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Explore ExperiencesLondon is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, and you may feel that you’ve already seen all that it has to offer. However, the city is huge and has lots of hidden sights and quirky attractions for you to explore. Luckily, the city of London is an endless treasure trove of things to do and you can spend days exploring them. As Samuel Johnson once said “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is all in London that life can afford”.
Here Are 34 Quirky, Weird And Unusual Things To Do In London
The Lions Of Trafalgar Square
The famous four lions, sitting in front of Trafalgar Square should be on your list of unusual things to do in London. The lions were created by Sir Edwin Landseer, a painter who had never sculpted in his entire lifetime. He asked for a dead lion from London Zoo to use as a sample of reference for the sculptures. Unfortunately, the dead lion started to decompose before he’d finished the sculptures. If you look closely at the lion’s faces, they look a little weird. They also have paws that look just like that of a cat.
Coffee In A Victorian Toilet
How about sipping your coffee sitting in a former Victorian toilet? Definitely one of the most unusual things to do in London! This abandoned 1890’s underground toilet is now a café with all its original porcelain urinals still around. These urinals are converted into part of the table from where you drink your coffee. From its unique interiors to the coffee that is poured, this place pays attention to responsible sourcing and high-quality products.
Smallest Police Station
Visiting the smallest police station in Trafalgar Square is one of the unusual things to do in London. A tiny box made from a hollowed out lamp post to give the officer a view across the whole of the square. This police station in London consisted of only one small room and a direct phone line to Scotland Yard. Earlier Trafalgar Square was a frequent spot for protesters. To keep an eye on the protesters this police station was made. Today it’s no longer in use, but you can always take some pictures for memory sake.
Stay At The Clink
Operating from 1144 to 1780, The Clink is said to be the oldest prison in England. The term ‘clink’ comes from a specific prison in London called ‘The Clink Prison.’ A few of the former prison cells are now converted into hostels. Located inside an English Heritage building, this place was once a magistrate’s court and served sentences to criminals for over 200 years. The old prison cells are now rooms outfitted with refurbished cell block beds for hire. Staying at Clink Hostel 78 is definitely one of the more offbeat things to do in London, but make sure you stay at least for a night for the unusual experience.
ArcelorMittal Orbit
Are you looking for some daredevil/fun things to do in London? If yes, The ArcelorMittal Orbit is the right place for you. This 114m high bizarre structure is definitely one of the unusual things to do in London landmarks. There are 12 twists and turns making it the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide. Once you are up it’s an impressive view from the top at the same time the trip down is adrenaline-filled.
Animals War Memorial
If you are an animal lover, then a visit to this place can be one of the unusual things to do in London. This war memorial is in honor of all the animals that fought and died in wars throughout British history. It was unveiled in 2004. Animals such as horses, elephants, donkeys and birds which were used in war are depicted here. The lines at this really unique memorial which reads as: “They had no choice” might get you a little emotional.
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Dine In The Dark
You will be in for a daunting dining experience to re-evaluate your approach towards eating here. The entire dining process happens in complete darkness. It makes you focus completely on the taste, smell and texture of the food. Once you are here you’ll be led into the pitch-black dining room by the restaurant’s blind waiters. Choosing what to eat is also done in a very unique way. One needs to select one of four colors from the mystery menu: red for meat, blue for fish, green for vegetarian and white for chef’s special. This unique dining experience is definitely one of the unusual things to do in London.
Collection Of Kidney Stones
The Science Museum got their hands on some kidney stones of all sizes which are displayed in their Medicine gallery. The display looks really good from afar but as you come close is when you realize it’s made up of hundreds of urinary and gallstones. Stone the size of a mango removed from the human body is the biggest one here. Definitely one of the unusual things to do in London for a unique experience!
Leighton House Museum
This fun and quirky museum was once the home of Sir Frederic Leighton, a famous Victorian artist. Located in Holland Park, Park, this lavishly decorated over-the-top house has been turned into a museum. It contains over 70 oil paintings, hundreds of drawings, personal ephemera and many casts of his sculptures. Walls of the Silk Room have the fine work by Leighton’s fellow artists Millais, Burne-Jones, Watts and Sargent. Don’t miss the decadent Arab Hall at Leighton House.
Epping Forest
An area of ancient woodland covering over 2,400-hectares between London and Essex, Epping Forest is the perfect place to escape the city. Stretching from Manor Park in East London to Epping in Essex is the largest open space in London. There are plenty of opportunities for activities such as walking, cycling, horse riding, and more. You can also explore the many lakes and ponds, the nearby market towns, and Queen Elizabeth I’s Hunting Lodge. What makes this place very unique is because it has so many different habitats for plants and animals.
London Mithraeum
The city of London is over 2,000 years old and long before the Masons or the Templars built their secret temples, the ancient Romans had theirs. This rebuilt temple was dedicated to the god Mithras, who was associated with Persia and Zoroastrianism. His mysterious cult was found all over the empire, and you can explore a part of it at the London Mithraeum. Today seven meters below modern street level, the London Mithraeum allows visitors to walk through the ruins and immerse themselves in a technique never-before-used in an exhibit context.
Neal’s Yard
Tucked away in a little corner of Covent Garden, Neal’s Yard is a picturesque courtyard filled with colors. What make this place so unique are the brightly-colored buildings and narrow passageways. Named after the 17th-century developer Thomas Neale, it is home to numerous cafes and boutique stores, as well as the well-known Neal’s Yard Remedies and Neal’s Yard Dairy. You will be amazed to see simple vegan cafes instead of chic coffee shops and handmade trinkets instead of designer furniture. All businesses here emphasize on sustainable practices and great importance is given to environmental friendliness.
Parkland Walk
This scenic walking path follows the trail of an old railroad line through the areas of Haringey and Islington. The Parkland Walk is a 6.6-km point-to-point trail which takes an average of 1 hr 45 min to complete. Lined with abandoned stations and tunnels, it was intended as an extension of the London Metro; but it was abandoned during World War II. The Parkland Walk was then established in 1984. What makes this one of the unusual things to do in London is the creepy statue of a spriggan, or wood spirit in one of the old stations. Hiking, mountain biking, and trail running are few of the other things to do here.
Also Read: Essential London Travel Tips To Know Before You Go
The “Magnificent Seven”
No, we don’t mean the 1960s Western. The Magnificent Seven is the collective name given to the seven large Victorian park cemeteries dotted around London. They are filled with impressive tombs and are also havens for wildlife. The cemeteries include: Kensal Green Cemetery, West Norwood Cemetery, High gate Cemetery, Abney Park Cemetery, Nun head Cemetery, Brampton Cemetery and Tower Hamlets Cemetery. High gate Cemetery is especially famous, as it is the final resting place of Karl Marx and sci-fi author Douglas Adams. All the cemeteries here are now recognized as havens for flora and fauna and are managed as per the conservation schemes.
Freud Museum
While Sigmund Freud (the pioneer of psychoanalysis) spent most of his life in Austria, he lived out final years in London. Escaping Austria after the Nazi annexation in 1938, he moved with his family to this house at 20 Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead northwest of London. After the death of his daughter Anna in 1982, it was turned into the Freud Museum. It was her wish that the house be converted into a museum to honor her father. It contains Freud’s remarkable collection of antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Oriental). The most famous piece of furniture here is undoubtedly, Freud’s psychoanalytic couch, on which all of his patients reclined. This comfortable couch is covered with a richly colored Iranian rug with chenille cushions on top.
Hampstead Swimming Ponds
There may be no beaches in London, but there are quite a few outdoor pools and lidos, especially on Hampstead Heath, that are perfect to escape the stuffy city heat in the summer. What makes this one of the unusual things to do in London is that they are natural bathing ponds and one of London’s best open air swimming spots. Fed by the River Fleet, these pools open at different times. You can also pay a visit to the 17th century Kenwood House, and its amazing art collection, nearby. Especially the three ‘bathing ponds’ for men, women and mixed have been popular with swimmers since Victorian times.
Horniman Museum
The Horniman Museum, located in Dulwich was founded by philanthropist Frederick John Horniman. This Museum has a unique collection of turn-of-the-century displays related to anthropology, natural history, and (oddly enough), musical instruments. There are over 350,000 objects; each displayed using Horniman’s own methods, as well as 16 acres of beautiful gardens, an aquarium, and regular community activities. It also offers lots of activities for families, be it big or small. It includes a nature trail, workshops, and a hands-on base where kids can get up close and personal with lots of the museum’s artifacts.
Barbican Conservatory
Located atop the Barbican’s main theater lies a hidden conservatory, the city’s second largest after Kew Gardens. Located on top of the theater’s fly tower this conservatory is spread over 23,000 square feet. The Barbican Conservatory has over 1,500 species of plants divided into two areas; one with tropical plants and one with cacti and succulents. It was opened in 1982 and may sometimes be closed for private events. Navigating your way through the maze of walkways, stairs and tunnels here is one of the unusual things to do in London.
Dennis Severs’ House
Dennis Severs’ House in Spitalfields is a time capsule which is said to be the strangest museum in the UK. It’s a reimagining of what life would have been like for a typical family of Huguenot silk weavers. However, this four-floor “dramatic still life,” is also much more than that; it’s a living mystery. Each themed room, from cellar to attic, represents a time period from 1724 to 1914 and has clues to the suspicious absence of the Severs family. Utilizing sights, smells, sounds, and little notes, these clues finally come together at the end of the tour. Do not miss to visit this place as it is one of the unusual things to do in London.
God’s Own Junkyard
God’s Own Junkyard in Walthamstow is a treasure trove of handmade neon signs. An unusual things to do in London, isn’t it? Curated by artist Marcus Bracey, the psychedelic signs are part-free-gallery and part-shop. You can find all kinds of signs here, from discos, casinos and even religious images. There are also props from various movies, such as Captain America, Eyes Wide Shut, and Byzantium. God’s Own Junkyard is only open on weekends, and also has its own café.
Osterley House
Surrounded by gardens and farmland, 18th century Osterley House feels like it’s set in the middle of the countryside, but is actually located in west London. Designed by architect Robert Adam for the Child family, the estate is known for its formal gardens, its stables (now a tea-room) and the summer full of lemon trees and scented shrubs. This spectacular mansion is one of the last surviving country estates in London.
St Dunstan-In-The-East
The great Gothic-style St. Dunstan-in-the-East was originally built 900 years ago. Though it mostly survived the Great Fire of London in 1666, this ancient parish church was mostly destroyed in the London Blitz. Located near the Tower of London, it has now been turned into a serene public garden. What makes this place stand out from the crowd are the beautiful trees growing through windows and arches overgrown with vines and climbing ivy. Some gray skies and a dusting of snow make this place look simply magical.
Old Operating Theater Museum
Located in the attic of St. Thomas Church in South London, the Old Operating Theater Museum & Herb Garret is the oldest surviving operating theater in Britain. It looks exactly as it would have done in the early 1800s; and you can almost hear the screams of the unanesthetized patients who were brought there. The museum was founded by Richard Mead, and now has surgical demonstrations as well as an apothecary with displays on the herbs that were used as medication.
Twining Tea Shop
Located on the Strand, the 300-year-old Twining Tea Shop (and the merchant Thomas Twining) helped popularize tea in England. This historic building is one of the oldest shops which is still in its original location. The shop has seen very few changes since it opened in 1706 and has also supplied tea to the royal family since 1837. You can also try your hand at tea-tasting in the tea-tasting room here. All that you need to know about the Twining tea company is displayed in a small museum. If you are a tea lover, a visit to the Twining Tea shop is a must while in London.
Temple Church
The Temple Church is a late 12th century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. This unusual round church in London was founded by the Knights Templar in 1185. The Temple Church is modeled on the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and is located between Fleet Street and the River Thames. It was restored after sustaining damage during the Blitz of World War II and can be seen featured in The Da Vinci Code.
The Mayflower Pub
Pubs are an iconic part of British culture, and London is absolutely full of them. It is one of the oldest pubs on the River Thames. The Mayflower is famous for overlooking the spot where the Mayflower was moored before setting sail for Plymouth and then to America in 1620. Though it has changed hands many times over the centuries, it is still a wonderful place to take a break and enjoy a pint. What makes this pub deserve a place in the unusual things to do in London is the outside decked jetty and cozy candlelit restaurant with stunning river views.
Geffrye Museum
Located in Shoreditch, the charming museum Geffrye Museum explores four centuries of English middle-class home life. A series of recreated rooms show how tastes and styles have evolved over the years. The museum itself is housed in restored 18th-century almshouses which also give visitors a glimpse into the life of the poor and elderly. This museum takes visitors on a walk through time to understand changes in society, behavior, style, fashion and taste from the 17th century to the 20th century. In short all about how homes have been used and furnished over the past 400 years.
Viktor Wynd’s Little Shop of Horrors
Better known as the Last Tuesday Society, this shop-cum-gallery is filled with all kinds of strange and quirky items. All these quirky items are divided into five rooms: The Lobby, Viewing Room, The Gallery, and Lecture Theater & Museum. Here you can find everything from taxidermy specimens to insect sculptures, vintage books, skulls of all sizes, and even a couple of mermaids. Located in Hackney, it is horrific and fascinating in equal measure and also one of the most unusual things to do in London.
The Mail Rail
Hidden beneath the streets of London lies the Post Office Railway—more commonly known as “Mail Rail”. This was an automatic electric railway created in 1927 to bypass the city’s crowded streets and deliver Royal Mail. However, it was the railroad which was closed down and abandoned in 2003 before being reopened as a museum in 2017. There are also rides on specially made miniature trains. Come ride back in time through the original tunnels and station platforms of this 100-year-old postal railway. This place is one of the unusual things to do in London that’s sure to give you an experience like never before.
Women’s Library
The Women’s Library boasts of the most extensive collection of women’s history in the UK. Beginning life as “The Library of the London Society for Women’s Service” on Marsham Street in 1926, this library is the place to go to learn all about the women’s suffrage movement. This was an organized campaign for the right to vote which ended in 1928. Today the Women’s Library is housed in the London School of Economics. When in London do take a journey through the personal, political and economic struggles of women who battled for equality over the past 500 years.
The Hardy Tree
This ancient London churchyard is located next to St. Pancras Old Church. It has been the site of many famous events, such as the elopement of Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley. However what makes this one of the unusual things to do in London is the hundreds of gravestones placed around an ash tree by author Thomas Hardy in the mid-1860s, when he was working as an architect. Over the years the tree has absorbed many of the gravestones showing life and death melding into one image and preserved for centuries.
Syon Park
One of the last “great houses” of London, Syon Park is the home of the Duke of Northumberland. Over 400 years, this large estate holds a fascinating collection of art. Its grand classical interiors and 40 acres of gardens have also been used numerous times in films, such as in Poirot; Downton Abbey; and Transformers: The Last Knight. Visitors come here to explore the spectacular Robert Adam interiors and to see the extensive art and antique collections. Visit to this place helps one understand the Percy family better and the significant place Syon holds in history.
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