A few lesser-known and often quieter spots for you to discover
So, you’ve visited several of London’s iconic landmarks and beautiful parks and now you fancy searching out something a little different. Hopefully you’ve already taken a peek at my first post, Curious places to visit in London.
There are so many hidden gems in London that I decided to share with you some more of the quirky bits that I love about England’s capital.
Gary and I worked in London for many years and so often to dodge the crowds or just change our route, we end up taking a short cut through lanes you’ve never really considered before. This is when you find that little piece of London that still amazes you.
![The Pin image for our post - 'More curious places to visit in London'](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/More-curious-places-to-visit-in-London-Pin6.jpg)
The more curious list
![A view of the Tudor buildings that stand at the edge of Charterhouse square.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-view-from-Charterhouse-Square-Clerkenwell-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
This is a fascinating area to take in, not only does it still have the remains of the original Clerk’s Well that dates from the Middle Ages.
It has the historic Charterhouse erected in 1348, St John’s Gate and also home to what is known as London’s ‘Little Italy’.
![The facade to Saint Peter's Italian church in Clerkenwell. Easily overlooked, this church continues to serve the region's Italian community.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/St.-Peters-Italian-Church-Clerkenwell-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Free to visit
![A blue plaque on the wall of a building to sir John Betjeman poet laureate.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Sir-John-Betjeman-the-Poet-Laureate-–-Blue-Plaque-Smithfield-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
We have a little book on our shelves that we sometimes delve into when we're about to hit an area of London.
Packed full of historical facts, and broken down into the different regions of London, it's a great resource to help you see what's hidden in plain sight.
Available in Kindle & Hardback editions, it's an excellent addition to anyone's collection who loves London.
![A cobbled street leading to a gateway at the end of middle temple lane in one of London's legal districts.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Strolling-Middle-Temple-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
![An original gas lantern hanging in front of a stone entrance to a building in middle temple identified as number one temple gardens.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/A-gas-lamp-in-Temple-Gardens-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
![The round end of the ancient Temple Church](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Temple-Church-historic-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
When to visit?
If you’re looking to escape the sometimes-frenetic goings-on the in ‘The City’ (London's financial district) search out this little hideaway along St Dunstan’s Hill.
St Dunstan-in-the-East church and churchyard have been transformed into a beautiful open-air city garden.
![The war torn shell of a histroic church in London, with a Christopher Wren designed spire now houses a tranquil garden for all to enjoy.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/St-Dunstans-in-the-East-City-of-London-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-Pin5.jpg)
![View through the window of a derelict church to the Shard skyscraper in the City of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Through-the-window-St-Dunstan-in-the-East-city-of-london-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
The Church of St Dunstan was originally built around 1100. The shell of the church and some of the inner walls survived the Great Fire of London in 1666, which started just a few streets away.
Today in this little oasis, the creeping branches weave their own path through the ancient windows and stretch out to the wide-open skies beyond.
If you've yet to discover London and its ancient history, then let's start planning. I find these DK Eyewitness Travel Guides invaluable. They're extremely informative, easy to follow, and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more of those fascinating sites.
You can now grab a recently revised copy of this guidebook, so you won't miss a thing.
![A bustling Leadenhall Market, close to Bank Station, at a weekday lunchtime.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Leadenhall-Market-Bank-Station-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Imagine it, you’ve just walked past skyscrapers, high-end stores dodged a courier cyclist on a mission of self-destruct. You turn a corner and Leadenhall stands before you.
The 14th -century arcades are magnificent, it’s great to see them bustling with local office workers, however at the weekend the streets empty and you almost have it to yourselves.
![The column at the centre of Seven dials. A junction where seven roads meet. Don't count the dials at the top of the column as you will notice there are only 6.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Seven-Dials-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Admittedly a roundabout may not sound too appealing; however, since its design during the late 1600s, it has become quite a gathering point over the centuries.
Its centrepiece is a Doric column, and for the eagle-eyed, you may spot only has six sundials at the top of it. The road plans changed from six to seven after the column was built.
Where to stay in London
If you want to stay in the heart of the financial district then why not choose the Leonardo Royal London St Paul’s (formerly Grange St. Paul’s), as we did? A short hop from the magnificent cathedral.
There are plenty of other choices, why not check out Booking.com for something that suits your requirements?
![The small courtyard that is Neal’s Yard. These former warehouse buildings are now filled with cafes, artisan bakeries, and of course Neal’s Yard Remedies](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Neals-Yard-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
As you inquisitively step further down the alley, it opens out into a vibrant courtyard full of restored warehouses, which as recently as the 1970s was derelict.
Today this yard is bustling with coffee shops, bakers, bars and the well-known Neal’s Yard Remedies store.
Our Tip!
Or not as the case may be. As there is a weird fact about the street names in the financial City of London, and that’s none of them include the word ‘Road’.
Go take a look for yourself, if they don’t end in words like ‘Alley’, ‘Passage’ or ‘Yard’, they have even more bizarre names.
![A street sign for the street known as Little Britain on a column on the corner with West Smithfield.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Little-Britain-streets-of-london-places-near-st-pauls-station-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
![A street sign to Passing Alley. One of those quirky little roots you'll come across as you discover more of London](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Passing-Alley-Clerkenwell-curious-and-quirky-london-hidden-london-walking-tours-of-london-what-to-see-london-V5.jpg)
Often there is a historical back story to these. A few of the ones I find fascinating are Little Britain, Poultry, Huggin Hill, Puddle Dock & Savage Gardens.
There are so many more with a fascinating past in this ancient city.
Let us know
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