Discover Secret London: 10 Unique Things to Do Off the Tourist Trail

Unique London attractions

Everyone who’s been to London has seen Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Tower Bridge – but have they watched the sunset over the city skyline from Primrose Hill? Ticking off all the must-sees is great, but it doesn’t really give you a taste of real London. The capital has so much more to offer than its big landmark attractions.

So, during your next trip to the big smoke, skirt around the crowds and queues at the tourist hotspots and spend some time exploring some of the more unique things to do in London off the tourist trail. We guarantee you’ll fall in love with the city all over again.

1. Sir John Soane’s Museum: A cabinet of curiosities

Sir John Soane was one of England’s greatest architects, but he was also an obsessive collector of curiosities and antiquities. When he died in 1837, his home and vast collection were left untouched and have been frozen in time to this day.

Today, visitors can step inside and wander from room to room, taking in the vast and eclectic collection of paintings, sculptures, ancient artefacts, and curiosities from around the world. Each room feels more eccentric and atmospheric than the last, with every turn revealing something new and surprising.

Highlights include the Picture Room, a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus, and the recently restored Drawing Office.

Price: Free

Opening times: Wednesday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

Nearest tube: Holborn

From Paddington: Take the Bakerloo line to Oxford Circus. Change to the Central line and travel two stops to Holborn. From here, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the museum.

Website: https://www.soane.org/

2. Highgate Cemetery: A Gothic Victorian wonderland

First opened in 1839, Highgate Cemetery is the hauntingly beautiful final resting place for many notable figures, including Karl Marx, George Eliot, Douglas Adams, George Michael, and Bob Hoskins.

Walking around the cemetery is like stepping into a wild and enchanting Secret London film set. Ivy and moss climb elaborate Victorian mausoleums, sunlight filters through ancient trees, lighting up weathered Gothic tombstones, and there’s a distinctly reflective atmosphere.

Explore the East Cemetery at your own pace or book a guided tour of the West Cemetery to discover the history and stories surrounding its iconic Egyptian Avenue, Circle of Lebanon, and Terrace of Catacombs.

Price: Adult £10, Child (8-17) £5, Under 8s free

Opening times: March–October 10 am – 5 pm, November–February 10 am – 4 pm

Nearest tube: Archway

From Paddington: Take the Circle line to King’s Cross St Pancras, then change to the Northern line to Archway. From there, it’s a 15-minute uphill walk or a short bus ride to Highgate Cemetery.

Website: https://highgatecemetery.org/

3. The Old Operating Theatre: A glimpse into medical history

Hidden in the roof of St Thomas’ Church near London Bridge, you’ll find Europe’s oldest surviving operating theatre. Built in 1703, this small but fascinating museum offers a (sometimes grisly) glimpse into the history of medicine and surgery before the advent of anaesthetics and antiseptics.

At the heart of the museum is the original wooden surgical theatre, where students would come to watch operations. Visitors can also explore displays of Victorian surgical instruments, medical artefacts, and anatomical specimens, and discover the role herbal medicine and traditional remedies played.

The museum is a reminder of how far medicine has advanced – you will leave with a newfound appreciation for modern healthcare! It’s one of the more unusual things to do in London, and a must-see for anyone interested in history, science, or the more macabre side of the city.

Price: Adult £9, Child (6-15) £6.50, Under 6s free

Opening times: Thursday-Sunday 10.30 am – 5 pm

Nearest tube: London Bridge

From Paddington: Take the Elizabeth line to Bond Street, then change to the Jubilee line to London Bridge. From there, it’s just a short walk to the Old Operating Theatre Museum.

Website: https://oldoperatingtheatre.com/

4. Leadenhall Market: Ornate Victorian architecture

Leadenhall Market is home to a vibrant mix of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars, but is best known for its breathtakingly ornate Victorian architecture.

Despite being surrounded by skyscrapers, you can imagine that you’ve stepped back in time as you wander through the market with its colourful painted ceilings, cobbled walkways, and elegant wrought iron details.

Fans of the Harry Potter film series may also recognise the market from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, where it was used as the filming location for the entrance to Diagon Alley.

Price: Free

Opening times: Public areas are open 24/7

Nearest tube: Monument or Bank

From Paddington: Take the Elizabeth line direct to Liverpool Street. It takes about 10 minutes to walk to Leadenhall Market from here.

Website: https://leadenhallmarket.co.uk/

5. Dennis Severs’ House: A still-life drama

Dennis Severs is said to have described his home in Spitalfields as a “famous time machine”. Artfully curated to tell the story of a fictional 18th-century family, it is one of London’s most unique and atmospheric attractions.

This strange, living house museum appears suspended in time, with each room carefully staged to capture a different moment in the family’s history, spanning the 18^th to early 20^th centuries. As you move through the house, you’ll experience different generations of the family, piecing together their history from the clues left behind.

It’s an immersive and theatrical experience that will engage all your senses. Most of the rooms are illuminated by flickering candlelight, a fire crackles in the grate, and a half-eaten meal sits on the table, creating the uncanny feeling that the occupants have just stepped out for a moment.

Price: Day visits£16 plus a £1.50 booking fee

Opening times: Open at various times; book a time slot online

Nearest tube: Liverpool Street

From Paddington: Take the Elizabeth line direct to Liverpool Street. Dennis Severs’ House is about an 8-minute walk from here.

Website: https://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/

6. Postman’s Park: A memorial to everyday hero

When you’re ready to escape the hustle and bustle of central London, the Postman’s Park near St Paul’s Cathedral is a tranquil oasis for quiet reflection.

Named because of its popularity with workers from the nearby old General Post Office, Postman’s Park is a small Victorian park best known for its Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice.

The memorial commemorates ordinary people who lost their lives while saving others and consists of dozens of ceramic plaques, each telling the story of an individual who performed an act of bravery, only to lose their own life in the process. Though small, this is one of London’s most moving and poignant attractions.

Price: Free

Opening times: 8 am – 7 pm or dusk, whichever is earlier

Nearest tube: St. Paul’s

From Paddington: Take the Elizabeth line direct to Farringdon, then walk for about 10 minutes to Postman’s Park. Or take the Bakerloo line to Oxford Cirus and change to the Central line to St. Paul’s.

Website: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/city-gardens/find-a-garden/postmans-park

7. Leake Street Arches: An ever-changing street art gallery

Hidden beneath Waterloo Station, you’ll find one of London’s largest legal graffiti spaces. This ever-changing gallery of colourful urban street art became famous after Banksy held The Cans Festival, an outdoor street art exhibition, here in 2008.

Every surface of these eight former railway arches is covered in vibrant graffiti, from colourful murals to thought-provoking artwork. It’s one of London’s most Instagram-worthy locations and a popular attraction with creatives and teenagers alike.

Beyond the artwork, you’ll find independent bars, cafes, and event spaces tucked beneath the arches. It’s the perfect place to soak up a different side of London and see the city’s creative spirit in action.

Price: Free

Opening times: 24/7

Nearest tube: Waterloo

From Paddington: Take the Bakerloo line direct to Waterloo, then walk for about 5 minutes to Leake Street Arches.

Website: https://www.leakestreetarches.london/

8. Primrose Hill: One of the best free views in London

Watching the sun set over the city skyline from Primrose Hill is one of the most relaxing ways to end a busy day of sightseeing.

Rising 63 metres above sea level, Primrose Hill sits within beautiful Regent’s Park and offers one of London’s finest free viewpoints. This grassy hill is a favourite gathering spot for locals, who flock here on warm evenings to picnic and relax. On a clear day, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view of London’s iconic skyline, stretching from the City of London to the London Eye and beyond.

Combine your visit with a day out exploring the beautiful Regent’s Park or take a stroll around the picturesque Primrose Hill village with its pretty pastel houses and independent shops and cafes.

Price: Free

Opening times: 24/7

Nearest tube: Chalk Farm

From Paddington: Take the Bakerloo line to Baker Street, then take a scenic 30-minute walk through Regent’s Park to Primrose Hill.

Website: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/regents-park-primrose-hill/primrose-hill

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9. Crossbones Graveyard: A garden of remembrance

Crossbones Graveyard was once the burial ground for some of London’s poorest members of society, earning it a name as the graveyard for the forgotten and outcast. Today, it’s one of the hidden gems of London, a peaceful and poignant memorial garden with a fascinating history.

It is most famously known as the final resting place of the “Winchester Geese”, women who worked as prostitutes in medieval Southwark and were excluded from Christian burial because of their work. When it closed in 1853, it is thought to have held the remains of around 15,000 of London’s poorest.

Take a stroll through the garden today, and amongst the foliage you’ll find scattered shrines, sculptures, poetry, and a large red metal gate adorned with colourful ribbons in memory of “the outcast dead”.

Price: Free

Opening times: Wednesday-Friday 12 pm – 2 pm

Nearest tube: London Bridge / Borough

From Paddington: Take the Elizabeth line to Bond Street, then change to the Jubilee line to London Bridge. Crossbones Graveyard is a 5-minute walk from here.

Website: https://crossbones.org.uk/

10. The Viktor Wynd Museum: An eccentric collection of curiosities

If you delight in the weird and the wonderful, then no trip to London would be complete without a visit to the Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, hidden beneath a bar in East London.

Within this “modern Wunderkabinett”, you’ll find an eclectic collection of art, natural history, and seemingly random objects all thrown together in delightful chaos. From taxidermy animals and African masks to McDonald's toys and shrunken heads, the whole museum is a strange and unconventional feast for the eyes.

And once you’ve had your fill of the bizarre, head upstairs to The Last Tuesday Society, an atmospheric bar known for its unusual cocktails and impressive selection of absinthe.

Price: Tickets from £8.67.

Opening times: Tuesday-Thursday 3 pm – 11 pm, Friday 3 pm – midnight, Saturday 12 pm – midnight, Sunday 12 pm – 10 pm.

Nearest tube: Bethnal Green

From Paddington: Take the Hammersmith & City line direct to Bethnal Green, then walk for about 8 minutes to the museum.

Website: https://thelasttuesdaysociety.org/

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Are you ready to discover a different side of London?

Some of the city’s most memorable experiences are hidden beyond the well-trodden tourist trail. When you venture off the beaten path in London, you’ll discover a more charming, quirky, and authentic side to the city. After all, it’s often the unexpected discoveries and unique experiences that dominate the stories you will tell about your travels for years to come.

The perfect London adventure starts with a smooth airport transfer. With the Heathrow Express, you can travel from Heathrow to Paddington in just 15 minutes. With trains departing every 15 minutes, it’s a convenient, comfortable and hassle-free way to travel, with plenty of room for luggage and free travel for children aged 15 and under.

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