10 Unusual Things To Do In London This Weekend
Just a short train ride away, take the opportunity to transport yourself into the more unusual and eye opening side that the City has to offer with these suggestions – from comedy ghost bus tours to taking to the river in a hot tub!
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Go on a comedy Ghost Bus Tour
The UK’s “only comedy-horror theatre experience on wheels”, The Ghost Bus Tours’ Necrobus has been entertaining tourists for over a decade with daily tours not only in London, but Edinburgh and York too. Jump on board one of their classic 1960s Routemaster buses which have been lovingly restored. Your award-winning tour will be led by a classically-trained actor. They also offer Private Hires where you get the bus exclusively to yourself and can choose wherever you wish to tour.
They say “there is so much to unearth from the darkness that has lain in secrecy for all the ages. From royal executions to devious spirits trapped on the material plane (no spoilers!), the malignant glare of the Necrobus sees all” and “there is so much that will surprise you about the haunted history of London’s most famous and best loved tourist attractions”. London attractions you will see include The Houses of Parliament, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and The Tower of London. It departs from 8 Northumberland Avenue daily, outside the Grand Hotel, opposite the Sherlock Holmes Pub and the tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Visit https://www.theghostbustours.com/about/
Stay the night in a Zoo: ZSL London Zoo Lodges
In the heart of London Zoo, why not spend the night in one of The ZSL London Zoo Lodges inside the Land of the Lions exhibit, enjoy an exclusive tour, which all take place when the zoo is closed to the public. Wake to “the sounds of roaring lions, singing gibbons, honking flamingos, and neighbouring native wildlife”. Your stay – in one of the nine beautifully-decorated lodges – includes a complimentary drink upon arrival, two exclusive after-hours tours of the zoo at sunset and after-dark, one exclusive tour in the morning after breakfast, including a meet and greet with a keeper, overnight stay in a private lodge, a two-course dinner and buffet breakfast, free entry into ZSL London Zoo for two days either side of your night's stay (you are also welcome to visit ZSL Whipsnade Zoo on your second day), free car parking, 15% discount on the Meet the Animals experiences, and a 10% discount in the gift shop and restaurant.
• Visit https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/london-zoo-lodge
Take a London Loo Tour
The London Loo Tours are London's only walking tour company themed exclusively around the history of toilets and sanitation and offer “not the bog standard London experience”! A guide will take you on a tour of the history of the British public toilet and they say “you may never think about a simple visit to the lavatory the same way again”! The Original Loo Tour running from Waterloo to the West End taking one-and-a-half hours to two hours, runs on Thursdays and Sundays at 3pm. There is also The Bloomsbury Loo Tour: Public Health & The Flush Toilet which travels from Euston Square to Holburn, and The Fart Tour which journeys through Soho. They also accept private bookings.
• Visit lootours.com
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Take a hot tub boat ride down the Thames
Enjoy a luxurious hot tub experience combined with sailing your own boat, and don’t worry, no experience is necessary. The Skuna Hot Tub Boat is a completely bespoke electric, easy to self-drive, wood-fired hot tub that can accommodate up to seven people. The fresh water in the boats is changed after every trip to ensure the highest hygiene standards and is heated to 38°C! So sit back and relax whatever the weather on your 75-minute experience. You can also tour the docklands of Canary Wharf, hearing all about the area from Skuna’s experienced tour guides on their Hot Tun Boat Guided Tour.
• Visit https://www.skunaboats.com
Visit Leighton House
The former home and studio of the leading Victorian artist Frederic Lord Leighton, Leighton House museum offers the chance to step into a painter’s world. After the artist died in 1896 his entire collection of paintings, drawings, prints, engravings and ceramics was sold at auction and the house was left almost empty. Then in 1897 a committee was formed to compile a selection to be displayed in the house which is now the core of the collection. You can also get a joint ticket and visit the home and works of Victorian artist Linley Sambourne. You can also join one of their experts on a guided tour exploring Frederick’s home, life and work and stop off for some refreshments at De Morgan Café at Leighton House
• Visit https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/museums/
Explore Euston: The Lost Tunnels
For something that little bit different on a day out in London take a tour exploring a century of Euston station’s history, “from its humble beginnings on the corner of Melton and Drummond Streets, to its exciting future as the London terminus for the brand-new High Speed 2 (HS2) line up to the Midlands and beyond”. On your journey you will discover passageways once used by the public, a gallery of preserved vintage advertising poster fragments, and also see the iconic Leslie Green station. It is also the opportunity to learn about the newest innovations. The ticket also includes half price one-day entry to London Transport Museum (within a month of your tour date) and a 10% discount on all Hidden London-inspired products at the shop.
• Visit https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/hidden-london/euston
Head to the British Film Institute’s Mediatheque
BFI Mediatheque offers the chance to explore highlights from the world’s greatest film and TV archive in BFI Southbank’s free digital viewing space. You can view over 95,000 titles from the BFI National Archive. Take this opportunity to unearth rare TV, take a look at the dawn of cinema and journey back to the Victorian and Edwardian eras, rediscover classic feature films and explore Britain on film. You can also browse recent TV programmes and entertain the kids with animated gems!
• Visit https://www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-national-archive/visit-us-view-archive-material/bfi-mediatheque
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Take an open top bus to see things you'd never noticed before
Big Bus’ non-stop London sightseeing tour allows you to get close to the city’s most iconic landmarks and “soak up the city's atmosphere with ease where you can relax and enjoy fascinating facts about London's rich culture and dramatic history as you pass its famous landmarks and attractions”. Find out about the history of the Tower of London, take in the beauty of St. Paul's and see the detail of Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.
• Visit https://www.bigbustours.com/en/london/london-sightseeing-tours
Walk along the old London wall
In Tower Hill north of the Tower of London, you will find “one of the most substantial and impressive surviving sections of the London Wall”. The status symbol that in practical terms provided defence and security London was built around AD 200. It was once around two-and-a-half miles long, but has been adapted and obscured over time. Now following some of the buildings being removed, visitors to the site “can enjoy a clear view of the monument that defined both the size and shape of the city for over a millennium”. If you follow the London Wall Walk now it is about one-and-three-quarter miles long.
• Visit https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/london-wall/
Hop aboard a river boat
Soak up the beauty of the city and explore London while cruising along the river with Thames River Sightseeing – where you can enjoy the best views of the capital while relaxing on board their boats. With over 50 years’ experience, they operate a daily sightseeing river cruise service from Westminster Pier to Greenwich Pier calling at Embankment Pier, Festival Pier, Bankside Pier and Tower Bridge Quay. Attractions include the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Market, HMS Belfast, the Houses of Parliament, London Eye, OXO Tower, Royal Observatory, Shakespeare’s Globe, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard, Tower Bridge and more.
• Visit https://www.thamesriversightseeing.com
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