Special Things To Do In London

Let’s be honest—London can feel a bit overwhelming. With all those famous Tube maps and endless queues, it’s easy to stick to the bucket list. But hey, you’re not here to just see the city—you’re here to feel it. So, let’s ditch the predictable and find some special things that’ll make your trip actually memorable.

1. Become a Dawn Explorer at Sky Garden

Forget the London Eye for a minute. Book a free early-morning slot at Sky Garden—yes, it’s actually free if you plan ahead. You’ll watch the city wake up from 155 feet up, with plants and calm all around. It’s like a secret garden in the sky, and you’ll feel like a total insider.

2. Hunt for Street Art in Shoreditch

Shoreditch isn’t just for hipsters—it’s a living gallery where the walls change every week. Grab a coffee from a tiny café, and just wander the alleys. You’ll find everything from political murals to playful stencils, and every corner is a surprise selfie spot.

Pro tip:

Look up and down—some of the best art hides above shop awnings or on the pavement. And if you spot a piece by Banksy? Well, that’s your lucky day. Just don’t expect to find a map—half the fun is getting lost.

3. Go on a “Loo-vo” Walk Through Bloomsbury

Okay, this one sounds silly, but hear me out. London has some beautiful public toilets (yes, really). Victorian cast-iron urinals, tiled Edwardian loos—they’re tiny architectural wonders. Make a game of spotting the oldest or fanciest one in Bloomsbury. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it’ll make you laugh with every flush.

4. Watch a Play in a Pub Theatre

The West End is glitzy, sure, but the real drama happens above a pub in a tiny room with 50 seats. Head to the King’s Head Theatre in Islington or the Union Theatre. Tickets are cheap, the actors are right there, and you can sip a pint during the interval. It’s intimate, raw, and often hilarious.

5. Find the “Ghost” Signs of Soho

Soho is electric, but look up and you’ll spot faded painted advertisements from the 1800s. They whisper stories of old laundries, bakeries, and hat shops. Snap a photo of these ghost signs before they fade forever—it’s free, quirky, and makes you a detective of history.

6. Have a Picnic in a Secret Garden

Skip the main parks for a moment. Visit St Dunstan in the East—a church bombed in WWII that’s now a public garden with vines climbing over the ruins. Or try Postman’s Park, a tiny green space with a memorial to ordinary heroes. Bring a sandwich, sit on a bench, and feel like you’ve stumbled into someone’s private oasis.

7. Ride a Vintage Bus (for No Reason)

The new Routemaster buses are fine, but the old heritage Route 15 still runs vintage double-deckers from Tower Hill to Trafalgar Square. Hop on, ride the top deck, and pretend you’re in a 1950s movie. The rattling, the leather seats, the view—it’s pure joy, and it costs the same as a normal bus ticket.

8. Say Hello to the Animals at the Geffrye Museum

Wait, a museum of rooms? Yes, but the Geffrye in Hackney also has a herb garden full of bees and butterflies, and the almshouses are eerily peaceful. Wander through time from the 1600s to the 1990s, and do sniff the lavender in the garden. It’s free, quiet, and oddly grounding.

9. Try a “Crosstown” Donut Hunt

Forget stuffy afternoon tea—do a donut crawl instead. Start with a Brioche at Crosstown in Soho, then a vegan one at Baked in the Borough. You can try five different shops in one afternoon. It’s sweet, messy, and every stop feels like a tiny celebration.

10. Write a Secret Postcard at Word on the Water

This floating bookshop on Regent’s Canal is full of second-hand treasures. Buy a postcard, write a secret message (like a compliment to a stranger), and leave it on a shelf. Someone will find it, and you’ll have spread a little magic. Plus, you can sit on the boat deck and watch the barges go by.

So, what’s the real takeaway? London is your playground, not a checklist. You can spend a lifetime here and never see it all—and that’s the beautiful part. Every hidden garden, weird loo, and faded sign is an invitation to be curious. The next time you’re in town, put down the guidebook and say yes to the strange, the silly, and the spontaneous. Who knows? You might just discover your own secret London. And that’s where the real adventure begins.