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The Atlas Obscura Guide To London

513 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in London, England

Updated December 25, 2024

Layers and layers of history are the hallmark of London, and you never know what amazing stories are hiding around each corner, from the buried remains of a street visible through a sewer grate to the actual painting that produced Monty Pythonʼs iconic squishing foot.

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Unusual Attractions in London

See All 513 Things To Do in London

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in London

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Hidden Trafalgar Square

Wedged between Charing Cross and Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square is known for the throngs of people flocking to its famous attractions. Weave around the tourists on the National Gallery stairs and dodge the crowds clogging the street corners. Instead, duck down dreamy alleys and pop into unique, overlooked museums and shops. There, a secret side of this busy area waits to reveal itself.

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Explore London, England

Architecture 64
History 58
Museums 57
Art 48
Statues 45
History & Culture 41
Animals 36
Architectural Oddities 32

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Recent London Activity

Stories About London

This map of Poyais from the 1820s fooled hundreds of people.

This Map Shows a Fictional Country Created by a Con Man

In the 19th century, Scottish scammer Gregor MacGregor made a fortune selling land in Poyais.
by Diana Hubbell
This colored wood engraving shows the pig-faced Miss Atkinson.

Regency Londoners Were Obsessed With Pig-Faced Ladies

In 1815, the obsession with swine-ish, upper-class ladies reached a fever pitch.
by Sarah Crocker
The cloud-like cocktail is one of the last vestiges of Soyer's grand experiment.

The Ice Cream Cocktail Born in a Spectacular Victorian Food Hall

Soyer Au Champagne is one of the legacies of Alexis Soyer, the first—and most ambitious—celebrity chef of the 1800s.
by Amanda Schuster
One design envisioned landing planes just over the Hudson River.

New York City and London Could Have Looked Very Different

An airport in midtown? See alternate versions of the cities based on real proposed projects.
by Frank Jacobs
Can the famous greenhouse get greener?

Kew Gardens Is Undergoing a Big, Steamy Change

Fitted PJs, new glasses, and a good drilling will keep this Victorian icon hot.
by Daniel Shailer
The Middle Ages were rife with murder tales, such as the murder of seventh-century King Candaules of Lydia (shown here in this 15th-century illustration by Maître François).

How a Medieval Murder Map Helped Solve a 700-Year-Old London Cold Case

It all started as a Cambridge criminologist’s macabre hobby.
by Sofia Quaglia
Is it a ghost or a gas leak? Scientists are trying new ways to explore what makes a place seem haunted.

A Haunted Chamber, a Quivering Blade, and Other Spooky Science Experiments

Could infrasound, electromagnetic blips, gas leaks, and mold explain why some places just give us the creeps?
by Kate Golembiewski

Podcast: The Complaint Tablet of Ea-Nasir

Turns out, beefing about bad service really is as old as time.
by The Podcast Team

Lists Featuring London

Charles Goodwyn, Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection, with copies of world's first stamp
Lock & Co.
Plaque marking the Texan Embassy
The Lioness and the Lesser Kudu.

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Buckingham Palace for Curious Travelers

11

Including The Royal Philatelic Collection, Lock & Co. , and The Embassy of the Republic of Texas

Gods Own Junkyard
The central interior of Leadenhall Market

London's Top 8 Wonders in 2018

The strange and unusual places Atlas Obscura readers wanted to visit most in “The Old Smoke” in 2018.

8

Including The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History, God's Own Junkyard, and Leadenhall Market

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

The Paddington Bear statue at Paddington station.
The Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park.
Mrs Mallard and her entire brood.
Dr Seuss, Cat in the Hat, and a book with lines from Oh The Places You'll Go.

9 Favorite Children's Book Characters, Immortalized in Bronze

Visit Paddington Bear, Ramona Quimby, and other childhood heroes in person.

9

Including Paddington Bear Statue , Alice in Wonderland Statue, and Make Way for Ducklings Statue

William Blake's headstone.

Historic Cemeteries in London

Fascinating old graveyards to visit in the English capital.

13

Including Highgate Cemetery, Bunhill Fields, and Nunhead Cemetery

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem0115 947 3171
The Star Tavern
The Eagle is among the best-known pubs in Cambridge.
The recreated apartment.

The Best British Pubs to Get Drunk on History

A 14-stop bar tour through Great Britain's past.

14

Including Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, The Star Tavern, and The Eagle

Twinings tea shop on the Strand.
The Old Curiosity Shop
The Burlington Arcade Beadles
Lock & Co.

9 Cool Shops in London

Wonderfully unique stores to visit in the English capital.

9

Including Twinings Tea Shop, The Old Curiosity Shop, and The Burlington Arcade Beadles

The Paddington Bear statue at Paddington station.
The central interior of Leadenhall Market
221b, Baker Street
Peter Pan is the boy who never grows up.

A Storybook Tour of London's Literary Past

Page through England's capital city with Potter, Poppins, Paddington, and Pan.

11

Including Paddington Bear Statue , Leadenhall Market, and 221b Baker Street

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