London is a city bursting with vibrant culture, history, and plenty of quirky hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. But whether you’re a seasoned Londoner or visiting for the first time, there are countless offbeat experiences that will show you the city’s eccentric side.
From immersive cocktail bars and spooky tours to museums filled with oddities and lesser-known architectural wonders, this guide to 43 quirky things to do in London will take you far beyond the typical tourist attractions. So grab your friends and dive into the weird, wonderful, and unexpected adventures that await in the heart of the capital!
Amazing immersive and interactive experiences in London
Grab your pals and take part in experiences unlike anything else, with amazing immersive and interactive cocktail bars, storylines and games.
1. Alcotraz London
Serve your time in London in a prison-themed cocktail bar, Alcotraz, where visitors dress as inmates and sneak in their own alcohol to mix drinks. Just don’t let the warden catch you, or you may get locked up for life.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
2. The London Dungeon
Immerse yourself in a thrilling live-action walk-through that delves into London’s dark history. With interactive performances and chilling storylines, The London Dungeon is sure to get your spine tingling.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
Ballie Ballerson
A cocktail bar with a giant adult ball pit? Ballie Ballerson turns an adult night out into childlike fun, with the world’s biggest glowing ball pit, a karaoke room and live DJs. Oh, and did we say bottomless brunch too?
Tickets available online – prices vary.
The Crystal Maze Experience
Take a deep breath and absorb the nostalgia, as you take part in The Crystal Maze Experience. Play a real-life version of the 90s game show, where teams solve puzzles in different themed zones – the ultimate team challenge!
Tickets available online – prices vary.
5. HiddenCity: Real-World Treasure Hunts
HiddenCity is a clue-based adventure game where you solve puzzles, interact with characters and explore London’s quirky history in unexpected ways – all from your phone! Form a team of 2-6 players and select one of four story-led adventures.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
6. Escape London
Experience London’s top themed escape rooms with quirky backstories, from horror to fantasy, at Escape London. Find clues, solve logic puzzles, break the codes and find the key to your freedom – but you have to work together.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
7. Sherlock: The Official Live Game
Fancy yourself quite the Sherlockian? At Sherlock: The Official Live Game, immerse yourself in Sherlock Holmes’ world and solve mysteries in this interactive escape room-style experience designed around the show – complete a fully themed secret Sherlock speakeasy, The Mind Palace.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
Quirky museums and collections in London
Step back in time to explore London’s lesser-known museums and collections, filled with gems you never thought you’d see.
8. Sir John Soane’s Museum
A preserved time capsule of an 18th-century architect’s odd collections, visit Sir John Soane’s museum. Frozen in time from the moment Sir John passed in 1837, step inside his home – preserved for over two centuries. From antiques to architectural models, you’ll find interest around every corner.
Free entry.
9. The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
A treasure trove of shrunken heads, cryptic artefacts, and bizarre art, The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities hails itself as the only museum of curiosity in the country. Expect a strange array of collections, including dead pets, mermaids and hair – to simply name a few.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
10. The Hunterian Museum
If you’re interested in a museum featuring anatomical oddities and surgical specimens, head to The Hunterian Museum at The Royal College of Surgeons of England. Discover the art and science of surgery from ancient times to the present day, including the extraordinary specimen collection of the 18th century surgeon anatomist, John Hunter.
Free entry.
11. Museum of London Docklands
Explore London’s maritime past and its quirky connection to pirates and smuggling, all at the Museum of London Docklands. Explore through different time periods and London boroughs, in what they call the Warehouse of the World.
Free entry.
12. The Old Operating Theatre Museum
Ready to learn how the Victorians sliced into surgeries? Housed in the attic of the early eighteenth-century church of the Old St Thomas’ Hospital, experience a 19th-century surgical theatre in one of London’s oldest hospitals at The Old Operating Theatre Museum.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
13. Fan Museum
If you’re a fan of unusual collections, you’re sure to love this one. Explore an odd and elegant collection of hand fans from across the globe at the Fan Museum – the world’s first museum dedicated to preserving and displaying hand fans.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
14. Dennis Severs’ House
Step into a theatrical living museum set as if it’s still the 18th century, as you take a walk through time in Dennis Severs’ House in which the material things he collected become a cast of imaginary characters – the Huguenot family – the House destined to be their stage.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
15. House of Dreams
An art-filled home created by self-proclaimed “outsider artist” Stephen Wright, House of Dreams is full of colour and weird sculptures. Expect everything odd, from dented doll faces to teeth moulds and glasses.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
Unusual markets and shopping in London
Bored of the chain stores in London? Branch off of Oxford Street and find yourself in some unusual shops and markets – the city’s best kept secrets.
16. Camden Market
This is something you’re going to want to block at least a full afternoon for! Discover a variety of unique oddities at the lesser-known stalls in Camden Market. A melting pot of music, fashion, experiences and food across four quarters – the perfect place to shop for almost anything in London.
17. Word on the Water
If you’re quite the bookworm, then this is one for you. A charming, canal-based bookstore housed in a narrowboat, often found floating in London’s Little Venice, Word on the Water is sure to be the place to find the most unique and unusual books in all the city.
18. Old Spitalfields Antiques Market
Shop for vintage oddities and quirky artefacts that you won’t find in regular stores, at Old Spitalfields Antiques Market. Open every Thursday, a community of antiques specialists and dealers bring the best of their vintage stock to the market each week, with 80 plus stalls of vintage art, maps, furniture, home-wares, jewellery and fashion.
19. God’s Own Junkyard
God’s Own Junkyard is a neon wonderland, where you can shop for eclectic neon signs and enjoy the vibrant visual chaos. Expect salvaged signs, fairground and circus lighting, old movie props and retro displays, along with neon art made from found objects (to name a few).
Odd places to eat and drink in London
A busy day in London always calls for a pit stop or two to refuel. Avoid the tourist traps and head to these truly odd places to eat and drink.
20. Cahoots
Cahoots are a collection of quirky and usual spots, taking you all the way back to the 1940s. From undergrounds to post offices, each Cahoots location in the hidden network boasts its own unique menus, bespoke interiors and vintage charm.
21. The Breakfast Club’s Secret Bar
The Mayor Of Scaredy Cat Town is a hidden speakeasy, accessible through a refrigerator in The Breakfast Club, Spitalfields location. For the coolest cocktails in town, head into their little underground bolt hole.
22. Bunga Bunga
A sensational immersive dining experience and nightspot in Covent Garden, Bunga Bunga is a wild and eccentric Italian pizzeria where dinner transforms into an immersive cabaret show. Expect metre-long pizzas, legendary entertainment and late-night karaoke!
23. Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium
London’s first cat cafe, where you can sip tea while being surrounded by friendly felines, Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium is the home to up to 20 adoptable cats and kittens who you can meet in their wonderland-themed dining rooms. Perfect for all the crazy cat ladies out there.
24. Chinatown’s Experimental Desserts
Eat as you explore in London’s Chinatown, finding quirky street food stalls with bubble waffles, matcha-flavoured treats, and rotating ice creams around every corner. With over 70 authentic East Asian restaurants, shops, bars and cafes to choose from, you definitely won’t go hungry here.
Eccentric tours and experiences in London
Want to get behind the scenes and explore what London really has to offer? Join one of their eccentric tours and experiences.
25. Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
Discover the gruesome history of East London’s most notorious serial killer, as you embark on a Jack the Ripper Walking Tour. With their expert guides and truly atmospheric route, this really is a walk worth investigating.
Tickets available online – £15 per person.
26. Alternative London Street Art Tour
Explore Shoreditch’s street art scene with a focus on subversive and quirky graffiti on the Alternative London Street Art Tour. The first London Street Art Tour, and the only London tour led by street artists and local experts, this is one for all the creatives heading to the capital.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
27. Ghost Bus Tour
Known as the best comedy horror show in London, embark on the Ghost Bus Tour through the haunted streets of London – complete with onboard actors and eerie tales. A truly unique way to explore London, and its spooky stories, at night.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
28. The Seven Noses of Soho
In 1997, artist Rick Buckley decided to stage a protest against the appearance of CCTV cameras across the streets of London, by covertly placing casts of his nose under around the surveilled areas. The Seven Noses of Soho is now a quirky self-guided scavenger hunt to find the hidden noses sculpted by Buckley, around London’s Covent Gardens and Soho.
Free.
29. Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour
Go behind the scenes of the magical world of Harry Potter, at the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour in Watford, with exclusive quirky details not always included in the films. Release your inner child (or Potterhead) for a truly magical experience for the whole family.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
30. Underground Mail Rail Experience
Ride through the tunnels of London’s old underground postal system – an unexpected part of the city’s history – on the Underground Mail Rail Experience at The Postal Museum. Secret, forgotten, and abandoned – until now. Take a ride for an unmissable journey through history.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
31. Thames Rocket Speedboat Tour
For sightseeing with a twist, jump on this high-speed, adrenaline-fueled tour of London from the Thames River on the Thames Rocket Speedboat Tour. Just be sure to keep your eyes open, as you could miss famous sights in a blink of an eye!
Tickets available online – prices vary.
32. London Duck Tours
A tour on an amphibious vehicle that drives on land and cruises on water? London Duck Tours are a quirky mix of history and adventure. Originally used in WW2, these Ducks are sure to show you everything London has to offer.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
33. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tours
Take a guided tour behind the scenes of the iconic Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Go backstage and immerse yourself in history, crime and literary mastership – perfect for the whole family.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
Weird walks and unusual parks in London
One of the best ways to explore London is on foot, and what better way is there to find the truly strange parts of the city than by exploring the weird walks and unusual parks it has to offer?
34. Highgate Cemetery
If you’re a bit of a dark tourist, or like the spookier side to life, then visit the eerie yet beautiful resting place of Karl Marx and other notable figures. Highgate cemetery is one of the most famous cemeteries in the country, and for good reason. With guided tours available, you’ll be sure to find just the grave you’re looking for.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
35. Little Venice
Explore this picturesque canal network with quirky boat tours and waterside cafes – known to locals as Little Venice. Located in West London, there is so much to see in such a small place (including the floating bookstore mentioned above).
Free entry.
36. Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park Cemetery is a wild, overgrown cemetery and nature reserve, perfect for a peaceful yet eerie walk during your time in London. Take a guided walk with their experts, learn how to carve a spoon or chisel stone, discover why seemingly dead trees are cities for wildlife… There is so much more than meets the eye here.
Free entry.
37. Postman’s Park
Hidden away in central London, Postman’s Park is a peaceful, quiet spot with a memorial to everyday heroes – offering a unique and emotional experience. Named due to its popularity as a lunchtime garden with workers from the nearby old General Post Office, this park is home to the Watts Memorial, dedicated to people who have lost their lives trying to save another’s.
Free entry.
Odd historical landmarks and architectural wonders in London
Whilst you take your wander around the streets of London, you may be drawn towards the more “traditional” sightseeing. However, it’s the odd landmarks and architectural wonders that are sure to really capture your attention.
38. The Whispering Gallery at St Paul’s Cathedral
A quirky auditory experience where whispers travel across the dome of the cathedral, The Whispering Gallery at St Paul’s Cathedral offers stunning views and an auditory experience unlike any other. Take in the city and whisper secrets across the hall – this is something you cannot afford to miss in London.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
39. The Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station
If you’re quite the Potterhead, or even just seen the popular films, then you’ll be sure to know what The Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station is about. Move your way through the hustle and bustle of this busy station to snap a quick pic pushing a trolley through the iconic Harry Potter wall. Fingers crossed you’ll be transported through the cracks and towards the Hogwarts Express!
Free entry.
40. The Painted Hall at Old Royal Naval College
Known as Britain’s Sistine Chapel, The Painted Hall at Old Royal Naval College is an unexpected gem of baroque art and history – dating all the way back to the 18th century. From kings and queens to mythical creatures, this hall holds 3,700 square metres of beauty beyond any comparison.
Tickets available online – prices vary.
41. The Rolling Bridge
A quirky piece of kinetic architecture that curls into a ball when retracted, The Rolling Bridge at Paddington Basin is sure to get the cogs in your brain turning. Every Friday at midday, the bridge curls itself away, to show the ingeniousness of its design, before returning to an everyday functional pathway for all to use.
Free entry.
42. Little Ben Clock Tower
Who needs Bin Ben, when you have Little Ben? Little Ben Clock Tower is a quirky, smaller version of Big Ben located in Westminster, dating back to the Victorian Era.
Free entry.
43. St Dunstan in the East Church Garden
In the ruins of a Wren church which was bombed in the Blitz of WW2, St Dunstan in the East Church Garden is where you will find what is now a beautiful garden open to the public – a peaceful and unusual hidden spot in a city that never seems to stop.
Free entry.
Looking for a great spot for your city? Find out which cities are notorious for a night out, and find an Aloctraz prison cocktail bar waiting for you. From hen dos to corporate events, you’ll be sure to have the best time. Just don’t let the warden catch you!