London has so many things to offer besides a ride on the London Eye, a photo op with Big Ben, or a Harry Potter tour. The city is huge so it has many adventures waiting for those who are willing to try just about anything.
If you love food, culture, history, architecture, and life in general, you won’t run out of ideas on things to do in the city. And you can be as quirky as you like.
Here are some of the most unusual activities that you can pull off in London:
1. Get on a floating hot tub along London’s waterways.
How about that for a unique ride? You’ll be getting the hot soak that you like to help your tired muscles relax while taking in the view of the city.
Skuna offers a tub boat with water heated up to 38 degrees Celsius, depending on the customer’s satisfaction, by a wood-burning stove. Each hot tub boat can accommodate seven guests, with the water replaced after every trip.
Is this your first time getting on this fun canal transport? Don’t worry. You’ll be paying for 75 full minutes to get around the city’s waterways, all while being comfortably soaked in warm water.
You can also bring alcohol with you and let it chill in an ice bucket.
2. Join a treasure hunt.
Be a treasure hunter around London for a day. This is ideal for friends and families to explore the city on an adventure.
For this activity, prepare a fully charged phone with a local SIM card and wear comfortable clothing fit for an outdoor game.
There are plenty of interactive treasure hunts you can find in London.
3. Go on a craft beer tour.
London offers a Craft Beer tour, where you can taste what craft-beer only bars and pubs. My personal favorite is Camden Town Brewing.
4. Visit escape rooms.
Going out with friends shouldn’t be boxed in regular eating, drinking, biking, or any other outdoor adventures. Why not mix things up and test your brainpower and get some happy hormones from the fun activity.
Give your mind some excellent brain teasers throughout the activity in many of London’s escape rooms.
5. Enjoy a latte in a crypt.
Have you ever thought about drinking coffee in a church crypt while surrounded by tombstones and vaulted ceilings made of bricks? If you haven’t, you should try this at London’s Café in the Crypt located in a church basement.
Aside from the café’s food and drinks, you might also want to visit the adjoining chamber, where you can see ancient grave markers as well as remembrance stones.
6. Indulge in your Potterhead whims by booking a Harry Potter-themed hotel room.
Do you want to be a part of Harry Potter’s Gryffindor life?
You’ll have to look behind the hotel bookcase to get to a hallway lined by portraits and enter your Gryffindor-inspired room using an antique, skeleton-shaped key. It even has a steel owl keychain.
Once you’re in your chamber, you’ll see stained glass windows, stone walls, vintage tapestries, four-poster beds, and more. If you are a Harry Potter fan, these are some of the top Harry Potter things to do in London.
7. Check out the Queen’s House.
If you love anything royal, this is a must-have in your itinerary. The Queen’s House in Greenwich in London allows tourists to immerse themselves in classical style interiors and artwork from some of the most famous masters, such as Hogarth, Gainsborough, and Turner.
It also offers a scenic view of the Royal Naval College and the Thames.
8. Scare yourself down the Orbit Slide.
Who says you can’t get on slides when you’re an adult? Scary rides don’t lose their touch no matter how old you get, and this is what the ArcelorMittal Orbit Slide does precisely.
The silver tube slide is attached to the tallest standing structure in the UK. The top hosts a viewing platform where you can have a sweeping view of East London, the Olympic Park site, and Canary Wharf.
The slide has become the world’s fastest, tallest, and longest slide at 178 meters tall that you can cover in about 40 seconds.
9. Experience dread at the Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities.
This small museum is home to some of the weirdest and most amazing specimens you can find. There are preserved skeletons, taxidermy, erotic memorabilia, rare books, and more.
Don’t expect to find an in-depth explanation about the collection inside, though, including quartz dildos, mermaids, and vintage speculums, among others.
The Museum of Curiosities just wants to pique your interest with its bizarre collection.
10. Walk around Mews Streets.
Mews streets are cobblestone-lined and narrow streets traditionally used by stables and carriages in the past.
Tourists usually don’t leave Mews Streets without taking lots of Instagram-worthy photos. You might want to visit Colville Mews, Kynance Mews, Queen’s Gate Mews, and Stanhope Mews.
11. Placate your taste buds at the Borough Market.
This is one of London’s oldest and biggest food markets that welcome locals and tourists alike. You can go around and feel your mouth water at the sight of different gastronomic treats and free samples.
The Borough Market started in the 13th century and has since become home to some of London’s best bars and restaurants.
How about a taste of some of the largest paella pans you might ever see? Take in the visual appeal of spices and herbs at Spice Mountain. Go back to your hotel room bearing packs and packs of fresh produce. Why not try some confit duck, too?
If you like treating yourself to a drink after a long day, you’ll have plenty of choices at the food market. Monmouth also offers some of the best cups of coffee, but you’ll have to time your visit well to avoid the long queues.
Desserts are plenty, too. There are ice cream treats, with some even concocted for the lactose intolerant dessert lovers.
Street food stalls also offer a good mix of influences from Asian food, Mexican food, vegetarian choices, and the best British Scotch eggs.
12. Go kayaking down the Thames.
Insert some challenge into your London tour by getting on a kayak down the Thames. You’ll see Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster, and other famous landmarks while kayaking.
13. Eat in the sky.
Why not give your usual meals a twist by eating them in the sky? London in the Sky is a must-try when you’re in the city. You’ll get to eat specially curated menus for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, complete with dessert and cocktails while you’re raised 100 feet on Sky Tables above the O2 Arena.
14. Enjoy all-night activities at the Natural History Museum.
See the Natural History of Museum from a different light – at night. There could be drinks tasting, dinner, and a hot breakfast after spending the night at the museum.
You’ll see galleries and exhibitions, overnight movie marathons, and more, depending on what series of three activities might be on offer.
15. Sleep in a prison cell.
The Clink Hostel 78 is a converted courthouse with some prison cells now furnished with cell block beds. Make sure to specify this option when booking a room at the hotel.
16. Visit the Magnificent Seven.
The Magnificent Seven refers to all seven urban cemeteries around London, built after the public was allowed to decide on burial reform. Touring these places will show you the different architectural styles of some of London’s most famous architects of their age.
If you don’t have time to go around all seven, though, you might want to drop by Highgate. It is the most popular cemetery with the most unique design among the seven. It is also the final resting place of Karl Marx, George Michael, and Douglas Adams.
Enjoy London like you’ve never seen it before. Explore the city from a new perspective. Add these new activities to your next London itinerary and fall in love with the city all over again.
Author Bio: Kyle is the owner of ViaTravelers and is an avid travel hacker, explorer. Via Travelers is a modern travel blog providing the best tips, hacks, and itineraries to ensure you have an amazing adventure. Follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.
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