Secret London - An Unusual Guide (Jonglez Guides)

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Like the fact that there’s been a market here since the 14th century. At first it was just for butchers and fishmongers (both long gone) before it became one of London’s most important markets. That means you can go and enjoy the delicious street food and *cough cough* boozy drinks in the golden main hall in a relatively crowd-free setting – or at least without the hoards that you’d expect elsewhere. In the West Cemetery, Victorian fascination with the Egyptians resulted in the stunning Egyptian Avenue, as well as numerous impressive tombs. Meanwhile, the equally impressive Lebanon Circle has appeared in many a ‘gram over the years. Plus, don’t miss a visit to the celeb graves of literary heroes George Eliot and Douglas Adams as well as Karl Marx too. 11. Class it up with a spot of afternoon tea Okay, okay. It’s one of The City’s many mediaeval churches, named after Saint Dunstan (don’t know your saints? He’s the one who defeated the devil by holding him in the face with a pair of tongs…as you do). Underneath the behemoth that is Waterloo Station, in the bowels of the maze of arches that crisscross below the ground, you’ll find another of London’s cool spots – Leake Street Tunnel.

Red Lion Square - This small public square has a very intriguing history. It has been the scene of a pitched battle and may also be the final resting place of Oliver Cromwell. Nestled at the top of a (rather steep) woodland-covered hill, once you puff your way up to the top of One Tree Hill, you are treated to some rather striking views of the city skyline framed by the treeline. It’s too perfect and we love it. Though the likelihood of you accidentally stumbling across this pub are about 0.00001% it’s the fact that it’s so well hidden that makes it one of London’s best kept secrets. Not all stories in Secret London are this grim, or this funny, but they are all equally fascinating and enlightening. The book finishes off with a list of 35 unusual bars, cafes and restaurants. Nothing specific, though there is a slight undertone of snark within the book that made it less austere than the usual travel guide.Rumour even has it that Cecil Court provided the inspiration for Diagon Alley in J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter books (though others will argue until they’re blue in the face that the title should go to nearby Goodwin’s Court instead). That’s not where the story ends though. The name supposedly comes from a tree that Elizabeth I rested under as she took refuge here on a journey through the Great North Wood that used to cover most of South London. As such, it found itself as the centre of many a naughty activity including bear baiting, gambling and even duelling. Oh those crazy olden days people. While he devotes one chapter to the underground city, it is very short and doesn't suggest any walking or riding routes. There are other guides to underground London that would give better coverage. And based on my tour with my neighbor Jeanne just a week or so ago through the area, his walks through the square mile City of London, while interesting, need updating because of the massive amounts of construction under way in the area.

Our city isn’t all concrete and chaos. Believe it or not, we also have castles, caves and calm – and all of this is within the confines of the M25. Seriously! Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a beautiful, traditional Hindu temple carved entirely out of stone, and it lays claim to being the largest Hindu temple outside of actual India. Lords and ladies! We’re of magnificent buildings here in London it has to be said. In fact, in a city as old as ours, you won’t go far before you stumble upon some historic gem, age-old boozer or towering skyscraper which practically defies feats of engineering. But when it comes to Royal Palaces ? Now that’s where we really come into our own. Still, there’s no denying that some of London’s mews are rather attractive – but as they pop up on the ‘gram with increasing frequency, some of them are starting to feel like a rather boring slow-mo circus of awkwardly posed models. London is officially the most vegan-friendly city in the world according to HappyCow, with an increasing number of us adopting a plant-based lifestyle. In fact, we’ve actually got over 400 vegan restaurants, eateries and foodie spots in our city now, so if you haven’t sampled any of them yet – then what are you doing? From Sri Lankan curries at Mildred’s to wild mushroom risotto cake at The Gate, there’s plenty of tasty options to try, so what are you waiting for?! Get out and explore! 52. Get a head for heights at Europe’s highest viewing platform Photo: 22 Bishopsgate Once you’re finished in the museums proper, take some time to mooch around the 16 acres of gardens.

You don’t have to travel all the way to Paris to be entertained by cabaret and burlesque. From breathtaking dance shows to Vegas-style glamour and plenty of bare skin, there’s loads here to keep you well and truly entertained, so have a gander at this list and see where takes your fancy! 40. Do things by the book Photo: Gay’s The Word Greenwich already made it into this guide for The Tulip Stair. It’s about to make a second win for The Painted Hall. The place is a bit of a marvel of design, but if you’re into minimalism you’re not going to like it. Maybe it’s the fact that, despite being sandwiched between Covent Garden and Charing Cross Road, entering feels like stepping into the Narnia wardrobe. A rambling, wild-feeling deer park on the outskirts of south-west London, Richmond Park is the second largest park in London, and it’s positively overflowing with wildlife and all that nature stuff too. Designated a special conservation area, it’s well worth exploring, with open grasslands and woodland trails with year-round appeal. Many of those poor and all of the prostitutes were buried on a small plot of unconsecrated land near to The Shard – Cross Bones Burial Ground.

St Bartholomew's Gatehouse - Standing proudly at the entrance to one of the oldest churches in the City lies St Bartholomew's gatehouse, a rare survivor of Tudor London. Eating out can be particularly expensive, especially in a cost of living crisis, so what better way to save some money than by saving on the drinks front at a BYOB restaurant? We’ve got a whole variety here, from Thai and Moroccan to Ethiopian and Vietnamese – all you’ve got to take care of is the vino and beers. Now that we can certainly get on board with… 43. Catch a game of some live sport You see, the whole of the South Bank area used to be a breeding ground of rather scandalous occupations – whoring, gambling, fighting – it all used to happen on the South Bank. There were brothels aplenty, as well as some of the city’s poorest slums.London is a city that pays dividends – if you take the time to invest in it that is. There are so many hidden gems in London that if we’re frank, if you’re not taking the time to explore the city, you are not doing it justice. While Leadenhall Market has slowly crept onto an increasing number of people’s radars, it’s still unknown enough to warrant a spot on any list of secret places to visit in London.

We’re still not 100% convinced by the fact that what ultimately used to be stables for horses have somehow become some of the most expensive residences in an already expensive city… but that’s London for you. Offering lots of pretty darn delectable food options, all the saucy (and soupy) dumplings you could ever want and some Chinese supermarkets to inspire you to get cooking at home, London’s Chinatown is practically bursting with foodie wonders and delicious delights. Taking a wander through here is definitely one of the best things to do in London, as you’re sure to stumble across some bloody good restaurants whipping up some of the best Chinese food you can find outside of actual China.

6. Baker Street

We’re not throwing shade. Believe us, we are not (well, we kind of are but in the friendliest, loveliest way). Mendelssohn's Tree - Standing proudly on the Barbican's concrete walkway is the remains of a 500 year old tree, once thought to have provided shade for Mendelssohn whilst he wrote the music to 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. If you’re smart enough to find it you’ll be able to feast your eyes on a staggering amount of silver (literally you almost need sunglasses to look directly at some of these rooms)