London's Hidden Walks: Volumes 1-3

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The Painted Hall is part of the Old Royal Naval College and actually functioned as a sort of dining room, a place for officers to chow down away between classes. Does it even bare saying that the room had to be fit for the men that lead the empire into battle? I hope you enjoy playing around with it and that it helps you discover new-to-you areas of the UK capital. St Mary’s Secret Garden – around the corner from Hoxton overground station, you’ll find this hidden gem. With health and well-being as a priority, you’ll find working beehives, veg plots, a wildflower meadow, woodland and a pond rife with wildlife. Mayfair might feel like an unlikely place to discover London’s secrets. After all, anyone who has ever heard of The Ritz and Green Park knows that Mayfair’s all about the old-school spenny glamour. Whether you love London canal walks or walks around London Bridge, you’ll find what you’re looking for.

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.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. Who wouldn’t want to discover an ancient Roman temple buried in the heart of The City? Or visit one of the highest points in South London where you can soak up some of the best views in the city – get this – in absolute peace and quiet? 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. This secret London walk will lead you through Greenwich and show you heritage buildings, picture-pretty side streets, and one of the best views of London. We hope you have even a smidgen as much fun exploring these as we did! There’s so much to see in this city that you can’t help but get a little too excited when you find a new spot you’ve never heard of.

Crossrail Place Roof Garden – on top of the architecturally striking Crossrail Place at Canary Wharf is a super modern, show-stopping conservatory. Cleverly, plants are placed according to their origins – East or West. 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. London’s never short on a museum or gallery, which perhaps explains why it’s generally only locals who make it to The Horniman Museum in Forest Hill. Postman’s Park–this pretty garden to the north of St Paul’s Cathedral is a lovely place to press pause on your day. Its moving Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice is a must-see. Each tile on that wall is devoted to unsung heroes from the Victorian era onwards who died trying to save another. The sixth of my secret London walks will take you along Regent’s Canal from Maida Vale to King’s Cross.

Hidden Gems in London

If you want to go on this London walk, you can see the full route, map, and photos on my London literary walk blog post.