Hidden Gems in London: 6 things you didn’t know you can do

Think you’ve seen all of London? Discover 5 hidden gems in London that locals love – from riding at the front of the DLR to walking beneath the Thames and more unique experiences you never knew existed! Best of all – most of these are free!

For this portion of hidden gems, I am taking you to Greenwich. It’s a borough, based east of Central London. It would take you about half an hour to make your way from the City to Greenwich.

Visit The Maritime Museum

Founded in 1937 and with a collection of 2 million+ objects, The Maritime Museum is our first stop. I find that there is something for everyone in this museum – from glorious ships to cultural artifacts. Also, this museum is perfect if you are on a family holiday as there is a playground and many activities your littles ones will find fascinating. The Maritime Museum is free to enter and also has a coffee shop if you need some refreshments while there.

See the whole of London for free

I am taking you to the best photo spot in Greenwich – the top of the hill, next to the Observatory. Greenwich Park is a very beautiful place, I would advise you to visit whenever you are in London. However, the most popular place in it is the square around the Statue of General James Wolfe. From this spot, you can see Canary Wharf and the City of London. Yes, on a clear day, you can take photos of the Shard, the Walkie-Talkie building and the Gherkin.

Be east and west at the same time

Greenwich is where the earth splits in two. You can be east and west at the same time. Visit to the Royal Observatory will cost you £24 and there you can see the Prime Meridian. Sounds interesting? You can book here: https://gyg.me/s7tbYQuN

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Walk underneath the Thames

Yes, you can. Walking north of Greenwich Park, past the Cutty Sark, you can enter the footpath tunnel connecting south to north London. Just a short walk later, you will be in Tower Hamlets. Just be mindful that you may lose your phone signal – even police radios don’t work there. Cycling is forbidden in the tunnel, but there are lifts you can use if you need to push your bike across.

Sit at the driver’s seat of a train

Docklands Light Railway are driverless trains. Which means that you can sit at the front and enjoy the views. I think this is the best way to see Canary Wharf. I still remember my first ride in London. Seeing the skyscraper and all the creative architecture was mesmerising to me. You can get the DLR from Island Gardens to Canary Wharf and soak in the business district views from the first row.

Bonus:

Visit an underground shopping mall

Yes, Jubilee Place is a mall based under Canary Wharf’s business buildings. It has everything you need but it can get very busy during lunch time. In fact, the district has over 120 shops across 5 shopping malls, that include Jubilee Place, Canada Place and Cabot Place. Overground, you have plenty of choice for food and drink as well as an Amazon Prime store.