If you are tyred of busy London's landmarks and are looking for something unique and more down to the ground with more chilled pace of life, check out our top-5 areas of the Capital that quite often get missed by the international tourists.
London's most underrated tourist areas:
- London Bridge and Southbank
- Camden town
- Angel
- Park Royal
- Shoreditch
London Bridge
The iconic London Bridge often mixed with Tower Bridge is one of London’s main nerves. There is so much to it with great transport links, Borough Market, riverside restaurants and the Tower bridge, of course.
Getting to London Bridge
London Bridge station is one of the city’s main transport hubs and one of London’s busiest terminals. London Bridge tube underground station is served by both the Northern Line and the Jubilee, with direct tubes to spots like Bond Street, Canary Wharf Hampstead and more.
London Bridge station will also get you to many places across the country, like Brighton, with unparalleled ease - not to mention other London hubs like Charing Cross, Waterloo and more. When it comes to busses, you’ll never be caught short either; no matter what time of the night you’re travelling.
Things to do in London Bridge
London Bridge is packed full of amazing opportunities for your weekends and evenings. One of the most fun places to wander for an afternoon is Borough Market. Packed full of independent street food stalls, fruit and veg merchants and little bars and cafes, it’ll satisfy even the most jaded of tastebuds. It’s also a fabulous place to take photographs.
If it’s all-out razzle dazzle you seek, then head to The Shard for some of the most breathtaking views in the city for the observation platform of this incredible 95-storey construction. No matter if you’re there for drinks, a sumptuous meal, or just to look at the city lights, it definitely won’t disappoint.
Just a short walk away from London Bridge station is The London Bridge Experience, which was formally known as The London Dungeon and the best place in the city to learn about its dark history, with the aid of actors in full costume dress and plenty of fake blood!
Eating out in London Bridge
London Bridge’s restaurant scene will leave you truly spoilt for choice. It’s also a great area to eat in if friends are visiting from out of town, offering a wealth of delights within close proximity to the station. Boro Bistro is worth checking out for refined yet casual French dining that won’t break the bank yet leave you pleasantly fulfilled and ready for a night out.
Lobos Meat & Tapas is a local favourite and definitely worth visiting for tender, juicy meats as well as an extensive wine list since its opening in 2015.
Continuing on the theme of mouthwatering meats, Hawksmoor has become a household name, serving phenomenal grilled meats and is a serious contender one of the best steaks in London. Hawksmoor Borough even has a private dining room for up to 18 people.
Camden
If there’s a storied location in London, it’s Camden. Located just between the city’s bustling arteries and tranquil North London, you’ll find the best of both worlds right on your doorstep. Not only does the area have an incredibly rich cultural history - from music to art right through to literature, but it’s also a great place for working professionals…as well as a smattering of celebrities.
So, if you’d like to call Camden a holiday home or a city break destination, it’s well worth a read of our handy little guide on the plethora of amazing things to do and see there.
Getting to Camden
Camden’s tube connections are top notch. It is connected to the rest of the city viand one but two Northern Line links, just a stone’s throw from King’s Cross. There’s also an Overground station located at nearby Camden Road. Plus, the area’s bus connections are prolific, offering day and night connections to the entire city. And if all of that sounds a little too hectic, you can just take a stroll to King’s Cross and escape to France for the weekend!
Things to do in Camden
Camden Lock is the area’s crown jewel when it comes to fun ways to spend a day. The market is home to artists, designers, fashion stalls, jewellery, trinkets and much more. It also plays host to over 150,000 wandering visitors every single week, making it one of the most visited places in the city!
If the thronging crowds around the lock don’t sound like your idea of an enlightening afternoon, then why not head to Camden’s Jewish Museum? Not only does it hold fascinating revolving exhibitions, but it’s home to a vast collection of permanent objects and literature, documenting both the Holocaust and the Jewish community’s presence in England.
You’ll also be extremely excited to hear that London Zoo is just a short stroll away! When it comes to afternoons out with the children, this is one London attraction that takes some beating1 They also hold “Zoo Lates” events in the summer, where you can visit the zoo at night, combined with drinks and a street food fiesta!
Eating out in Camden
Camden’s restaurant scene is five star. No matter where you wander, you’ll find plenty to choose from. Q Grill is where to go for some seriously flame-grilled meats. Everything is cooked in a charcoal pit on site and accompanied by fresh, zingy seasonal salads. Bliss.
If you’d like to grab a quick bite that’s sure to fill you up, then why not head to Poppies. The second location of this extremely popular retro fish ’n chip shop with its cinema-style bucket seats even has a jukebox. Oh, and they also play host to live music on a Friday and Saturday.
Hache is where to go for a phenomenal burger. Although the menu may look standard, the interior with its seductive dark woods is anything but. And when you taste your chosen meat-and-bun combo, you’ll soon make this place a regular stop off!
Angel
Angel is one borough in London that offers everything thanks to its chic vibe and central location. A short walk (seriously) from King’s Cross, Angel’s location couldn’t get any better. Or could it? This area of London is mercifully free of the thronging tourist crowds and packed full of funky shops, great bars and restaurants, and even the iconic antiques market every weekend, suited on Upper Street that’s perfect for a casual peruse before stopping for lunch.
Getting to Angel Station
Angle station sits midway on the Northern line. It’s also just a little amble by foot away from Highbury and Islington station on the Victoria line as well as Essex Road overground station. There are also a myriad of bus routes, not least the number 19 which runs from Battersea right through Central London.
When heading to Angel from Camden, you can just walk down the canal! This is a lovely thing to do in the summertime and there are plenty of little cafes and outdoor restaurants on the way to stop for a beer when you need to cool down.
Things to do in Angel
Angel’s highs aren’t just its restaurants. The renowned Almeida Theatre is also here and one of the best places in London to catch theatre shows before the pack up and head to the West End. There are also always plenty of posters and flyers around advertising productions, so don’t worry about frantically trying to get up to date with listings.
Union Chapel is also well worth checking out. This incredible gothic church with its towering ceilings hosts regular gigs and events - from big bands and gospel choirs to cinema. They even run a drop-in centre and work regularly with London’s homeless.
Screen on the Green is also a great place to go for iconic movies you may have missed on the big screen the first time around as well as new blockbusters. The best part is that the bar is in the same room as the cinema!
Where do I eat in Angel area?
Angel's bars and restaurants are packed into a small area of town that’s really easy to navigate on foot, meaning you won’t have to worry about Googling where to eat first and ending up with a rumbling tummy.
Brunch at Galley is always a big hit and serves a delectable selection of seafood dishes as well as bottomless brunches, smoked salmon and halloumi fries - all for an extremely agreeable £26. If you’re a lover of freshly baked bread, then Euphorium Bakery should sit high on your list of places to visit. Oh, and the sofas are extra comfy, too.
Ottolenghi is also loved in Angel and whilst it may set you back a few pounds, there’s a reason it’s come to be one of the most celebrated restaurants in London. Or, you could simply take a walk down Upper Street and check out the cornucopia of eateries like Fig & Olive for European cuisine at great prices, Thyme & Lemon for cocktails and sharing tapas, or the decadent Comedor for Argentinian steak and red wine.
Things to drink in Angel
Slim Jim’s Liquor Store is a great bit of fun for your Friday, just be sure you don’t knock your head on the ceiling full of hanging bras. A little stroll away is Hoxley & Porter that serves a heady mix of West Indian cocktails in a sleek, palm-tree adorned setting. Local favourite Vivo boasts an epic roofgarden that’s just the ticket for summer. Or, if you’d like to get things jumping, we heartily recommend The Old Queen’s Head on Essex road, replete with mile-long queues, karaoke, hip hop themed nights and more.
Park Royal
London’s Park Royal neighbourhood, sat between Ealing and Wembley is a wonderfully diverse area when it comes to accommodation as well as communities. With a ton of both ultra-modern new builds to choose from as well as period homes, it’s becoming an extremely popular part of London thanks to excellent transport links towards central London.
Planning a short break in London? You could well be in for a pleasant surprise, as it’s still a part of the city which continues to be good value for money, attracting a mixture of young visitors as well as working professionals. Plus, there’s plenty to do here over your weekends - particularly in nearby Ealing.
Getting to Park Royal
Served by the Piccadilly Line, Park Royal station offers a direct connection to Heathrow Airport as well as central London via Holborn and Covent Garden, meaning you’ll be able to get into town as well as get away for the weekend whenever you fancy.
Other stations close to the Park Royal area are Hanger Lane, served by the Central Line as well as Stonebridge Park station on the Bakerloo. It’s also in close proximity to the A40 which provides a fast transport link to Oxfordshire as well as other parts of the country.
Things to do
Nearby Wembley Stadium is one of the area’s biggest attractions and the only place in London to see international football teams, the NFL and other major sporting events as well as headliner gigs from famous artists. You can also take a tour of Wembley stadium when it’s not in use.
If you’d like a chilled weekend of fun, then you can also visit Pitch & Putt for a little golf in a relaxed setting. Nearby Ealing is also packed full of little eateries, bars and boutiques and is the perfect place for a casual stroll or when meeting friends.
Things to eat
There’s plenty to eat in this little corner of northwest London, with restaurants as diverse as Park Royal’s communities. Sample some stunning West African cuisine at Jollof Mama with its relaxed and inviting atmosphere and authentic Nigerian cuisine like peppered oxtail and curried goat.
For something hearty and warming, check out The Location for juicy burgers, onion rings and homemade wraps that are guaranteed to leave you grinning from ear to ear.
To further explore the diverse culinary offerings of Park Royal, head to the Bamboo Lounge and enjoy a wide selection of Middle Eastern small plates as well as killer cocktails. They also have shisha pipes for when you’ve finished your meal, too!
Shoreditch
Shoreditch may not be London’s most “hidden” gem in popular travel guides it is however on our list, and that’s for a reason. If you love it arty, gritty, and full of life, then this is somewhere worth checking out.
It may have been gentrified throughout the years, but it’s still immensely popular thanks to its central location and all-day-all-night buzz.
Getting to Shoreditch
Shoreditch is nothing if not well connected. The best way to get there is on the Overground to Shoreditch High Street station. But it’s also just a quick stroll from many other tube lines.
Liverpool Street is a meagre five minutes walk from most places you’re likely to find yourself hanging out. From here, you’ll be able to grab a Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith and City or Central line tube anywhere! Oh, and thanks to Liverpool Street Station’s gargantuan rail connections, the rest of the country will be a breeze, too.
You could even take a walk through London’s financial city centre with its towering office blocks and find yourself at London Bridge station in just under thirty minutes. Doesn’t sound bad, does it?
Things to do in Shoreditch
If you’re an urban art lover, then this is the place for you. Shoreditch’s walls are covered in murals that are great for your Instagram posts. There’s even a handy list to help you prioritise what you’d like to see.
The vintage shops, bars and eateries of Brick Lane should be number one on your list. If it’s vintage clothing you crave, then head to Hunky Dory or Rokit. Or if you want to nab a bargain, Brick Lane Market is the place to go.
If shopping really isn’t your thing and you’d prefer a little cerebral stimulation, then head on down to Rich Mix. It’s the area’s cultural hub and cinema and hosts everything from indie movie screenings to gigs, spoken word events, exhibitions and workshops.
Provided you get up early to avoid the thronging crowds, Columbia Road Flower Market is a fabulous place to visit at the weekend and grab a few plants for your hip new place - or simply to take in the smells and colours. Pro tip: if you get their late in the day when everyone is nearly done trading, you’ll also be able to bag a few bargains!
Things to eat in Shoreditch
I mean…what exactly are you looking for? Because Shoreditch has it all..
You could opt for brunch at Dirty Bones and sink some chicken and waffles drenched in maple syrup. They even offer bottomless brunch cocktails, putting you on perfect footing for a summer’s day out and about.
No matter what time of the day (yes, really), Brick Lane’s iconic Beigel Bake is open 24hrs and has been serving customers for generations. Don’t expect a culinary masterpiece here, but definitely try a hot salt beef and mustard bagel after (or before!) a long night.
If you’re a street food fanatic then head to Dinerama. Located right on Shoreditch High Street it’s packed full of eateries that serve everything from doughnuts to Korean dumplings, jerk chicken and more. Or, you could even take a short stroll to Boxpark for a fun Friday night or a chilled Tuesday.
For a night of fine dining that sits apart from the rest, you’ve definitely got to pay a visit to The Clove Club. Located inside Shoreditch town hall, it’t not that easy on your wallet, but it does promise elegant British dishes prepare by highly-rated chefs in an unprecedented setting.
Things to drink in Shoreditch
Nightlife is where Shoreditch really comes into its own. At Nightjar you can work your way through their elegant cocktail list whilst listening to jazz. At Callooh Callay you can do the same, just with a slightly buzzier vibe.
On summer nights when the rain stays away, check out the amazing rooftop and even more amazing views at Boundary. It’s even a great place to visit for lunch, or when it’s a little chillier, thanks to their outdoor heaters and blankets.
If all of this sounds a little tame and you want to hit a dance floor, then some of East London’s most iconic venues like Cargo and XOYO are also just a short stumble away from whichever bar you’ve chosen to get the evening going in. Both often host big named DJs and boast a warehouse vibe for a big night out that you’ll struggle to remember come the morning.