Walking around London -- Surprise locations

[SimboSmith]

i do quite a bit of walking around london, round the back streets and places off the tourist path, and i'm always coming across places that are quite amazing, that i'm sure most Londoners never see.

One of the obvious ones is Neal's Yard near Covent Garden. It's just a little alley between some shops, which opens out into a kind-of bohemian-style yard, with painted shops... the kind of place where San Francisco 60s hippies might like to shop.

Another one of my favourites is a residential street in South Kensington. This is the best looking residential street in the whole of London, i think. It's got large white 3 or 4 story mansions arranged around a little green park. but you have to approach it from the right direction to get the best effect... go east along lexham gardens, all the way to the end, where there is a little alley north. go up there and then continue west into cornwall gardens.
if anyone has a better looking place to live than that, then i'd loved to know

[Mark Pickering]

What a great idea for a thread! I'm not a big fan of trips to London, but little hidden gems like this would certainly make my trips more enjoyable!
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[nickora]

Awesome idea for a thread!

my favorite walk is from old street tube station over to barbican and barbican down to angel tube staions. I did these walks for ages before spotting all the secret hidden Banksy gems lying about the place. Anyone who's a fan of the artist Banksy would love noticing the rats along the street that people just walk past and if anyone grabs a picture of the grim reaper on the phone box with a smilie face let me know! (if its still there of course!)

[tweetme]

Hi

Its cute to have a walk in London.
There's a time when I take a walk there, I feel like I'm in old time like hearing a mellow music. You know, its just good to feel that way.

[tanielle]

Hey .. if you like walking around in London and discovering hidden gems then this one is for you ..

The Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park are an absolute treat. With gorgeous landscape of Japanese flora and fauna its the best little hidden gem in London ( if you ask me ) it also features wild peacocks roaming free, a delightful little pond and even a waterfall !

Its really beautiful, i would highly recommend it . Might not be able to give you directions as i stumbled upon it randomly while i lost my way walking to Notting Hill.

Best Wishes,
Tanielle
Check-in-London.com Serviced Apartments

[Philip P]

Although Club Row Market is a shadow of it's former self, it is still an interesting area to wander and of course a good location for getting some Indian and Pakistani food.

[anniesmith1990]

Great thread! I must say i have been to Neal's yard in Covent Garden- an absolute gem. Definitely worth a visit, great artwork on the shops!

[Chris_Skelton]

I toured Jack The Ripper's killing spree for absolutely nothing.

All you have to do is walk around whitechapel and it's all there.

Why pay for a tour?

[Wes Davidson]

[Chris_Skelton]

I agree. I don't bother with those anymore. Not worth it. Some can be though. You just have to pick your spots.

[leonidas]

There are so many different things to do in London. Hard to choose... I enjoyed the Rock 'N' Roll walk and the British Music Experience museum. The museum has material of the last 60 years of British popular music and you can sing or even play instruments... Pretty cool

[SimboSmith]

Borough Market is a nice place to walk around as well, especially if you just happen across it like me. Got some good posh food stalls as well to have some lunch. And there's plenty of other good stuff to see around the same place -- the golden hinde, southwark cathedral, the clink

[Reise]

[Siegfried]

if you are into hiking and nature, you should for sure try LONDON LOOP and CENTRAL RING paths - excellent routes through quite wild places

[RossH]

I love the idea for this thread, it's a shame it hasn't taken off a little better. There must be hundreds of little out of the way places that visitors just walk right by.