Hidden gems in London
There’s a lot to see in London. I’ve lived here my whole life, and am still finding new places to visit - even now! It can feel like there’s a seemingly never ending list of attractions to tick off, recommendations to check out, newly opened places to visit, or hidden gems to discover.
As the main attractions become increasingly busy I’ve noticed there is an increasing interest - from locals and tourists alike - in off-the-beaten track destinations. I’ve written about many lesser-known attractions on my website, in pages about museums, streets and squares, neighbourhoods, historic houses, parks and gardens and monuments and ruins. But I wanted to pull together a list of my favourite hidden gems. Hope you enjoy them!
Fitzrovia Chapel is a beautiful Byzantine style chapel right in the centre of London, but very infrequently visited. Built in the late 19th century, the chapel was once situated in the former Middlesex Hospital. With its gold mosaic interior, it feels like you’re inside a jewellery box. Check the opening times first on the website as these can be quite limited.
Kyoto Garden is a captivating Japanese garden located in the middle of Holland Park, and originally built to celebrate the Festival of Japan in 1992. The garden has a tiered waterfall flowing into a pond filled with koi carp fish. A path over the pond makes an ideal photo spot. Look out for the park's resident peacocks!
Old English Garden in Battersea Park is a walled garden, so it feels quite private and peaceful, despite being in the heart of busy Battersea Park. Built in the early 1900s, it fell into disrepair before being restored by the gardening charity Thrive in the 2000s. It has a central water feature with a little fountain, a sundial, shaded walkways and a trellis which is clad in wisteria in spring.
Walthamstow is a North-East London neighbourhood which has undergone some changes in recent years. There are some really nice places to visit in this local area. Walthamstow village is the oldest part of the area, centred around Orford Road, a pedestrianised street full of independent shops, bakeries, pubs and cafes. In summer, it’s a great place to hang out, with outdoor seating. Walthamstow Wetlands is a free nature reserve that’s home to many different wildlife, and is a site of special scientific interest, with reservoirs and quiet pathways. God’s Own Junkyard is a family-owned business selling colourful neon signs. William Morris Gallery is the largest collection of the designer’s work, located in a lovely Georgian house in Lloyd Park, and is free to visit. And finally, Ancient House is a timber framed home dating back to the 15th century: situated on the corner of Orford Road and Church Lane, it is said to be London’s oldest home.
Spitalfields City Farm is a peaceful place in a busy urban area, not far from Whitechapel station. Created in the 1970s, the farm is home to goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and rabbits, and has a focus on promoting animal welfare. It’s free to visit.
Dennis Severs House is a unique attraction near Liverpool Street station that imagines what life was like for the Huegenot silk weavers who might have once lived here. The museum was founded by Dennis Severs who lived there in the 1980s-90s and wanted to create a theatrical experience for future visitors. One of the best ways of visiting is by taking a silent tour. The rooms have been set up as though its former residents have just recently left.
St Katherine’s Docks were originally a place where cargo from ships was unloaded in the 19th century. The docks are still used by boats today and there are many luxury vessels moored here. There are also restaurants and cafes, many of which have views of the marina. Although it’s not far from Tower Bridge, the docks still feel very undiscovered by tourists. It looks particularly lovely lit up at night.
St Dunstans in the East is a tranquil spot right in the heart of the City of London. The church was originally built in 1100, destroyed in the Great Fire of London, then partially repaired by Sir Christopher Wren with the addition of a steeple. However it was then heavily damaged again in the Blitz in World War II. A garden is set around the ruins of the church. It's a beautiful space to sit and relax.
Queens Gallery in Greenwich is a 17th century former royal residence. Designed by Inigo Jones, it is now a free public art gallery. One of the first classical buildings in England, its interesting features include the cube shaped Great Hall and the spiral Tulip Stairs spiral staircase.
Syon House is a stunning 16th century house owned by the Duke of Northumberland. Situated in Syon Park in West London, its rooms include a Great Hall and Long Gallery, and there are many paintings on display. The 18th century interior of the house was designed by architect Robert Adam, who was known for his elegant neo-classical style. A beautiful Victorian conservatory was a later addition to the estate, set within the gardens which you can explore as part of your visit. The surrounding parkland was landscaped by renowned gardener Capability Brown.
Two Temple Place is a gothic-style Victorian house near Temple station that’s a must-see if you’re interested in architecture. The building is open at certain times of the year (check the website for more info), usually for free art exhibitions, but it’s worth going mainly to take in the fabulous carved wooden staircase. Built in the 1890s, the house was originally designed to be an office for William Astor, the richest man in the world at the time. As well as the staircase, other highlights include the Great Hall where there are gorgeous stained glass windows.
Hampstead is a charming neighbourhood in North London, with a unique village-like feel. It’s famous for its artistic and literary associations, as well as the expansive Hampstead Heath which is one of London’s best parkland areas. From meadows to ponds, woodland areas, and the historic Kenwood House, there is enough to in the Heath for a few hours. Other attractions in the area include Keats House which was once home to the Romantic poet, and now a small museum dedicated to telling the story of Keats’ life, and Fenton House - a 17th century house with a lovely walled garden, and a great collection of artwork and historic keyboard instruments. There are many beautiful residential streets in Hampstead, including Flask Walk, New End Square, Church Row, Back Lane, and Well Walk, as well as great cafes and restaurants.
Leighton House in Kensington was built in 1865 and was once the home and studio of the artist Frederick Leighton, who dedicated a lot of his time to creating a peaceful sanctuary here. The highlight of the house is the Arab Hall, built as part of a later extension to the house in 1877. The hall features objects Leighton collected on his travels to Turkey, Syria and Egypt, including the beautiful tiles on the walls of the Arab Hall.
Ham House is a grand 17th century house in Richmond. The house was originally owned by the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale, and is now looked after by the National Trust. There are many original features, including marble floors, the fine wooden staircase, and many items of furniture including a 17th century closet. You can see rooms like the Long Gallery and the Great Hall which have lots of paintings on display. There are also extensive gardens to explore, including a Kitchen Garden which supplies the house’s cafe.
The Painted Hall in Greenwich is sometimes referred to as London’s Sistine Chapel because of its spectacular paintings on the ceiling and walls. Designed and painted in the early 18th century, the hall was originally part of what used to be a hospital, and the room meant to be used as a dining hall by the pensioners who lived here. However, unsurprisingly, it soon attracted a lot of visitors who wanted to take in the beautiful paintings, and it became a bit of a tourist attraction. The Painted Hall was restored relatively recently, and reopened in 2019 following a period of closure.
Guildhall is an impressive building dating back to the 15th century. It includes a medieval great hall that has been at the centre of City government since the Middle Ages. The hall is sometimes open for events and monthly guided tours. Alongside the hall is the Guildhall Art Gallery which was deliberately built in a gothic style to complement the historic Guildhall. The gallery is open to the public and includes the remains of a Roman Architecture that was discovered in the 1980s.
Highgate Cemetery is an expansive cemetery, and one of the ‘Magnificent 7’ cemeteries built in outer London in the 19th century to cope with overcrowding in the cemeteries in the centre. With its Gothic-style tombs, Egyptian archway, and fine Mausoleum, Highgate soon became a fashionable place to be buried, and many notable people lie here, including Karl Marx. Don’t miss the view from the terrace at the top of the cemetery.
Little Venice is a beautiful and relatively undiscovered spot in Paddington, with waterside cafes, traditional pubs, and canalside paths. The triangular shaped pool is surrounded by willow trees and gorgeous mansions. There are lots of boats moored here, and it’s a lovely place to spend some time relaxing. You can walk along the canal to Camden market.
Wallace Collection consists of fine paintings, sculpture, ceramics, furniture and armour, all displayed within a grand townhouse in Marylebone’s Manchester Square. The museum is free to enter and it is one of the city’s quieter cultural spots, still relatively undiscovered. Its most famous painting is Fragonard’s The Swing, and there are also Turner watercolours on display.
Foundling Museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital which once was home to abandoned children in the 18th and 19th centuries. As well as being the UK’s first children’s charity, the hospital was also the UK’s first public art gallery, as many leading artists such as William Hogarth donated their work to raise funds for the children. The composer George Handel held annual concerts here, and you can see the manuscript score of his most famous work, Messiah, here. The museum also includes original furniture and artwork displayed in historic rooms.
Southwark Cathedral is a peaceful church on the South Bank that is free to enter, with a stunning interior. There is also a resident cat here, called Hodge!
Charles Dickens House Museum in Bloomsbury is a charming museum about the novelist Charles Dickens. Dickens lived here between 1837 and 1839, and the atmospheric rooms have been set up to look like he has only just left: many items of furniture were owned by him, including the writing desk in the study. The museum hosts changing exhibitions on different topics, as well as special events like story-telling, guided tours, and theatre performances.
Parkland walk is the longest linear nature reserve in London. It follows the former railway line from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace, all through beautiful woodland.
The Courtauld gallery is housed in the magnificent Somerset House, and is famous for its excellent collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. The permanent collection includes Manet’s painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, as well as works by Van Gogh, Degas and Renoir.
Mews streets are cobbled streets are usually located behind large 19th and 18th century homes. The mews houses were originally used for horses, with stables on the ground floor and servants living in the floor above. Kensington is probably the best place to see the mews houses, with many mews streets in the area including Kynance Mews, but Notting Hill also has some great ones, including St Luke’s Mews.
Garden Museum is located in a former church not far from Westminster. Founded in the 1970s, the museum celebrates garden-themed art, and the history of gardening and gardens. The museum also includes a rooftop terrace with riverside views, accessed by climbing steps in a medieval tower.