25 of London’s Hidden Gems You Won’t Want to Miss (+ a map!)
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When most people visit London, they usually visit Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and other iconic sights and attractions. And while every tourist should see these things at least once in their lifetime, it’s also worth exploring the off-the-beaten-path destinations to get a true feel for the city.
Sure, some of these things are a little weird and off the wall, but the truth is, London is a little weird and off the wall, too! So, if you’re eager to see something different during your trip to iconic London, then make sure you add these London hidden gems to your itinerary.
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London’s Hidden Gems: The 25 Best
1. Grab an Early Morning Pint at the Market Porter
Some people need coffee, others need tea, but when in London, you can wake up with a pint instead! Head to the famous Borough Market and make your way to the Market Porter, a traditional alehouse that opens at 6 AM from Monday to Friday.
They originally started pouring this early for the porters who worked nights at the market. Once their shift was finished, they would celebrate with a pint before heading back home. While there is something to be said about drinking beer first thing in the morning, it’s also such a great time to see that part of the city before it wakes up.
2. Take Bus Route 15
You won’t need a car in London anyway but if a hop-on-hop-off bus is a little too touristy for your liking, then take the Route 15 bus from Charing Cross station. This double-decker bus takes you to some iconic sites, including the Royal Courts of Justice, St. Paul Cathedral, and Tower Hill. And best of all, it takes a contactless card or Oyster card, just like any other form of transportation, which is much cheaper than the expensive tourist buses!
The entire ride isn’t very long, so don’t expect to be on the road the whole day. But it’s still a fun trip, especially if you can grab one of those front window seats on the top of the bus! (Route 11 is also a great one!)
3. Visit St Dunstan-in-the-East Church Garden
This hidden garden amongst the ruins of the St Dunstan-in-the-East Church is one of the coolest London hidden gems. Although the church was originally built in the 1100s, it was damaged in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and during the Blitz in WWII.
Instead of repairing the church, it was converted into a public garden. The remnants of the church are now covered in tree canopies and crawling with vines of ivy, making it one of the more peaceful places in the city. It’s a peaceful little escape where you can spend an hour or so disconnected from the bustle of city life.
4. Get Thai Food at the Churchill Arms
The Churchill Arms may be one of the most beautiful pubs in London (just look at all those beautiful flowers on the building!). The pub made our top ten favorite pub list in our London Pub Guide.
But, it also happens to be one of the best places in the city for authentic Thai food.
Start your night with a pint in the pub and take note of the eclectic decor of antiques and other pieces of memorabilia clinging to the ceiling and walls. Then, when you’re feeling peckish, you can head to the back for a delicious meal.
You’ll find all the classics like Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, and Panag Curry. And don’t forget to top it off with a Thai Iced Tea (it’s a refreshing change from all the beer!).
If food experiences are your cup of tea, we think you will like this food tour.
5. Grab Coffee at a Cabman Shelter
If you walk around London, you might come across a little green hut on the side of the road. These cabman shelters were built to provide food for black cab drivers around the city. While there were 61 shelters around in the late 1800s and early 1900s, unfortunately, only 13 of them remain today.
To dine inside the shelter, you’ll need to be a licensed cabby. But you can always order a coffee or sandwich if you want at the takeaway window. We highly recommend going to Luba’s Green Hut Cafe on Kensington High Street – the owner is so friendly, and the sandwiches and pastries are outstanding!
6. Go to Little Venice
Little Venice is a small slice of Italy right in the heart of London near Paddington Station. You’ll find a network of canals lined with picturesque houseboats and cozy waterfront cafes, which makes the perfect setting for an afternoon stroll. You can also take a canal cruise (there are several companies offering tours) or grab a drink or bite to eat at one of the houseboat restaurants.
We even went stand-up paddleboarding here once, as the waters are blocked by the locks and are, therefore, relatively calm. But make sure you’re skilled enough to stay standing. The water is murky and a little gross, so you don’t want to fall in.
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7. Enjoy the View from the Royal Opera House Rooftop
Convent Garden is one of the busiest places in the city, with lots of shops, cafes, and boutiques to explore. But you can avoid the crowds of tourists and shoppers by heading to the Piazza rooftop terrace on the top of the Royal Opera House. You don’t need a ticket to a show or performance to come – it’s open to the public the entire day.
It’s a full restaurant, but if you’re not hungry, you can also just come to have a drink at the bar. If you want a light snack, you can also get food from the cafe downstairs and bring it up to the terrace to enjoy the jaw-dropping views! There’s a lot of space, so it’s the perfect spot if you need a breather.
8. Walk the Greenwich Foot Tunnel
As the only tunnel that crosses underneath the Thames River, the Greenwich Foot Tunnel is a secret even to most Londoners! This 1,200-foot walkway is accessible via an elevator from Greenwich or Millway. It’s believed that over 4,000 people use this tunnel every day to commute, although it felt a lot emptier than that when we went.
There’s not much to see on the inside except the domed white tiles that line the tunnel, but it’s a unique way to cross from one side of the town to the other.
9. Enjoy an Evening at a Pub Theatre
You don’t have to visit the West End to enjoy world-class entertainment. In London, you can find small, 40 to 60-seat theaters on top of pubs. They’re fun, intimate, and a great way to take part in the legendary London theater scene without spending a lot on tickets.
We can personally recommend the Drayton Arms in Kensington or the Cafe Canal in Little Venice. But you really can’t go wrong with any of the others as the performances are top-notch at pretty much all the pub theatres.
10. Check out the The Postal Museum
There are so many great museums in London, but the Postal Museum is one of our favorites purely thanks to the Mail Rail! This 0.62-mile stretch of track goes underground and was used to help deliver the mail, although it’s now a really fun ride with an informative audio and visual show.
Keep in mind that this was a real working mail railway system (which means the train was designed to carry mail – not people!). As such, it can be quite tight in the car, which means it might not be the best activity if you’re claustrophobic!
In addition to the ride, the Postal Museum also has some interesting exhibits on the history of the Royal Mail. There’s also a huge indoor play area for kids (separate tickets are required) with a mini-town, slides, and ball pits.
11. Dine at the V&A Cafe
Located inside the historic Victoria and Albert Museum, the V&A Cafe was the first cafe to ever open inside a museum. But don’t just come here for the bragging rights. The cafe itself is gorgeous, with imposing columns, colorful ceramic tiles, and stained glass windows.
The food is also pretty good, although you can also just grab a cup of tea or coffee. And every now and then, they also have live piano or harp music. Listening to the music in such a beautiful building with outstanding acoustics is a really unique experience and one of our favorite reasons to go here! You can check their museum calendar online to see if there is something scheduled.
If you’re a museum lover, you’re in the right place. London has almost 200 museums, so be sure to check out the ones that are actually worth a visit!
12. Swim at Hampstead Heath
Looking for a way to cool off in the summer heat? This sprawling park of woodland and meadows has three different swimming ponds for you to enjoy. There is a separate pool for men and women (lifeguarded and open year-round), as well as a mixed-gender pond that is open seasonally.
Hampstead Health also has a network of pedestrian and cycling trails as well as sports facilities like cricket pitches, tennis courts, and soccer fields. Nearby, you can also visit the Kenwood House. It’s free to visit and was featured in the movie Notting Hill!
13. Visit the Columbia Road Flower Market
Every Sunday, you can visit the Columbia Road Flower Market in Bethnal Green from 8 AM to 3 PM. Although you’re probably not going to pick up a new plant or cactus to take back on the plane with you, it’s still a very fun street market that shows just how vibrant the city is. Plus, there are lots of other cute boutique shops, art galleries, and restaurants on Columbia Road that you can visit.
14. Shop Til You Drop at Leadenhall Market
London is a true shopping mecca known for its high-end department stores, independent boutiques, and colorful markets. While there are so many places to go shopping in the city, Leadenhall Market is arguably the most beautiful. Located just a few blocks from Sky Garden, this historic market dates back to the 14th century. The Victorian building is stunning, with intricate ironwork, decorative columns, and an ornate glass roof that lets in lots of natural light.
There are some clothing and accessory shops (as well as a cool bookstore), along with a handful of restaurants, cafes, and pubs.
While in the City of London, check out our favorite historical London pubs in our London Pub Guide.
15. Admire the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park
On a sunny day, take a trip to Holland Park to visit the Japanese-style Kyoto Garden. It was gifted to London by the city of Kyoto in 1991 and features a tranquil koi pond, tiered waterfall features, and traditional stone lanterns. And if you’re lucky, you might even get to see a few peacocks strutting around the grounds!
But Kyoto Park isn’t the only Japanese garden in Holland Park. The Fukushima Memorial Garden was opened in 2012 as a thank you for Britain’s support during the Fukushima nuclear accident.
16. Watch the Horse Guards Parade
Skip the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and walk over to St. James’s Park for the Horse Guards Parade instead. Every morning at 11 AM (or 10 AM on Sundays), there’s a changing of the mounted cavalry troopers from The King’s Life Guard.
If you’re in London in June, you can also come back here for the Trooping the Colour ceremony, which celebrates the King’s birthday. It involves over 1,400 soldiers and is a really unique experience to see – if you can get a spot, that is! We went right after moving to London and arrived an hour or two early to get a prime spot. It was so fun to see the Queen roll by in a carriage.
17. Watch the Sunset at Primrose Hill
Just north of Regent’s Park sits Primrose Hill. This park is dominated by a 210-foot natural hill that overlooks the entire city skyline below. It’s the highest point in North London and one of the best places to come to watch the sunset.
Before grabbing a spot on the lawn, look for Shakespeare’s Tree. It’s a large oak tree that was planted in 1864 to mark the writer’s 300th birthday (although the tree you see there today is a replacement that was planted in 1964).
18. Spend the Day at Battersea Park
If you’re looking for something fun to do with your family in London, then consider spending the day at the 200-acre Battersea Park. Built in the mid-1800s, this Victorian park has a prime location on the banks of the Thames, with tons of fun gardens, attractions, and activities to take part in.
For us, the highlight of the park was the Battersea Park Children’s Zoo. It’s a bit on the small side (it feels more like a farm than a full zoo), but kids will love the monkeys, otters, donkeys, reptiles, and other creatures that live here.
Battersea Park also has a lake where you can rent pedal boats and an outdoor sports facility with tennis courts, running tracks, and soccer pitches. You can also visit the Pump House Gallery near the lake to see what kind of art exhibition is currently being held.
19. Get Early Admission to the British Museum
As one of the most visited museums in the world, the British Museum isn’t exactly a hidden gem in London. In fact, it can be very busy throughout the day, especially considering that admission to the museum is free. But if you come early, you will be able to avoid the crowds and enjoy the galleries and exhibits in peace and quiet.
If you want to visit the museum before the crowds arrive, you can book an out of hours ticket and tour the museum for an hour before it opens to the public. While you do have to pay for tickets to what is usually a free museum, you do get that early entry.
20. Go Lawn Bowling in Hyde Park
You probably know about cricket and polo, but have you ever heard of lawn bowling? Similar to bocce ball, the game in England dates back more than 800 years. If you want to try playing it for yourself, then you can go to Hyde Park to rent a rink in their outdoor bowling green. Up to six people can play at a time, although it’s still fun with just two!
The bowling green is open to the public from April to September. And don’t worry if you have never played before. You’ll get a scorecard along with instructions to teach you all the tips and tricks of the trade.
21. Grab a Drink at Gordon’s Wine Bar
London may be known for beer, but if you fancy a glass of wine, then a visit to Gordon’s is an absolute must. Dating back to 1890, it’s the oldest wine bar in all of London! It’s still run by the same family with a warm and friendly staff that makes you feel like you’ve been one of their customers for years.
And what goes better with wine than cheese? They do cheese pairings for some of their wines, but they also have an impressive menu with mezze platters, cold plates, and sharing boards to choose from.
This cozy hole-in-the-wall is located right by the Embankment, just a 5-minute walk from Trafalgar Square. After a glass or two, you can go for a walk along the water to enjoy the beautiful city lights in the evening!
22. Tour the Historic Underground Stations
While most of London’s top sights are above ground, one of its more interesting attractions can actually be found far beneath the streets of the city. There are nearly 40 different London Tube stations that have been completely abandoned over the years. And while they are normally closed to the public, you can book a tour to see these eerie parts of history with your own eyes.
There are many different tours to choose from – each one is dedicated to exploring one specific underground station. You can visit Baker Street (the world’s first underground), Down Street (a secret station used by Winston Churchill in the war), and Clapham South (a hidden bomb shelter for refugees).
23. Have Coffee in a Loo
At first, it might not sound very appealing to have a cup of coffee inside an old men’s bathroom – but hear us out! Attendant is one of London’s top specialty coffee shops with multiple locations around the city, but their most notable branch is located in Fitzrovia. This secret coffee shop is located inside a retrofitted Victorian loo from the late 1800s.
The remodel from a smelly public bathroom to a classy coffee shop took over two years. It’s a small place, but try to grab a seat along the wall, where you’ll be able to see the original Doulton & Co. porcelain urinals. They also serve breakfast, brunch, and lunch, although it’s first-come, first-serve, and generally quite busy.
24. Hang Out in Postman’s Park
If you’re around St. Paul’s Cathedral, you can make the quick walk up the street to Postman’s Park. This peaceful little green space was once the headquarters of the General Post Office (hence the name), although it’s more famous for the memorials that line the wall.
The tiled plaques of the Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice are dedicated to everyday people who gave their lives to save someone or something else. There are 54 tablets with space for an additional 66 to be added in the future.
25. Visit Apsley House
If you’re interested in fine art and history, then you’ll love spending a few hours wandering through the halls of Apsley House. This historic building, which is from the 1770s, was once the London home of the first Duke of Wellington. It’s now a museum with paintings and artifacts dedicated to the Duke, although it’s also worth going to admire the ornately decorated rooms and halls.
However, we put Apsley House on this list because of the unique events that are held there from time to time. From murder mysteries to costumed galas, snagging tickets to one of their special events is a really fun way to spend an evening in London.
Map of London’s Hidden Gems
Learn about getting around London on the Tube to get to each of London’s hidden gems!
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The Perfect Day in London
Whether you’ve added all of these hidden gems to your London to do or you’ve picked a couple you can’t miss don’t forget to grab our 1-Day London Itinerary. This is a fun day where you don’t have to think about planning anything, just download and go!
Free Download!
1 DAY IN LONDON ITINERARY
If you have limited time in this capital city, don’t miss out. Our one day itinerary takes you to great spots on an easy walking tour of London.
Download to your phone and take it on the go.
