If you think you know everything there is to know about attractions in London, think again. Some of the best London attractions are those that are the least advertised. Visitors and tourists get sidetracked by the vast number of well known landmarks and experiences this city has to offer. Unfortunately, they miss out on what could be the most memorable moments of their stay.
Museums abound in London. Many of them are free or quite inexpensive and well worth a look. Everyone knows about the British Museum and all of the rich history it has to offer. Tourists flock to the more specialised museums, such as the Sherlock Museum or the HMS Belfast. However, there are many more from which to choose. The Handel House Museum was George Frederick Handel’s home and houses the original manuscript of the Messiah (it was also once home to Jimi Hendrix!). Londoners in the know might recommend the Brunel Museum, which is dedicated to the construction of the Thames Tunnel.
Visitors to London who are anxious to see Big Ben may get a thrill out of a visit to the Victoria Palace Theatre where Little Ben resides. If you enjoy being outdoors, you may also wish to visit Chelsea Physic Garden. While other tourists are busy at Hyde Park, you can experience the medicinal gardens, the rock garden, the glasshouses, and the many other features of this beautiful park. For a more macabre experience, spend an afternoon at London’s Highgate Cemetery. Visit the graves of Douglas Adams, Jeremy Beadle, George Eliot, and Karl Marx.
If you are more interested in activities than landmarks, London has plenty of these as well. Shakespeare’s Globe has performances as well as a museum that can delight and is well worth the trip, but there are many other entertainment venues throughout London that the guidebooks might not tell you about. The Royal Academy of Music hosts free daytime concerts throughout the week, as do Lauderdale House and the Royal Opera House.
St. Martin-in-the-Fields is a religious experience you won’t soon forget. Every day at 1 PM, other than Sundays and Wednesdays, the church offers free concerts. Underneath, in the church’s crypt, is a brass rubbing centre, a cafe, and a shop to purchase mementos from your stay.
There are tourists who prefer attractions that are truly quirky and odd. If you are one of these people, you will not be disappointed during your London holiday. The Jack the Ripper Walking Tour takes you to the sites of the infamous murders. You can also seek out the Secret Cinema, an experience that shows films in an unknown location with the film that is screened being a secret until it begins. When you’re finished, pop into the London Stone, a self-proclaimed ghoulish gothic style pub with such offerings as the 7 Deady Sins Cocktail. London also boasts one of the most unusual dining experiences with Dans Le Noir, a restaurant that is entirely pitch black, with patrons eating in the dark.
This is not to say that visitors should avoid Buckingham Palace or Trafalgar Square. The most visited London attractions are popular for good reason. Just don’t forget to squeeze in some of the more offbeat attractions as well.