20 Hidden Gems in London: Best-Kept Secrets You Must Discover

Ello, my fellow adventurers! Hold on to your top hats and tea cups as we embark on an exciting journey to unveil London’s best-kept secrets! As we know, London is known for many big and extraordinary things, but various hidden gems in London can set you apart from the cliche. Let’s dive into the secret green spaces of the historically pleasing museums. From lip-smacking dining spots to the off-beat spots to go on shopping sprees at. Ready, steady, go to exploring and uncovering the hidden places in london with amber!

Top 20 Hidden Gems in London

Are you a lover of the unexpected? Fasten your seatbelts as we drive through this wonderfully offbeat journey that involves numerous unknown spots that are different from the cliche tourist attractions in London. As we dive headfirst into this compelling rabbit hole of the secret gems in London, let's understand what this guide is all about. This interesting unveil will involve everything from unconventional and lush green parks to nonfictional treasures of museums and art galleries. We have also included something for the foodies and the shopaholics on our list and have included restaurants and cafes offering delectable cuisines and hidden shopping streets in London to get on the top of your clothing game at bargained rates. So, without further ado, let’s get started with this amazing journey to explore the hidden places to visit in London.

Parks & Open Spaces: Hidden Gems in London

London has various open green spaces that are heaven for nature lovers. But did you know the city also has various parks and gardens that are hidden spots in London, and not many people know about it? Let’s explore them.

1. Kyoto Garden at Holland Park

Kyoto Garden is a very beautiful garden in London that is based on a Japanese theme. It is one of the best-hidden gems in London. You can easily access them from Central London. With a total area of around 20 hectares, this beautiful green space is located around the Holland House. Opened in 1991, this garden represents the friendship between the two countries: Japan & UK. You can visit here any time, but spring is the best time to visit as the flowers are in full bloom, and the place becomes even more vibrant and lively. 

2. Postman’s Park

Located right around St. Paul’s Cathedral in Central London, Postman’s Park houses the George Fredric Watts’s Memorial, a memorial for ordinary people who sacrificed their lives while saving others. The only reason why it is one of the best-hidden gems in London is that it is a small park located right in the centre of one of the biggest cities in the world with huge skyscrapers. This makes this hidden spot in London even more enticing. 

3. Battersea Park & Children’s Zoo

Another open space within the city is also one of the hidden gems in London. This park was at its prime during the 90s. Spread out over 200 acres, this open space has hosted various happening fairs and still continues to do so. The park also has playgrounds and other attractions that it consists of. You can just sit here and relax while looking at the River Thames, pacing through as life goes on. The park also boasts several fun activities for the children as well as adults. 

4. Little Venice

In light of the big tourist attractions in London, do not forget about this hidden gem in London. Little Venice, as the name suggests, is a replica of Venice with tree-lined canals with vibrant boats to roam. Those boats are not just a mode of transportation, but many are actually mini tearooms and cafes. If you are planning to have brunch or tea/coffee, this might be the perfect place for you. 

5. Kew Gardens - Royal Botanic Gardens

Are you a plant parent? If yes, then this hidden spot in London is for you! This place has the most diverse range of plants and flora. You might not find such a huge collection of different living plants anywhere in the world. Kew Gardens is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and is very well maintained by the local authorities. Not just the plants, the garden also has numerous iconic buildings along with artefacts, vistas and glasshouses. 

Museums & Art Galleries: Hidden Gems in London

If history intrigues you as it intrigues us, you would be as interested in reading the list below as we were while writing it. Let’s dive into these artistic and historical hidden gems in London:

6. Sir John Soane’s Museum

This museum is one of the most unconventional hidden places to visit throughout London. So, who exactly is Sir John Soane? Sir John Soane (1753-1837) was a renowned architect who collected distinctive art. He tested his ideas of architectural designs on his own house. A beautiful memoir of his legendary life, his house was turned into a museum with around 45,000 art pieces collected by him. 

7. The Postal Museum & Mail Rail

This is one of the most liked hidden gems in London. Given how unique the whole concept of this museum is, you will find out why it is so liked. Britain, with its glorious past and history in particular, has had a grand postal service that catered to ordinary people as well as to people from all walks of life, such as the warriors at war across the globe, bureaucrats, and others! With the communication through postal dating back to over 500 years, this museum pays tribute to the legendary postal history in the country. You can experience the mail rail and go on a miniature train ride to see how it worked back then in real life. 

8. Twist Museum

This is another best-hidden gem in London, given it turns your world upside down, quite literally! If you are a fan of optical illusions, then this is a hidden place to visit in London. This museum boasts of around 60 exhibits and has numerous interactive illusions created by artistic intricacies that offer the user the perfect sensory experience. These illusions are designed and curated by some of the best artists, neuroscientists, and mathematicians in the world. This will surely leave your brain questioning what is real and what is fake!

9. Sherlock Holmes Museum

You see, but you don’t observe, John! Yes, exactly. To find the hidden gems in London, you will need to observe, but leave that to us! If you are a Sherlock fan, this hidden spot in London is for you. This lodging house on the famous Baker Street is now transformed into the house of the famous fictional character Sherlock Holmes and his dear friend John Watson. You will get to see the wax statues of all the characters of the book series written by the famous author Canon Doyle. 

10. Dennis Sever’s House

Wish to experience London in its truest form? Well, this hidden gem in London is a time capsule for you. It is an 18th-century house which is oddly lit in the OG manner. Using old and vintage lamps and candlelights, this spot will give you the true feeling of living in London in the 18th Century. The house contains ten rooms, creating ten enchanting pictures painted by the renowned artist Dennis Severs. 

Restaurants & Cafes: Hidden Gems in London

After exploring all the above-stated secret gems in London, you must be hungry! Let’s eat at the most unconventional and lesser-known cafes and some best restaurants in London. 

11. Ogam Korean Tapas Bar

Located in the Chapel Market, the food served here is lip-smacking, making it one of the best places to eat without facing a lot of waiting time, as it is a hidden gem in London. The place offers various Korean delicacies such as deep-fried dumplings, Korean Fried Chicken, and Kimchi Pancakes. The owner, being a champion in bartending, says the drinks served at the restaurants are just as good as the food.

12. The Indian Veg

Cannot get over the yummy curry flavours? Well, we have a place for you. This hidden gem in London is located in the Chapel Market and serves amazing and authentic Indian food, including veg curries, sides, starters, various types of bread and rice, and much more! You can dine in or just take your meal away if you are not up for a place as busy as Chapel Market.

13. Biscuiteers

Located in the Notting Hill area, this is one of the hidden spots in London. If you are looking for an instagrammable place to eat, this is one of the best cafes in London for you to explore. Given its beautiful black & white theme makes it go a bit retro. This makes it a cute cafe to stroll around in London when you want to visit an extremely aesthetic place. Apart from the ambience, this cafe in London also offers some of the best hand-iced biscuits that might make you feel bad for eating them.

14. Saint Aymes Cafe

Another instagrammable hidden gem in London is Saint Aymes Cafe, which you must visit at least once while you are on your spree to explore the hidden gems in London. This is a cosy little cafe nestled in the city, and most Instagrammers find it to be the best place to click pictures as they like the overall aesthetics of the place. They have some of the best and cutest unicorn cakes, which are also not on the expensive end, making it a worthwhile experience overall.

15. L'Occitane's Beauty Cafe

Another hidden gem in London is this beautiful & cute cafe, which offers elegantly lip-smacking drinks and dishes.  The cakes served here are to die for. The speciality of this cafe in London is that the food dishes or drinks served here contain health & beauty enhancing ingredients. It is also London’s most instagrammable cafe in London, which has collaborated with one of the top French beauty brands, L’occitane, in the first of its kind. You need to explore some amazing pubs in Cardiff while you are in London.

Secret Shopping Streets: Hidden Gems in London

Are you a shopaholic exploring the hidden gems in London? Well, then, we also have some of the top-secret shopping streets in London for you, so you can get the best of everything at comparatively low prices! Let’s dive in!

1. Camden Passage

This is a prime shopping location, and one of the hidden gems in London is situated within walking distance from the Angel station. If you are planning to spend your weekend, especially Saturday, here, make sure you have the extra bucks and extra credit cards in your wallet. The street has a never-ending collection of clothing and furniture items. Apart from this, you can also find some of the best cafes & restaurants in the same streets. The market boasts of vintage clothing, traditional British teapots, and crockery items. 

2. Merton Abbey Mills

Recreated or rebuilt from an originally known textile factory in the city, this is another hidden place in London that you must visit if you are a shopaholic like us! Located on the banks of the River Wandle, this market primarily consists of craft items and artefacts. You can also get pottery lessons here and learn how to work on the pottery wheels over the weekend. This should be a must-explore place on your list.

3. Lower Marsh Street

At a walking distance from Waterloo station, Lower Marsh Street is one of the hidden places to visit in London. It is just a few miles from Central London, yet it is not as explored as it deserves to be. It is a knitter heaven as the market has unlimited knitting supplies. Fashion lovers will love shopping here as they might hop upon some of the best vintage finds of their lives in this hidden market in London.

4. Columbia Road

If you are a flower person, this hidden gem in London is for you. Right on Columbia Road, the place offers a diverse range of flowers and has several flower boutiques to choose from. The market also has several gardening equipment to offer. You can also buy some vintage clothes from here, but the primary attraction in this market is the adorable little wooden-fronted shops selling aesthetically pleasing and vibrantly colourful flowers.

5. Brick Lane

Brick Lane is a bustling place over the weekend although it is still a hidden spot in London. Primarily catering to the fashion market, the street boasts of showrooms offering unique items created and worked on by independent fashion designers. The street also has numerous gift stalls. There are several shops offering vintage items, which are a great option for souvenirs and return gifts for your nosy relatives (just kidding)!

London's hidden gems are like secret passages into a city within a city. They add that extra layer of magic and excitement to your London adventure. So, whether you're chasing Sherlock Holmes' footsteps or sipping unicorn lattes, these hidden treasures are waiting to be discovered. Embrace the unexpected, explore the unconventional, and make your London journey unforgettable!