The house is like nothing you have ever seen before and a maze of amazement, I cannot recommend this house enough if you want a bit of a surprise and a change from the usual London attractions – but sshhh! We don’t want everybody knowing about this secret London spot, there’s barely room to swing a cat as it is! He set up his home as a bit of a showroom to bedazzle future clients and a giant figurative display cabinet to impress party guests – he was quite the exhibitionist and host. Sir John Soane was an architect and passionate collector of art, antiquities and amazing artifacts. One of the lesser known places in London, the Sir John Soane’s Museum is an Aladdin’s cave you probably never knew existed! A little off the beaten track but not too far from Covent Garden, you could easily while away an hour or two in this most interesting of residences. An internal lake is the centrepiece of a theatre, cinema and restaurant complex and believe me – you won’t want to forget your camera. The Barbican estate also has an internal arts centre (Barbican Centre) which, if you can find it, is a haven in the city. I’m sure this was once a residential area that locals would have rather kept a London secret but now it’s a cool little gem worth showing off a little. Residents hang baskets of flowers from their balconies to contrast and enhance the landscape and the high walk system which connects all parts of the estate is a peaceful pathway away from the traffic below. A concrete housing estate of tower blocks that is so ugly it’s unique. But that’s what makes this place amazing. We’re not talking pretty architecture mind you, far from it! The Barbican is a classic example of London Brutalist architecture that sprung up after the war in the late ’50s and ’60s and it’s pretty horrendous as far as design goes. If you like architecture and you’re at the nearby Postman’s Park, make the trip to a little unknown estate called the Barbican. It’s one of the very few secret photography spots London has to offer where you don’t need to be a professional to get a good shot – it’s crazily beautiful from every angle! A inspirational place for a little recoup from the noise of the city, and far from just an abandoned building – this is one of my favourite hidden gems of London. The odd person can be found sat on a bench, worshipping at the alter of shrubbery and serenity and even the few tourists who have stumbled upon it keep quiet and respectful as they wander the grounds. Part of the church still remains but the internal gardens have been planted to create the effect of nature winning out in times of destruction – it’s beautiful. Just north of Tower Bridge in the bustling Bank district sits a once beautiful piece of architecture (some parts Christopher Wren) that was blown apart in the blitz, 1941. I flamin love this place! If there was ever a perfect epitome of a ‘Secret London’ then let St Dunstans be it. London Hidden Gems You Should Get Off The Beaten Path For… 1. (plus a free map at the bottom of the post showing all our top hidden gems of London) London’s secrets and cool places you don’t want to miss… We have compiled a list of the best hidden gems of London, from the quirky and unique to the most stylish local hot-spots that are a bit off the beaten path. And, even just adding a few of London’s secrets to your itinerary will really sweeten your trip to the city! So is it possible to discover secret places in London that still remain hidden from the rest of the tourist crowds? Absolutely. 2 hours people, for a photo! You could do the whole Harry Potter walking tour for less time than that! And because of their photogenicness (did I just make up a word?), thanks to Instagram, those so-called cool places in London like The Sky Garden and Nealls Yard are now just an exercise in patience and how to keep a straight face at the long-suffering boyfriend of the girl in the big hat and floaty dress. I recently saw a 2 hour queue of people waiting for their photo-moment infront of the hidden gem Platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter. The thing is, London hidden gems don’t remain secret for long. Of course you want to see all the main London attractions, like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and maybe the London Eye, but for me, finding those unusual and quirky spots and exploring London’s secrets beyond the regular tourist attractions is what makes a city break a magical one. The hidden gems that only the locals seem to know about and treasure for themselves? I think not. Is there ever a better reason to visit a city like London than to get off the beaten path and travel deeper for those lesser known hidden gems and secret spots?
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