London hidden gems, any you’d care to share.

[LucyTamedOgres]

I’ve just found out about The Mayor of Scaredy Cat town, a bar that you enter via The Breakfast Club which I would have LOVED to explore and will do one day when child free (over 18’s only )

This then got me thinking of any hidden gems you’ve discovered and stumbled upon? Any you can recommend which would be good for a teenager too.

As we might be heading over there while it’s quiet (ish) thought it might be the prime time to explore the lesser known places, secret places, as we’ve visited many of the usual tourist attractions.

@Poorpigletsrevenge I ‘think’ it’s “Can I see the mayor” alas, would love to do this for the fun factor but Ds not old enough. One to do when we go by ourselves.
We went to Greenwich a few years ago but ran out of time as had to get back on the clipper. Will need to venture back!

@Titsywoo Parakeets, yes, Dc love feeding them. We always take supplies with us.
Love Camden market. Do you know if the canal cruises are running? Could always walk the canal path though? Maybe?

Thanks to everyone who has posted loads of great suggestions. I am reading every one and making notes. Keep them coming.

We normally go 3 or 4 times a year so will be good to refer back to this thread and hopefully we can all keep adding suggestions.

Leadenhall Market is one place I’d love to walk through, think it was closed last time we walked past.

Also, always quite fancied having a drink in The Ten Bells, just out of morbid curiosity. Anyone been?

We did one of the ripper tours a few years ago so would have walked passed it probably.

What a great thread!

I drink in the Ten Bells all the time OP - good pub.

Yes, that’s the right password. I had a fun night there.

Other suggestions:

Ghost bus
Bus afternoon tea

House of MinaLima - lovely gallery and shop of Harry Potter graphic design
minalima.com/visit-us/

www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq6KKqtPC6wIVOYBQBh2rqwLtEAAYAiAAEgK4XvD_BwE

Great thread for an old Londoner, too!

Reminded me of some things I haven’t seen/done in years, and a few new ideas, too. Thanks all 💐

I last visited approx five years ago and enjoyed the Guild Hall, A church dedicated to the Patron Saint of Brewers and some Roman Ruins underground. They were all within walking distance of each other, had a fascinating day just wandering and saw so many other sights already mentioned. Another place was a garden dedicated to deceased Victorian prostitutes. I also found the London stone fascinating. Sorry, can't remember exact locations but could find out.

The punchroom in the Edition is amazing and romantic- sit by the fire and order a bowl of punch to share. We also regularly see kids in there. It looks fancy but is relaxed, perfect combo!

There's a really interesting pub just off Covent Garden, can't remember the name though, next to the theatre
Also a very amazing hotel the Fitzroy in Russel Square that was designed by the person who designed the titanic, they do great cocktails

Ye Olde Mitre pub in Holborn. Dates back to the 1500’s.

The Cafe Below - St Mary le Bow Cheapside. They are hopefully going to reopen soon. This is the church that is the origin of the Bow Bells.

Kenwood House has some lovely paintings.

If you are interested in cemeteries, then you would like Abney Park in Stoke Newington

(The founders of the Sally Army are buried there, and just opposite there's a Sally Army charity shop with a cafe - and good cake). There's also a really good violin shoo near there, plus various other interesting ones

Dick Whittington's Cat

www.atlasobscura.com/places/dick-whittingtons-cat

Tower Hamlets cemetry park is also an amazing, cemetery. More forest/park than cemetery but very interesting too.

Not sure whether it's reopened yet but when it does, the Ragged Regiment at Westminster Abbey is fascinating for history lovers - it's the effigies made for the funerals of notable people and royalty, usually dressed in their own clothes and often modelled incredibly realistically (first in wood and later in wax).

They date back to the 14th century and they're 'ragged' because they were displayed in the Abbey for centuries and allowed to just moulder away. But more recently they were studied in detail and it was discovered that the clothing was original and priceless.

On a very different note - the Black Friar in (yes) Blackfriars has an amazing interior.

I last visited approx five years ago and enjoyed the Guild Hall, A church dedicated to the Patron Saint of Brewers and some Roman Ruins underground.

Yes. The Guildhall is built over the remains of a Roman amphitheatre & you can go down there - it’s very well done.

The Geffrye is great, but still closed - they had a major redevelopment that started a couple of years ago, reopening a bit delayed.
If you go when it has reopened, do check out St Mary's Secret Garden, an absolute haven a couple of minutes walk away.

Maureens pie and mash - isle of dogs. Lovely pies but even better are their salt beef biegels - £4 and best I've ever had.

Wonderful thread.

We were in London last week, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

We went to the Dickens Inn at St Katherine's Docks - got a window seat and watched the boats, which was lovely.

Love the Wellcome, Hunterian, Geffyre and Soanes museums. Does anybody know when the Hunterian is likely to open after its refurb?

For an off the beaten track cafe, I really like the Royal Teas in Greenwich - lovely cakes and some nice veggie breakfast and lunch choices.

Not a hidden gem, but we enjoyed dinner at the German Gymnasium.

I'm copying and pasting loads from this thread, to check out next time we go!

The Imperial War Museum is amazing