Visiting London doesn’t need to mean a poorly positioned photo under Big Ben, or dodging shoppers, buskers and flailing bags while you slalom through Oxford Street. It needn’t mean cursory glances at Tate Modern exhibitions you don’t understand or splashing a week’s wages on a coarse tin of IPA. Better than clinging to the cliches is to truly explore, to discover secret locations that not even the locals know of. From ancient pergolas to Spanish gardens, there are so many things to see and do just one step off the New Balance-beaten path. So, here are some IDEAL alternative activity ideas for the next time you’re in London.
Go to a Soft-Launch
There is always something opening somewhere in London, which is why there’s always a soft-launch to be attended (and free drinks to be quaffed). A soft-launch is a bit like a dress rehearsal, it gives new restaurants and bars the chance to iron out any kinks in their service and proposition before it opens to the public proper. It’s the ideal way to sample high-end food at cut-price deals – some restaurants offer as much as 50% off the bill, simply in exchange for some (admittedly useful) feedback. We love the website hotdinners.com where you can find regular updates of the latest soft-launches in London.
Visit a Popup
Just as London has new restaurants, it also has pop-ups, popping up all over the shop. These are entirely different beasts to soft launches in the sense that they are temporary, and as such have that ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ quality. With this free-wheeling attitude in mind, they can be crazier and more unique than their competitors. If you fancy the chance of discovering the next big thing (and the bragging rights associated with that) then this is your chance. Popups include everything from food, to bars, to art, to stores; something for everyone, indeed.
Shop A Kilo Sale
London is just one big fashion house. It’s one of the top four cities for Fashion Week, and hosts many of the biggest brand’s exclusive shows on a regular basis. Londoners also like to think they know a thing or two about dressing suavely. These two peaks point to an unlikely source of excellent threads and finds; the charity shop. It may seem a bold claim, but London’s charity shops are brimming with great clothes. When you have fickle citizens and rapidly changing styles, stuff gets thrown out with regularity, and charity shops reap the benefit. Go figure.
For those who want to go on a shopping spree for unique items, there is no better place to go than a kilo sale. You can usually buy your weight in vintage clobber at these retro shopping fairs and pay as little as £15 for 1kg of clothes – what’s not to like?
Go Vintage Shopping
If there isn’t a kilo sale on, then do the next best thing – go vintage shopping. London is a treasure trove of vintage outlets where you can find carefully curated second-hand garments that don’t cost the earth.
Beyond Retro in Dalston is an all time favourite of IDEAL. With vaulted ceilings and an enormous open floor plan, the space which was once a former factory is now a chic vintage hangout where you can peruse racks of handpicked retro clothing. Other’s on our hitlist include the East End Thrift Store, Absolute Vintage and Leftovers.
See Art in London’s Smaller Galleries
There are some truly incredible installations out there in the capital, so look beyond the big museums like the National Portrait Gallery or the V&A, and delve a little deeper. If you want to see contemporary art, then you’re in the right place. Check ahead of time at what’s on; galleries like the Victoria Miro, which showcased the legendary Yayoi Kusama, are often up to something inventive and original.
The House of Dreams in East Dulwich is a must-visit. Artist Stephen Wright is in the process of covering every surface inside and out of the house with found objects, like false teeth, old disabled dolls and bottle tops – another man’s trash is another man’s treasure after all.
There is art for everyone in London, and many of these exhibitions are free. Double win!
Go on an Alternative Street Art Tour
Speaking of art, go on a unique street art tour in the heart of the East End where you’ll learn about London’s incredible graffiti and street art scene. Afterwards, spend the day hanging out in this area. In and around Shoreditch is home to some of the best street art, most vibrant murals and best cafes, bars and galleries that London has to offer.
Play in a Groovy Bingo Hall
Not just for old grannies, Palace Bingo in Elephant and Castle is a London institution that not many people know about. In a huge retro room with psychedelic carpet and seating for up to 2000, you can imbibe cheap bottles of beer alongside huge portions of curried-goat from the canteen, then win some money – an ideal night out.
Visit God’s Own Junkyard
God’s Own junkyard is the place where neon goes to never die. Open at weekends, this eclectic collection of neon signs is a must visit for an alternative weekend in London. Here, Chris Bracy – otherwise known as the Neon Man – showcases his iconic collection of art pieces. This junkyard of effervescent signs includes old movie props that have been salvaged, neon art made from found objects and so much more. On site is the Rolling Scones cafe which offers freshly baked delights and a fully licensed bar.
Go to a Member’s Club
London at night offers more entertainment options than pretty much any other city on the planet – you’re absolutely spoilt for choice in the capital. If you’re looking for something a bit different to the conventional night out followed by hundreds of thousands of Londoners – and something, simply, higher-class – then consider a Member’s Club. These higher-end joints bring it all in terms of venue, luxury, and fun, and have that exclusive feel that your local Young’s just can’t match.
Kayak Down the Thames
If someone told you to Kayak down the Thames as part of an alternative sightseeing tour, you’d probably think they were mad. Well we’re telling you to Kayak down the Thames in a bovine boat – cue joke on mad cow disease, maybe. Based in Hackney, Moo Canoes offer tandem style kayaks which you can hire to explore the beautiful canals and waterways of London – one of the most underrated attractions of London.
