Our 10 Best Hidden Gems in London

You’ve done all the main tourist places and are ready for something different. A hidden gem to visit. Something that’ll show you what London’s really about and give you a truly local, memorable experience. Whether you’re looking for a quirky museum, tranquil garden or less-explored part of London, this is the list for you. Packed with insider recommendations and practical tips, here’s our run-down of unusual things to do during your stay in London.

Most visitors to Victoria in central London make a beeline for Buckingham Palace. But hidden in plain sight just minutes from the famed royal residence is the dramatic red-and-white striped Westminster Cathedral. Not to be confused with Westminster Abbey, this Victorian landmark, inspired by Byzantine-Christian architecture, is the heart of Catholicism in England and Wales.

Inside, elegant marble columns tower amidst intricate mosaics depicting saints and songbirds, while rare treasures are on display in a permanent exhibition. Volunteer guides are on hand to answer queries and tell you about the architectural highlights. 

Don’t miss the panoramic views of London from the viewing gallery in the cathedral’s 87-metre-high Bell Tower, open Fridays to Sundays during certain times, and for which you’ll need to buy a ticket from the cathedral shop. The cathedral itself is free to enter and open daily. 

Westminster Cathedral, 42 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QW; open daily.

The Temple of Mithras was built by the Romans in AD 240, although its ruins were only discovered nearly two millennia later, during an excavation in 1954. The remnants now form part of a small but fascinating (and free) museum at Bloomberg’s corporate site in the City of London. 

Discover some of the artefacts found during excavation of Roman sites in London, including a variety of tools and copper coins. Explore the half-sunken reconstructed remains – an immersive experience, with haze, dim lights and a soundtrack of footsteps and secret whispers evoking the mysterious Roman cult that once occupied the temple. 

When you’re done, take the short walk east down skyscraper-lined streets to the imposing London Wall for another hidden Roman gem in London.

London Mithraeum, 12 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AA; open Tues–Sat 10pm–6pm, Sun 12pm–5pm.

Perhaps you’ve already seen all the big-name musicals, or just want an off-the-beaten-path cultural experience. How about attending a candlelight concert at an iconic London landmark? Classical musicians – from string quartets to chamber orchestras – perform an eclectic repertoire of music, including Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Taylor Swift and Hans Zimmer. Previous venues have included the Grade II*-listed Central Hall Westminster and Glaziers Hall, a converted 19th-century warehouse overlooking the River Thames. 

Between the candlelight and the cosy venues, these concerts have an informal yet intimate vibe, perfect for a casual or romantic evening out. Performances are typically around an hour long, which means you can grab a nightcap afterwards – Soho and the adjoining Chinatown area are full of hidden gem bars. Looking for a central place to stay? The Sofitel London St James is located a 10-minute walk from Soho.

This remarkable museum tells the fascinating history of Spitalfields in the East End, as the area declined from an affluent merchants’ quarter to a Victorian slum over two centuries. The house, built in 1724, was derelict when American Dennis Severs bought it in 1979 and transformed it into the unusual site it is today.

You experience the house as it might have been when a Huguenot silk weaver’s family lived there, with sounds and smells – from ticking clocks and crackling fires to wood smoke and oranges – all taking you back in time. Book a slot in advance, but be aware that it may not be suitable for younger children, as talking is discouraged during the tour.

Dennis Severs' House, 18 Folgate Street, London E1 6BX; open Thur 6pm–10pm, Fri 5pm–9pm, Sat & Sun 12pm–10pm, plus selected extra days.

This is a must for engineers and architects alike. Crossness Pumping Station was built in 1865 by civil engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette as part of the city’s first-ever sewerage system, designed to solve the problems caused by the Great Stink of 1858. But Bazalgette being a true Victorian, the pumping station wasn’t just functional, it was also beautiful, with a red-and-gold engine house featuring grand columns and decorated arches. 

Today, it’s a Grade I-listed heritage site, and open for guided tours, during which enough latrine-related references will keep even younger visitors engaged. You can also book a slot on an Open Day, where volunteers are on hand to answer questions and you can take a short ride on a quaint narrow gauge railway train.

Crossness Pumping Station, Bazalgette Way, Abbey Wood, London SE2 9AQ; check online calendar for opening days and times. 

Can’t bear the thought of dragging reluctant kids around yet another art gallery? Head to The Postal Museum for a unique train ride and lots of hands-on exhibits. 

The indisputable highlight at this hidden gem for kids is the Mail Rail. This miniature train takes visitors through London’s old subterranean postal delivery network, with a riveting audiovisual show bringing to life the stories of the people who kept London’s snail mail system going.

The museum, although small, is packed with plenty to keep little hands busy, including a mail-sorting station (much harder than it looks) and a chute for posting secret messages. Exhibits like vehicles, pillar boxes and stamps narrate the 500-year-old history of British postal communication, and a soft play area keeps kids aged 8 and under entertained.

The Postal Museum, 15-20 Phoenix Place, London, WC1X 0DA; open Wed-Sun 10am-5pm.

This family-friendly museum in the heart of residential Dulwich houses an impressive permanent collection of fossils, musical instruments and art, plus masks and tools from across the world. What stands out is how thoughtfully the exhibits are cared for and curated, with explanations of their origins also exploring the colonial issues surrounding how the items were obtained. 

Most of the museum is free to enter, including the gardens, where you can go on a quaint Animal Walk to get up close to rabbits, alpacas, goats, sheep and chickens. Look out for a hilltop vantage point where, on a clear day, you can gaze across London to spot iconic landmarks in the financial district. Other highlights include the Butterfly House and an Aquarium, for which you need to buy tickets. The cafe can get busy quickly, so consider packing a picnic to graze on in the garden.

Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ; museum open daily 10am-5.30pm, gardens open daily 7.15am (8am Sunday and Bank Holidays) to 7.30pm.

From the 8th century all the way until 1973, Fulham Palace was where the Bishops of London lived, initially as a summer retreat, then in the later centuries as a family home. Kings and queens have been entertained here, and during the World Wars the site was a refuge for wounded soldiers and for families who’d lost their homes in the Blitz. Today, it’s a tranquil, leafy hangout beloved by local families.

The building itself is definitely more of a house than a palace, remarkable for its mishmash of architectural styles, from a red-brick Tudor courtyard to pointed Gothic Revival windows. Inside, interactive displays trace the history of the site, but it’s really the gardens that make this place worth a visit. Here, you’ll find a 500-year-old oak tree and a play area built from boulders and logs, plus a walled garden bursting with flowers, fruit trees and veggies. Both the museum and garden are free to visitors.

Fulham Palace House & Garden, Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham, London SW6 6EA; museum open daily 10.30am-5pm, gardens open daily dawn to dusk.

Discover north London’s hidden gems with a waterside hike along the tranquil Regent’s Canal. The walk from Little Venice, an affluent, leafy area of grand Regency-style stucco houses, to Camden Lock is a manageable 3.2 km. From Rembrandt Gardens, follow the boat-lined canal as it meanders east, hugging Regent’s Park and London Zoo. You’ll smell the delicious aromas wafting from the global street food stalls at Camden Lock Market before you see them.

For a challenge, continue along the towpath to King’s Cross, home to hip stores and the London Canal Museum, then through to another of London’s hidden gems – the lively neighbourhood of Angel, known for its traditional pubs. You could even follow the canal until it meets the River Thames at Limehouse Basin, making your walk an impressive 14.5 km from start to finish. Need to rest those tired feet? The Pullman London St Pancras is a short walk to where the towpath meets King's Cross.

The Thames Path is a 298-km walking trail starting in the Cotswolds, a region in southwest England, and passing through countless historic towns and villages before arriving in the heart of London. You’ve probably walked along some of it already without realizing. But of its many routes, a real stand-out is the section between Hampton Court Palace and Putney, taking in some of southwest London’s finest attractions. 

You can walk or cycle this 20-km route – if on foot, consider taking the train from central London to Hampton Court and walking back. Highlights include Hampton Court Palace, a baroque landmark beloved by Henry VIII, and Richmond Park, with its deer herds. Along the way, you’ll also find plenty of riverside pubs and hidden gem restaurants, plus stately homes like Orleans House Gallery. Want a shorter walk? Finish your route at Richmond, where there are fast trains back to Waterloo.

London is absolutely packed full of hidden gems, so leave the hustle and bustle behind and start exploring its many secrets. You never know what treasures you’ll find.