Everyone thinks they know London. Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the red phone booth and the double-decker bus selfie. Cute, sure. However, you did not come all this way to check boxes on the London list. Everyone has been there, done that. But you should want to know about the unique things to do in London. Things that are hidden gems of London. Things that make your friends say, “Wait, you did WHAT in London?”

So, forget the tourist conveyor belt. I’m about to give you the inside scoop on the quirky things to do in London, the odd things to do in London, and those unusual activities to do in London. Things that feel more like a mystery story than a checklist.

5 Most Unique Things to Do in London, England

These are the things you would not find on the postcards!

London’s Secret Subway: Ride the Hidden Mail Rail

Now this one feels like you have unlocked a London secret.

It would be an experience where you will be clambering into a small, pod-like train. It would be the kind that kids would lose their minds over. A train that they used to zip millions of letters across the city every day.

For decades, hardly anyone even knew this underground system existed. Le alone rode it.

But, today?

You can.

The ride takes you through narrow tunnels beneath Clerkenwell and Mount Pleasant. Some projections bring the history of London's postal service to life. It is a mix of eerie with dim tunnels and rattling tracks. It is a magical experience where you are literally on a ghost train of letters.

And then there is the Postal Museum of London. This unique tourist attraction of London is not some dusty collection of letters. It is interactive. Kids can dress up as Victorian posties, while adults can get sucked into exhibits about wartime codes and communication. Plus, your ticket actually lets you come back all year.

Pro tip:

You should go early in the day. The ride is short but popular. Hence, it books up fast. It is also a surprisingly great option if you are travelling with kids or a multi-generational group. There are equal parts history, fun, and bragging rights.

Climbing the Chimney of Giants: Lift 109 at Battersea

Yes, everyone knows the Shard. But what are the real London insiders?

We are heading to Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station. This is a viewpoint. Additionally, it is a ride that feels like stepping inside a science fiction film. You glide up through the middle of one of Battersea’s iconic chimneys in a glass pod. It has lights and sound effects that set the mood. At the top, almost 109 meters up, there is a glass that opens onto jaw-dropping, 360° views.

The coolest part?

You are literally standing inside an industrial icon. A place that once powered half the city. The transformation from power station to shopping and dining mecca is a London story in itself.

So, don't just go for the elevator. You should go and wander the riverside walk and grab a meal in the food court. If you are into shopping, the brands here are high-end but mixed with quirky local spots.

Pro tip:

The sunset slots here are pure magic. You can be watching the city turn gold from a chimney-top platform. It is one of the best unique things to do in London.

London’s Living Canvas: Spray-Paint Your Name in Leake Street Tunnel

I am sure you must have seen street art in Shoreditch or Camden. But here is where you can go full Banksy-wannabe—the Leake Street Tunnel.

It is a graffiti-covered passage in London. It is the only legal graffiti wall in central London. Which means artists of all levels (from total beginners to pros) constantly refresh it with wild new pieces.

Every time you go, it looks different. Sounds impressive.

Exploring this hidden London tourist attraction is like stumbling into the city's most vibrant underground party. Some murals stretch from floor to ceiling. It has dragons, political satire, cartoons, and abstract colour explosions. The air smells faintly of spray paint.

You will often catch artists mid-work, headphones in, cans rattling. And yes, you can also join in. Just grab a cheap can of spray paint from a nearby shop. Then leave your tag. No judgment, no talent required.

Pro tip:

Do not forget to bring a camera. The light streaming through the tunnel makes for epic photos. The contrast of gritty brick with neon paint is Instagram gold.

An Electric Daydream: Glow in Neon at God’s Own Junkyard

If Willy Wonka designed a gallery, it would look like God’s Own Junkyard.

There are floor-to-ceiling neon signs. They glow in every colour you can imagine. Some are cheeky ("Girls, Girls, Girls"), some are nostalgic (movie props and vintage shop signs), and some are just straight-up psychedelic art.

The atmosphere is part retro diner and part fever dream. There is even a café inside. It is appropriately called The Rolling Scones. Here you can grab cake and coffee under a rainbow glow.

It is in Walthamstow (an easy hop on the Victoria Line), which makes it feel more like a hidden gem than a tourist stop.

Pro tip:

You should check their hours before you go. Very often, they close early for private events. And if you love photography, this is one of the most incredible places to visit in London for unforgettable shots.

A Silent Time Machine: Step Back at Dennis Severs’ House

Now, some people think this is just a museum. But wait, there is more to it. It is a performance you walk through. The Dennis Severs’ House is an 18th-century townhouse in Spitalfields. When you step inside, it feels like the residents have just stepped out.

Some candles burn low. The bread sits half-eaten on the table. And the beds look slept in. Each room is staged as if frozen in a moment. You can walk through in silence, letting your imagination fill in the lives of the imaginary Huguenot family who "lived" there.

The smell of smoke, the creak of the stairs, and the flicker of shadows. It is very theatrical, eerie, and unique. No glass cases and no plaques. Just genuine atmosphere. And if you can, do book one of their evening "Silent Nights" tours by candlelight. You will never forget it.

Pro tip:

Phones and cameras are banned to make sure you are fully present in the moment. This is storytelling you experience, not scroll past.

Quirky Things to Do in London

Get lost in a collector's curiosity cabinet.

If Indiana Jones and a mad scientist teamed up for interior design, they could create something like the Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities in Hackney.

This place is gloriously weird. It has shrunken heads next to stuffed animals. There are strange skeletons and magical trinkets. And there is art that will make you go “… wait, what?”

It is part museum, part oddity shop, part fever dream. You can wander around and never quite know what is waiting in the following case.

And because this is London, of course, there's a cocktail bar tucked downstairs. So after gawking at a mummified mermaid or a two-headed kitten, you can sip a martini and ask yourself if you've just dreamed the whole thing.

Find hidden heroism at Postman's Park.

London is loud, busy, and full of shiny attractions. However, sometimes the most potent places are the quietest ones.

The Postman’s Park is located near St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is a little green oasis with a big heart. Along one wall, you will find a Victorian memorial with hand-painted ceramic tiles. Each of these tells the story of an ordinary person who performed an extraordinary act of bravery. All at the cost of their own life.

A child saving their friend from drowning. A man rescuing a co-worker from a burning building. Everyday heroes are frozen in time. Standing there, reading their names, you cannot help but pause and feel humbled.

It is one of those rare places that does not shout for your attention. It whispers, and you leave carrying its echo with you.

Undoubtedly one of the top most quirky places to visit in London, England.

Visit A Sewage Cathedral

Yes really. You have read correctly. Stay with me on this one. I know “sewage” and “sightseeing” don’t usually go hand in hand. But trust me, the Crossness Pumping Station is one of the strange attractions in London.

It was built in the Victorian era. It is now dubbed the “cathedral of ironwork”. When you see it, you will understand why. It is a palace ballroom crossed with an industrial machine hall. There are iron columns painted in candy colours. There are intricate patterns and massive wheels and pipes that gleam like steampunk art.

It is bizarrely beautiful as a unique art attraction in London. The fact that this place was designed to deal with sewage almost makes it better. It is proof that the Victorians could not help but go big and fancy, even with plumbing.

So, if you are looking for unusual things to do in London, this one tops the list.

Hop onto Eel Pie Island

Now, for one of the most elusive and quirky things to do in London. The Eel Pie Island. It is a mysterious island of hidden London.

Sounds made up, right?

But it's genuine. It is a tiny private island on the Thames with a wild backstory.

In the 1960s, it was home to a legendary music club where bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Pink Floyd jammed. Today, it is an artists’ commune. It is closed off to the public. But for two magical weekends a year, the studios fling open their doors.

If you are lucky enough to visit during one of those open days, you will wander through gardens, boathouses, and artist workshops buzzing with eccentric creativity.

It feels like you have stumbled onto a secret world hidden in plain sight.

Unique Cultural Attractions in London

Leighton House

Imagine walking into a Victorian mansion. Then, suddenly, you find yourself in Marrakech.

That is the Leighton House. It is the home of artist Frederic Leighton. Someone who clearly had a flair for drama. It has golden domes, jewel-toned tiles, intricate mashrabiya woodwork, and a shimmering “Arab Hall” that feels like a film set.

It is charming, jaw-dropping, theatrical, and totally unexpected in the middle of Kensington.

Hunterian Museum

This unique cultural place to visit in London is not for the faint of heart. The Hunterian is part medical museum and part cabinet of curiosities. It has preserved specimens in jars, early surgical tools, and stories that straddle the line between fascinating and eww.

But here is the twist. It is also deeply educational. It charts how medicine evolved from the bizarre to the brilliant. It is free to visit, and honestly? You will leave with a new appreciation for modern hospitals.

Fun & Cool Places to Visit in London

GoBoats in Little Venice

You do not need to be a sailor (or even know port from starboard) to captain your own electric GoBoat.

You can gather some snacks, drinks, and maybe a speaker for a playlist, and then drift along Regent's Canal past houseboats and waterside pubs. It is equal parts peaceful and party.

And yes, the captain’s hat is optional. But if you are the one steering, you deserve it.

Hampstead Heath Ponds

Londoners are obsessed with these ponds. Once you try it yourself, you'll understand why.

You can go swimming outdoors and see ducks gliding past. All this while the city skyline peeks over the trees. The water is icy. It is so frigid that it shocks you awake. But that's the fun.

Moreover, bragging rights. You swam in a Victorian-era pond where generations of Londoners have taken the plunge—a unique experience in London.

Sky Garden & Garden at 120

Do you want London views without dropping Shard money?

These two rooftop gardens deliver what you want. There is lush greenery and sweeping skyline shots for free.

Sky Garden is the famous one (book ahead), with its jungle-like vibe and cocktail bar. Garden at 120 is the underdog. There is no ticket needed. Very often it is blissfully uncrowded. You should bring a coffee, snap some photos, and feel smug about the bargain.

Unique Things to Do in London at Night

London at night feels like the city putting on its sparkliest outfit. Everything is moodier and more atmospheric.

Soane Lates

Sir John Soane's Museum is quirky by daylight. However, after dark, it is lit only by oil lamps and candles. It is like being a straight-up gothic romance.

You can wander through his collection of sculptures, paintings, and oddities. It feels like sneaking through a secret society's headquarters.

Cahoots

Step into a 1940s Tube station. Here, the trains do not run, but the cocktails definitely flow.

It is themed to perfection. There are vintage posters, staff in character, and swing music. It is theatrical drinking at its best. Yes, the cocktails are pricey. However, where else do you sip a martini in a fake Tube carriage?

ABBA Voyage

Sounds like a concert, but is it not? It is an experience—the Abba Voyage. The Hologram ABBAs perform as if it’s 1979. It is done in a custom-built arena where the lights, crowd, and sound make you forget it’s all digital.

You will be dancing, singing, and possibly crying with thousands of strangers. Unironically magical and definitely one of the most fun things to do in London at night.

Odd Things to Do in London

Slide down the ArcelorMittal Orbit

If you are looking for odd activities to do in London, this is one. It is the world’s longest tunnel slide called the ArcelorMittal Orbit. It is 40 seconds of twists, loops, and pure adrenaline inside London’s tallest sculpture.

From "oh this looks fun" to "why did I agree to this?" in 2 seconds flat, then laughter all the way down—a must-do London Adventure for tourists and locals alike.

Climb The O₂ roof

The O₂ is one of London's most famous landmarks and entertainment venues. You might recognise it as that massive white dome on the Greenwich Peninsula. It was initially called the Millennium Dome. It was built to celebrate the year 2000 with a giant exhibition about the future. The exhibition flopped, but the building itself? Too iconic to let go.

But the most incredible twist? You can actually climb over the roof on a guided experience called Up at The O₂. Definitely a weird thing to do in London as a tourist. But very exciting.

You can strap in, clip on, and walk up the dome. It is like you are starring in your own spy thriller.

The climb is wobbly. The air is fresh, and the view from the top is worth every step.

Moreover, you will never look at the O₂ the same way again.

Wander Highgate Cemetery

This is no ordinary cemetery. It is a gothic drama at its finest.

You will see ivy-draped tombs, angel statues streaked with moss, and winding paths that feel straight out of a Victorian novel.

Many famous names lie here. But the atmosphere is the real star. It is hauntingly beautiful and unforgettable.

Try the Unique Things to Do in London, England

So, when people ask you, “What to do in London?” you do not have to shrug and mumble, "Tower Bridge." You can say you rode an underground post train, drank cocktails in a fake Tube station, spray-painted a legal tunnel, and saw a cathedral built for sewage. That is the magic of hunting down the best unique things to do in London. The idea is about collecting stories. Just go and chase the strange, the quirky, the fun places to visit in London and truly make this city yours.