Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by Home in the World
‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’, as the saying goes – and it’s hard to argue. The list of main tourist attractions in this city is long enough in itself, and these may indeed be all that can be crammed into the itineraries of first-time tourists who are only in town for a few days.
But if you have a few days extra, or have done all the ‘must-sees‘ before, there is a multitude of other alternative London sights offering other great ways to soak up this amazing metropolis. Some of the options I mention here could almost as easily have been included among the mainstream attractions – the line is pretty blurry and subjective.
In most cases, however, I believe they may be things that are slightly less of a priority for first-time tourists who will naturally be focusing more on Buckingham Palace, Big Ben & co., but which are still likely to enrich any trip to the British capital.
N.B.: This post does not talk about the city’s prevalent and colourful street art, because there’s a separate blog post for that here.
Viewpoints & rooftops
If you’re in a legendary city like London, there are few better ways to admire its iconic skyline and the winding River Thames than from a bird’s eye perspective, allowing you to take everything in all at once as a 360° panorama. While attractions like the London Eye and the Shard certainly enable you to do this, there are also a couple of lesser known (and free!) options that give you an equally amazing vista.
One of these is the Sky Garden in the eastern part of the city. I classify this as lesser known because when I first went there a few years ago it certainly was. More people have perhaps heard of it now, but I’m pretty sure it is still less famous than its aforementioned counterparts. It is a striking glass building that rises up like a giant tidal wave on Fenchurch Street.
Home to numerous bars, restaurants, an incredible indoor landscape garden of Mediterranean and African plants, and of course its observation decks and open-air terraces, it’s a great place to take in the rooftops of London from the comfort of what is effectively a high-rise dining precinct and public garden. Be sure to book a free ticket for your visit though, as spaces are limited each day.
Another free aerial-view option I only discovered by being taken around by a local friend is the Viewing Level at Tate Modern. Located on the south side of the river (the Sky Garden is on the northern side), it, too, provides sweeping panoramic views of the Thames, St Paul’s, Canary Wharf, the Shard, the sprawling southern districts, and much more.
It can be a little tricky to find, as only some elevators go there, but if in doubt, ask one of the staff and they will direct you. Once again, it is totally free and highly recommended. Oh, and of course be sure to check out the Tate Modern gallery itself, as well as its cool gift shop, while you’re there.
If you prefer your aerial views to be a bit more dynamic, but are looking for an alternative to the London Eye, you may like to try the Emirates Air Line cable car across the River Thames from the Greenwich Peninsula (near the O2 Arena) to the Emirates Royal Docks.
It is admittedly not a long trip – only about 5-10 minutes – nor is it the most picturesque part of London (roads, dockyards, train tracks..), but if you’re looking for a new experience or different perspective in the city, you may want to check it out. You can even use your Oyster Card to pay for it.
The final entry here apparently no longer exists but is supposedly due to reopen at some point as a new and improved venue since my visit. I’m talking about the Kensington Roof Gardens, which sat inconspicuously atop the 7-storey, former Derry & Toms building on Kensington High Street.
Tenanted to Virgin Limited Edition until 2018, the exclusive party venue was home to a restaurant and bar/club and three rooftop gardens, including the odd flamingo. I have included it here as a ‘rooftop’ rather than a viewpoint, and will be interested to see how it is rebranded in future.
South Bank & beyond
South Bank itself is hardly a hidden gem. It’s one of London’s (numerous) cultural hubs, lining the southern banks of the Thames from Lambeth Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge. It is home to the London Eye, theatres, exhibitions, pop-up markets & book stalls, restaurants and shops, and the ornate dolphin lamp posts on its embankments make for some romantic city snaps.
But what if you venture further east? My local friend took me on a walking tour of the Thames Path and some of the back streets beyond Blackfriars, and we meandered all the way to the quiet little St Saviours Dock Footbridge – past old converted warehouses, pop-up markets, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants and galleries, as well as a few more famous sights such as Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Borough Market.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend the large part of the day – and highly recommended to anyone wanting to explore a slightly less touristy part (in some areas) of London.
Some of the other buildings you can expect to see on your wanderings:
Museums
I have already covered some of London’s major museums in my Classic London post, but I thought I would mention a few more here. The Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum is the world’s leading art & design museum, and it actually probably deserves to be considered a mainstream attraction, but as it is probably less visited than the British Museum, I have put it here.
It is my favourite museum in London; I absolutely love its collections on artefacts from far-flung corners of the globe, historic fashion & jewellery, sculptures, paintings.. I mean the list goes on and on. And, apart from special exhibitions, it is remarkably all free – like the majority of London’s museums and galleries. Be sure to check out the gorgeous gift shop and the grandiose main café too. And art & culture overload guaranteed!
A museum that exceeded my expectations was the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth. My Dad had raved about it when he had visited several years prior, but he is a big war enthusiast, so it didn’t totally surprise me. I have only a limited interest in battles, warfare, bombs and planes, so I wasn’t sure whether it would be my thing.
Turns out it very much was, and I ended up spending a lot more time there than planned. In addition to the ‘hardcore’ war stuff, including displays of planes and the atomic bomb that dropped on Hiroshima, there are also exhibits on the more human side, not to mention a very depressing but must-see feature on the Holocaust.
It is an absolutely amazing museum (and admission is once again free), and even if you don’t think you’re a ‘war person’, I would urge you to still give it a try, because it is so well presented, interactive, and utterly eye-opening.
Also run by the Imperial War Museum, but located just opposite St James’s Park on Horse Guards Road, are the Churchill War Rooms. These do have an entry fee, but are still definitely worth a visit. They take you down into the bowels of the subterranean world beneath the streets of Westminster, where Sir Winston Churchill and his close confidants directed World War II.
Learn about his life and death, explore his secret bunker, and enjoy many of the interactive exhibits. Stepping back out into the sunlight after a couple of hours underground sure makes you feel like you’ve been teleported between two very different worlds!
Other notable mentions in London’s diverse museum landscape are the Natural History Museum and Science Museum, which, along with the V&A, form a vast museum complex in South Kensington, each within walking distance of one another – and all free to enter. I really loved the Science Museum, and found myself rushing back there on a number of occasions after work events to check out some of its exhibits before it closed for the day.
Over the other side of town, near St Paul’s and Barbican, is the Museum of London, which details the history of London from its very ancient days to the present. I wish I had had more time there, as it was so fascinating, and I found myself having to rush through the end. It is a museum you may not have heard of (I only discovered it on Twitter), but one which is thoroughly worth a visit for anyone wanting to interactively learn about the turbulent but enthralling history of this legendary city.
And if you’re looking for some edgy art exhibitions, it’s worth taking a look at the Saatchi Gallery and Proud Chelsea, both located in Chelsea. The former is a contemporary art gallery initially opened by Charles Saatchi in 1985. It hosts a wide range of fascinating exhibits; in 2016 I went to see the Rolling Stones’ Exhibitionism there, and it was very, very well done. So it’s always worth checking out what’s on there when you’re in town if you’re a fan of contemporary art.
Proud Chelsea is part of the hip Proud Galleries chain of privately owned photography galleries. It is a rather intimate, two level space, and when I visited, it was to see a collection of photographs taken by former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman. But its exhibits change all the time. So pop your head in if you ever happen to be walking down King’s Road in Chelsea.
Literary London
You would be hard pushed to find a city that has offered more to the literary world, at least from an English-speaking perspective, than London. It has for centuries been home to some of the greatest writers and poets that ever lived, including William Shakespeare himself, and today continues to attract and inspire creative literary minds from all corners of the globe.
As someone who works on the fringes of the literary industry as a translator, and who has always had a great appreciation for reading in general, it is fair to say I enjoy channelling my inner bookworm and scouring the city’s numerous bookshops and literature scene whenever I am in town.
In fact one of my work trips actually involved attending the London Book Fair, which is held every year (usually March/April) at the Olympia, and is one of the largest book fairs in the world. It was quite an overwhelming experience walking into the huge exhibition hall packed full of publisher stands, and the fact I had only flown in from Australia the day before made it all the more mind-boggling.
Anyone can attend the fair – you generally have to buy a ticket (they are not too expensive), though I think sometimes there may be some free tickets available each day (I am not 100% sure of this, however). In any case, it is a fascinating hive of literary activity spanning several halls; aside from the publisher stands, there are also author discussions, book launches, networking events, and a number of dining options.
When it comes to bookshops in London, my favourite would have to be John Sandoe Books in Chelsea. It was founded in 1957, and is exactly what a bookshop should be – housed in a two-storey 18th-century building on a quiet street near Sloane Square, there are just books EVERYWHERE. Books on tables, books on shelves, books on the floor, books piled to the ceiling, books following the twist of the narrow spiral staircase that leads to the second level.
The wooden floorboards creak underfoot as you wander from bookcase to bookcase, head on one side, browsing the over 30,000 titles emblazoned on an eclectic variety of spines. And if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, talk to one of the friendly staff, who can very likely source it for you. A must for any bookworm or even the casual reader.
A special mention must also go to the British Library, which I have also visited and enjoyed, but sadly have no photos of adequate quality to post for it. The King’s Library Tower (which I believe is about six storeys high) is particular impressive.
Holland Park
For such a big metropolis, London has a remarkable number of inner-city parks, some of which (Hyde Park, St James’s Park, Green Park, and Kensington Gardens) I have already mentioned in my Classic London post. But they have a smaller, slightly lesser known cousin not far away – in fact it’s in Kensington itself.
Its name is Holland Park, and it is a lovely place to walk around. There are beautifully manicured parterre gardens, a fine-dining restaurant, a stunning wedding venue in the Orangery, a garden hostel, the ruins of the former Holland House, and even the Japanese-style Kyoto Garden.
It was autumn when I visited, and the colours were glorious, but any time of year is a good time to step away from the hustle and bustle of central London and into the leafy sanctuary that is Holland Park.
Pubs
Not being a massive drinker, I’m not going to profess to know all the great pubs in London. But at the same time, London’s pubs, many boasting weird and wonderful names, are an institution in that city, so it would be remiss of me not to at least mention a couple of unique ones I stumbled upon as part of a walking tour through hidden parts of London.
One of these was The Ship & Shovell in Charing Cross. You can’t miss its bright red exterior in a little pedestrian passage outside The Arches Shopping arcade. And what sets it apart is the fact that it is the only pub in the city to straddle both sides of the street, effectively split in half.
And the second one is Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street, reputed to be London’s oldest pub. It was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666 (goodness knows when it was originally built), and its patrons have included the likes of Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. Stepping inside (watch your head!), it really is like entering another world.
It was packed with people when we were there, and we honestly just followed the crowd through what felt like a labyrinth of dark, low-ceilinged passage ways, creaking floors, crackling fireplaces and claustrophobic staircases before finally finding a little nook on an upper level. London pub experiences don’t get much more authentic than this!
Neighbourhoods & architecture
If you haven’t already gathered, London is a great walking city, and there are so many different areas to explore, so much great architecture to admire, so much history to soak up.
My recommendation is to simply jump on a Tube and let it take you far and wide. Or even just wander the local streets around your hotel or apartment; you’ll be surprised what you stumble upon. It might be the quaint and often colourful terraced houses and mews in central districts like Kensington, Chelsea and Notting hill..
..or quirky antiques on Portobello Road, which is also in Notting hill..
..or the houseboats and barges in Battersea..
..or the sights, sounds and smells of the hipster-y Camden Market (more on this in my Colours & Street Art of London post)..
..or the quiet, leafy streets in and around Hampstead, also in North London..
..or enjoy a distant view of the London skyline from Primrose Hill, located north of Regent’s Park..
..or take in some of the elaborate and historic architecture that pops up at almost every turn. Clockwise from top left: Interesting brickwork at 151 Sydney Street in Chelsea; St Pancras International Station; interior of the Tudor-revival-style Liberty department store in Soho; Michelin House (the first permanent UK headquarters of the Michelin Tyre Company) at 81 Fulham Road, Chelsea.
Excursions
And finally, if you want to head out a little further afield, two of the recent day trips I have done from central London have included Richmond (which is basically part of greater London; an affluent residential district in the city’s south-west), home to the Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace and Twickenham Stadium, and Folkestone, a port town on the English Channel in Kent.
The Tube will take you to Richmond, but you will need to take an actual train down to Folkestone (and be aware that train travel in the UK is not exactly cheap; I went there specifically to visit a friend). I have always been meaning to do other day trips to places like Stonehenge, Oxford and Cambridge, but I inevitably end up getting distracted by too many things in London itself!
Final thoughts on alternative London sights
Phew! London has so much to offer, I could write endless blog posts on it – and I’m sure I will write more in future, as it is a city I can always keep going back to. But I have tried to use as many of my old photos as possible to put together a (hopefully handy) list of slightly lesser known attractions to check out once you’re Buckingham Palace’d and Big Benned out.
For the city’s main sights, have a read of my Classic London post, and to see more of its vibrant street art and curious doorways, take a look at my separate post on that topic here.
** This post, like everything else on this website, has been written entirely by me. No ChatGPT or any other AI tool has been used. It takes longer to create, but I value 100% human-generated content and I hope you do too! **
Trip facts
When I visited: Many occasions, but the photos in this blog post are from October 2015, April 2016, October 2016 and May 2017
Weather: Let’s be honest, London is never going to win any awards for having the world’s best climate, but it’s not always as grey and rainy as its reputation suggests. I have never actually been in peak summer, and have still managed to enjoy numerous mild, if not sunny, days – and nowhere near as much rain as I expected.
Based on the months I have visited on my most recent stays, April was the least pleasant (mostly grey and cold, about 10°C/50°F), October was reasonably mild and generally dry (about 17°C/63°F), and late May was beautifully sunny and warm (28°C/82°F). My advice would be to bring clothes for all weathers, regardless of the season – and never forget your trusty umbrella!
Where I stayed: On all of my most recent trips, I have stayed at the Marriott Kensington
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