Most lists of things to do in London point you to the same famous sights. They’re worth seeing, but they’re only half the story.
The London that locals love is hiding just around the corner from those landmarks. It’s in the side streets, the forgotten courtyards and the curious tales that the guidebooks leave out. There are surprising secrets hiding in plain sight, if you know where to look.
This guide takes you into two pockets of central London packed with them. One is the stretch between Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. The other is the atmospheric world of Temple and the tiny alleyways off Fleet Street and the Strand. Whether it’s your first trip or you think you’ve seen it all, these are things to do in London that show a side of the city most people miss.
What Are the Most Unusual Things to Do in London?
You don’t have to leave the centre to get off the beaten track. Some of the city’s quirkiest corners sit right in the middle of it.
The first pocket runs between Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. It’s one of the busiest parts of the city, yet step off the main roads and you’ll find quirky corners and hidden gems that most visitors never notice.
The second pocket is Temple, one of London’s most enchanting and historic districts. Its winding lanes, cloisters and secluded courtyards still echo with centuries-old traditions and legal lore. From there, the old alleyways lead out towards Fleet Street and the Strand.
What Secrets Are Hiding Between Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square?
Benjamin Franklin’s Only Remaining Home
Just off the tourist trail is the only remaining home of Benjamin Franklin anywhere in the world. It’s the kind of discovery that leaves most people wondering how they never knew it was there.
The World’s Smallest Police Station
Somewhere around Trafalgar Square is what was once called the world’s smallest police station. Can you work out where it is? Most people walk straight past it.
London’s Most Superstitious Hotel
London has no shortage of grand hotels, but only one can claim to be the most superstitious in the city. The story behind it is one of London’s more curious tales.
Gas-Lit Alleyways and Ancient Pubs
Slip down the side streets and the noise of the West End fades away. Gas-lit alleyways lead to forgotten courtyards, and ancient pubs hide in spots you’d never stumble on by chance.
Body Snatchers and Murders
Behind the charm, these streets have a darker side. This part of London has tales of body snatchers and murders, and of eccentric characters who left their mark. It’s a reminder that London’s history isn’t all pomp and palaces.
What Can You Discover Around Temple and Fleet Street?
As local resident Samuel Johnson once said, “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” The streets around Temple prove his point. Explore them thoroughly and you’ll need to look up, around and under, and peer through windows and bars.
Where the Knights Templar Worshipped
Hidden away in Temple is the mysterious site where the Knights Templar once worshipped. It’s one of the most atmospheric places in the old City.
The Lanes, Cloisters and Courtyards of Temple
Step into Middle and Inner Temple and the crowds disappear. Winding lanes, cloisters and medieval courtyards make up a magical corner of London that’s rarely seen by visitors. Along the way you’ll even cross forgotten rivers.
An Extraordinary Disused Tube Station
This part of London is home to what may be the most extraordinary disused tube station in the city. It’s frozen in time, and its story is well worth hearing.
The Alleyway With a Newspaper Secret
Tucked off Fleet Street is a hidden alley with a fascinating link to the newspaper industry. It’s easy to miss, which is exactly why it’s worth finding.
The Church That Inspired the Wedding Cake
Next time you’re at a wedding, look closely at the cake. Close to Fleet Street stands the church that inspired it, and once you’ve seen it, you’ll never look at a wedding cake the same way again.
The Origin of Oranges and Lemons
Most of us sang “Oranges and Lemons” as children without ever wondering where it came from. The origin of the famous nursery rhyme is right here, waiting to be discovered.
Do You Need to Book a Hidden London Walking Tour?
It’s a good idea. Tours can fill up, and group sizes are limited to keep things personal, so there’s a chance you’ll miss out if you turn up on the day. Anyone who books online gets priority, followed by a first come, first served basis for everyone else.
Booking ahead also means you’ll hear about any change of location or cancellation. On top of that, some walks are discounted when you book online.
Do the Tours Go Ahead in the Rain?
Yes, every tour goes ahead whatever the weather, which makes a walking tour one of the best rainy day things to do in London. Pack an umbrella, and if you’re visiting in October, come prepared.
What’s the Best Way to See Hidden London?
With a guide who knows exactly where to look. If you’re after things to do in London that go deeper than the guidebooks, a walking tour is the way to do it. We’re Fun London Tours, a small team of friendly, accredited guides who create and lead every walk ourselves. We pepper each tour with humour and fun, so you’ll learn the history and have a great time doing it.
The Secret London Tour explores the hidden gems between Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. It starts next to the statue of King Charles I on the roundabout just below Trafalgar Square, and runs most weekends plus one midweek afternoon. It finishes within a 10-minute walk of Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly Circus.
The Hidden London Tour heads into Temple and the alleyways off Fleet Street and the Strand. It starts outside Temple station at 1.30pm on most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It finishes on Fleet Street, around five minutes’ walk from St Paul’s Cathedral.
Both tours last 1.5 hours and run in small groups of 4 to 20. Private tours are also available if you’d like one just for your group.
Ready to see the side of London most visitors miss? Book the Secret London Tour or the Hidden London Tour. For more hidden corners, read about London’s most unusual street names, cheaper alternatives to famous attractions and London’s alternate reality.
