A local’s guide to the most unique experiences in London, from catacombs to unusual workshops, stately homes, secret abandoned places and natural spots!
I’ve walked London in all sorts of ways; the loud way in Covent Garden and at Christmas in Regent Street.
The soft, overthinking way in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, near Mile End, where I lived for months before moving to Bethnal Green.
And I’ve done my share of really unique, non-touristy spots I love recommending here with my quirky itineraries of London.
What I want to share with you, today, are unusual spots, off-the-beaten-path experiences that will, hopefully, make you feel and hear something other than what London’s supposed to feel like.
17 Unique Experiences in London (Far) from the Beaten Path
Of course, if you browse The Working Line, you’ll find I’ve written here about lots of London’s hidden gems already.
Historical sites, independent shops that have been around for centuries, and even, recently, abandoned and disused stations.
Get on the saddle; today, I’m taking you to stately homes, local shops, secret natural spots, and amazing workshops you may not even know exist in London!
Unique Experiences in London: Severndroog Castle Lookout
Few people know about Severndroog Castle; there are many more palaces and castles in London that are way closer to the center, but this one…
Severndroog Castle is mostly known for its tearoom (open Thursday to Sunday) and its viewing platform (open on Sundays only) with straight views on The Shard and Canary Wharf.
Located on Shooter’s Hill, one of the highest points in London, Severndroog Castle is a Grade II-listed Gothic tower, with wind wrapping you at the top as you stand still and in awe of the views.
Unique Experiences in London: Broadway Market Canal Westbound
Ignore the Broadway Market, unless you really want to see what the village-like street is like, and would like to get a couple of cheap eats for the road.
Then, head west on the towpath; the graffiti is good here, the ducks move about freely, and you can spot the canal stretching on and out.
Regent’s Canal is one of my favorite spots to walk in London when I feel a bit strange, a bit off, and need to clear my mind.
You can walk all the way from South Bank to Canary Wharf, Limehouse, Mile End, Bethnal Green, London Fields, and make your way out there in Camden Town – could be a great full day activity!
Unique Experiences in London: Postman’s Park Memorial Cloister
It seems to rain every time I visit the Postman’s Park, one of London’s most secret gardens.
People sit on the benches around the Memorial to Self-Sacrifice to read or chat.
And it might be, aside from the unique way the memorial celebrates life, death, and everything in between, one of the quietest ways to discover not only a London park, but historical buildings all around.
Unique Experiences in London: Hackney Marshes
Hackney Marshes is mostly famous for two things: its football pitches, and its natural reserve.
You can walk around, witness wild life moving without a care, hear distant shouts and a coach’s whistle, and simply feel like you’ve left London altogether.
Then, why not make your way to the heart of Hackney to discover street art, secret cafes and, of course, huge fabric shops – East London’s industrial past is deeply anchored in textile.
Unique Experiences in London: Charity Shopping at Shop From Crisis, Archway
Back when I used to live in North Finchley, I’d take a bus to Central London that would inevitably run past Archway, another quite secret North London area.
Compared to North Finchley, Archway is much more lively, and offers one of the biggest charity shops in town: Shop from Crisis.
This one is huge; for whoever loves charity shopping, you’ll find homeware and home decor gems there, countless clothes, books, jewelry, accessories… It just never ends.
Unique Experiences in London: Flower Dome Workshop at Roseur, King’s Cross
Now, if you’re only looking for free things to do in London, this one’s not it, but a flower workshop at Roseur makes for another really unique experience.
You can choose between lots of different workshops; flower domes, flower arrangements, wreaths…
Roseur is one of the most unique shops in London, located in Coal Drops Yard, behind King’s Cross and Regent’s Canal – really romantic, colorful with a touch of melancholy.
Do walk around the industrial building at Coal Drops Yard; you’re here in one of London’s best shopping areas, filled with indie brands and more established names.
Then, a visit to Word on the Water, a gorgeous bookshop that is, indeed, established on a boat on the canal, makes for another cool activity before enjoying the dancing fountains at Granary Square nearby.
Unique Experiences in London: Leake Street Tunnel, Waterloo
Spray cans hiss at Leake Street Tunnel, and despite being found on many blogs/Pinterest accounts, every time I pop by, it’s only locals and graffiti artists there.
Just off Lower Marsh and behind Waterloo station, Leake Street Tunnel offers messy sounds and colorful, sometimes controversial street art pieces… and workshops!
It feels like stepping into another world when you’re here, and of course, it makes for a great photo spot if you love street style.
Unique Experiences in London: 360-Degree Art at Horniman Museum & Gardens
I’ve told you about the Horniman Museum & Gardens quite a few times here, and my love for this secret museum will seemingly never fade.
Located in South London, the Horniman Museum is a huge museum with an aquarium, art pieces and culture from all around the world and makes for a great spot to visit with kids.
They’ve indeed got quite a few interactive experiences going on at all times, and if you’re into beautiful architecture, you’ll find the white and glass house outside is a striking view.
Then, you could spend some time reading or writing in the manicured gardens, with countless blooming flowers in a cozy backdrop just a bus ride away from Crystal Palace.
Unique Experiences in London: Squid Game – The Experience
Located near Royal Victoria Dock, Squid Game – The Experience has opened in London, and of course, makes for an amazing activity if you’re unsure what to do next.
I don’t know about you, but I’m crazy about the thrilling and strange psychology behind the Squid Game series (very 1984 and Animal Farm, if you want my two cents), and this is one of the immersive experiences you shouldn’t miss if you’re the same.
You’re just 5 minutes away from Custom House station, in Immerse LDN, and there, you’ll be able to experience the same ‘games’ the characters from Squid Game went through, notably Red Light, Green Light.
Unique Experiences in London: Perfume Workshop at The Vaults Collective
Another proper London workshop with the perfume creation moment at The Vaults Collective in Crystal Palace!
We’re just minutes away from the edge of Crystal Palace Park, in West Norwood, and if The Vaults Collective is one of my favorite secret coffee shops in the city, it’s so much more than that.
You’re not only able to have a full vegan breakfast there – the cafe is completely vegan – but also take part in plants or perfume workshops with other creative people.
When you’re done, you’ll also be able to shop for plants, flowers, gardening books and artisan home decor pieces in the all-in-one venue.
Don’t forget to pop by the vintage shops and markets all around the Triangle; it’s only three streets, but packed with indie shops, cafes, restaurants, and bookstores of all kinds.
Find here my full review of The Vaults Collective to learn more about this wonderful cafe, plant and homeware shop.
Unique Experiences in London: Canada Square Park Film Screenings, Canary Wharf
As soon as summer comes around, London becomes an open-air city, with film screenings taking place all over town.
Namely, Canary Wharf and its Summer Screens, which you can attend for free from May until the end of September, in the heart of Canada Square.
Classics are broadcast all throughout the summer, but if you’re planning to stay in Central London, you’ll also be able to enjoy the same kind of open-air cinema vibes surrounded by the Somerset House, just off the Strand.
Unique Experiences in London: Brompton Cemetery Catacombs
One of London’s Magnificent Seven Victorian Cemeteries, Brompton Cemetery is a Grade I-listed landmark, and just as gorgeous as Highgate Cemetery.
The catacombs were built in the 1840s beneath the western colonnade, and are only accessible via guided tours.
For those searching for creepy London spots, Brompton Cemetery might have to belong on your bucket list – iron-gated entrances, narrow galleries, neo-Victorian crypts, deep echoes…
It’s eerie, it’s strange, and definitely one of the most unique spots you can find in London.
Unique Experiences in London: Boston Manor House, Hounslow
If I’ve told you about London’s secret palaces in the past, I haven’t focused much on stately homes aside from, maybe, Strawberry Hill House.
Well, here’s another one for you: Boston Manor House in Hounslow, a restored Jacobean manor built in 1623, with original plasterwork ceiling in the Drawing Room.
The park is a serene place to walk and think, complete with a lakeside, but it’s really the state rooms and their almost-faded 17th-century atmosphere that take the spotlight.
Unique Experiences in London: Old Royal Naval College Colonnades, Greenwich
When you step under the Old Royal Naval College Colonnades in maritime Greenwich, your voice stops being entirely yours.
Every sound becomes poetry; the river behind us, the wind in our coat, our muffled footsteps…
The Greenwich neighborhood is one of my favorite when I want to feel like I’m in a village, not in London, but the Old Royal Naval College is but one of the secret spots the area shelters.
Indeed, most people don’t notice that behind the Cutty Sark, another maritime landmark of Greenwich, there’s a bit of shoreline that faces Canary Wharf.
When I used to work (and live) in Greenwich, I’d often spend some time at the end of the day to see the sunset on the skyscrapers, and just feel… at peace.
Unique Experiences in London: Temple Station’s Overpass View
How many times have I mentioned the hidden Temple area here?
Make sure, when you’re around Temple, Fleet Street or Embankment, that you do visit the Temple Station roof terrace.
It’s not hidden per se, but never crowded with tourists in my experience – and you’ve got views of the Thames, although quietened by the trees between the roof terrace and the river.
We’re in one of the oldest neighborhoods of London, and you’ll always find at Temple Station, a new art installation or two.
Unique Experiences in London: Crystal Palace Park, Subway and Parade
I’ve got to admit that my favorite thing to see in Crystal Palace is the Heritage Trail with the huge dinosaur sculptures, but there are plenty of other hidden gems inside the park.
The Crystal Palace Subway pictured above is one of London’s ghost stations, and you’ll also find Italian Terraces and headless sculptures in the park.
Plus, if you’re looking for spots with a straight view of London, said Italian Terraces are a perfect place to enjoy the sun setting over the city.
Unique Experiences in London: Highgate Cemetery West
Even if you only want to visit Highgate Cemetery West, you have to purchase a ticket for the East side as well, but it’s very much worth every penny.
The hush is undeniable; broken columns, a striking Egyptian Avenue, paths climbing slowly…
There are even catacombs at Highgate Cemetery West, which you can only access with a guide, but worth it for those in search of eerie experiences.
Of course, I couldn’t tell you about this gorgeous cemetery without also recommending a visit to nearby Holly Village.
It’s only minutes from Highgate Cemetery, and one of the grandest gathering of Gothic mansions in London.
17 Unique Experiences in London (Far) from the Beaten Path
I guess I’ve lived in London long enough, although on and off for a few years as I split my time between London and other cities, that I want peace and quiet.
And I know that quiet isn’t always about silence, and that unusual experiences can mean anything and everything.
So, from river paths to immersive experiences, workshops and the breath of the past, I hope you’ll have found here some new activities to add to your bucket list.
And if the parts you’re most excited about are the historical sites, maybe you’ll find even more you don’t know about in these guides: