and fashionable place to live in Central London.

London

Charlton House Library

Charlton House Library is contained within one of London's finest surviving examples of a Jacobean designed mansion.

London

Southmere Lake

Southmere Lake, or the 'Flatblock Marina', is a brutalist estate in Thamesmead, London, famous for its role as a totali…

London

Three Mills Island

A site of mills since Doomsday (the book, not the end of time), Three Mills Island is part of the oldest recorded examp…

London

Hagia Sophia London

The Hagia Sophia London proudly represents London’s Greek Orthodox community.

London

St Mary Le Strand Church

St Mary Le Strand: the first of fifty churches built after the Great Fire of London.

London

Jack Straw's Castle

This odd building stands on the site on which Peasant's Revolt leader, Jack Straw, is said to have sheltered before bei…

London

50 Berkeley Square

Once declared the most haunted house in London, 50 Berkeley Square has a body count to send shivers down your spine. Th…

London

Bessborough Gardens

Who knew a quirky dolphin fountain could transform the bomb-damaged ruins of Westminster’s hidden gem, Bessborough Gard…

London

Folly House Beach

Why do Londoners flock to Brighton when they have Folly House Beach on their doorstep?

London

Little Compton Street

Little Compton Street: A buried Bohemian time capsule beneath London's modern roads?

London

Old St Pancras Burial Ground

Mary Shelley famously started writing her classic novel 'Frankenstein' during a stormy stay at Lord Byron's Lake Geneva…

London

St Mary Abbots Gardens

Kensington is a bustling area of London full to bursting with museums, centres of learning, galleries, shops, and resta…

London

William Blake's House

'I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man's.' In this house lived William Blake: poet, visionary, rebel, g…

London

The Dramatic History of Shoreditch High Street

Shoreditch High Street – the old main street of Shoreditch – where iconic street art and outdoor markets meet vintage c…

London

London

Unusual places in London

Sky Garden

Royal Academy of Arts

Imperial War Museum

Mercato Mayfair

Leadenhall Market

Barbican Conservatory

Eltham Palace

Gunnersbury Park

The Garden at 120

Seven Dials Market

Southwark Cathedral

Neasden Temple

221B Baker Street

Cadogan Hall

Charing Cross Station: Ten Surprising Facts

Crossness Pumping Station

Primrose Hill London

Leighton House Museum

Highgate Cemetery

Mayfield Lavender Farm

Chelsea Physic Garden

Museum of London Docklands

Crossrail Place Roof Garden

God’s Own Junkyard

Wormwood Scrubs

Vinegar Yard

Isabella Plantation

Rules Restaurant

Foundling Museum

Old Billingsgate

Hackney City Farm

Sir John Soane’s Museum

Tobacco Dock

Russell Square

Old Royal Naval College

Burlington Arcade

Mayflower Pub

Punch and Judy, Covent Garden

Pudding Lane

Kew Palace

Greenwich Foot Tunnel

Greenwich Park

Bethnal Green

Old London Bridge

London Wall

Sambourne House

St Dunstan-in-the-East

Beau Brummell

Kensal Green Cemetery

Albert Bridge

Leake Street Arches

Traitors' Gate

The Maughan Library

Prospect of Whitby

Word on the Water

Nelson's Column

Blind Beggar Pub

Garden Lodge

Cecil Court aka Flicker Alley

Viktor Wynd Museum

Asylum Chapel

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

Bush House

Arnold Circus

Shad Thames

Paternoster Square

Little Venice

Porchester Hall

Bedlam Asylum

Lincoln's Inn

Victoria Memorial

Cittie of Yorke Pub

Woolwich Dockyard

Duchess Theatre London

St Pancras Old Church

Chancery Lane London

Handel and Hendrix in London

Gabriel’s Wharf