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!

Visit the Thames Tunnel at the Brunel Museum
In Rotherhithe, you can descend into part of the Thames Tunnel, a ground-breaking slice of engineering history. Here you can step down into the world’s first tunnel dug under a navigable river, built between 1824-1843. Today it’s part of the Brunel Museum and until 15......
The 20 Best Small Museums in London
London is home to an incredible selection of world-class museums but we’re also spoilt for choice with quirkier, small ones too. In no particular order, here is my selection of the 20 best small museums in London. How many have you visited?! 1. The Hunterian......
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.......
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
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...

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…

Hidden History of Golden Square
It might not have the immediate charm of Soho Square, but Golden Square has a fascinating history (and a good reason for its messy hodge-podge of architectural styles and ages). While walking through on a sunny afternoon I was struck by how many little details......
Inside Lambeth Palace Garden & Library
Lambeth Palace is the official London residence and office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. As well as medieval buildings and historic state rooms, it contains the oldest continually cultivated gardens in Central London. However, to be perfectly frank, it’s incredibly difficult to get a look......
History of Vauxhall Park
Vauxhall Park was opened in 1890 by the then Prince of Wales (later, King Edward VII) but its origin story takes us back to a remarkable couple in the mid 1880s. In 1875 Millicent Garret Fawcett and Henry Fawcett rented 51 South Lambeth Road. The......
The Surprising History of Queen Anne’s Alcove
Within Kensington Garden’s Italian Gardens you can find the monumental Queen Anne’s Alcove. Not only was it designed by Christopher Wren but it has a surprising history! The Italian Gardens were laid out around 1860, spearheaded by Prince Albert. They followed a similar plan for......
The History of Bunhill Fields
Today Bunhill Fields is a wonderful slice of calm alongside the busy Old Street roundabout. But its history is macabre, curious and full of surprises. History of Bunhill Fields Its name is a derivation of bone hill, literally where cartloads of bones from St Paul’s......
History of Morden Hall Park
At the end of the Northern Line, Morden is hiding one of South London's loveliest green spaces! Here's the history of Morden Hall Park......

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)…

Behind the Glass at the Cabinet War Rooms
Come with me on a special private tour behind the Glass at the Cabinet War Rooms to visit a time capsule from the Second World War......
Climb the Dome at the Old Royal Naval College
There's a new tour you can take in Greenwich! Here's what it's like to climb the dome at the Old Royal Naval College....
Visit Buckingham Palace | Special Coronation Exhibition
Last week I was invited to a preview of the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace. As you probably know, it’s the official London residence of the King and typically members of the public can book to see inside the State Rooms each summer. As this......
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......
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!...