There’s a saying (very over-quoted by London enthusiasts – sorry!) from Dr Samuel Johnson that “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” I’m hoping, with the ideas listed below, that you’ll continue to be inspired – not tired – by this city. So whether it’s a visit a quirky museum, trip to a green oasis or ticking off a must-do attraction you haven’t done yet, here’s the best selection of things to do in London.

Quirky museums

One of the best things about London is the world class, free museums and galleries. But there are also loads of less well-known, unusual museums to be explored too!

  • Hunterian Museum, London | Look Up London

    Visit The Hunterian Museum

    The Hunterian Museum, one of London’s best niche museums, reopened last week. Sat within the Royal College of Surgeons on Lincoln’s Inn Fields, it charts the development of surgery and pursuit of medical knowledge through the centuries. If that sounds a bit dry, think again.......

  • Young V&A, Bethnal Green | Look Up London

    History of the Young V&A, Bethnal Green

    The Young V&A (formerly the Museum of Childhood) in Bethnal Green isn’t just a fabulous museum, its building also has a fascinating history to tell. Travelling back 350 years or so, Bethnal Green was a popular suburb for London’s upper classes. There were some large......

  • Sambourne House | A Victorian Time Capsule

    Sambourne House | A Victorian Time Capsule

    I was recently invited to a preview of Sambourne House, the family home of Linley Sambourne. You can find it at 18 Stafford Terrace and by stepping inside you enter a Victorian Time Capsule. Meet Linley Sambourne Edward Linley Sambourne (1844-1910) was an illustrator and......

  • History of Eltham Palace | Greenwich’s Other Royal Palace

    Eltham Palace is a bit of a mad place, full to bursting with strange juxtapositions and quirky details. Here are some of my favourite discoveries from a recent visit...

  • Kings Observatory

    London’s Other Royal Observatory

    You've probably heard of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, but there's also the King's Observatory in Richmond. Join me for a look around......

  • London Clown Museum

    London’s Clown Museum | Trinity Church, Dalston

    Dalston is host to one of the strangest – and smallest – collections; The Clown Museum in Trinity Church. If you're a coulrophobe, look away now......

Outdoors / Nature

I confess to being a proud urbanite, in fact the countryside makes me nervous. However, in London we’re luck to have an array of green, peaceful places to explore. Here are some my favourites…

The Classics

Sometimes, as Londoners, we don’t make the most of what’s on our doorstep because it’s ‘touristy’. Nonsense to that. Why let tourists get all the good stuff?! Here’s are the top spots that are worth visiting (as viewed by a Londoner)…

  • The Old St Paul's Chapter House | Look Up London

    Lost London: The Old St Paul’s Chapter House

    As a tour guide, you tend to try and focus on what you can actually see around London. So this week’s blog is a little odd in that it’s all about something that no longer exists. Happily though, there are clues which aid our imagination.......

  • Discover the West End’s Royal Warrant Holders

    In celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, I’m working with Art of London to put together a special ‘Royal Warrants’ tour of historic businesses with Royal connections in the West End. Art of London brings together the UK’s biggest cultural institutions and showcases art in......

  • The Library (c) Westminster Abbey London

    Go Behind the Scenes at Westminster Abbey

    I often give private tours in Westminster Abbey, but this was a real treat to go to the areas not usually accessible!...

  • The Garden at Buckingham Palace | Look Up London

    Explore The Garden at Buckingham Palace

    Peer over the walls and explore some of the history in The Garden at Buckingham Palace......

  • Buxton Memorial | Look Up London

    A Closer Look at the Buxton Memorial

    The story behind the Buxton Memorial, the jewel-like gem in Westminster that celebrates the abolition of slavery....

  • A Closer Look At Buckingham Palace Gates

    Despite being one of London's most iconic buildings, most people don't actually look at the details surrounding Buckingham Palace......

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