339K
46K
46K
Travel

Travel: Lesser Known London

download (23)

London is one of the most amazing places to visit.

While the landmarks are there in abundance, (and all definitely worth a visit), there’s a great deal of lesser known sites that are equally worth checking out, especially if you want to go a little off the beaten track.

Below we have listed just a small number of the places in question.

Enjoy!

Ab Fab house

065-af-03492-jpg-760x507

We all know that Ab Fab’s Eddie lives in Holland Park, but surprisingly, not many people know exactly which house was always used for the filming of the exterior house shots or all those infamous scenes outside such as Edina drunkenly falling backwards out of the taxi, or flipping the water hose on her mother when she says she’s out looking for Madonna and Guy ‘Itchy’!

Well we’ve got the details!

It’s number 30, Holland Park Avenue, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, W11 3SJ, UK

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream

2016-10-14_1227

Red velvet ice cream (c) Chin Chin Labs IG

Chin Chin Labs in Camden is a dessert bar that serves up some seriously amazing ice cream dishes, but it’s also the first liquid nitrogen ice cream bar in Europe!

The reason for the addition of the liquid nitrogen is to make the ice cream denser and as a result, it has a super smooth texture.

There’s always a variety of flavours, which change each week, but one of the most popular is the red velvet. Frankly we’d be tempted to go to London JUST to try this!

Kyoto Garden

a322d1c25e86a44c939d3f8c9acc89e7

When you’re in Holland Park, you should pay a visit to Kyoto Park, a truly beautiful Japanese style garden with a waterfall, a Koi filled pond, stunning flowers, squirrels and peacocks.

It’s very small so if you want to visit when it’s extra peaceful, maybe go early morning or late evening.

Another Japanese style garden in Holland Park is the Fukushima Memorial Garden, which is also well worth a visit.

Installations

download (21)

Some of the installations around London are definitely a must-see, especially if you’re an Instagram addict like ourselves!

First there’s Borough Market. This charming market has everything going for it, from great food to a great atmosphere, but it’s bright and colourful umbrella installation (very Mary Poppins!) is extremely charming and worth checking out.

Another one to watch out for is the book installation over on the East End walk.

Downing Street Dupe

Left - 10 Adam Street. Right - 10 Downing Street

Left – 10 Adam Street. Right – 10 Downing Street

You’re not going to get a photo standing at the door of number 1o Downing Street, but if you’re determined to get the photo, then head to Number 10 Adam Street instead.

Here you will find the Downing Street Dupe – a building that is identical to the Prime Minister’s house, even right down to the door!

Little Venice

2016-10-14_1338

The area known as Little Venice is situated just north of Paddington Basin.

Here is where you can take a waterway boat trip or enjoy a coffee in one of the many waterside cafe’s there.

The London Water Bus Company regularly offers scenic trips, taking sightseers through Regent’s Park and on to the Maida Hill Tunnel. It even has its own entrance to the London Zoo which means you can avoid the queues at the front gate!

Black Books

2016-10-14_1425

Collinge & Clark Book shop aka Black Books!

If you were a fan of Black Books – the hilarious Chanel 4 comedy series starring Dylan Moran as bookshop owner Bernard Black – then you might be intrigued to know the whereabouts of the famous book shop!

While the interior shots were a purpose built set in a TV studio, the shots of the Black Books exterior were actually of a real bookshop called Collinge & Clark, which you will still find today at 13 Leigh Street, Bloomsbury.

Vintage Shops in Camden Passage

charlton_place

Every city has those little side streets that are an absolute gold mine of one-off shops and small cafes. In London, one of the best is definitely Camden Passage.

On this cobble stone street, you will find vintage shops, cute coffee shops, boutiques, and antique shops, not to mention various other shops selling all sorts of random items.

Camden Passage is right next to Upper Street in Islington.

Unusual Museums

Top - The Vault. Bottom - The Sherlock Holmes Museum

Top – The Vault. Bottom – The Sherlock Holmes Museum

We have all heard of the bigger museum establishments such as the Tate Modern, but if you want something a little different then it would be worth checking out the smaller and certainly more unusual museums.

Music fans meanwhile should check out The Vault at Park Lane’s Hard Rock Cafe. (The vault is so called as it used to be an actual bank vault!)

It now houses incredible music exhibits and features many random pieces belonging to many musical celebrities.

A definite must for any Sherlock Holmes fans would be the Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street.

There you have it guys, some lesser knwon sites to check out next time you’re London bound!

xx

 

Share:

Looking for Something?