London has plenty of hidden gems (those places that are really special and off the beaten track) for you to discover if someone tells you about them. Here’s your scoop on 10 great and quirky London attractions.
Bank of England Museum
Can you lift a bar of gold? You can try it at the Bank of England Museum! It weighs 13 kg and you can reach into a hole in a cupboard and lift the bar. There is no chance of stealing it, but it may be the only time you touch something so densely valuable.
House of Dennis Severs
Dennis Severs’s home in Spitalfields is not a museum, but a private home that opens to the public like a time capsule from London’s past.
American Dennis Severs lived here, without electricity and other conveniences, while also creating a Huguenot silk weaver home for Mr. Isaac Jervis, his family and descendants.
The Jervis family is imaginary, but the attention to detail here is incredible, although don’t be misled into thinking that historical accuracy was the driving force behind this project.
Guards museum
This fascinating museum opened in 1988 and tells the story of the five Footguard Regiments of the Household Division. These are the Guards who protect the Queen and perform the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace on a daily basis.
You can dress in a guards robe and bearskin cap and have your photo taken as a souvenir. For a small fee, they print the photo and give you a certificate to take home. A military tailor modified the robes to sizes for children, who simply work in the museum, making them the true uniform of the guards. Where else can you do that?
Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Amphitheater
The Gallery was established in 1885 to house and display paintings and sculptures belonging to the London Corporation. The collection includes portraits from the 16th century to the present, as well as views of London from the 17th century.
The Roman London Amphitheater was discovered in 1999 and is located under the Guildhall Art Gallery. The amphitheater was used to entertain soldiers and the public with animal fights and public execution of criminals, as well as religious activities.
Courtauld Gallery
The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House is an impressive 18th century neoclassical palace. The art collection features works from the 14th century to the present day.
The Courtauld is best known for his Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, which include works by Monet, van Gogh, and Cezanne.
Interior space
Inner Space is a meditation and self-development center in Covent Garden in central London. After visiting the bookstore, try the free quiet room where you can relax and unwind. What an oasis of calm in such a busy city!
Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection afternoon tea is famous, but there is also a national museum displaying works of art collected in the 18th and 19th centuries by the first four Marquis of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the fourth Marquis.
It was bequeathed to the nation by Sir Richard’s widow, Lady Wallace, in 1897. Paintings include The Laughing Cavalier by Hals and works of art by Titian, Rembrandt, and Velázquez, as well as medieval and Renaissance objects and a variety of weapons and armor. British.
Museo de Sir John Soane
Sir John Soane was an architect and avid collector of antiques and art. Expect to be wowed by the building itself, as well as the exhibits, including the sarcophagus of Seti I in the crypt and the Hogarth paintings in the picture gallery. An absolute treasure and well worth a visit.
Gresham College Free Public Lectures
Gresham College does not have students, nor does it teach courses. It is an educational institution of higher education that exists to provide free public lectures. There are many free things to do in London.
The conferences span topics from art and literature to science and math and have been running for more than 400 years.
Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy
Entering the Grant Museum is like entering a laboratory with all the sample jars, glass cabinets, and skeletons. But what’s really cool is that you can be there!
It is not very big so wait only an hour for a visit. You’ll see some strange things including a dugong skeleton (now extinct), an elephant bird egg (also now extinct), and a mammoth tusk that is at least 12,000 years old.
