Unique Things To Do Around London

An Overview of London

London is one of the world’s truly potent cities, holding a history of over 2,000 years as a major regional, then global, power. Currently serving as the capital city of the United Kingdom, the vast metropolis is among the most influential cultural centers in the world. It served as a base for the Roman Empire, a stronghold of English culture, the seat of power during the era of the British Empire and the strongest bastion against Napoleon and Hitler on the European Continent. There are many unique things to do around London.

Because London is so stupidly ancient, large, famous, and influential through the ages, there’s essentially no limit to the number of experiences.  The list below barely scratches the surface and is designed to appeal to myself when I personally visit London.  I hope it serves some small purpose to others, but I encourage additional research tailored to personal hobbies before going.

Unique Things To Do In London

(Coca-Cola) London Eye

The most famous Ferris Wheel in the world, this entertainment ride overlooks the Thames and Central London area. Visitors can access the Ferris Wheel on foot through the numerous bus stations and metro stops nearby.

Trafalgar Square

This is a public plaza of historical vitality with several statues and a fountain.  It is the home to a massive hoard of pigeons and a pair of slightly melted-looking lion statues.  The sculptures are unique since they were made by Sir Edwin Landseer, a painter without sculpting experience.  The artist requisitioned a dead lion from the London Zoo to model for the sculptures, but the beast’s corpse rotted away before Sir Landseer could properly render them.

Billingsgate Roman House and Baths

This major archeological site displays a Roman bath-house buried beneath the City of London. The best preserved portions of the ruins include a bath and a hypocaust (a system of central heating pipes that circulate hot air below the floor of a ruin).

The Old Baltic Exchange Memorial Glass

Currently housed at the interesting National Maritime Museum of London, these stained glass windows are beautifully rendered as a memorial to members of the Exchange killed during WWI.

Covent Garden

This is a large shopping and entertainment hub with upscale restaurants throughout the beautiful arcade. The elegant area is home to the impressive London Transport Museum, which houses vintage vehicles. There are also street performances near the 17th-century St. Paul’s Church.

Chislehurst Caves

These caverns area network of man-made smuggling caves from the 13th century covering some 22 miles of Chislehurst Underground, located in Southeast London. These caves were painstakingly mined to gather flint and lime-burning chalk.

The Navigators

This is a popular abstract feature of a Steampunk Statue ship. Created by David Kemp, the large, outlandish kinetic sculpture can be found overlooking the Thames river in a shopping arcade. When activated, its oars churn the waters at its side.

London Bridge

Though there have been numerous bridges in London crossing the Thames with this name, the modern London Bridge is a car-traffic key-crossing-point bridge which has become a hallmark of London tourism.

Tower of London

This is a famed and historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It was long considered the most secure castle of the Kingdom, guarding royal possessions and the Royal Family itself during times of war and rebellion. Over the last 500 years, the tower has been converted into a surprisingly luxurious interior palace.

The Shard

The Shard is a unique skyscraper overlooking London. Over time, it has become one of the most easily-recognized features of the city since opening in 2013. The Shard hosts some of the most spectacular views and panoramas over London.

Borough Market

The Borough Market is one of the oldest and largest markets in all of London. The area is enormously popular for sampling food.

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern is national art museum of the UK with a special focus on contemporary artworks. Entry to the Tate Modern gallery is free with no need for prior booking. However, there are individual, temporary and specialized exhibits within that may require a ticket-purchase at the door.

Westminster Abbey

A heavily photographed Gothic Church just to the West of the Palace of Westminster. The formal title of the building is the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster. The church has a history heavily tied to the Royal Family, with numerous royal coronations, burials and 17 royal weddings..

Big Ben

Big Ben, otherwise known as  Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster or Elizabeth Tower, is the notorious clock tower overlooking the Thames. The Clock Tower has been repaired numerous times throughout its history, most famously following damage brought about by German bombing campaigns during WWII.

Buckingham Palace

This is the famed and endlessly photographed seat of power and official residence of the Queen. Visitors are generally interested in the famed red-coat guards which patrol the area. They can be seen standing stock-still while on duty and marching in carefully orchestrated lock-steps during guard changes.

Regent’s Park

Originally serving as part of Henry VIII’s hunting forests, Regent’s Park was modified into a serene and massive garden space by city planner and architect John Nash. The park was originally designed as a leisure space for aristocrats, but was eventually opened to the public in 1841. It is one of the main parks in London.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park is a huge park with acres of greenery located in Central London. It is the largest of the Four Royal Parks of London.

The Tate Britain

The Tate Britain is a fantastic museum of national art.  There are three other branches in Liverpool, Tate Modern London and St. Ives in Cornwall. However, the main branch in London is a sight to behold. Entry is free for visitors.

Stompie the T-34 Art Tank

This small lot holds a seemingly random decommissioned Czechoslovak People’s Army tank. The tank is constantly repainted over the years, making each visit a small surprise. Stompie was a humorous protest project performed by Russell Gray, a local scrap dealer. Upon getting denied permission to develop the vacant land, he placed the tank on the site with the gun turret turned towards the Southwark Council Office.

Cotswolds

This is a popular, scenic day trip outside of London. Cotswolds contains an extremely beautiful and picturesque village of old-fashioned houses in a calm setting.  There are rolling hills, rising meadows, typically English landscapes, stone walls, charming woodlands and quaint towns.

Leake Street’s Graffiti Tunnel

This artistic walkway is an actively changing feature of London. This long tunnel has artists constantly making their marks on the walls.  The street is about 300 meters long, runs off York Road and under the platforms and tracks of Waterloo station.

Beak Street

Beak Street is an wide, popular shopping area located in Soho, London. It runs past various shops, the Golden Square Park and upscale bars and restaurants.

Hamelys Toy Store

This is a multi-storied toy shop with an entire section dedicated to Harry Potter foods and goods. The Toy Store has different floors, each dedicated to a specific theme of children’s entertainment. The shop is always crowded with many employees and salespeople demonstrating with the toys. Cars race, wands flash, Legos are built and kinetic toys spiral everywhere someone glances.

The Tankard

This is a classic and relaxed pub with a lovely roofed terrace.

The Natural History Museum

This is one of the most famous museums on Earth. The Natural History Museum of London is notorious for it’s in-depth educational exhibits and iconic whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling.  It is one of three major museums on Exhibition Road, the others being the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

Vauxhall Farm

Located near the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, this is an operational urban-farm with an education, youth work and animal care program. Visitors can spot goats, sheep, alpacas and ponies from within the attatched café space.

Saatchi Gallery

The Saatchi Gallery is a slightly outlandish and interesting contemporary art gallery. It is located somewhat close to the Ranelagh Gardens.

Banksy’s Designated Graffiti Area

Banksy is the pseudonym of an England-based street artist and political activist. The artist’s true identity is largely unconfirmed, but the distinct artistic style of the guerilla artists has gained international recognition. The Banksy’s Graffiti area includes preserved graffiti from the famous anonymous artist in the back of the Cargo Club.

Cecil Court

This is a book lover’s fantasy and paradise. This street includes an antique shop alley selling odd treasures and rare tomes. The pedestrian street also has various Victorian shop-frontages.

221b Baker Street

For literature fans, Sherlock Holmes once lived in London, solving intricate crimes out of his fictional home of 221b. Now, Sherlock Holmes’ fictional address is rendered into reality in an oddly placed apartment building, an homage to the most notorious fictional detective on Earth.

Magic Circle Museum

This is a strange, small museum filled with paraphernalia and illusions from the secretive Magic Circle Illusionist Group. The original group used this spaces as their headquarters, adding a theater, library, museum and club room within. The venue often has shows for visitors and guests.

Viktor Wynd’s Little Shop of Horrors

This is a unique and fantastical shop of modern curiosities. Creepy creatures, organs and limbs are preserved in clear jars, stuffed animals are given strange, extra features and books reveal obscene subject matter.

Twinings Tea Shop

It would be difficult to touch on United Kingdom’s culture without discussing a deeply-rooted respect for tea. This small venue is a three hundred year old tea shop responsible for making tea, the quintessential drink of the British upper class.

Platform 9 ¾ – King Cross Station

For Harry Potter fans, a small statue has been cleverly added to King Cross Station. This site includes a photographic homage to the wondrous Harry Potter Novels, created by placing a luggage trolley halfway through a wall in the station. For those who want a photo, be sure to arrive early, as lines form rapidly.

God’s Own Junkyard

This is an eye-spot-inducing kaleidoscopic labyrinth of neon lights and signs creating an art gallery which blazes the retina without pause. The funky art store shows off colorful neon messages, signs and other trinkets.

The Ruins of St. Dunstan-in-the-East

This is a destroyed church which was heavily damaged in the London Blitz. The Church was never repaired or replaced, but the ruins have morphed into a overgrown garden. Visitors can now see the husk of a building, with windows and walls open while grass and vines gradually cover the damaged stonework.

Leadenhall Market

This is the most stunning walking arcade for shopping in London. The Leadenhall Market is also the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley and Leaky Cauldron. Visiting guests can enjoy an extremely ornate Victorian Marketplace.

Highgate Cemetery

The Highgate Cemetery is the most infamous of London’s cemeteries. It has prominent Egyptian and Victorian influences decorating the tombstones of some of the most notorious men and women of the UK’s history.

Hyde Park Pet Cemetery

Located within Hyde Park, there are hundred of graves for beloved departed animal companions. The small quiet space is filled with heartwarming messages owners have left behind, respecting the creatures which provided joy and companionship through life.

Word on the Water

For book lovers who enjoy time on the water, this is an old Dutch Barge converted into a floating canal bookstore. There are indoor and outdoor shelves with a wide variety of titles.

Temple of Mithras

This is an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the imported god popular of the Roman legions, Mithras.  The god Mithras was an imported Zorastrain angelic deity which headed numerous secret societies within the empire. His influence in the legions was responsible for a “secret greeting” which evolved into the widely known greeting of modern times, the handshake.

Traffic Light Tree

A strange stop light which has stop, slow down and go signals pointing every direction in a confused jumble. While the sign itself isn’t good for directions, it’s a compelling and fun artistic landmark.

Museum of Brands

This is a glaring historical hallmark of consumer culture. The museum shows every famous logo, company and icon imaginable, all jumble together on shelves and walls throughout the building.

St. James Park

St. James Park is a peaceful green space within London. The park is home to a flock of famous, tremendously-friendly pelicans. It has great views of the lake and access to some of the more famous buildings in central London.

The Imperial War Museum

This is a powerful memorial to Great Britain’s varied history which recalls numerous periods of battles, losses, triumphs and conquests. The museum was originally founded to commemorate the civil and military war efforts and sacrifices of the United Kingdom during WWI.

The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

This is a Victorian-era marvel, dedicated to early concepts of dinosaurs and the infusion of paleontology and dinosaur recreations. The dinosaurs of the 1851 Great Exhibition were some of the first recreations of mysterious dinosaur fossils, crafted by the incredible paleontologist, Sir Richard Owen. Though his models have largely been debunked as more fossils have been discovered and the field of paleontology has evolved, his contributions for firing the popular imagination are titanic.

London Wall

Long ago, London was once contained as a fortified stronghold protecting the seat-of-influence for Roman settlers. The original London Wall was crafted around 200 C.E. by the Roman Empire as a major boundary and defense bulwark. There are still intact portions found within the city.

Longplayer

This is a composition of music is continuously playing within he lighthouse at Trinity Buoy Wharf. The Longplayer began it’s music shortly after its creation and it will continue for exactly 1,000 years, ending at the end of 2,999 CE, at which point the song will begin repeating.  The songs are played upon Tibetan Singing Bowls with no repeating portions. It is often referenced as “An Infinite Millennial Loop.”

Richmond’s Park

This is another one of London’s beautifully persevered green spaces. The park is a specialized deer sanctuary crafted so King Charles I could go hunting during a plague outbreak.

Hampstead Heath

This is a strange, sprawling, tucked-away garden built upon The Hill with greatly expanded gardens. The garden space includes a famous columned walkway known as the Pergola.

Columbia Road Shops and Flower Markets

This is a strip of enchanting gardens displaying rows of flowers with other shops offering delis, cafes, restaurants and bakeries

Archie the Giant Squid – London Natural History Museum Spirit Collection

Archie is a Giant Squid (Architeuthis dux) specimen caught alive off the coast of Falkland Islands.  Though not the largest species of enormous squids (which is a Colossal Squid, Mesonychoteuthis Hamiltoni) this deep sea creature is the root of the kraken legends and a beast notorious for deep sea wonders 

Animals in War Memorial

This is a deeply tragic and poignant war memorial dedicated to the millions of animals who died in service to the British military, including horses, donkeys, dogs, pigeons, crows and others.

The Attendant Fitzrovia

For visitors seeking out a unique experience in London, this bathroom café is a good option. The Attendant Fitzrovia is an underground Victorian restroom where patrons may be served espressos at a urinal.

The Ghost of a Flea

This painting is a nightmarish gothic masterpiece allegedly painted by William Blake. The painting is tiny, measuring only 8.42 by 6.3 inches. It is held in the Tate Gallery, London.

Replica of the Golden Hinde

The original Golden Hinde which circumvented the world was the ship of the famous explorer Sir Francis Drake.  Somewhat ironically, this replica has sailed five times further than the original ship.

Hoa Hakanank

Easter Island is one of the most famous and recognizable island cultures on Earth. One of the six moai statues that were removed from Easter Island is housed in London. The masterpiece sculpture was taken from Orongo, Easter Island in 1868 by the crew of a British ship. It’s now in the British Museum in London.

The Gingerline

The Gingerline is an immersive dining experience with a world-traveler theme accented by hot air balloon rope show, scandalous acrobats and a full course dinner.

The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archeology

This is a University College London gem hidden in Bloomsbury with over 80,000 ancient Egyptian objects on display in a remarkably small space. The venue is home to numerous preserved artifacts behind glass cases, carefully cataloged and described in great detail.

The House of MinaLima

This is a small graphic studio with displays from the Harry Potter films, including actual props from Harry Potter Studios.  There are posters of Death Eaters, Books of Gilderoy Lockhart, copies of the Quibbler, spreads of the Daily Prophet and an evolving section dedicated to Fantastic Beasts and where to find them.

Crossness Pumping Station

Following the Great Stink of 1858, this building became a part of London-engineering marvels.  Extremely ornate, colorful and wonderfully restored, Engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgetter used this to create a London-Wide Sewage Network powered by radical pumping technology. While a sewage attraction may seem unusual, Crossness is one of the most stunning combinations of beauty and functionality within London.

The Magnificent Seven

This is the collective name of seven enormous and famous Victorian cemeteries scattered around London.  These include Kensal Green Cemetery, West Norwood Cemetery, Highgate Cemetery, Abney Park Cemetery, Nunhead Cemetery, Brompton Cemetery and Tower Hamlets Cemetery.  All are splendidly overgrown and surprisingly morbid havens for wildlife

ABQ London Immersive Molecular Cocktail Bar

Themed alongside TV’s immensely popular Breaking Bad series, this bar operates out of the classic meth lab Winnebago of the TV show. Here, guests craft their own drinks in fully biohazard suits using liquid nitrogen. Visitors use unique chemical experiments to make innovative beverages.

Wizard Exploratorium

The Wizard Exploratorium is a magic-themed Soho experience for wand-making, pumpkin carving and other enchanting tasks. Visitors can enjoy the food at small tables during afternoon tea reservations, as well as beverage potion-making classes. The venue is rather small and requires a person to use stairs to enter, but both features add to the intimate charms of the place.

The HotTug

This is a boating tour experienced inside a self-driven wood-fired bubbling hot tub. The Hot Tub can be steered down London’s canals to explore the riverside of the city.  The venue is BYOB but the driver has to stay sober.

The Candlelight Club

A Prohibition-era-inspired speakeasy completely lit by candles with 1920s attire required.  The location moves frequently and is only provided the night before.  Traditionally expect jazz bands, cabaret, cocktails and excellent dining options.

Totally Wild

An educational foraging tour where visitors gather up edible plants from nature under the guidance of experienced guides. This odd event follows a foraging expert through bushes, ferns and trees to find edible snacks nature can provide.

Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium

This building is home to a long-running cat café where all tea rooms are wonderland-themed and all cats are rescues. Inside, resident felines wander around coffee machines, cake displays, lounge sofas and tall bookcases.

Growing Underground

This is a small network of subterranean tunnels which grow pesticide-free food in abandoned subterranean locations. Food grown from these underground farms are sent to the nearby markets in under four hours after being harvested, making the produce some of the freshest in London.

Puttshack

The Puttshack is home to an old-fashioned mini-golf venue with neon lights. Many of the putt-putt holes include gimmicks such as Prize Wheels, which allow visitors to win additional bonus items while playing.

Chelsea Physic Garden

This is a fantastic garden from 1673 which is home to 5,000 medical and edible herbs with a café and shop inclusion. Originally, this space was developed by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries to grow plants to be used as medicines. 

The Cauldron

This is a Harry Potter Alcoholic Potions class. The interactive workshop provides a cauldron to craft a pint of beer or cocktail, depending on the Potions lesson being taught.

Stonehenge

Though there are many standing stone circles throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, Stonehenge is, by far, the most famous.  The immense ancient construction is one of the most famous features of the ancient world with stones weighing around 25 tons. Legends, theories and gentle countryside hills surround this unique landmark of ancient history. This is a popular day trip outside of London, with many tours navigating to the standing structure.

The Wallace Armor Collection

This Museum was the passion project of two Victorian aristocrats. The museum display includes an immense collection of armor and weapons collected from the medieval-era, with pieces being bought or gathered from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Eastern Europe, Austria, India, the Ottoman Empire, Arabia, Feudal Japan and other corners of Earth.

Christchurch Greyfriars Church Garden

These ruins of a church caught in the Great Fire of London and the Blitz have morphed, over time, into a serene garden. It is a quiet and unusual corner of London, preserved in an ever-shifting and always-moving city.

Topolski’s Memoir of the Century

Hidden in a South Bank Bar, this building doubles as a display of an epic expressionist chronicle of the most famous events and features of the 20th century. It is a stunning panorama of time and displays the true gravity of 20th century events. Topolski’s eyewitness accounts are infused with energy that few other historical firsthand accounts can patch.

St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Church – Café in the Crypt

Located underneath the famed St. Martin’s-in-the Field Church, this is an underground, brick vaulted grave-lined floor with the bodies removed in the 1800s.  The modern era has converted the subterranean tomb into a pastry and coffee café. It can be reached on foot from Trafalgar Square

Mold Gold Cape

This is a truly magnificent Bronze Age artifact crafted of intricately linked and melded gold. The ceremonial cape of solid sheet-gold is thought to have been created between 1900 and 1600 BCE. It was originally unearthed from a burial mound in Wales. After being removed from Flintshire, the Cape has remained at the the British Museum ever since.

Horizon Insects

Not for the squeamish, this is an edible insect farm which offers classes and facility tours for using bugs as a proper source of sustenance, nutrition and, in the best case, flavor. The facility offers various Cookery Classes and Events for visitors along with additional educational material on how to properly consume insects.

Brixton Windmill

This is a fully-functioning 200 year old windmill preserved from an era when Brixton was mostly fields, farms and thin forests. The Windmill is the most iconic feature of the Windmill Gardens Park area, located south of the Thames River.

WWT London Wetland Centre

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) is part of a huge wildlife reserve designed for visiting and permanently based waterfowl along the Thames River. The program utilizes four disused Victorian reservoirs tucked into a loop of the Thames.

Windsor Castle

The royal accommodations located just outside the city of London.  Windsor Castle is strongly associated with the British Royal Family and it’s many additions and designs embody a millennium of architectural traditions. The castle is the oldest occupied ancient fortification in the world, as the Royal Family still uses it as an official residence. It is an excellent, through somewhat pricey, day trip from London.

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