After you've been to London once or twice, you want to get away from the major touristy stuff and see something new, right? Thankfully, there's heaps of things to do in London that borders on offbeat, even unusual:
Attend A Festival In Chinatown
If you want to get out of touristy London (but not too far from it), check out the city's Chinatown neighborhood. You can easily walk around the small area (it's only a few blocks long) and explore the various restaurants and markets.
But if you really want to experience Chinatown, schedule your trip around one of their annual festivals.
There's International Dragon and Lion Dance Festival on New Year's Day, the Water Cube Cup Singing Contest in August or Moon Fest in mid-Autumn. At any of these festivals, you can experience the culture and vibrancy of London's Chinatown at it's peak.
Explore Highgate Cemetery... If You Dare
If you really want to go off the beaten path, check out some of the graves of some of the most notable Londoners from the Victorian Era at Highgate Cemetery. Some of the famous individuals resting here include Douglas Adams, George Eliot, and Karl Marx.
In addition to housing influential historical figures, the cemetery is also reportedly haunted. If you're a taphophile, it can't be missed. Other spooky cemeteries in the area include Brompton Cemetery, Abney Park, and Kensal Green.
Grab A Barge Ride At Regent’s Canal
If you are traveling with a group of friends, you can book a ticket on one of the many barges or rent a GoBoat to take an afternoon ride along Regent’s Canal.
If you're riding a barge, the best place to depart is near Paddington Station on past London Zoo, before hitting Camden Lock, where you can get off and spend the afternoon. At Camden Lock, there's the Stables Market, one of the many sunday markets in London, where you can grab a bite and shop.
If you rent a GoBoat, you'll need to return it to the GoBoat pontoon, but it's still a nice and memorable way to spend a few hours.
Wander Around Jurassic Coast And Weymouth
Jurassic Coast is a great place for walking, cycling, climbing, kayaking, and kite surfing. It stretches over 95 miles of coastline, starting from East Devon to Dorset. If you want to fully experience Jurassic Coast, you can check out either town, or the coastal town of Weymouth, which has a ton of seaside attractions.
Weymouth is 2.5 hours away from London, easily reachable by train, bus or rental car. Once you're there, you can spend a few hours exploring, looking for fossils, visiting the museum, or taking a cruise. For something more low-key, there's a number of coffee shops and shops, as well as a little amusement park with arcade games.
Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
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Catch A Ferry From Greenwich
Greenwich, home to the Old Royal Navy College, was one of the highlights from my last trip to London. You can see where some of the best sailors were trained to serve the British Empire for over 200 years, shop at the market, and pop into a pub for a pint.
You can visit the Cutty Sark, a sailing ship from the 19th century, walk along the pathways, and climb up the hill (it's a hike) to Greenwich Observatory (where basically GMT was established.) My boyfriend Chase and I went up there with Aaron, my friend Melissa's husband, who pointed out all of the landmarks, skyscrapers, etc. of London, since there's basically a complete view of the city.
After that, you can do what we did, and catch a ferry from Greenwich Pier to downtown London. It was about $10 each, which was worth it, because we got to cruise by Shakespeare's Globe Theater, under London Bridge, and right up to the London Eye. We got off at Westminster, making the total excursion about a 20 minute ride.
Go To Smithfield Meat Market
The Smithfield Meat Market has been situated in Smithfield since the Middle Ages, making a historic marketplace that's truly unique. The market sells - you guessed it - vast quantities of meat - with numerous traders selling halal, lamb, pork, beef, chicken, and so much more.
The prices for meat are cheap and depend on the vendor, but people have purchased British short ribs for as little as $3-$4 a pound. For visitors, it can be an awesome place to grab some meat to cook an authentic, affordable British meal.
Even if you don't buy any meat, the structure of the market is incredible, with a high ceiling and historic arches.
Take A Dip At Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds
The Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds are exactly what they sound like - a chance to swim in cold ponds. Perfect for a hot day in London, these ponds are open to the public, with unisex ponds, as well as some for only men and only women.
You'll need change for concessions and 2 pounds for entry, making the ponds an affordable, fun way to spend a few hours. Many people also sunbathe and picnic in the grass, so bring along a blanket and a picnic blanket.
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