15 Best Places to Visit in London

In London, there is ALWAYS something new to see. The mega-famous landmarks that are part of the standard tour are just the tip of the iceberg. The challenge lies in discovering those alternative corners that are just as, if not more, London than Big Ben, when the same attractions always dominate the what to see lists.

You know what really breaks my heart? It's hearing people come back from London and say, Oh, it was too crowded and expensive. Because with every visit to this incredible city, I fall more and more in love with it. Yet, when I first started traveling alone in Europe, London was quite intimidating. Now it's become my favorite destination for solo travel.

The problem is that most guidebooks always feature the same tourist attractions everyone knows about: Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, Oxford Street for shopping. But no one tells you about that little hidden places in London!

London isn't just Big Ben and the Changing of the Guard (though that's cool, eh?). It's a vibrant, cultural city , full of surprises around every corner. So today I'll share my craziest discoveries so you can enjoy this British capital like never before!

Here's a list of less obvious places to truly get to know London.

1. Carnaby Street:

Carnaby Street was at the heart of the scene during the Swinging Sixties. Everything modern, avant-garde, and alternative was there. It was a meeting point for all kinds of urban tribes: mods, punks, skinheads, and it was frequented by musicians and bands, both before and after they became famous.

Today it's a commercial street much like any other. And although it has lost much of its countercultural edge, it not only maintains its colorful and picturesque style, but it's still used as a showcase for rock-related items, such as Christmas decorations themed around Queen and the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary.

Carnaby Street may no longer be the cutting edge of the world, but it still has several cool shops, far more than the average street. Like Irregular Choice , which makes shoes that I'm not sure are comfortable, but they're fun to look at, really fun to look at.

They even have high heels filled with water and glitter. The Face (which is actually just steps from Carnaby, on Marlborough Street, a side street), a shop that's a relic of the Mod era, and still looks like something out of a Quadrophenia movie set.

And a place I love, We Built This City, a shop of objects, decor, and accessories where EVERYTHING is London-themed, but designer, not made in China.

2. Seven Dials

It's the prettiest corner in London, but there are seven! A seven-street intersection, all of them beautiful, all of them full of shops and restaurants that place great importance on aesthetics. And always, whether it's the holiday season or springtime, Seven Dials is one of the best-dressed.

3. Little Venice

London doesn't just have everything, it also has its own Venice. This one eluded me for many years. A hidden corner, far from the city center, that's absent from almost every list of "things to see in London" (especially for tourists).

4. Waterstones

The Waterstones bookstore branch on Piccadilly is the biggest bookstore I've ever seen. It has six floors filled with those British editions that have the best cover designs in the world. It has armchairs, coffee tables, windows, a café, and a huge section of books on music and rock biographies. Ideal for escaping in winter, reading for a while, and using the restroom. And if you have enough money, buying something to take home.

5. Neal's Yard

If you don't know about Neal's Yard, it's very difficult to stumble upon it by chance, because it's a kind of hidden gem tucked away among streets that cleverly conceal the vibrant colors hidden in the heart of London.

Here you'll find many vegetarian and health food restaurants, lots of people escaping the hustle and bustle of the city for a while, and of course, plenty of people taking Instagram photos.

6. Soho

Despite being quite famous, when visiting London, people usually just pass through, look around, and leave. It's like a quaint stroll, like going to Chinatown. Take a few photos and leave. But for me, Soho deserves a lot more than that. Much more than that.

Soho, is the heart of London; it's the good, the bad, and the ugly. And it's always alive, at any time, any day. And while up until the 80s (and a bit longer) this area was the worst of the worst in the city—dirty, dangerous, and lawless—today, although it still has its share of madness and chaos, it's no longer a dangerous place.

Thanks to gentrification, brothels have given way to sex shops, drug dealing has given way to gambling dens, and street violence has given way to hipster cafes. One of the witnesses of that era is Bar Italia, immortalized in the Pulp song as the place where all those people who frequented Soho at night would sit and wait for morning.

Apart from Bar Italia, take a stroll down Berwick Street, a street that in the 90s was the place where Britpop youth went out, shopped and walked, and where there is still a good number of record stores and alternative clothing shops.

7. Southbank

Southbank, or the south bank, is one of the liveliest places in the afternoon. The main activity is concentrated around the Southbank Centre complex, a huge cultural center that always has free and paid events. There are many restaurants, bars, food trucks, and a skatepark.

In summer, it's lively because there are many tables and bars outdoors, and a fountain where kids go to splash around. And in winter, it's lively because of the Christmas market, where there's no shortage of beer, cider, and food.

8. Camden

Well, Camden is pretty obvious, but what's not so obvious is what to do once you're there, besides wandering around identical stalls selling counterfeit goods, haggling, and grabbing a quick bite at one of the markets.

Camden, like everything else, isn't what it used to be. But it's still the most alternative area in London (there are still a few shops selling leather clothes and coats for goths, and tons of platform boots).

One place worth visiting, whether you're going to buy anything or not, is Dr. Martens. Inside the store, they have a mini-museum section with a space for shows and displays of memorabilia from bands that once wore the brand, like The Clash, Buzzcocks, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Oasis.

For drinks, there's The Good Mixer pub and The Word's End, a pub with a glass roof and steampunk decor where it always feels like you're drinking way too early. And if you're up for a night out, the most famous and rock-oriented clubs, where bands also play, are Electric Ballroom, The Underworld, and Koko.

9. Primrose Hill

From this park, perched atop a 65-meter hill, you can see the entire city skyline. The view is so good that Primrose Hill is one of the most popular spots to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks display near the London Eye.

On that day, the park fills up early, with people bringing blankets, food, and plenty of alcohol (but in true British style, with plenty of peace and order), all to start the year with one of the best and cheapest views of the festivities and of London itself.

And it's very close to Camden, so after watching the sunset, you can pop into The Good Mixer for some draft cider.

10. Saatchi Gallery

London boasts some of the world's most famous museums. One that isn't quite as well-known is the Saatchi Gallery. A free-to-enter gallery (like all the city's best museums) where you can see modern art, pop art, installations, and where the exhibitions are constantly changing.

11. Brick Lane

From Monday to Saturday, Brick Lane is a street, but on Sundays it transforms into an open-air market, overflowing with secondhand clothes, used records, and above all, FOOD. At Brick Lane Market, you can find food from all over the world.

Everything is ready to go, perfect for eating while walking or sitting on the curb. And it's the sheer number of people and the diverse looks you see here that make Brick Lane a favorite place to take photos in London.

12. Rough Trade

For those of us who lived through the golden age of record stores, stepping into Rough Trade on Brick Lane is like stepping back in time. For Generation Z, it'll be like visiting a museum.

Today, all the music they sell is on vinyl (CDs still haven't made a comeback). They also sell books, turntables, and an indie classic: label merchandise.

13. Fortnum & Mason

This city is FULL of department stores. Most sell clothes and cosmetics. Fortnum & Mason, on the other hand, only sells tea and everything related to it. Everything here is beautiful, and expensive, but very beautiful. And obviously, inside there's a tea room where you can have tea.

14. Covent Garden

Well, I thought Covent Garden was pretty famous, but I looked at loads of things to do in London lists, and it wasn't on practically any of them. So we're going to put it here, because it deserves it.

Covent Garden is technically an old food market inside a cobbled square, where artists' stalls now coexist with Chanel boutiques and tea houses. But Covent Garden is also the area surrounding the market, and it's one of (if not THE) most beautiful areas in London.

15. Leadenhall Market

No, it's not Diagon Alley, but almost. Leadenhall Market appeared in the first Harry Potter film as the place where Hagrid and Harry walked before entering Diagon Alley and the Wizarding World together for the first time.

Originally opened in the 14th century, hundreds of years, fires and wars later it ended up looking like this; like a kind of giant Victorian dollhouse housing shops and restaurants.