London's Hidden Walks: Volumes 1-3

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You’re probably aware of the British Library. It’s a bit of a Meca for people trying to find a quiet spot to get productive in the city centre, and an iconic place in its own right. Do you know about its reading rooms though? It might seem weird for us to say that the city’s oldest restaurant is one of the secret spots in London, but bear with me… because I’m not talking about the restaurant itself, we’re talking about its absolutely jaw-dropping upstairs bar. I hope you enjoy playing around with it and that it helps you discover new-to-you areas of the UK capital.

I hope my list of secret London walks has made you want to get outside and discover the best under-the-radar areas in the city. Whether you’re a local or want to live like one, these walks will help you explore the areas Londoners love. Happy walking! Make no bones about it though, if you’re not discovering secret places in London, you’re only hearing half the story. Culpeper Community Garden – a community garden in every sense, the various plots are tended by locals. It’s such a friendly place to soak up the sun and the community spirit, just a stone’s throw from Angel.Now that we’ve extolled the virtues of St Dunstan in the East as some of the best hidden architecture in London, we guess we’d better tell you what it is. This loveliest of secret London walks is perfect if you like to be on the water and take in a variety of sights and neighborhoods as you go. It’s a good alternative to the Thames Path, and a great way to see some local London neighborhoods.

Dalston Eastern Curve Garden– built on an old railway line, it’s an unexpected place to find trailing vines and beautiful flower beds. Its caring community host amazing events here too. By 18th Century standards that meant fluted columns reminiscent of the reason of Ancient Athens (or would it be the might of Imperial Rome?) and a ceiling that evokes the Sistine Chapel: Far above you on that high ceiling is an enormous mural painted by Sir James Thornhill that depicts heroic fragments of English history, kings, battles, inventions. All this stuff is on sale, so if you find something you like and you’ve got a few quid to spare you can even treat this as a shopping trip. Perhaps there’s a special someone who would really like a piece of some of this precious metal…At any given time, you’re all but guaranteed to see at least a few new pieces in the making and there are opportunities aplenty to gawp at the sheer talent displayed by many of these artists. If you want to go on this one, you can find the route, map, photos, and video on my Hampstead walk blog post. This walk is ideal if you’re into heritage architecture and great food. There are excellent coffee shops along the way, too. Horniman Museum–set in South London’s Forest Hill, The Horniman has spectacular gardens. 16 acres of them in fact. The bandstand is the best spot to admire the awesome views of the museum’s grounds and across London. If you’d like to do this one, you can find the route, map, and photos on my Holland Park walk blog post.