Top 13 Secret Spots You Have To See In London
If you're like the majority of people, the first things that come to mind when you think of things to do in London are well-known tourist destinations like ... read more...Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, and the Tower of London. What about the incredible hidden gems that London has to offer, though? So be sure to check out some of these less well-known locations on your next trip to London if you're searching for something a little different. London's undiscovered beauties won't let you down! Here are a few of Secret Spots You Have To See In London.
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Leadenhall Market is a covered market in London that is situated on Gracechurch Street but also has access for cars via Whittington Avenue to the north and Lime Street to the south and east, as well as additional pedestrian access via several constrained alleyways. In the center of the City of London, Leadenhall Market is a bustling, attractive, and airy market that offers a distinctive selection of boutiques, stores, restaurants, and pubs. It is a hidden gem with exquisite architecture from the fourteenth century and is both outside and covered.
Leadenhall Market's stunning Victorian architecture is worth a visit, if only to admire the great architecture and lovely tones of the buildings. It is best visited earlier in the day to avoid the crowds. The covered market, which was constructed on the site of the original Roman heart of "Londinium," is now home to a variety of vintage boutiques and independent stores and was mentioned in Harry Potter.One of the oldest markets in the entire city, the history of trading and market stalls here dates all the way back to the 14th century. The Temple of Mithras in the City of London is another undiscovered gem for even more history close to Leadenhall Market. The public may now once again view the long-forgotten Roman ruins thanks to a recent repair project.
Address: Gracechurch St, London EC3V 1LT, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7606 3030
Opened: 1445
Opening hours: 24 hours
Rating: 4.4/5.0, 12,149 Google reviews
Website: https://leadenhallmarket.co.uk/ -
Learn about Sir John Soane's magnificent home and museum, which he built and occupied two centuries ago. Sir John Soane was one of the greatest English architects. The Sir John Soane's Museum is located in Lincoln's Inn Fields and is small and eccentric. This can be considered as one of the Secret Spots You Have To See In London. Sir John Soane, a 19th-century architect and collector, once referred to this house museum as his "home." He left the house to the country as part of his will. This museum is really strange, eccentric, and unusual. The Sir John Soane's Museum is without a doubt one of favorite sights in the city. If you enjoy art, history, or anything classical, you should definitely pay a visit.
The treasures are kept in a building from the 19th century that was built to display all of the artwork and ornamentation at their finest. Soane left the nation a bequest by an act of Parliament that included both the house and the items it contained upon his death in 1837.
The fact that there is a no phone and no camera policy at the museum is one of its best features because it allows you to fully experience the displays without any interruptions.Address: 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7405 2107
Established: 1813
Opening hours: 10AM–5PM
Rating: 4.7/5.0, 2,309 Google reviews
Website: https://www.soane.org/
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The church of St. Bartholomew the Great can be one of your favorite secret locations in London from this list. The Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, often known as Great St. Bart's, is a medieval church in the City of London's Smithfield that belongs to the Church of England's Diocese of London. In 1123, the structure was established as an Augustinian priory. St. Bartholomew's the Great is one of the city's oldest churches and is home to stained glass windows, lovely carvings, and even its own set of cloisters despite being positioned in a little-known location despite being so central.
The church is known as St. Bartholomew the Great to distinguish it from the nearby, smaller St. Bartholomew the Less church, which was established at the same time inside the walls of St. Bartholomew's Hospital to serve as the hospital's parish church and sporadic place of worship. In 2012, the two parish churches were merged under a single benefice.
Explore the cloisters, where you can witness hundreds of years' worth of architecture and a coffee shop that is temporarily closed until further notice. You can find nearby hidden London jewels like the Charterhouse and the Golden Boy of Pye Corner.
Address: W Smithfield, London EC1A 9DS, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7600 0440
Founded: 1123
Opening hours: 10AM–5PM
Rating: 4.8/5.0, 483 Google reviews
Website: https://www.greatstbarts.com/ -
This mansion, which served as Dr. Samuel Johnson's former residence, is a magnificent example of late 17th-century architecture at its pinnacle. Visiting a museum isn't exactly one of the most unusual things to do in London, but this particular museum is somewhat off the beaten path and pretty distinctive. This is one of the Secret Spots You Have To See In London that you should experience.
Dr Johnson's House is the only one of Johnson's 18 residences in the City to have survived, and it is a rare example of a house from its era that still stands in the City of London (this refers only to the "Square Mile" of the City area, as there are many other houses from this period elsewhere in Greater London). Dr Johnson's House was built at the end of the seventeenth century by wool merchant Richard Gough. It is situated at Number 17, Gough Square, a small L-shaped court that is now pedestrianized, in a maze of historic alleyways close to the north of Fleet Street. It is four bays wide and five floors tall.
The Grade I building is concealed behind the Temple neighborhood, in a quiet small alleyway. As a matter of fact, Johnson wrote the dictionary in one of its earliest forms in one of the rooms at number 17, Gough Square.Address: 17 Gough Square, London EC4A 3DE, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7353 3745
Opened: 1700
Opening hours: 11AM–5PM
Rating: 4.4/5.0, 237 Google reviews
Website: http://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/
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No other wine bar in the city is more appropriate for a casual drink with friends or a special date night than Gordon's. This gem of a bar is situated in front of old wine barrel cellars and is undoubtedly one of the best-kept secrets of London's Embankment neighborhood. It solely offers wine.
For more than 130 years, Gordon's Wine Bar has slaked the thirst of wine enthusiasts. It is a hidden gem just minutes from Trafalgar Square between Charing Cross and Embankment stations, close to Covent Garden and London's Theatreland. Reputable for its heritage, with a cellar lit by candles and antique wood barrels holding sherries and port. You may travel back in time, get away from the crowds, and enjoy a wide variety of award-winning wines and delicious meals in this setting decorated with antique images and newspaper clippings of historical events of Gordon's Wine Bar.
There is plenty of sitting outside for the balmy summer evenings in addition to the cozy tables inside that were once wine barrels. A cheese board and a cold cut board are also available if you're feeling peckish. Otherwise, make sure to arrive earlier rather than later in the evening because the limited space tends to fill up quickly!Address: 47 Villiers St, London WC2N 6NE, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7930 1408
Opening hours: 11AM–11PM
Rating: 4.6/5.0, 4,445 Google reviews
Website: https://www.gordonswinebar.com/
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On London's High Holborn, The Cittie of Yorke is a grade II-listed public house that is included in CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. The Samuel Smith's Old Brewery is the owner and operator of the bar.
The Cittie of Yorke, a "ye olde" pub in the center of Zone One, is located in High Holborn, but many visitors miss the tiny entranceway that leads onto a gloomy hallway. Even though this bar appears to be old, you might be surprised to learn that although there has been a tavern here since the 14th century, the current structure was only built in the 1920s utilizing elements from the medieval pub. Some characteristics include a late Georgian or Regency era triangular metal stove, Victorian-style cubicles, and the Henekey's long bar placed in the big, hall-like back area.
The longest bar in the UK will welcome you when you walk in today! The pub offers pints at such low prices that it would be difficult to find a better deal in the heart of London. It also has cozy booths where you can spend time with loved ones or catch up with friends.Address: Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BN, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7242 7670
Opening hours: 12–11PM
Rating: 4.4/5.0, 2,072 Google reviews
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The Kyoto Garden is undoubtedly one of the most stunning, not to mention one of the most unusual places in all of London, of all the hidden gems we've featured here. A beautiful respite from the rush of busy daily life, Holland Park is a 54-acre park that is packed with gardens, trees, and a wooded section.
During your visit to the city, you should be sure to visit the Kyoto Garden, one of the park's hidden gems. In 1991, the Kyoto Garden first opened. It was a gift from the city of Kyoto to honor the deep relationship that Japan and Great Britain have shared through the years. In Holland Park today, the Kyoto Garden is a well-liked feature, but it's not the only Japanese garden there. The Fukushima Memorial Garden was formally inaugurated in July 2012. It honors the British people's assistance provided to the Japanese people in the wake of the natural disasters that occurred in March 2011.
The garden is a classic Japanese garden with calm waterfalls on multiple levels and a tranquil pond stocked with gorgeous koi carp. The ambience is enhanced by the presence of stone lanterns, Japanese maple trees, and perhaps even a few wandering peacocks.Address: Holland Park, Holland Park Ave, London W11 4UA, United Kingdom
Opening hours: 7:30AM–8PM
Rating: 4.7/5.0, 8,422 Google reviews
Website: https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/
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It can be seen as one of the Secret Spots You Have To See In London. The Hunterian is a group of museums that are housed in Glasgow, Scotland, and run by the University of Glasgow. It is Scotland's oldest museum. It covers the Hunterian Museum, Hunterian Art Gallery, Mackintosh House, Zoology Museum, and Anatomy Museum, all of which are housed in different structures on the university's main campus in Glasgow's west end.
The Gallery is presently located in a cutting-edge, specially constructed space that is a component of the vast Glasgow University Library complex and was created by William Whitfield. This comprises an outdoor sculpture garden and the enormous art collection owned by the university. Eduardo Paolozzi, an artist, created the Hunterian Gallery's bas relief aluminum doors. The collection of the gallery has a sizable number of James McNeill Whistler's pieces as well as the majority of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's watercolors.
After renovations, the Hunterian Art Gallery reopened in September 2012 with the exhibit Rembrandt, Rembrandt and the Passion. Three significant Mackintosh exhibitions have been staged at the gallery: Architecture (2014), Travel Sketches (2015), and Unbuilt (2018). The gallery has also held two exhibitions based on its Whistler collection: Watercolors (2013) and Art and Legacy (2018).Address: University of Glasgow, 82 Hillhead St, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
Opening hours: 10AM–5PM
Rating: 4.6/5.0, 1,683 Google reviews
Website: https://www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian/
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Where do the people of London get their flowers from? Look nowhere else. You don't need to search much farther if you're seeking for something to do on Sunday brunch time. The Columbia Road Flower Market has it all: it's affordable, stylish, trendy, and attractive. A street market called Columbia Road Flower Market is located in Bethnal Green, London, England. Off of Hackney Road in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is Columbia Road, a street lined with Victorian-era stores. Only Sundays are when the market is open. Nova Scotia Gardens was the site upon which Columbia Market was constructed. North-east of St. Leonard's in Shoreditch, this area had once been a brick field, but garbage had started to fill it in as the brick clay had run out.
From 8 am until 2 pm on Sundays, Columbia Road Flower Market is open. Traders begin to set up their stalls from 4 am. At affordable pricing, a variety of plants, bedding plants, shrubs, bulbs, and freshly cut flowers are offered. Many of the vendors are selling in the market for the second or third generation in their families. Along with bread and cheese, the market contains businesses selling Buddhist artifacts, antiques, garden items, odd international foods, soap, and candlesticks. The Jesus Green Hospital Estate encompasses a large portion of Columbia Road. In addition to those who purchase plants and flowers, the market is well-liked by photographers and television production companies who frequently film there.
Address: Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG, United Kingdom
Opened: 1869
Opening hours: 8AM–2PM in Sunday only
Rating: 4.6/5.0, 6,144 Google reviews
Website: https://columbiaroad.info/ -
Near Trafalgar Square in London, at 36 Craven Street, there is a museum called Benjamin Franklin House. It is the final remaining remnant of Benjamin Franklin's former home, who was a founding father of the United States. Franklin spent sixteen years living and working in the 1730-built home. The museum welcomed visitors on January 17, 2006. John Studzinski, an investment banker and philanthropist who is American and British, is the chairman. Due of its long-standing connection to Franklin, the house is designated Grade I status on England's National Heritage List.
The Friends of Benjamin Franklin House completed the renovation and restoration of the home in 1998 so that it could be converted into a museum. The remains of 10 people, consisting of numerous bones and bone fragments, were discovered during the excavation; six of them were thought to be children. On Tuesdays, the Benjamin Franklin House is open for no cost to school visits. Visits can be customized for kids in all key stages even if they are intended for students in key stage 2. The "Scholarship Centre," located on the house's upper floor, serves as a hub for research into the numerous topics Franklin undertook. Every year, the Benjamin Franklin House awards a Literary Prize for the best interpretation of a Benjamin Franklin quotation in light of contemporary events.
Address: 36 Craven St, London WC2N 5NF, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7925 1405
Opened: 1730
Opening hours: 11:30AM–5PM
Rating: 4.1/5.0, 226 Google reviews
Website: https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/ -
During the Second World War, the English country house and estate Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire) served as the main hub for Allied code-breaking. On the site of earlier structures of the same name, the mansion was built for the financier and politician Sir Herbert Leon in the years following 1883 in the Victorian Gothic, Tudor, and Dutch Baroque styles.
The home of the World War II Codebreakers, Bletchley Park, was once Britain's best-kept secret and is today a bustling heritage site where visitors can discover how the Codebreakers' astounding accomplishments helped cut the war by up to two years.
In recent years, interpretive exhibits and huts that have been recreated to look like they did during their wartime operations have been available at Bletchley Park, which is now open to the public. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit it. In Block H on the property, there is a separate National Museum of Computing, which houses a working reproduction of the Bombe machine and a refurbished Colossus computer.
Address: The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Sherwood Dr, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1908 640404
Established: 1992
Opening hours: 9:30AM–5PM
Rating: 4.7/5.0, 11,287 Google reviews
Website: https://bletchleypark.org.uk/
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Westminster Cathedral is one of the Secret Spots You Have To See In London. The mother church of the Catholic Church in England and Wales is Westminster Cathedral. The Archbishop of Westminster is based there, and it is the largest Catholic church in the UK. The Diocese of Westminster bought the land where the cathedral now stands in the City of Westminster in 1885, and work on it was finished in 1903. A masterwork in striped brick and stone, it was created by John Francis Bentley in the neo-Byzantine style without the use of steel reinforcing. According to Sir John Betjeman, it demonstrates that "the good artisan has no need of steel or concrete."
One of the busiest churches in the UK must be Westminster Cathedral. It is the mother church of England and Wales, and it is situated in the center of London. This magnificent building attracts visitors from all around London, the nation, and the world. Consider that there are seven daily masses, numerous magnificent worship events on special occasions, and unusual gatherings of every kind that fill the Cathedral to the doors if you're attempting to imagine "what goes on" here. The Westminster Cathedral Choir, which is justly recognized for its reliability and excellence, usually sings at the Solemn Mass every evening. Even when there isn't a formal ceremony happening in front of everyone, believers' private prayers are ongoing acts of faith.
Although the Cathedral is free to enter, gifts are always appreciated. Tower Lift: £6 for adults, £3 for seniors, and £14 for families (2 adult and 2 children)
Address: Victoria St, London SW1P 1LT, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7798 9055
Opened: 1903
Rating: 4.7/5.0, 6,539 Google reviews
Website: https://westminstercathedral.org.uk/
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In London, England, the Chelsea Physic Garden was first founded as the Apothecaries' Garden to cultivate plants for medicinal purposes. The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Britain, together with this four-acre "physic garden," which here refers to the science of healing. Its alpine and Mediterranean plant rock garden is the oldest in all of Europe. The garden's tall brick walls, which trap heat, protect the largest fruiting olive tree in Britain and what is likely the northernmost grapefruit tree in the world from the elements. The Garden, which had been jealously guarded during the reign of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, was first made available to the general public in 1983 after becoming a registered charity.
The Physic Garden was built in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London and is now a public space with events, workshops, and kid-friendly activities. A member of the London Museums of Health & Medicine is the garden. Additionally, it is a Grade I listing on English Heritage's Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. The Garden will start raising money in 2020 to renovate the location's historic glasshouses.
Address: 66 Royal Hospital Rd, London SW3 4HS, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7352 5646
Opening hours: 11AM–5PM
Rating: 4.6/5.0, 1,459 Google reviews
Website: https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/