30 Unusual Things To Do In London
This post is part of our archived content. While we’ve shifted focus, it still may be useful.
When it feels like you’ve exhausted the usual tourist spots in London, it’s time to discover some of the best unusual things to do in London.
In a city such as London, there really is no end to the adventure, and we’ve collated some of the best things to see and do that are slightly off the beaten track.
30 unusual things to do in London:
Visit a Floating Arts Centre
Theatreship is a new non-profit arts venue in Docklands.
A 305 tonne dry-cargo ship has been converted into a 100-seat cinema and theatre, complete with bar and exhibition space.
Typical of the trading vessels that once filled the docks of Canary Wharf, the space will support and celebrate a range of art forms: from Western orchestral music to Bengali cinema; from academic lectures to theatrical workshops for kids.
Have a sleepover at London Zoo
Staying in a ZSL London Zoo lodge is the ultimate way to feel at one with wildlife without having to leave the City.
You’ll be surrounded by roaring lions, honking flamingos, hooting monkeys and more.
After a wild day exploring the zoo, the cosy animal-themed lodges are a perfect place to unwind as you hear the surrounding animals.
Three incredible behind-the-scenes animal tours at early morning, sunset and nighttime are included in the experience, along with two full days to access the Zoo.
Tickets: one night stay for two adults and a child is from £428.
Have afternoon tea in a prison
Here’s something we never thought we’d write, why not visit HMP Brixton (a working Category C prison) for afternoon tea?!
The food is made and served by students from The Clink Charity – an organisation that helps prisons learn valuable skills, pick up qualifications and employment and reduce reoffending rates.
As you can imagine, security is tight so no under-18s, no phones and ID is a must. You also can’t visit if you have friends or family serving time in the prison.
The menu includes things like trout and creme fraiche sandwiches, scones and coconut sponge, blackcurrant mousse, jelly, Chantilly, and coconut tuille patisseries.
From £37.50 per person.
Learn bizarre, quirky and tragic stories of the Notting Hill area and Black British Culture
Tickets from £5.99
Discover one of London’s most picturesque neighbourhoods and learn about the influence and origin of Black British culture with a self-guided podcast tour.
Explore some of the most well-known spots such as Portobello Road as well as some off-the-beaten-track streets.
Have a coffee in an old toilet
This former Victorian toilet was built in 1890 and after two years of restoration, became a trendy café.
The Attendant interior remains very toilet-like, with porcelain urinals now serving as decoration!
Located in the heart of Fitzrovia, there is an array of speciality coffees on the menu, along with delicious foods for breakfast, brunch and lunch.
27A Foley St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6DY
the-attendant.com/locations/fitzrovia/
Head East to artsy Shoreditch and take a look behind an inconspicuous door to uncover Rochelle Canteen.
Inside, a converted bike shed serves up tasty British and European plates.
With a daily changing menu, you’ll be in for a treat as you relax in this hidden oasis.
Walk on nearly 2,000-year-old Roman ruins
There’s no better place to get a feel of Roman-era London than at London’s only Roman amphitheatre, which dates back to the 2nd century CE.
As you amble through the amphitheatre, you can picture scenes of the notorious gladiators surrounded by the savage crowd and even more wild animals.
Entry to the amphitheatre is free and you can book a tour with a trained archaeologist where you will get the chance to hold historic objects.
Roman Amphitheatre, Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AE
Play video games while fine dining
inamo Games Room has become a cult favourite among teenagers and gamers who want a truly unique private dining experience.
The two games rooms in Soho and Covent Garden feature everything from PS4s and Wiis to karaoke machines and an Atari gold.
A four-metre projected screen makes this great for large groups, and up to 30 people are welcome for events.
Guests can savour the delicious variety of Pan-Asian dishes, along with some innovative drinks as they compete with friends.
From £30 per hour at inamo Soho.
Watch a film in a private booth
If you’re looking to escape the hamster wheel for a bit, a visit to the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank may be what you need, for an offbeat way to escape into the cinematic world.
You are assigned your booth and given a pair of headphones to watch the film of your choice.
There are more than 30,000 titles to enjoy, so whether you want to re-discover a classic or get lost in a new picture, there’s something for everyone.
Entry is free.
Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8XT
Play hide and seek in London
City Dash is a fun scavenger hunt/hide-and-seek with cryptic codes to crack.
Starting off in a pub, a team of up to 100 players set off to find checkpoints through the game app to crack the hidden code.
After an hour, the team head back to the pub for a pint and to dish out the prizes.
At various locations across London. Tickets start from £10 per person.
Go kayaking down the River Thames
Most of us have crossed the Thames via Tower Bridge, so why not incorporate water sports with a spot of sightseeing?
Whether it’s a gift experience or a hen/stag do, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable day out on these tours.
Paddling from Battersea to Greenwich on the Thames at sunset is London Kayak Company’s unique offering to see London from a different angle.
The tour goes through the centre of the city, past landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and other bridges and landmarks brightly bathed in light.
The tour takes around two hours and is suitable for all levels.
How about dining in a converted church?
Mercato Mayfair, one of London’s most vibrant food markets, is located in the spectacular Grade-I listed St Mark’s Church, just off Oxford Street.
The market is known for its sustainable and authentic food offerings from around the world and is spread over two floors of the church.
There’s a wine cellar and community space and they also offer a rooftop terrace, perfect for sunny days overlooking the roofs of Mayfair.
How about a church that’s been repurposed?
Iris Theatre
Based in St. Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, Iris Theatre invites visitors to enjoy award-winning theatre in unique surroundings.
A wide variety of performances take place in the former church from classical theatre to circus-style acrobatics.
During the summer months, immersive outside performances take place.
Dine in darkness
What better way to sharpen your taste buds than to eat in complete darkness?
This eccentric dining experience may sound bizarre, but it claims to help you both challenge and rediscover your senses on a truly unique culinary experience.
All waiters are visually impaired and, on arrival, you will choose from one of three surprise menus, which will be revealed to you after you have had your meal.
london.danslenoir.com/en/home/
30-31 Clerkenwell Green, Farringdon, London EC1R 0DU
Tickets: from £48 per person for a two-course meal.
Try axe-throwing
Vent all your anger out at Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing, a very hip place where you are instructed on how to (safely) sling an axe at your target.
Your instructor will guide your technique before you can get involved in axe throwing games and competitions, where you can compete with friends and see who is crowned the tournament winner.
Dodgy throws are kept in check with safety cushions and a padded floor, so you can put your mind at rest as you feel the adrenaline rush to the pumping music.
Group sizes can vary from less than 10 up to 50.
Tickets: from £22 per person for a 70 minute experience.
Arch 25, Handel Business Centre, 73 Bondway, London SW8 1SQ
View a gruesome Victorian operation
Not for the faint-hearted, The Old Operating Theatre is Britain’s last surviving operating theatre from the 19th century.
Every weekend mock demonstrations of the surgeries that were performed in the Victorian era take place, which will make anyone grateful that they live in a world where anaesthetic and hand-washing exist!
The Old Operating Theatre Musuem
Tickets are £7.50.
9a St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY
Up, up and away
Taking alfresco dining to new levels, London in the Sky suspends you 100 feet in the air as you dine at a table with a view.
Try the Sunset Dinner – a three-course meal enjoyed as the sun goes down.
Become acquainted with the law in London
If you’ve ever been curious as to how the legal system works, the Old Bailey’s Legal London tour is for you.
Uncover both historical and present-day judicial cases with a fascinating behind-the-scenes view of the Crown Court.
Starting in the Royal Courts of Justice, visitors are taken to the place where the Lord Chief Justice resides, before they listen in on a real-life criminal appeal.
Following a historical tour of the Old Bailey, visitors are informed of what further cases are taking place that day, as they see another criminal case in action.
As you embark on the tour, you’ll get to see some famous filming locations where ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Downtown Abbey’ were filmed.
old-bailey.com/legal-london-tour/
Tickets from £12 per person.
Cruise London’s sights in a hot tub
No trip to London is complete without a Thames River cruise, but why book a boat when you can sail in a floating hot tub?
Whatever the weather, the water inside Skuna’s unique vessels is heated to a balmy 38ºC (100ºF): so you can grab your friends and your snazziest swimwear for a bonkers (yet brilliant) private voyage through Canary Wharf.
Skuna’s BBQ boats are hot property in summer too, featuring sizzling grills and plush sun loungers.
For more weird and wonderful, you could also try:
- Eel Pie Island, Twickenham
- The Mayor Of Scaredy Cat Town, Spitalfields
- Dennis Severs’ House, Spitalfields
- Old Bank of England Pub, Fleet Street
- God’s Own Junkyard, Walthamstow
- The Brig, Mansion House
- The Viktor Wynd Museum, Hackney
- Little Bay, Croydon
- Pet Cemetery, Hyde Park
- House Of Dreams, East Dulwich
- The Pearl Of Metroland, Wembley
- Peter The Great Statue, Deptford
What are your favourite unusual things to do in London?