London is full of fascinating things to do. As well as the main tourist spots, there’s loads more in this great city. Here’s my top 20 unique and alternative things to do in London.
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London is one of my favourite cities in the world. There’s so much history, and so many amazing sights. Some of London’s most iconic sights are instantly recognisable, such as Big Ben and the red London buses. But there’s so much more to this city than just the top tourist spots. If you’re looking to explore London off the beaten track, and really get to know this city, then you’ll want to explore some of London’s more unique and alternative things to do. My guide to the top 20 unique and alternative things to do in London will show you some of the ways you can get to know London better. Many of these activities will take you away from the main crowds and tourists sights, so you can explore the lesser-known parts of London.
1. Murder on the Fogg’s Express at Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration
One of my favourite of all of the unique and alternative things to do in London is Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration. This is a cocktail bar in central London, just off The Strand. This themed cocktail bar feels like stepping back in time, into the world of Jules Verne in Around the World in 80 Days. It’s decorated like an old explorers bar. There’s a great range of themed cocktails, as well as some hot and cold snacks.
What makes this place even more special is the extra activity you can do here: Murder on the Fogg’s Express. This table-top murder mystery game can be played in the old train carriage section of the cocktail bar. While enjoying cocktails and snacks, your team will sit around the table and solve the clues of the murder mystery to work out who the murderer is. It’s ideal for teams of 2-4 people. There are a series of clues, which gradually eliminate the murder suspects until just one remains. A lot of the clues are logic-based, focussing on the timeline of events and layout of the train carriage, so you can eliminate suspects who couldn’t have been in the right location at the right time.
Murder on the Fogg’s Express and Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration is a really fun thing to do. It’s great as an afternoon date activity, or an evening with a small group of friends.
2. Squid Game the Experience
Another option for a great unique and alternative thing to do in London is Squid Game the Experience. For any fans of the Netflix show Squid Game, this immersive experience is a really fun activity. It’s located at the Excel Centre in East London, an easy tube ride from central London.
Squid Game the Experience involves playing five different games from the TV series. All players are dressed in numbered bibs and compete with each other to score first place in the games. And of course, try to avoid being eliminated!
3. Afternoon tea at the Royal Horseguards Hotel
For a civilised afternoon, why not try Afternoon Tea at the Royal Horseguards Hotel. A lot of places in London offer Afternoon Tea, including the Ritz and Fortnum and Mason. But the Royal Horseguards Hotel is a more affordable option, while still being a great experience. The hotel is tucked away in a quiet street just off Whitehall. It’s a lovely hotel, and the lounge area where they serve afternoon tea is really peaceful and pretty. And the food is great as well. For the ultimate indulgence, add a glass of Prosecco or a cocktail as well.
Check out afternoon tea experiences on Get Your Guide (affiliate), and also these afternoon tea experiences on Viator (affiliate).
4. Visit the Sir John Soane’s museum
One of the less well known museums in central London is the Sir John Soane’s museum near Holborn. This museum is in the house of Sir John Soane, who lived here in the 19th century. He was a collector of all sorts of items. And today, the museum showcases his eccentric collection. There are sculptures, paintings and all sorts of other items. It’s an interesting place to visit.
5. Take the cable car gondola over East London
Everyone who visits knows the London Eye – the huge observation wheel along the South Bank that offers great views. But, if you want to avoid the London Eye’s queues and prices while still having a similar experience, check out the IFS Cloud Royal Docks. It’s a small cable car, with small gondolas. The cable car runs from North Greenwich, over the river. There are lovely views from the cable car. Each gondola can fit 6-8 people, but at quieter times of the day you’ll get a gondola to yourself with just your group of people. It’s a lot cheaper than the London Eye as well, with a return ticket costing £13 for an adult.
The IFS Cloud Royal Docks is a fun way of seeing a slightly different aerial view of London, while also enjoying some peace and tranquillity as you float above the river.
Get your tickets for the IFS Cloud Royal Docks on Get Your Guide (affiliate), or you can get a combined ticket that includes the cable car plus a boat trip (affiliate).
6. See a show at one of the West End’s smaller theatres
London’s West End is famous across the world for its theatres. Some of the best musicals and plays can be found in London’s West End. But there’s more here than the big theatres with the well known musicals and stage shows. In London, there are a huge number of smaller theatres as well. You can find anything, from new cutting-edge plays to innovative comedy and smaller scale musicals. It’s well worth researching what’s on at some of London’s smaller theatres – you might just discover a hidden gem.
7. See pelicans are rare ducks in St James’s Park
If you’re thinking about what wildlife you might spot in London, you’ll probably mostly think about pigeons (note – there are a lot of pigeons). But wildlife and bird-watching enthusiasts will love St James Park. This lake, right in the centre of London, has some great bird-watching opportunities. There are lots of rare ducks here, including Mandarin ducks, Smew, Egyptian Geese, and more. And there are also pelicans who live here as well. St James’s Park is one of my favourite places in London. Take some time to look at all of the birds and ducks, and try to identify what you’re able to see.
8. Watch cutting-edge comedy at the Camden Comedy Club
One of my favourite alternative venues in London is the Camden Comedy Club. This small theatre is above the pub called The Camden Head on Camden High Street. It’s a great venue for comedy. Grab a drink from the pub and head upstairs to the Comedy Club where you can see a huge range of shows on the stage. Every August, the Camden Fridge festival brings performers and audiences to venues all across Camden, including the Camden Comedy Club. One of my favourite acts here is Extreme Improv, an innovative improvised comedy show with guest acts, who run a monthly show at the Camden Comedy Club. Check out their upcoming shows here.
9. Take a Jack the Ripper tour of London
Jack the Ripper tours in London offer a chilling yet captivating journey through the shadowy streets of Whitechapel and Spitalfields, where the infamous serial killer struck in 1888. These guided walking tours are led by expert historians and authors who delve into the mystery of the ‘Autumn of Terror’, recreating the atmosphere of Victorian London with vivid storytelling, historical photographs, and even CSI-style analysis of the crime scenes. Some tours even use handheld projectors to cast haunting images onto the alleyways, immersing visitors in the foggy, gaslit world of the East End as they trace the steps of both the killer and the police who hunted him.
Participants explore key locations such as Mitre Square, Hanbury Street, and the Ten Bells Pub, while learning about the lives of the victims and the social conditions of the time. Whether you’re a true crime enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious about one of London’s darkest legends, these tours promise a gripping experience that blends education with eerie entertainment.
Get discounted tickets for the tour on Get Your Guide (affiliate), or also on Viator (affiliate).
10. Take a boat on the Thames instead of taking the tube
Everyone knows that the best way to get around London is to take the tube. The London Underground is a great and affordable transport system. But, the downside of travelling on the tube is that you don’t get to see any of London. So, instead of taking the tube, try taking a boat along the river. If you’re trying to get between two locations on the river, such as Embankment and Tower Hill, then the river boats are a great way of travelling while being able to see the views.
The comfortable boats are a great way to travel, and many also include commentary so you know what you’re seeing on both sides. It’s a great way to see landmarks such as the London Eye and some of London’s famous bridges.
The easiest way to get tickets for a boat trip is to book boat tickets on Get Your Guide (affiliate), or you can find similar tickets on Viator for a boat trip that also includes dinner (affiliate).
11. Try a weird Escape Room – including getting locked in a coffin
I love escape rooms, and London has some of the best, and weirdest, Escape Rooms in the UK. There are so many different themed Escape Rooms. The idea of an Escape Room is that you’re ‘locked’ in a room, and you have one hour to solve a series of puzzles and clues, to try to ‘escape’ from the room within the time limit.
So many of London’s Escape Rooms have great themes. There are some that are more science based, like you’re in a laboratory. Or there’s one that’s themed like the Amazon rainforest. And there are lots of horror themed ones as well. Including one really memorable Escape Room, where instead of being locked in a room, you and your partner as handcuffed, blindfolded and locked in individual coffins for an hour. And you have to call out to each other to solve clues so you can escape from the coffin. It was slightly traumatic, but very memorable.
If you want to try a themed Escape Room, you can check out this fun Sherlock Escape Room (affiliate). Or there’s this fun prison themed Escape Room (affiliate).
12. See an immersive art exhibition
London is a great place to visit for art enthusiasts. There are lots of art museums, including the National Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts. But there are different ways to see art as well. London also has some immersive art exhibitions. In these exhibitions, famous artwork and paintings are projected around the entire room. So it’s like you’re inside the painting. I went to one themed around Van Gogh, and it was amazing. It was completely mesmerising to see the iconic artwork projected all around, so you really felt like you were inside the painting.
13. Take a canal boat ride on Camden Lock
London has an extensive canal network, that a lot of people who visit London never encounter. The canals in London offer a peaceful place to have a walk, where you can get away from the crowds and enjoy being by the water.
You can also take a canal boat ride on the canals. The canals around Camden Lock are a great place to enjoy a canal boat ride. You can go out for an hour, or longer, and enjoy relaxing on the boat as you enjoy the views.
Book your canal boat trip on Camden Lock here (affiliate).
14. Get scared in the London Dungeons
The London Dungeon is a theatrical, immersive attraction that plunges visitors into 1,000 years of the city’s darkest history. It’s a great attraction in London. The London Dungeons blends spine-chilling storytelling with live actors, special effects, and thrilling rides. Located in the vaults of County Hall near the London Eye, it features 13 interactive shows and 20 live performers who re-enact infamous tales like Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd, and Guy Fawkes’ gunpowder plot.
In the experience, you navigate plague-ridden streets, medieval torture chambers, and eerie alleyways, all designed to both entertain and terrify you. With jump scares, gallows humour, and dramatic sets, it’s a must-visit for thrill-seekers as well as history enthusiasts.
Book discounted tickets for the London Dungeon on Get Your Guide (affiliate), or similar discounted tickets through Viator (affiliate).
15. Take a Street Art and Graffiti walking tour
A street art and graffiti tour in London is another of the best unique and alternative things to do in London. These tours offer a vibrant, eye-opening experience that takes you deep into the heart of the city’s creative underground. Most of these tours centre around Shoreditch and Brick Lane, where every wall, shutter, and alleyway becomes a canvas for bold artistic expression. You’ll encounter works by legendary artists like Banksy, Stik, and El Mac, as well as emerging talents whose pieces reflect the social, political, and cultural pulse of the city.
Guides, who are often artists themselves, share fascinating insights into the techniques used, the stories behind the murals, and the ever-evolving nature of street art, which can change from week to week. Some of these tours include extras, such as workshops where you can try graffiti yourself. Whether you’re an art lover, or just looking for a unique way to see the city, London’s street art tours offer a different perspective and a chance to explore London beyond the main tourist hotspots.
Check out this great street art tour and workshop here (affiliate), or you can do this similar street art tour with workshop here (affiliate).
16. Take a Black Cab tour of London
A black cab tour in London offers a really immersive way to explore the city’s iconic sights and hidden gems. Driven by fully qualified London cabbies who’ve passed the legendary ‘Knowledge’ test, these tours combine expert navigation with rich storytelling. You’ll ride in a classic or modern electric black taxi, often with panoramic roofs for better sightseeing. And your guide/driver will tell you fascinating historical facts, quirky anecdotes, and insider tips.
These tours can be really flexible to suit exactly what you want. You can choose where you are picked up and and dropped off. And there are some some themed experiences as well. It’s a great way to learn more about London from the famous London cabbies.
Book your Black Cab tour through Get Your Guide (affiliate), or book this longer Black Cab tour through Viator (affiliate).
17. Enjoy the thrill of a speedboat ride on the Thames
A speedboat tour on the Thames is a high-adrenaline way to see London’s iconic landmarks from a thrilling new perspective. Companies offer guided adventures aboard powerful RIB (rigid inflatable boats). You’ll speed past sights like the London Eye, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf to the soundtrack of James Bond themes and witty commentary. You’ll feel the wind in your hair as the boat twists and turns through the river’s curves, combining sightseeing with rollercoaster-like excitement. With waterproof gear provided and expert skippers at the helm, it’s a safe yet exhilarating ride that’s perfect for families, thrill-seekers, or anyone wanting a truly unforgettable London experience.
Book your Thames speedboat ride through Get Your Guide (affiliate), or through Viator here (affiliate).
18. Take a spooky ghost walking tour
A ghost walking tour in London is great option for a unique and alternative thing to do in London for any lovers of horror and ghostly stories. These tours offer a spine-tingling journey through the city’s shadowy past, where history and the supernatural collide in eerie alleyways and haunted courtyards. The tours are led by expert guides, who are often paranormal authors or actors. During the ghost walking tour, you’ll explore locations steeped in centuries of chilling tales, from plague pits and execution sites to the infamous murder scenes of Jack the Ripper. There are also options for ghost bus tours as well. Both the bus and the walking tours offer ghostly legends, sudden scares, and a deeper appreciation for London’s darker side.
Check out this witchcraft tour here (affiliate), or you could try this ghost tour that includes a boat ride (affiliate).
19. Relax in the gardens of the 2012 Olympic Park
London was the host country of the 2012 Olympics. It was a hugely successful event for the city of London. Anyone who visited London during the 2012 Olympics will undoubtedly remember the buzz and the optimistic energy throughout the entire city.
The focal point of the 2012 Olympics in London was the Olympic Park, near Stratford in East London. The huge Olympic Stadium was built here, along with many other venues for various sports.
Now, since the Olympics, the Olympic Park remains open to visitors. Today, you can walk through the Olympic Park gardens. It’s a tranquil, peaceful place in East London. And it’s great to see the Olympic Park still being used in various ways today.
20. Visit Westminster Cathedral (not the Abbey)
The last of my top 20 unique and alternative things to do in London is to visit Westminster Cathedral. Most visitors to London will be familiar with Westminster Abbey – the site of Royal weddings and coronations. But, most tourists are unaware that Westminster Cathedral is just a few streets away. Just off Victoria Street, Westminster Cathedral is an impressively stripe-y building from the outside. The interior is nice as well – although very dark and still unfinished. But it’s an interested unique London landmark, away from the main tourist spots.
Hope you enjoyed my top 20 unique and alternative things to do in London! Make sure you also check out my guide to London’s top sights in 3 hours, for all the top things to do in London. Or, if you want to take a day trip from London, you can visit Stonehenge as a day trip from London, or you can get the train to nearby Oxford or Stratford-Upon-Avon.
