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Big Ben & Parliament

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Westminster Abbey

Banqueting House
Favorite Moment
Check out Guidester’s favorite London experience.
Hidden London
You could keep yourself busy with main sites in London for ages, but everyone is already familiar with Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. Today, I’m going to take us on a journey through some of London’s lesser known sites. These are gems hiding in plain site from monuments, to churches, to little pubs, to markets there is a lot to explore in hidden London.
First, let’s talk about how you are getting around today. For sites that are far apart, you’ll want to take the tube. The London Underground rail network, or “the Tube” is the best way to cover long distances which can you take from one side of the city to the other in just 30-40 minutes. But, since it’s a nice day today we are going to see London by bike for a unique perspective. Renting a public bike is easy and fun. The Santander Cycles are for-hire bikes with stations all around central London. There’s an app that shows you all the stations and how many bikes are left. You’ll pay a couple pounds for the day pass and then you are charged for ride time.




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PRO TIP: You are not charged for the first 30 minutes of every ride, so if you take your bike back to a station before the 30 minutes is up you will be riding for free. Use the bike to get from point A to point B and save a bunch of $ on rental fees! Our first stop is my favorite area of London; Southwark pronounced Suth-erk. Situated on the south bank of the River Thames, Southwark Cathedral is London’s oldest cathedral and oldest Gothic church, and a stands as an architectural marvel. The current church dates back to the 12th century, but records indicate there has been a church on this site as early as 606 AD. There are even indications of Roman pagan worship here well before that. The cathedral itself is tucked away from bustling London in a quiet street which makes it all the more charming. I love to stop in and admire the grand interior, pop down into the museum, and stroll the grounds to examine the myriad of ancient artifacts floating about. It really is like a giant open museum onto itself. Don’t miss the memorial window to William Shakespeare and the Harvard Chapel, a tribute to university founder John Harvard who was born in the parish. Just across the way from Southwark Cathedral lies Borough Market, another reason why I love this area. As London’s oldest food market, Borough Market has been serving the people of Southwark for 1,000 years. The market’s amazing heritage is an important part of its appeal and whether you’re browsing for food or simply wanting to take a stroll, this is a great place to soak up local London. There’s a few pubs surrounding the market as well so I often will go into the market to grab some cheese or a plate of food then head over to the pub for a pint and banter with local Londoners. I absolutely love history, and London has it in spades. But, what I also love about London is that many of its most significant and historically interesting sites are not well known to tourists. One such site is Temple Church just near Fleet Street. Lying ‘off street’ between Fleet Street and the River Thames, Temple Church was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century and has some significant architectural features unique in London. The Knights Templar was an order of crusading monks founded to protect pilgrims on their way to and from the Holy Land. This little gem is famous for its rare circular nave called “the Round” which was built to mirror the great Holy Sepulcher church in Jerusalem. Its location hidden in a small square off a main street adds to its charm, where you can wander the oasis of ancient buildings, courtyard, and gardens the church lies around. Next we head for Renaissance London at the Banqueting House, a gem hiding in plain sight. This beautiful testament to English architecture was the first to be built in the Neoclassical style in Britain, and serves as the only surviving building of Whitehall Palace. Whitehall Palace was the principal royal residence of the British Monarchy from 1530-1698 before it was destroyed by fire. The Banqueting House was also the site of King Charles’ I execution in 1649, and today still boasts magnificent art in its walls and ceilings. Now, we are just a short bike ride along the River Thames to reach the Monument. Located at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill, The Monument was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London, and to further celebrate the rebuilding of London after the devastating fire. It was after this great fire of 1666 that London started to truly become a global capital as it transitioned from a city of wood to a city of stone and marble. Sir Christopher Wren, London’s greatest architect responsible for the construction, also built other grand structures around the city at the same time, such as the world-class St. Paul’s Cathedral. Visitors can climb up 160 feet to the top platform for unique views of central London. We’ve done a lot of sightseeing today so it’s time for a bite to eat. While it may be #2,077 on TripAdvisor, Café in the Crypt should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a unique dining experience. This simple eatery lies in an underground crypt beneath St. Martin in the Fields church and is often overlooked by passersby. Located right in the heart of central London in the busy Trafalgar Square, it’s easy to miss this hidden gem and I try to pop in at least once during my visits to London. We know you’ve got a busy day ahead of you so that’s all the touring we will be doing today. Check out our other destinations for more favorite Guidester moments!

Jack Baumann
Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!

Jack Baumann
Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!
Play Around
Explore London with interactive maps.
Explore St. Paul's Cathedral
Visit Temple Church
Wander around Trafalgar Square
Walk around Hyde Park
Check out Buckingham Palace
Walk around Camden Town
Join the crowds at Piccadilly Circus
Video Tours
Discover London through virtual walks and tours.
Start Planning
Begin planning your next adventure to London.
Local Tips
For the best views of London we recommend the top of St. Paul's Cathedral. Many tourists go to the London Eye for views, but we believe the giant Ferris wheel is overpriced, and has glass casing that obstructs your view. When you climb the dome at St. Paul's you are rewarded with 360 degree views with no obstruction, and it's only a fraction of the price.
London Pass:
The London Pass is a sightseeing city card to help visitors see London's top attractions, while saving both time and money. Discounts and fast pass entry are also available for many attractions. The London Pass also comes with an option for the Oyster Card - a transport card for getting around London. Click here for details.
Most pubs require you to order and pay at the bar, instead of with the waiter as in American establishments.
Restaurants generally are the same as in the States, with a waiter that will take your order right at the table.
Getting around London can be daunting to the first time visitor but once you learn the ins and outs of London transport you’ll quickly find this is one of the most accessible cities in the world. In a city of over 10 million people, you can choose between an assortment of public transit to get you safely and quickly anywhere you want to go.
Tube:
This is the easiest and quickest way to get around London as you are able to travel across the city from East, West, North, South. Greater London is served by 12 Tube lines and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Underground trains generally run between 5am and midnight, Monday to Saturday, with reduced operating hours on Sunday (although there is a limited night service). Free Tube maps are available at just about every underground station.
Bus:
London's famous red buses are a quick, convenient, and cheap way to travel around the city, with plenty of sightseeing opportunities along the way. To pay for your bus fare simply touch your Visitor Oyster card, Oyster card, or contactless payment card on the yellow card reader as you board the bus, or show the driver your paper Travelcard ticket. It should be noted that you are expected to buy your ticket before boarding.
Oyster Card:
If you are in London for multiple days you should consider getting an Oyster Card. A Visitor Oyster card is the cheapest way to pay for single journeys on the bus, Tube, DLR, tram, London Overground, and most National Rail services in London. The card also allows you to hop on off transportation without buying tickets every time. Cards can be purchased at the Tube stations, and can be topped up at station ticket machines, or you can also top up at convenience shops that have the Oyster Top Up signage.
Black Cab:
Complete your London experience with a ride in one of the city's official taxis, the black cabs.These can be hailed in the street or at designated ranks situated in prominent places, which includes many mainline rail, Tube, and bus stations. If the yellow TAXI sign at the front is illuminated, the cab is available for hire. Black cabs are legally obliged to take on any job for journeys up to 12 miles. Fares are metered, and there is a minimum charge of £2.60. All black cabs accept payment by credit or debit card, and there is no surcharge on the taxi fare for card payment.
Boris Bikes:
Santander Cycles or 'Boris Bikes' as they are locally known is London's self-service, bike-sharing scheme. You can hire a bike from as little as £2. Simply go to any docking station with your bank card and touch the screen to get started. There's no need to book - hire a bike, ride it where you like, then return it to any of the docking stations that can be found all over the city. There is even an app to help you locate stations.
Where To Stay
If you’re visiting London for the first time, then Covent Garden is the ideal area to base yourself. It’s strategically located, has plenty of dining and theater options, and is just a couple of minutes’ walk to major attractions.
Mayfair is arguably one of London’s most affluent neighborhoods. With neighboring Hyde Park on one end and the West End on the other, Mayfair has plenty of five-star hotels, superb art galleries, and high-priced shops.
Guidester Favorites

St. Paul's Cathedral
Constructed in the 17th century, St. Paul’s Cathedral was designed by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren and is easily one of the most recognizable in London’s skyline, with spectacular views from the top of the dome. Tickets allows you to visit the Cathedral, the crypt, and 3 galleries. Don't miss the view from the top of the cathedral dome!

Southwark Cathedral
Located just south of Central London, this Cathedral dating from the 1100s is a lovely hidden gem. It can be found on the south bank of the Thames near London bridge. Southwark Cathedral has a particularly peaceful churchyard, a museum, priceless artifacts, and is also beautiful to visit at night.

Borough Market
Just across the way from Southwark Cathedral lies Borough Market. As London’s oldest food market, Borough Market has been serving the people of Southwark for 1,000 years. The market’s amazing heritage is an important part of its appeal and whether you’re browsing for food or simply wanting to take a stroll this is a great place to soak up local London.

National Gallery
Founded in 1824, The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square that houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. Come here to experience the story of European art, masterpiece by masterpiece. You will find paintings by some of the most famous artists is history, including Van Gogh and Monet.

Banqueting House
This beautiful testament to English architecture was the first to be built in the Neoclassical style in Britain. A hidden gem, the Banqueting House is the only complete surviving building of the Whitehall Palace complex (the sovereign’s principal residence from 1530 until 1698 when it was destroyed by fire). It was also the site of King Charles I’s execution in 1649.

Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace has been a home and refuge to the royal family since the 17th century. Now, it is the official residence to the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate. Highlights include Queen Caroline’s Cabinet of Curiosities, a 16th century painted King’s Staircase, and over 30 acres of lush palace gardens with a world-famous Orangery.

Temple Church
Temple Church was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century and boasts some significant architectural features unique to London. This little gem is famous for its rare circular nave called “the Round” which was built to mirror the great Holy Sepulcher church in Jerusalem. Its location hidden in a small square off a main street adds to its charm, where you can wander around the oasis of ancient buildings, courtyards, and gardens.

Windsor Castle
For almost a millennium Windsor Castle has been the residence of Britain’s royal family. Today, Windsor is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth, whose flag will be flown above the Round Tower when she is in residence which is usually on the weekends. Windsor is also the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world.
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