17 Things To Do in London Off The Beaten Path

Eye-opening tours, trips to lavender fields, and secret parties: there is no shortage of things to do in London off the beaten path. Check out this list of cool stuff to do in London.

S. Johnson said “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”: London is such a heap of things to see and things to do, and I can never grow tired of it.

But what to do in London off the beaten track, once you’ve checked off the list all the touristy stuff? I have a few London secret tips for you. For a glimpse of a hidden London, here are 17 offbeat things to do in London that you should add to your London itinerary.

Retrace United Kingdom’s History Through Cans and Jars

All tourists head to Notting Hill to explore the market and shop some cool, vintage souvenirs, but what if I told you that there’s another unusual attraction, right behind it, that none of them know about?

The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, with its 12.000 tins, jars, posters, toys, and artifacts, will let you retrace the history of the United Kingdom (and not only) since 1800 to nowadays, and it’s one of those quirky places to visit in London that not many people know – not even the locals.

History had never been this fascinating before for me, and I’m not a huge history fan. The cool thing about this museum being one of London hidden gems is that you’ll likely have the whole museum for you, like I did.

Visiting cool museums is also one of the best things to do in London in winter!

Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising: 111-117 Lancaster Rd, Notting Hill, London
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM, Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM

Take a Life-Changing Tour Guided By the Homeless & Explore an Undiscovered London

I usually don’t go on organized tours, but this one is something you really shouldn’t miss as this is really one of the most unusual tours of London.
The Unseen Tours project was born by a Londonian charity helping homeless people, and the concept is pretty genius.

A few homeless people have become guides for travelers wanting to explore the hidden gems in London, and in the meantime, tourists help them change their life. I personally chose the street-art Shoreditch tour, but there are a few others available.

Believe me, if you’re going on one tour this year, make it this one: it’s one of those unique things to do in London that will change forever the way you think about homelessness.

READ MORE: Unseen Tours: Exploring London with the Homeless

Admire the City From a Shopping Mall Terrace -For Free!

Don’t believe those who tell you that the only way to get a great view over the city is buying a London Eye ticket: sometimes the best things in life (and the best things to do in London!) are free!

For a wonderful view, there are hidden places in London: go up the One New Change shopping mall terrace to shoot a few postcard-perfect photos – from here you can almost touch Saint Paul Cathedral!

One New Change: 1 New Change, London EC4M 9AF
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, Sunday opens at 12 PM

READ ALSO: The Perfect Weekend in London Itinerary

Go Kayaking On The Thames 

A cruise on the Thames is almost a rite of passage for every London’s first-timer, but imagine going back home and telling everyone that you did it…on a kayak! This is a great way to experience London off the beaten path and it’s an experience that will enchant even those of you who know London like the back of your hand.

For more information consult London Kayak Tours.

➤ If you are more of an adrenaline junkie, a Speed Boat Tour of the River Thames is more your thing. Get your blood pumping while exploring the city at high speed, while a comedian entertains you. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Take a Tour on a Vintage Londonian Double Decker Bus + Sip Afternoon Tea at Harrods

You’re right, drinking tea in London is far from unusual but…what about taking the traditional afternoon tea in one of the most incredible department stores in the world, Harrods, after a tour on a vintage double-decker bus that swings by Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, and all other famous London places? Yes, definitely something different to do in London.

The location makes tea suddenly interesting (Harrods is one of the cutest places in London!), and the selection of sandwiches, cupcakes, and scones that come with it even more. Enjoy! ➥ BOOK IT HERE

➤ Otherwise, if you wanna go fancy, what about this luxury 6-course dinner on top of a double-decker bus while touring the city? ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Visit the Biggest Hindu Temple Out of India

Among the unusual places to visit in London, this is something you certainly wouldn’t expect. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (don’t worry, you don’t really need to know the name!) is a white marble masterpiece standing out against the surrounding modern buildings. If you’re lucky enough to be there during a religious rite, you’ll be enchanted by the colors and the melodies.

Take the underground Jubilee line for Neasden, which is close to Wembley Stadium: it takes approximately half an hour from central London, but it’s well worth it. Make sure you put this on your London to do list.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir: 105-119 Brentfield Road, London NW10
Opening Hours: Daily from 9 AM to 6 PM

Learn The Tricks and Dream of Becoming The Next Harry Potter – PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Where, if not in London, should you learn the art of magic? Davenports Magic is a magic shop founded in 1898, which you can find under the tunnel at Charing Cross underground station, and one of my favorite secret places in London.

Here you can buy a magic wand, potions, and strange concoctions. You can also participate in magic workshops in order to learn a few tricks and surprise friends and family, or you can gift the class to that friend who grew up here and always looks for quirky activities in London.

Davenports Magic: 7 Charing Cross Underground Arcade, The Strand, London
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9.30 AM-5.30 PM, Saturday 10.30 AM-4.30 PM

If you’re a big Harry Potter fan, you might also want to check out these tours in London:

➤ Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transfer: learn behind-the-scenes secrets of making the “Harry Potter” movies at Warner Bros. Studio. This tour includes entrance and transfer. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

➤ Magical London: Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour: stroll through Diagon Alley, visit the platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross and more on this magical (and super affordable) tour. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

And if it’s a special occasion, book the Wizard Chamber room at the Georgian House Hotel. It’ll be a magical night!

Go Vintage Shopping in Islington

Camden Passage in Islington is a quiet street lined up with cute independent cafès, adorable boutiques, and vintage shops. It’s a nice stroll every day of the week, but it really comes to life on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday when you can browse through the vintage market stalls and come home with some retro treasures.

Skip the way too touristy Brick Lane and explore this off-the-beaten-path London gem instead.

Also looking for a place to stay? Check out the best prices for hotels in London.

Discover the Secret London Underground

Millions of people (millions!) use the London underground every single day, but not many realize that there is an unknown London under their feet. In fact, huge parts of this intricate network of tunnels are not open to the public.

However, the London Transport Museum organizes guided tours through disused stations and secret sites around London. If this is not London off the track, I don’t know what else might be! And if you’re a local, put it in your calendar cause this is one of those things to do in London for Londoners!

Check out the calendar of the secret London underground tours.

➤ If you don’t want to wait for the few dates a year that the LTM organizes this tour, you can join a Private Underground and Tube Tour that’ll bring you to some ghost stations in London and to the deepest and most beautiful underground stations in London. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Watch a Movie Under The Stars

British people, it’s easy to guess, absolutely looove the sunshine and summertime so, when the rain finally stops, any excuse is good to spend time outdoor.

During the summer in London it’s possible to watch a movie under the stars at Somerset House, at Rooftop Film Clubs in Hoxton, Stratford and Peckham Rye, and in many other locations. One of the most fun things to do in London, England, on a summer night.

To find the nearest outdoor cinema consult the list by Time Out London.

Join One of These Unusual London Tours

I mean, who likes those classic, boring walking tours of the city? Every time I go on one, I promise myself I will never let it happen again. But I love unusual tours, and in London there are so many that it was very, very hard to choose just a few for you. Check them out!

ADVENTURE LONDON TOURS FOR ADRENALINE JUNKIES

➤ Climb the Roof at the O2 Arena: ascend the incredible structure like a true urban mountaineer and marvel at the breathtaking views from the top. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

➤ The Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit: Slide at 15mph down the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide and enjoy great views of London. Not for the faint of heart. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

QUIRKY & THEMATIC LONDON TOURS

➤ London Rock ‘n’ Roll History Tour: the perfect tour for rock ‘n’ roll fans, bringing you to Jimi Hendrix’s flat and the Beatles Abbey Road and more iconic places. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

➤ Notting Hill Rom-Com Walking Tour: a tour for the hopelessly romantic, check out the locations from iconic movies such as Love Actually and Notting Hill. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

➤ Private Prince Harry Walking Tour of London: you love everything royal family? Take a walking tour around Westminster and learn all about Prince Harry’s life. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

SPOOKY LONDON TOURS

➤ Ghost Walk and Spooky River Thames Boat Ride: see London’s haunted sites and take a spooky boat ride as you hear about the city’s ghosts on this highly affordable after-dark tour. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

➤ Ghastly Ghosts 2-Hour Walking Tour: walk through London’s dark streets hearing stories about the ghosts, ghouls, and specters that creep through the back alleys you’ll be wandering in. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

➤ Comedy Horror Show: London Ghost Bus Tour: in this highly popular 75-minute ride on the Ghost Bus, an original Necrobus, enjoy a thrilling comedy horror sightseeing show narrated by the creepy conductor. Fun! ➥ BOOK IT HERE

SECRETS OF LONDON TOURS

➤ Secret London Tour by Bike: explore some of London’s weirdest characters and hidden landmarks on this bike tour of the City and East End. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

➤ Secrets of London Walking Tour: a tour that’ll bring to some unusual spots in London. See the smallest police station in the world, rub one of the 7 noses of London, and more. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Eat In a Crypt, a Private Cabin or… a Toilet?

Isn’t it exciting to find quirky restaurants that are not the same old chain or mom and pop place? Include food in your list of cool things to do in London: you can find plenty of funky and hidden restaurants London.

If you like trains, book the private cabin dining at Caboose, where a chef will cook in front of you in your own restored train carriage in Brick Lane. Feeling a bit more adventurous? Then go for fancy Spanish tapas at Gremio de Brixton, tucked away in a crypt under St. Matthew’s church.

CHECK OUT ALSO: 14 Magical Things to do in London in Winter and Autumn

Pet a Pig at Mudchute City Farm

Who would say that petting a pig isn’t one of the things to do in London off the beaten track?? I’m pretty confident you didn’t know that right in the heart of London, not far from the City skyscrapers, lies a City Farm. Yes, I mean, a true, real farm, with over 100 animals and a 32 acres terrain…not bad, uh?

At Mudchute Farm you can pretend to be in the countryside, and pet pigs, sheep, ducks, llamas, and donkeys: kids will love it, but they won’t be the only ones, I’m sure. The kid in you will jump around all excited. One for your random things to do in London list? Check!

Mudchute City Farm: 1 New Change, London EC4M 9AF
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM

Stay At Some Quirky London Hotels

I mean, if you’re into all the quirky things to do in London, why stay at a regular hotel? Check out these funky hotels in London.

Good Hotel London (Newham)

A floating hotel that does gives back to the community? It’s my kind of hotel! Docked at Royal Victoria Docks, this industrial design hotel re-invests all its profits into training unemployed locals in the hospitality industry. Plus, it has a rooftop you can only dream of. Prices start at $100 a night.

CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY FOR Good Hotel London

Stay in the Harry Potter Wizard Chamber at Georgian House Hotel (Westminster)

This one is for the Harry Potter fans. Access the family room from a bookcase door, and enter a magical world made of cauldrons, four-posters beds, and magic wands.
Prices start at $200 a night at the hotel – inquire directly for the Wizard Chamber.

CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY FOR Georgian House Hotel

Sunborn London Yacht Hotel (Newham)

Discover the city by day and rest in a luxurious room in a superyacht at night. Docked at the Royal Victoria Dock, it doesn’t really get more romantic than this. The yacht also features several bars and restaurants. Definitely an off the beaten path in London experience. Prices start at $195 a night.

CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY FOR Sunborn London Yacht Hotel

Sleep with the lions at Gir Lion Lodge at ZLS London Zoo (Regent’s Park)

It’s not a cheap night out by any means, but one you won’t forget. Now you can sleep in a cottage inside the London Zoo – the experience includes a two-course dinner, breakfast, after-hours tours of the zoo, animal feeds, and 2-day access to the zoo. Choose between adults-only nights and family-friendly ones.
Prices start at $530 a night.

CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY FOR Gir Lion Lodge

Pavilion Hotel (Westminster)

If kitsch is your thing, you’ve just found heaven. Pavilion Hotel describes itself as “fashion rock ‘n roll”, and it’s as excessive as you can think. Rooms are themed with all styles from Oriental decor to the 70s to Afro, and it’s not hard to see why many celebrities have stayed here. Party anyone?
Prices start at $125 a night.

CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY FOR Pavilion Hotel

Looking for something a bit more classic?
Check out the best prices for London hotels here.

Have Fun At a Secret Party

There is no shortage of secret events in London, you just need to know where to look! And isn’t it even more exciting to sign up for a party for the location to be revealed just hours before?

From eclectic brunches in London secret bars to burlesque masquerade parties and sensory experiences in the dark, you’ll find all sorts of odd things to do in London for an exciting night out.

Check out the current list of events.

Visit a Container City and London’s Smallest Museum

One of London’s best-kept secrets, the Docklands area has been requalified in the past few years, and it’s becoming a hip, trendy spot and of the sights to see in London.

Definitely in London off the beaten track, Trinity Buoy Wharf is a hidden enclave for creative minds, home to the smallest museum of London, to the one and only city’s lighthouse, and to a real container city.

A place in the heart of London yet so far away from it, even if the O2 Arena is so close that it seems possible to touch it. Come here to discover a not-for-tourists London.

READ ALSO: London yet So Far Away- A Visit to Trinity Buoy Wharf

Go For An Adventure: 3 Unusual Day Trips From London

I love the city vibe, and you might too, but sometimes it becomes too much and you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Once you’ve seen the very popular Brighton and Oxford, ideas for unusual days out include a trip to Beconskot Model Village (a little Britain from the 1930s) and to the York’s Cold War Bunker built in the 60s in the case of nuclear attack.

In the summer, make the trip to Mayfield Lavender Fields and you’ll be immediately transported to Provence, France.

If you are in the mood for some unusual days out in London, this list will keep you pretty busy for a while, so go out and experience for yourself all these unusual things to do in London.

Want more? Here are a few local guides to London that can help you find other strange things to do in London and secret London attractions.

• Secret London: An Unusual Guide by Rachel Howard
• The 500 Hidden Secrets of London by Tom Greig
• Secret London: Exploring the Hidden City with Original Walks and Unusual Places to Visit by Andrew Duncan
• London Secrets: Style, Design, Galmour, Gardens by Janelle McCulloch

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Do you know other funky things to do in London? Let me know in the comments!

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