Looking to escape the touristy attractions in London and explore the city off the beaten path? This guide will take you through the top 10 genuine hidden gems to explore London off the beaten path, from a born and bred Londoner! I’ve also included a map that you can save to your Google Maps and use for reference during your visit to the city!
Don’t have time to read everything? View the map below! Feel free to save it to your Google Maps and use it to navigate the 10 hidden places in London to explore mentioned in this blog post!
10 Hidden Gems to Explore in London
1. The Hill Garden and Pergola
📍The Pergola, Inverforth Cl, London NW3 7EX
Closest Underground Station: Hampstead
Tucked away in Hampstead Heath, North London, is a hidden garden that dates back to the 1900s. It was initially built as a private garden for Lord Leverhulme, a British soap and detergent entrepreneur, to entertain guests and host summer parties next to his mansion, The Hill (now known as Inverforth House). Today, it’s a public 8-acre Hill Garden and an 800 ft long Pergola overlooking the Heath.
The Hill Garden and Pergola is a must-visit when exploring London off the beaten path. It has a peaceful yet moody atmosphere with grand pillars and arches overgrown with wisteria, vines, and roses. The best way I can describe it is like stepping into a fairytale, so it’s no wonder that couples get married here too!
I highly recoommend visiting here during the spring/summer seasons, when the flowers and plants are in full bloom!
2. St Dunstan in the East
📍St Dunstan’s Hill, London EC3R 5DD
Closest Underground Station: Monument
Hidden in central London, St Dunstan in the East is a lovely garden within the ruins of a Gothic church dating back to the 12th century.
In 1666, the church was severely damaged due to the Great Fire of London, so was patched up over the next 30 years. This included adding a steeple, which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed St Paul’s Cathedral.
However, it was largely destroyed again in 1941 during the Blitz of the Second World War, with only the steeple surviving. The church walls were left in ruins for decades until the City of London Corporation turned it into a public garden in 1967. A lawn and trees were planted along with a fountain that sits in the middle of the former church nave.
Since 1971, it has been open to the public and has become the perfect spot to escape from the city. With its central location, it’s almost impossible to believe it’s only a short walk from London Bridge! There are benches and beautiful greenery that are even more stunning during the spring and summer months. You’ll even see some squirrels running around too!
Opening times are from 8 am to dusk every day, excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day!
3. Regent’s Canal Walk
If you’re a fan of long walks, then Regent’s Canal Walk is a perfect way to explore London off the beaten path. Regent’s Canal is an 8.6-mile-long waterway starting from Limehouse Basin, just 2 miles east of London Bridge, to Little Venice just north of Paddington.
You could walk the entire length of the canal, passing through Mile End, Hackney, Islington, King’s Cross and Camden if you’re up for the challenge. However, the best section of Regent’s Canal, in my opinion, is from King’s Cross to Little Venice.
Walking Regent’s Canal from King’s Cross to Little Venice will show you both the well-known and hidden beauties of London. From the street art in Camden to the secret St John’s Lodge Garden inside Regent’s Park, you’ll have an amazing time exploring London off the beaten path on this 2.5-hour-long canal walk.
Make sure to check out my complete guide on how to do the Regent’s Canal walk from King’s Cross to Little Venice (coming soon!) if you want to see all the extra hidden gems that you’ll come across on this walk!
4. Graffiti Tunnel
📍Leake St, London SE1 7NN
Closest Underground Station: Waterloo
Tucked beneath Waterloo Station is a road tunnel completely covered with incredible street art. Graffiti Tunnel (also referred to as the Leake Street Arches and Banksy Tunnel) dates back to 2008 when Banksy chose it as the location to run the Cans Festival, where he and 29 other street artists would decorate the walls with graffiti.
Since then, artists from all over the world have displayed their graffiti art on the walls of this tunnel. Even as you walk through, you will see that the walls are constantly changing, with street artists preparing and creating new work on top of old ones.
Graffiti Tunnel is the kind of spot where you really have to see it in person to grasp how incredibly awesome it is. There are different kinds of street art created by all kinds of people, including street art on the tunnel ceiling, which will make you wonder how on earth they did it!
But that’s not all that Graffiti Tunnel offers. When walking through, you will also see that they have a gaming cafe, Draughts, and an American-style restaurant and bar, Passyunk Avenue!
5. Bookseller’s Row
📍Cecil Court
Closest Underground Station: Leicester Square
For the bookworms who want to explore London off the beaten path, Bookseller’s Row is the place you need to visit! This spot is almost hidden in plain sight despite being in the heart of central London! It’s only a minute walk from Leicester Square Underground Station, just off Charing Cross Road.
Bookseller’s Row (also known as Cecil Court) is a whole street filled with bookshops that have Victorian-era shop fronts. And not only do they sell books, but also antiques, maps, prints and artwork!
The one bookshop that’s especially worth the visit is Alice Through The Looking Glass. This shop is dedicated to selling everything Alice in Wonderland related, from signed first editions of the Alice in Wonderland books to rare illustrated editions. They even have a small museum displaying the shop’s private collection of Alice-related items.
Interestingly enough, Bookseller’s Row was also the temporary home of Mozart while he was touring Europe at 8 years old in 1764!
6. Kyoto Garden
📍Holland Park, Holland Park Ave, London W11 4UA
Closest Underground Station: Holland Park
Kyoto Garden is a traditional Japanese garden within Holland Park. It was gifted to Great Britain from the Japanese city of Kyoto to commemorate the friendship between the two nations.
This tranquil oasis covers 54 acres and features everything you’d see in an authentic Japanese garden,, from stone lanterns and cherry blossoms to Shishi-Odoshi. There’s also a waterfall, koi fish swimming around, and some wildlife including peacocks, herons, and Egyptian geese.
You’re free to visit Kyoto Garden any day from 7:30 am until 30 minutes before dusk! And if you’re planning on adding this spot to your London itinerary, make sure to check out my complete guide on how to visit Kyoto Garden (coming soon)!
7. Neasden Temple
📍BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Pramukh Swami Road, Neasden, London NW10 8HW
Closest Underground Station: Neasden
Located near Wembley Stadium, Neasden Temple (officially known as BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir) is a beautiful 70-foot-tall Hindu temple made from Bulgarian limestone and Indian and Italian marble.
The history of this temple dates back to 1982 when the local Hindu community raised £12 million to build it. Over 3000 volunteers helped assemble the temple, which was completed 5 years later. By this time, it was the largest Hindu temple outside of India!
When I visited, part of the exterior was under construction, unfortunately, so I couldn’t see the temple in all its glory. However, the breathtaking architecture inside and outside will make you forget that you’re even in London! I arrived in time for the afternoon ceremony in the Mandhir, and it was lovely to see!
Did I mention that it’s completely free to visit? They hold exhibitions, and you can also pick up a souvenir in the gift shop! And if you’d like to donate, they do have donation boxes dotted around.
Opening times are usually from 9 am to 6 pm every day (even on Bank Holidays) with a few exceptions which you can view on their website.
*Update: Neasden Temple is temporarily closed until further notice, due to contruction works.
8. God’s Own Junkyard
📍 Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St, London E17 9HQ
Closest Underground Station: Walthamstow Central
God’s Own Junkyard is a family-owned neon wonderland located in Walthamstow, northeast London. This gallery-museum and showroom displays the personal collection of neon lights from the late artist Chris Bracey (also known as the Neon Man).
Although the collection is from Chris Bracey, the history of God’s Own Junkyard starts with his father, Richard (Dick) Bracey. He moved to London from Wales after the Second World War, trained as an electrician and created neon signs under a company. In 1952, he started Electro Signs, collecting and supplying neon to funfairs, circuses and arcades across London and other areas of England.
In the 70s, Chris Bracey started as a graphic designer and later took over the Electro Signs company. He took the neon collecting a step further by creating neon art and signs, selling them to strip bars and brothels in Soho and fashioning props for film directors too.
In 1978, the neon wonderland that we see today was established, named God’s Own Junkyard after the Peter Blake book, God’s Own Junkyard: The Planned Deterioration of America’s Landscape. It has since been a place for people to visit and buy bespoke neon art, attracting the likes of celebrities too, such as Mark Ronson, Elton John and Lady Gaga!
Being surrounded by vintage neon artworks is truly mesmerising and so worth the visit for those exploring London off the beaten path. They also sell bracelets and souvenirs for those who want to commemorate their visit! You can even make a day trip out of visiting God’s Own Junkyard with a coffee, cocktail or lunch/dinner at the cafe/bar inside!
Opening times are only on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to 10 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm.
9. Highgate Cemetery
📍Swain’s Ln, London N6 6PJ
Closest Underground Station: Archway
So you might be thinking, “Why is a cemetery included in this list of off the beaten path places in London?” Well, Highgate Cemetery is a resting place for many notable public figures such as George Michael, Karl Marx, and Douglas Adams. The abundance of Gothic tombs and architecture, as well as the biodiversity, also makes Highgate Cemetery a popular place for everyday visitors and the scientific community.
I’ll be honest, this place understandably has an eerie atmosphere, especially due to the reported sightings of ghosts and vampires. But if you’re into that kind of stuff, where history and the supernatural meet, then it’s worth the visit.
With a place like Highgate Cemetery, you can’t just show up and visit the graves of the public figures that rest there. You’ll need a day ticket (which costs £8.75), and if you want to a guided tour, it’ll cost an extra fee.
You can take the Highlights tour (the West Side, the Circle of Lebanon and Terrace Catacombs) or just the East Side (architectural features and Karl Marx’s resting place), each costing an additional £8 fee.
You can book your tickets either online via the Highgate Cemetery website or in person. However, if you want to take a guided tour, it’s best to book a ticket online in advance as they sell out pretty quickly!
10. Barbican Conservatory
📍Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS
Closest Underground Station: Barbican
The Barbican Conservatory is London’s second largest conservatory after Kew Gardens, with over 1500 species of plants and trees! It’s located inside the Barbican Centre on the top floor and literally looks like an indoor rainforest.
You’ll find the cutest turtles and koi carp here too! When you explore the beauty of this place, it becomes understandable why couples get married here. This tropical oasis is just so dreamy!
Best of all, it’s completely free to visit; you just need to reserve an admission spot in advance via their website!
London Off the Beaten Path Map
So now you know all the hidden gems to explore London off the beaten path! Below is a map of all the places mentioned! You can add it to your Google Maps and use it as you please!
Visiting London Off the Beaten Path: Final Thoughts
Although London’s popular attractions are must-visits, exploring London off the beaten path is such a great way to see the city from a different perspective. These hidden places may not be that well known, but the fact that they’re so easily accessible via public transport makes them worth adding to your London itinerary!
Don’t forget to save “London Off the Beaten Path: 10 Hidden Gems to Explore” for later!
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