Looking for unique London experiences? I’ve got you covered. From sunset cruises to quirky food (and private planes), here’s 10 unusual London experiences you just can’t find anywhere else — from a Londoner!
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From classy to weird and boujee to wonderful, there are tons of unique experiences to be had in London. But, for some reason, most travel guides leave them out!
As a borderline (okay, full-blown) London lover, I’m always on the hunt for new and quirky experiences in the city, and of course, I’m willing to share.
Whether you’re in the city for the long haul or a spell, if you’re looking for something different, here’s 10 unique London experiences you can’t find anywhere else.
Unique London Experiences To Consider:
1. Test Your Mini-Golf Skills at Swingers Crazy Golf
It’s one thing to mini-golf. It’s another to do crazy mini-golf with a cocktail in hand and delicious street food. Welcome to Swingers. Take up a night of friends, booze, food and trying to get a hole in one (only took me 20 tries!).
The Crazy Golf bar has taken London, New York and Washington D.C by storm with their new-age approach to mini-golfing. Simply book a time slot for your tee-off time and let the game begin! Each round takes about 30 minutes, with friendly waiters ready to take your drink of choice for a little liquid courage during your game.
The best part is there’s no time limit, which is perfect since it doubles as an epic street food hub (including vendors like Crosstown Donuts, Pizza Pilgrims and Patty & Bun, to name a few) and a cocktail bar.
P.S – I personally recommend Swingers for a date night or night out with friends! There’s also group packages if you want the full experience.
2. Take a Ride Down St Regent’s Canal
Riding down St Regents Canal sits number one as it’s truly my favorite unique London experience.
Once you’re done exploring the riverside charm of Little Venice, you can hop onto the Regent’s Canal Waterbus — taking you from Little Venice all the way to Camden Town.
The route is the perfect unique experience because you can explore two neighborhoods in one — starting the day popping into independent shops, having a coffee and taking a stroll along St Regent’s Canal in Little Venice, and ending the day roaming Camden Market, checking out the quirky shops and taking up the views on Primrose Hill.
I would recommend going right before sunset (you can find when the sun goes down in London here) so you can combine it with a trip to Camden market, before they close at 6pm. Then you can watch the sunset with your Camden market treats on Primrose Hill!
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3. Indulge in an Afternoon Tea on a Double Decker Bus
A unique and tasty London dining experience, you can’t leave London without doing a BB Afternoon Tea Bus Tour.
The exclusive double-decker bus takes you whizzing around the Central London all while enjoying a traditional cuppa (British-style, of course), and is the perfect add to your London itinerary.
I love this tour because it’s not your typical ‘on and off’ type bus tour (that can get real boring, real fast). But don’t worry, you’ll still get to see all the classic landmarks like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, Nelson’s Column, Downing Street, Marble Arch, and even more if you can believe it.
The tour lasts around 90 minutes depending on traffic, so you can easily pair the day with more sightseeing around London.
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4. Get a Taste of London with a 3 Hour Secret British Food Tour
For a uniquely secret London experience — you may want to consider a Secret British Food Tour.
There’s nothing I love quite as much as the London foodie scene (okay, family, friends… but still), and this food tour truly serves the whole shebang. The 3-hour food tour will take you across the city to try all the best traditional food your heart (and stomach) can handle.
Starting with a jaunt to Borough Market and some devilishly good English fudge, you’ll continue onwards to a day of award-winning Cumberland sausages, British snacks, sweet and bitter pints, home baked bread, delicious desserts, the best of fish and chips and a ‘secret dish’ that I refuse to tell you about — guess you’ll have to find out for yourself!
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5. Take a Sunset Cruise Across London
Every time I try to think of something better than watching sunset across the Thames, I come up short.
Embrace an evening of unique London experiences with a Sparkling 2-Hour Cruise across the River Thames, perfectly timed for sunset. The sail starts with a delicious glass of bubbly and lavish canapés, with the sweet sounds of jazz and live performers as your backdrop.
My favorite part about this unique London experience is it still counts as a London tour, taking you across all the typical landmarks like Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and Houses of Parliament, and even gives you a peek at the Canary Wharf skyscrapers, London’s NYC.
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6. Do Some London Sightseeing From a Private Plane
London can get old from the same perspective, why not take it to the sky! I’ll admit, this unique London experience is not for the faint of heart, but if you’ve got the chutzpah, I’d highly suggest taking a London sightseeing trip…in a private plane.
One of the coolest adventure activities in London, the one hour tour takes you sky high through London landscapes and sights such as London Bridge, the London Eye, and Canary Wharf, of course, offering breathtaking views of the city.
But the best part about the tour is you can personalize your route completely based on what you want to see (just talk to the pilot beforehand).
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7. Drink Away the Day at the Soho & Piccadilly Beer Bike Tour
I remember passing a group of people doing this tour in Soho — and instantly got jealous, lol. Toast and Pedal with this unique London experience at the Piccadilly and Soho Beer Bike Tour. Available for 1-2 hours you can grab your friends and drink the day away with London landmarks as your backdrop.
The ride comes with an onboard guide, barman and barista, and is BYO friendly, so don’t forget to bring your own brew! You’ll also visit some local pubs on the way and will most likely gain plenty of new fans as passerbyers watch you chug the day away.
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8. Abseil Down the ArcelorMittal Orbit
As if sliding down Europe’s longest tunnel slide wasn’t enough, now you can abseil down!
Now, I’ll admit, this is one of the most adventurous things to do in London, as your adrenaline will definitely be left pumping. But, if height’s aren’t a problem for you (80 metres of height to be exact) I’d highly recommend enjoying the spectacular views of the city, all while dangling off the ArcelorMittal Orbit.
Of course, if this all sounds a bit too adventurous, you can always have just as much fun riding the slide itself.
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9. Climb the Roof of the O2
Another adrenaline pumper, if you’re looking for an adventurous unique London experience — climb the O2!
The O2 dome is fully yours to explore from above, allowing for 360° views once you reach the top. Worried about safety? All climbers get tooled up with boots, a harness, climb boots, and a friendly instructor, so you’ll be good to go.
Once you climb the 52 metre height, you’ll be able to catch your breath and take in tons of London landmarks. This also puts you nicely next to the Emirates Air Line, River Thames, and of course, the O2 where you can catch a movie, grab a bite, or see a live show after you’ve finished being a London mountaineer.
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10. Take a Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
I’ll admit, I’m not the most keen on scary London experiences, but for Jack the Ripper, I’ll give in. One of the most infamous serial killers in the world, learn about Jack the Ripper with the Jack the Ripper Walking Tour, taking you through all the murder sites of his unfortunate victims.
Honestly, the guides are my favorite part about the tour — extremely knowledgeable, humorous and friendly, it’s truly one of the best immersive experiences in London as they really make the street scenes come to life, talking you through all the stories and facts of all his unsolved crimes like a step back in time.
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11. Cycle Through Street Art in Shoreditch
It’s a sin to leave London without having a cycle — and catching the street art — but luckily for you, you can combine the two!
One of the best places to see street art in London is undoubtedly Shoreditch, but for a unique London experience, you can join the Shoreditch Street Art Bike Tour to explore all the exclusive street art hiding around Brick Lane, Shoreditch, Hoxton, and Hackney right from the comfort of your bike seat.
Groups are capped at 12 to keep it intimate, and tour leaders are East London experts, so you’re in good hands.
Click here to book
Bonus: Step into Harry Potter at the Warner Brother Studios Tour
Okay, so it’s not the most unique experience in London, but it had to be mentioned. If you want to relive your Gryffindor days IRL, I highly suggest taking the Harry Potter Studios Tour.
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Recap: Unique Experiences in London
So, which unique London experience caught your fancy? Let me know on Instagram or join my newsletter for the latest on things to do in London!
Happy Londoning,
Read More on London:
• London Travel Tips & Inspiration
• Moving to London Advice & Resources
