London: Top Ten Hidden Gems

Old Operating Theatre

• 9a St Thomas Street
• tel:+44 20 7955 4791
• London, SE1 9RY

Chelsea Physic Garden

• 66 Royal Hospital Road
• tel:+44 20 7352 5646
• Visit website
• London, SW3 4HS

One of the most fascinating city gardens is hidden behind towering brick walls near the Chelsea Royal Hospital. Founded in 1673 as an apothecaries garden to train students, Chelsea Physic Garden is still used today for education and medicinal research. Public hours are restricted to Wednesdays through Fridays and Sundays, April through October. Also on site are a nice little shop and a cafe. Events, activities and lectures are held regularly. Most Londoners have heard of the garden yet few have ever visited this hidden gem.
read more about Chelsea Physic Garden

The Guards Museum

• Birdcage Walk
• (Wellington Barracks)
• tel:+44 20 7414 3271 / +44 20 7414 3428 / +44 20 7414 3430
• Visit website
• London, SW1E 6HQ

Dedicated to Her Majesty's Household Division which protects the Sovereign and Royal Palaces... in other words, dedicated to those who wear the red tunic and bearskin hat! Small and quiet, The Guards Museum is a perfect place to learn more about the royal guards and even have your photo taken in that famous regimental tunic and hat. On display are uniforms, helmets, instruments, medals, a tent from the Crimean War and more. There's a little shop next door to the Guards Museum and you might even catch the new guards forming at nearby Wellington Barracks before the Changing of the Guard ceremony at London's Buckingham Palace. read more about The Guards Museum

Horniman Museum

• 100 London Rd., SE23
• Forest Hill
• tel:020/8699-1872
• Visit website
• London, SE23 3PQ

Foundling Museum (The)

• 40 Brunswick Square
• tel:+44 20 7841 3600
• Visit website
• London, WC1N 1AZ

Columbia Road

• Columbia Road
• London, E2 7RG

Books for Cooks

• 4 Blenheim Crescent
• Notting Hill
• tel:+44 20 7221 1992
• Visit website
• London, W11 1NN

Ye Olde Watling

• 29 Watling St
• EC4
• tel:020/7653-9971
• Visit website
• London

Tayyabs

• 43-49 Fieldgate Street
• tel:+44 20 7247 6400
• Visit website
• London, E1 1JU

Roundhouse

• Chalk Farm Road
• tel:44 870 389 1846
• Visit website
• London, NW1 8EH

This former railway engine shed built in 1846 as an engine shed is one of Londn's most unique music halls. Renovated in 1964, the Roundhouse has hosted famous artists like Jimi Hendrix and Pink Flyod throughout the 60s & 70s. Due to a lack of funding, the Roundhouse closed in 1983 but reopened in 1996. Today the venue continues to host international music legends.
read more about Roundhouse