A Guide to London

Unique Things To Do in London

God’s Own Junkyard - Unit 12 Ravenswood Industrial Estate Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, London, E17 9HQ, United Kingdom Hours of Operation: Fri-Sat 11am-9pm Sun. 11am-6pm Cost: Free Located on the East side of London stop by this funky museum to see this unique collection of neon signs. While strolling through all these neon signs be sure to stop by the cafe, Rolling Scones Cafe.

The Postal Museum -15-20 Phoenix Place, London Hours of Operation: Open daily 10am - 5pm **Closed on Dec.24-26** Cost: Adult - £16 (online) £17 (day of) Young Person(16-24) - £11 (online) £12 (day of) The Postal Museum is not like any other in London, set in the 100 year old Post Office. The reason you want to visit this museum is to ride the original railway that was used to deliver letters in the 1900’s. This railway snakes under London and takes your from the former engineering depot into the tunnels and is combined with a theatrical experience.

The Last Tuesday Society - The Last Tuesday Society is a wormhole full of curiosities in Hackney. Here you’ll find everything from dildos to skulls. Should you require a drink while viewing all of these oddities don’t worry as there’s a bar here as well.

The Leighton House - 12 Holland Park Rd. London Hours of Operation: 10am - 5:30pm, last entry at 5pm - CLOSED on Tuesday Admission: £9 Not your typical museum, the Leighton House was once the home of Sir Frederic Leighton. It’s complete over the top Victorian palatial folly. It’s a wonderfully quirky museum with a lot less traffic than others in London.

The Magnificent Seven - The Magnificent Seven is the collective name of the seven large Victorian cemeteries dotted around London: Kensal Green Cemetery, West Norwood Cemetery, Highgate Cemetery, Abney Park Cemetery, Nunhead Cemetery, Brompton Cemetery and Tower Hamlets Cemetery. Originally introduced to help relieve the city’s small, overflowing burial grounds in the 19th century, today the cemeteries are beautifully overgrown and havens for wildlife.

King's Cross Station - Euston Rd, Kings Cross, London N1 9AL, United Kingdom

Head to King’s Cross Station to check out the flurry of new bars and restaurants popping up thanks to Google and Facebook. There’s the saloon Spiritland and the upcoming Coal Drops Yard complex. While you’re there you can take your photo at platform 9 ¾!

Spray It Graffiti Workshop - London and graffiti go hand in hand. We all know that. Besides walking around and discovering the latest Banksy graffiti, you can actually learn to become a graffiti-artist yourself. Try a graffiti workshop in Shoreditch’s area and create your own spray paint.

Camden Town - Head to Camden Town for top notch people watching. There’s always something to see here from exhibitions to street performers. Stroll through the Camden Market to check out many alternative shops and quirky restaurants and pubs.

The Vaults - The Vaults is London’s home for immersive theatre and arts. Check out one of their many unique and fun shows!

Shakespear’s Globe - 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT, United Kingdom Take a tour of this famous theatre or see a show! Not the original Globe theatre as that was burned down by the fire of 1613. Many say that the shock of this fire is what destroyed Shakespear’s health, as this was a time with no insurance so rebuilding the theatre was on him. Sadly Shakespeare passed in April of 1616.

Day trips:

Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath are just a day trip away from London. If you’d like to see these attractions I recommend a guided tour as they will take care of transportation, which is the biggest hassle. Generally it’s an 11 hour guided trip. Take a look at Take Walks for more information on day trips.

Christmas Attractions in London:

Hyde Park - Admission: FREE Hours of Operation: Check out the Winter Wonderland that takes over Hyde Park during the holiday season.

Somerset House - Strand, London WC2R 1LA, United Kingdom Hours of Operation: 10am - 9pm Admission: £11.00 Head to Somerset House for some ice skating fun in a beautiful 18th century courtyard. Grab your tickets online in advance because session times do fill up fast!

Broadgate Circle - The Winter Forest - 12 Exchange Square London Head over to the Winter Forest for delicious holiday inspired food, drinks and music.

Oxford Street Christmas Lights - Take a stroll down Oxford Street at night to see the beautiful Christmas lights. There’s 27 LED curtains of lights down the famous shopping street and over 200,000 sparkling lights. Be sure to look up!

Hyde Park’s Serpentine - Serpentine Road, Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH Location: right near Serpentine Cafe in Hyde Park Time: Dec.25th at 9am On Christmas day brave, some might say crazy, swimmers dare to swim in the icy waters of Hyde Park’s Serpentine to compete in the Peter Pan Cup. This tradition goes all the way back to 1864. Bundle up and watch them on Christmas morning.

Tourist Attractions:

The Clink Museum - 1 Clink St, London SE1 9DG, United Kingdom

The Clink Prison Museum operated from the 12th - 18th century. Today is it a theatrical experience where you can learn more about the prison’s storied history. Located just off the South Bank.

Tower of London - St Katharine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Saturday: 09:00-16:30 Sunday-Monday: 10:00-16:30 Admission: £24.70 The famous Tower of London is a huge tourist attraction. Here you can see the Crown Jewels and much more of the history of London.

Big Ben - Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, United Kingdom Big Ben stands at the North end of the Houses of Parliament. Make sure to stop by to look at this beautiful piece of London’s history. There are no tours of Big Ben due to refurbishment that’s taking place until 2021.

Buckingham Palace - Westminster, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom Hours of Operation: 10am-4:15pm CLOSED Dec.25-26th A must see for your first time in London. An awe inspiring palace both outside and inside. Weather you decide to venture inside is up to you, but be sure to check out the iconic British Guards who will not move an inch regardless of what you do. London Eye - Lambeth, London SE1 7PB, United Kingdom Hours of Operation: 11am-6pm Check out this famous landmark of London located on the South Bank of the River Thames. It is super touristy, but it does offer stunning 360 degree views of London. On your way to the London Eye take the road less traveled through Leake Street Tunnel. It’s near the famous London Eye and is a street-art wonderland. Located in a tunnel below Waterloo station, it’s an ever changing work of art. This street art tunnel was started by none other than Banksy himself. Kensington Palace - Kensington Gardens, Kensington, London W8 4PX, UK Visit the Palace where Queen Victoria spent her Christmas Holidays.

Restaurants, Cafes & Pubs:

The Attendant - Fitzrovia location- 27A Foley Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1W 6DY, United Kingdom This unique coffee shop is located in an odd location - an old Victorian public toilet - now fear not as the whole place was scrubbed clean. this coffee shop is located inside an old Victorian public toilet. Fear not as the urinals have been thoroughly cleaned.

Coppa Club - 3 Three Quays Walk Lower Thames Street London Enjoy a drink and food inside these beautiful igloos atop the Coppa Club by the famous Tower Bridge. Spots do fill up quick so be sure to book in advance.

Brixton Market - Electric Ave, Brixton, London SW9 8JX, United Kingdom Stroll through this colorful street market located in Brixton.

Bermondsey - This is a district in Southeast London, known as the Beer Mile, Bermondsey is the epicenter of craft brewing in London (and some would argue the UK). Stretching from Fourpure to Southwark Brewing Company, and containing such London gems as Hiver, Partizan, and Eebria, you’ll no doubt discover new favorites, and can walk off the pints as you go.

Borough Market - 8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL, United Kingdom

Grab some hot mulled English cider while strolling through the Borough Market. It’s one of London’s oldest markets dating back to the 12th century. Tayer + Elementry - 152 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BW Serves all day drinks and bottomless coffee! Untitled Bar - 538 Kingsland Rd, Dalston, London E8 4AH, United Kingdom This Dalston bar takes its cue from Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory. Drinks are served in vagina shaped vessels or with penis shaped decorations - but hey it’s art. The Clink Restaurant - HM Prison High Down This restaurant sources its ingredients from prison farms around the country and the food is even prepared by prisoners who are training to be chefs upon release. This restaurant plays a key role in their rehabilitation. HIPCHIPS - 49 Old Compton Street Soho Dedicated to the craft of the perfect crisps (potato chips) you will be served straight from the conveyor belt a variety of unique crisps!

Beach Blanket Babylon - 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94133

A cross between a French Chateau and a Gerogian English Manor head to Beach Blanket Babylon for outstanding modern English food.