I have been fortunate enough to visit London many times and will be heading back again this autumn. (I finally will get to see the holiday lights!!) And the same few places get touted as the “must-visit” if you only have a day or two in London: Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, the London Eye, the British Museum. However, there are countless incredible places to visit in London with just as much history and far less people to deal with. So, today I am sharing my favourite 5 London hidden gems if you want to make the most of your time!
My Favourite 5 London Hidden Gems
While all of these sites are interesting and worthwhile to visit if you have a lot of time to work with while in London, many of them are jam-packed with tourists from the start to the finish of opening hours. And I will say, I have missed many major things in museums, cathedral, and sites because there have just been too. many. people. (Nothing is more frustrating than knowing that you were this close to seeing something but physically could not.) And in addition to this, many people are just not comfortable in massive crowds of people.
In some cases, there is also a significant price difference in tickets- some of the major attractions have entry fees of £25 and higher, and that adds up quickly when you are visiting multiple places in a day. (Not to mention your Oyster card and everything else needed.)
These are not hidden gems in that no one has ever heard of them, but hidden gems in that few people seem to start with these sights.
Instead of the British Museum… try the Victoria and Albert Museum
Both of these museums are very, very, very busy. However, the British Museum feels like you are standing shoulder to shoulder to shoulder in pretty much every room you will visit, while the V&A has many quieter spaces. Understandably, people want to see the Rosetta Stone, the Lewis chessmen, and the like, but it makes for an extremely crowded British Museum. It is difficult to see things closely (depending on what you are interested in), and you need to allow most of a day if you are to wait out the crowds.
As I said above, the V&A is also a popular site. However, because there are so many galleries spread out over a massive amount of space, you can absolutely find some peaceful galleries. The V&A also has something for everyone- the Cartier exhibition and jewellery galleries cover fashion history while the fashion gallery is closed to 2027 (sad face), there is architectural history, fine arts (including painting, sculpture, carving, silk screen, etc), British history, as well as several other countries and areas (including Japan, Korea, South Asia). The V&A’s cafes are also gorgeous- all three rooms were designed distinctly from the others, including one by William Morris.
Note: both museums are free to enter but many exhibitions will have paid tickets. There is much to see for free in both, but if you want to see the bigger exhibitions, I would book ahead and keep the prices in mind.
Instead of Leicester Square… try Covent Garden
Now before you shout at me that Covent Garden also has a lot of visitors (and it does), depending on what you are interested, Covent Garden has a lot to offer. Leicester Square has a lot of cinemas, so if you are interested in catching a film, it is a great place to be. But it’s mostly crowds, cinemas, and tourist-type shops (like the M&M store).
Covent Garden is a very short walk away but has a rich history dating back to the thirteenth century when the area was Westminster Abbey’s walled gardens. The market has countless tiny shops and boutiques, as well as some bigger names (like Ladurée). When you walk in on the ground level, you will see many booths/vendors, many with tourist-type things. I would recommend heading downstairs to the shops, though.
If you are at all interested in the ballet, the opera, or the theatre, you will be spoiled for choice in Covent Garden. For anyone who is a fan of the ballet or the opera, the guided tour of the Royal Opera House is a must, in addition to seeing a production. (Plus if you have time, they have several bars and restaurants- all with very cool views.) And of course, you have the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane- the current theatre was built in 1812, making it a cool 213 years old. (As of autumn 2025, Disney’s Hercules is currently on there.)
And finally, in addition to several English Heritage blue plaques around the area (including one for Margot Fonteyn’s home), there is St. Paul’s Church, aka the actor’s church. Not to be confused with St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Paul’s Church was designed by Inigo Jones in the 1630s and has a fantastically rich history.
Instead of the London Eye… try Queen’s House, Greenwich
My cousin wisely told me on my first visit to London that the London Eye is interesting but it is a long wait and if you don’t know what you are looking at, a lot of it is lost on you. And as someone who feels that they know London reasonably well, I completely agree- yes, it’s cool to see the skyline but if you have no idea what you are actually looking it, it’s a lot of time and money to look at buildings you can’t recognise.
So, if you want a great view of the London skyline, might I present the Queen’s House, Greenwich, and Greenwich Park as a whole? The Queen’s House was also designed by Inigo Jones (one of my favourite architect’s), and is a great peek into the Stuart dynasty. It is free to visit, and if you are a fan of Bridgerton, The Crown, or Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, you will be able to stand where they were filmed. (The Crown used the Tulip Stairs, you can see them above!) You are also right next door to the Old Royal Naval College, another gorgeous and historic building.
You are then able to head up the hill of Greenwich Park (one of London’s Royal Parks) to the Royal Observatory. Even if you don’t want to visit the observatory, it gives you one of the best views of the City of London, the Isle of Dogs, and the River Thames. Plus, it is free!
Instead of Westminster Abbey… try Southwark Cathedral
Now, I fully admit as an historian that Westminster Abbey is impressive and is rich with history. However, as an historian who wasn’t able to actually see Mary, Queen of Scots tomb or several others due to it being physically packed with tourists, I don’t know that I would recommend a visit inside to someone with limited time. Visit the outside, wander a bit, but you can make the most of your time elsewhere.
If you would like to see an historic cathedral, head to Southwark Cathedral across the river! Southwark Cathedral has been the site of a church for over a thousand years, and the current cathedral dates back to the thirteenth to fifteenth century. (However, the Victorians were responsible for the nave- they tended to make changes to cathedrals…) There is the famous memorial to Shakespeare, plus the very colourful tomb of poet John Gower (both are very cool), and there have been royal weddings and royal trials at the cathedral.
Plus, you will then find yourself fairly close to The Globe theatre, where you can catch one of Shakespeare’s plays. Or you can head to the George Inn, where Geoffrey Chaucer’s pilgrims departed from in The Canterbury Tales. Southwark often gets overlooked but has a very interesting history and is very walkable. (Plus you can get some very cool views of the City, especially St. Paul’s Cathedral!)
Instead of the Tower of London… try the Palace of Westminster
Again, I know, I know- as an historian, how am I not recommending the Tower of London?? If you are really interested in military history, it is a great place to visit. The White Tower has a massive amount of armour and weaponry on display, and the Fusilier Museum covers the regiment’s history. However, if military history isn’t your thing, there is somewhat less to do. (The Crown Jewels are of course very cool, but if it is busy when you go, you will be seeing them from a moving sidewalk and you cannot go backwards to spend longer.)
The Palace of Westminster, aka the parliament building, is also open for tours, and it is often overlooked. My cousin took me there on my first day in London and it remains one of my favourite historical sites. Westminster Hall survives from the original eleventh century palace and was used for many purposes, including as a courtroom and a banquet hall. You will probably recognise it as the place where lyings in state take place for royal funerals.
Much of the current palace dates back to the mid-nineteenth century and if you follow British politics at all, you will recognise many of its rooms. My favourite spaces were actually the smaller libraries (unsurprising to anyone, I am sure)!
What are your favourite hidden gems that you have discovered?
Cheers,
The Historian
Facebook | Threads | Instagram | Pinterest
