Hidden London Gems – A List of lesser Known Places
You can’t leave London without getting the nagging feeling that you have missed a few hidden London gems. And that is quite understandable for a city with more than 8 Million people which has grown organically over the course of more than two millennia since it began as a Roman trading outpost around 43 AD. There is simply not enough time to see everything, just the major sights so that you can tell your friends back home that you have seen the things that are on every London tourist’s checklist.
But thanks to London’s diverse history, population and unplanned expansion over the centuries there are corners and niches which contain interesting stuff that is hidden away from the public eye and if you are a tourist you may only stumble upon them by accident. It’s the diversity that makes London so exciting. It is a place where polarising opposites meet: old and new architecture, local and international cuisine, tradition and progress. Every borough of London has its own vibe, people, culture and history so that it is impossible to define London as one homogeneous entity which adds to the charm of this great City.
It
is a place where polarising opposites meet: old and new architecture, local and international cuisine, tradition and progress. Every borough of London has its own vibe,people, culture and history so that it is impossible to define London as one homogeneous entity which adds to the charm of this great City. It’s like an agglomeration of many small countries which are all connected by tubes for transportation. (Futurama reference)
I thought it might be useful to some travellers who have seen the Tower of London, the Giant Coca-Cola Wheel and other standard London attractions to have a list of not so famous places to get off the beaten path.
The following list is mostly based on personal experiences so there might be some places which are quite familiar to some people. If you know a place to add please let me know.
Below you can find a map and list of less known places in London
| Attraction | Address |
|---|---|
| Freud Museum London | 20 Maresfield Gardens Hampstead London NW3 5SX |
| Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising | 111-117 Lancaster Rd London W11 1QT |
| Kyoto Garden | 12-114 Holland Park Ave London W11 4UA |
| Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground | Broad Walk London W2 2UH |
| 87-135 Brompton Rd London SW1X 7XL |
|
| Benjamin Franklin House | 36 Craven St London WC2N 5NF |
| Lambeth Palace Gardens | Lambeth Palace London SE1 7JU |
| London Silver Vaults | Chancery House 53-64 Chancery Ln London WC2A 1QS |
| Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub | 145 Fleet St London EC4A 2BU |
| Bank of England Museum | Bartholomew Ln London EC2R 8AH |
| Sky Garden | Sky Garden 1 Sky Garden Walk London EC3M 8AF |
| Ice Bar London | 31-33 Heddon St London W1B 4BN |
| Walking: You can take a leisurely walk (ca.1h) from Westbourne Park Tube station to Camden along Regent’s canal and feel like in Venice. You will pass magnificent old mansions, houseboats in which people actually live and see a totally different side of London. Reward yourself with some delicious food at Camden Market. Take your smartphone with you as the canal disappears for a short distance underground. Not all sections are well lit at night! Thanks for the tip Nuri. | Start: Westbourne Park Tube Station area Destination: Camden Market |
| London Transport Museum | Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 7BB |
| Kew Gardens Besides plants, historic buildings and beautiful gardens a major attraction is their hilltop walkway. | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE |
| Royal Observatory Greenwich | Blackheath Ave, London
SE10 8XJ |
| Peggy Porschen Parlour Luxuriously designed (pricey) cakes. Open daily to enjoy a wide selection of elegant confectionery. | 116 Ebury Street
Belgravia London SW1W 9QQ |
| Dr Who Police Box Earl’s Court A look inside is only accessible to the public in virtual reality. | 232 Earls Ct Rd, Earls Court, London SW5 9RD |
| Neal’s Yard is a beautiful alley that is accessible via Shorts Gardens and Monmouth Street (near Seven Dials) | Neal’s Yard, London
WC2H 9DP |
Reviews
I will add reviews for each place when I get some time. In the meantime feel free to check out some of these London blogs:
- Londonist: The biggest and one of the most popular London blogs
- Secret London: For the sophisticated person who is interested in arts, culture and & dining
- London Detail: More for the intellectual minded person with historical facts and figures.
- Mapping London: As the name says data and maps. Interesting data about London to keep you entertained.
- London Living: Some clickbaity articles about London but quick and easy to digest and amazingly most of the content is still good e.g. with things to do, events, reviews.
- Ian Visits: A local Londoner’s blog which includes things to do, geeky events, architecture, transport.
- Time Out London: The entertainment, event and culture guide for London.
- London Literary Pub Crawl An illustrious list of 52 things to do in London by a self-described writer & boozer with a strong focus on waterholes and dead word junkies.
- Hidden-London: Tons of places to explore that you would not find in ordinary tourist guides.
- Hidden-London (TfL): Guides tours of places usually not open to the public like abandoned tube tunnels.
- London Walks: More walks than your feet can handle.
- American Tour Guide: If you prefer Mercian accent.
- Marx Walks: You might not have guessed it but the dude lived in London after Prussia threw him out.
- Capital Ring Walk: Something like the M25 but for people who want do something for their health and discover new sceneries by foot.
