London Things to Do

The best quirky things to do in London for an epic holiday

August 11, 2022

It would take a lifetime to experience all of London’s world-class theatres, museums, attractions, music venues and parks. But, while London’s famous attractions are worth your time, there is another edgy side of the city worth exploring. This guide explores some of the best quirky things to do in London for an epic holiday.

Spend a night at the Zoo

The appeal of a sleepover next to a lion enclosure is obvious. Visitors looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city while enjoying a wilder side of London can book an overnight stay at the Zoo. Take a guided tour after hours, and enjoy exclusive access to animal enclosures when you rent a lodge. In addition, guests are treated to a two-course dinner and breakfast comparable to what you would expect when staying at one of the luxury Hotels In Lancaster, England.

Explore Eel Pie island

One of the strange surprises along the Thames between Hampton Court and Putney is the presence of several small islands. The most famous and most extensive of these is Eel Pie Island. In addition to being recognised for its recording studio and blues gigs in the ’60s, the venue is now a nature reserve with artist studios.

Dildo Making with the girls

This ceramic dildo decorating class is perfect for those looking for something more bespoke in the bedroom. While this experience is not for everyone, it does, however, add flavour to any bachelorette party. For a more subtle and less eccentric girl’s outing celebration, head to one of the classy Hotels Near Lancaster Gate Station London and experience authentic afternoon tea in the city.

Enjoy a morning coffee in a Victorian toilet.

Tiny, quirky coffee bar in a restored Victorian public convenience, serving breakfast and light lunch awaits curious minds at the Attendant Coffee Roasters. While here, visitors can enjoy a coffee and an English fry-up in a toilet. Victorian urinals now serve as the centrepiece of the interior in the space that was once a public restroom. One of the reasons to visit the café is the majestic wrought-iron entryway, which looks so authentic that baristas say people have frequently turned away for thinking it’s still an active public restroom.

Visit God’s Own Junkyard

Anyone fascinated by neon signs will love East London’s psychedelic God’s Own Junkyard. This gallery, located in a former industrial estate, features old sex-shop signs and fashion-shoot props. With its colourful space and its own café, this is one of the most Instagrammable places in London. Entrance to God’s Own Junkyard is free and only available on weekends.

Kayak along the Thames

Kayaking is an excellent way to get up close and personal with the iconic London river, even though it might look murky. Kayaking London is a company offering small group kayak excursions along the Thames. Your journey starts near the Houses of Parliament and makes your way to Little Venice in Paddington.

Explore street art in East London

Over the past few decades, the East part of London has been a hotspot for some of the world’s best street artists. There is always street art in Shoreditch and Hackney, even when it is sporadic. Visitors looking to explore this part of town can travel by tube from this Accommodation Lancaster UK and find themselves in a street art haven in a matter of minutes.

Visit London’s oldest prison.

Just south of London Bridge is the Clink Prison Museum, the oldest prison in the city. The prison operated from the 12th to the 18th century, and today sight seekers can enjoy daily excursions. The attraction, located a 2-minute walk from Golden Hide, is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

Enjoy a dip at Hampstead Heath.

Swimming in London’s outdoor pools and lidos is a pleasure in all seasons, from hot summer to brisk winter. The bathing ponds and lido on Hampstead Heath are open year-round to swimmers, making it one of the best places in London to swim. With an early morning swim in London’s wilderness, you can return to nature and enjoy the wildlife. Check the website for opening and closing hours, but the ponds usually open at 7 am, depending on the season.

Visit Europe’s oldest surgical theatre

Near the Shard in London Bridge is the Old Operating Theatre Museum. The charity exhibits how surgeries were performed before anaesthetics, antiseptics, and herbs were used for healing. You can learn a lot about modern medicine in this fascinating place. Weekends are filled with surgical demonstrations that allow you to experience how operations were done in the 1800s.

Explore the Magnificent Seven

Not only is the Magnificent Seven a 1960s Western, but it is also a collective term for seven large Victorian cemeteries scattered around London. These include West Norwood Cemetery, Highgate Cemetery, Kensal Green Cemetery, Brompton Cemetery, Abney Park Cemetery, Nunhead Cemetery, and Tower Hamlets Cemetery.

Since the cemeteries were first built in the 19th century to relieve the city’s overflowing burial grounds, they have become beautiful overgrown sanctuaries for wildlife. During your excursion, be sure to look out for the grave of Karl Marx located at the Highgate Cemetery. Other historic parks and gardens can be found near Park Grand London Lancaster Gate.

If none of the above appeals to you, then you might want to consider some of these alternative options: