Top 10 alternative sightseeing trips in London
With Semester 1 now finished you should be able to tick off a fairly high proportion of ‘classic’ London tourist attractions (London Eye, tick. Buckingham Palace, tick, Big Ben, tick…). However don’t let yourself get complacent about learning about this amazing city we call home. There’s plenty to explore and learn- even for those who have lived here all their lives!
1. Catch a waterbus... and set sail down the river from Camden Lock to Little Venice on a traditional canal narrow boat and learn about the history you can see around you with an onboard tour guide.
2. You probably never knew than an inner city park like Battersea Park could have so much variety and hidden secrets. Situated just a couple of miles south of Marble Arch, Battersea Park is considered by many as the most interesting of all the London Parks.
3. Don your mac and sharpen your wits for this interactive East-End Explorer treasure hunt around two of the most exciting Olympic boroughs, based on a set of clues which you have to solve. Starting within sight of the Olympic stadium, you will follow a trail of clues through the industrial warehouses of Hackney Wick and the surrounding open spaces to some of the area's most exciting and quirky venues. The "treasure" is the places you discover en route. If you fancy another trail, Hidden City offers a varity of adventures including a ‘bright lights evening trail’ and a ‘shoreditch art trail’ amongst others.
4. Columbia Road Flower Market on a Sunday transforms the street into an oasis of foliage and flowers. Everything from bedding plants to 10-foot bananas trees are up for grabs. The air is intense with the scent of flowers and the chat of the barrow boys “everything a fiver”. A lot of the flower sellers grow their own plants.
5. Climb an icon and see London from the top of the world from Up the 02. Enjoy the spectacular 360 degree views of London from the viewing platform at the centre of the roof, before finishing with a thrilling decent back to the base to complete your adventure.
6. The Seven Noses of Soho are dotted around the Soho area. Guided by a fully qualified City of Westminster Guide you will also be seeing some great architecture, hearing about the history of the area and walking in the footsteps of Mozart, Marx and Jimi Hendrix, through some of Soho’s finest and most atmospheric streets. Along the way you will learn about the creation of the noses and the myths surrounding them. To top it all there is even a bonus ear!
7. Alternative London East End Street Art Tour was established to showcase East London's incredible creativity whilst giving insights into important historical and cultural events that have made the area what it is today.
8. Explore The Harry Potter Film Locations in the city with London Walking Tours! If you don’t fancy this, the company also offers a series of other walks including ‘London Ghost Walk’ and ‘Hidden London’.
9. For a really different way to see London, treat yourself to dinner at Kensington Roof Top Garden. Enjoy the beautiful views whilst strolling in the the magnificent gardens complete with ducks!
10. Don't forget to pack your life jacket and enjoy a paddle down the sunny Thames in London in a kayak with Kayaking London. It’s a wonderful way to see the sights of the city.
Not quite a kayak, but maybe something to aspire to...
