The city of London is filled with amazing things to do and see. Many tourists stick with the tried and true things, like the Tower of London, London Bridge, or even Buckingham Palace. While it’s fine to visit them, you also need to stop at some of the more secretive and incredibly interesting places in the city. Here are seven of them, courtesy of London x city.
1) Eel Pie Island
This is a real island, located in the middle of the Thames River. People live in the quirky houses on it, although many of those structures serve as artists’ studios. The island is open to visitors on certain days of the week. Make sure to check out the schedule before you head to London. This cool place is a must-visit.
2) Pergola Garden
If you like flowers, then you’ll love the Pergola Garden. This is a great place to take a walk, admiring nature all the while. The hanging flowers surround a reflecting pool and a raised walkway. Not only will you have fun wandering around the walkway with flowers hanging above your year, but you’ll find plenty of opportunities to take a nice set of pictures for your social media accounts.
3) Horniman Museum
It’s not often that you get to visit a museum whose entire purpose is to be whimsical. This one specializes in cool, whimsical, unusual things, like taxidermied walruses and a garden accented with quirky decorations that are nestled among the flowers. The museum has been in place for many years and is filled with unique treasures.
4) The Lavender Garden
The Lavender Garden is located in Vauxhall Park. It certainly lives up to its name. Every flower in this field is lavender – the plant, not the color. There’s nothing else quite like it in the world. Just make sure that you’re not allergic to lavender, or you won’t really enjoy the field as much as you should.
Photo by Bruno Martins on Unsplash
5) The Mews
The mews is a term used to describe a number of streets in neighborhoods like Holland Park, Paddington, Kensington, and Notting Hill. It isn’t a specific neighborhood of its own. These streets are paved with cobblestones and are lined with houses. You’ll see things like painted doors, pink-painted homes, and even enchanting overgrown gardens.
6) South End Green
If you like neighborhoods that are walkable and filled with charming things to do, then you’ll love South End Green. This one is located at the edge of Hampstead Heath and features small cafes, boutiques, bookstores, and plenty of charm. It’s old-school London at its finest, complete with picturesque beauty.
7) Ferriar’s Passage
Here at London, we’ve declared Farrier’s Passage to be one of our favorite secret locations. This is a passage located on Brewer Street. Head down the covered alley, and you’ll find Smith’s Court at the end. This area has plenty of interesting shops and a peaceful atmosphere. Sometimes you’ll find cool things when you take that chance.
