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5 Hidden Cultural Gems in London
London is the most popular tourist destination in the whole of the UK. In 2017, it attracted 19.8 million visitors – with many of them visiting London’s most iconic landmarks. A whopping 6.42 million people visited the British Museum, for example.
But there’s more to London than its tourist hotspots. Going off the beaten track can lead you to some cultural delights, whilst getting you away from the bustling crowds surrounding Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. Here are five of our favorite hidden cultural gems in London:
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The Roundhouse
Camden is a district of North West London, situated on the Underground’s Northern Line. It’s famous for its eccentric personality, with buskers and street art on every corner.
It’s also home to our hidden gem – The Roundhouse, which you will find a short walk from Camden Town underground station. It started life as a steam engine repair shed in 1846, but closed down eight years later before reopening as a warehouse for an English gin company.
It wasn’t reinvented as a center for the arts until 1964 when playwright Arnold Wesker saw an opportunity to put the building to use for the community. It quickly became one of the most exciting venues in the country, hosting many controversial acts – including Jimi Hendrix, the Doors and The Rolling Stones. It’s also the venue where Amy Winehouse famously made her last appearance, in July 2011.
The building underwent a huge, £30 million redevelopment in 2006 – yet it’s still relatively undiscovered when compared to the famous theatres of the West End. You can find a list of upcoming performances on its website.
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Leadenhall Market
Despite being used in two of the Harry Potter films, Leadenhall Market is still relatively hidden away compared to the crowded Covent Garden or Borough Market. As soon as you step into the market, you will be blown away by the stunning Victorian architecture.
The market dates all the way back to the Roman times – when it was home to an open-air marketplace, and acted as an important meeting place. The buildings were destroyed when the Romans left London – only to be rediscovered centuries later, during a redevelopment that took place in the 1800s. Workers uncovered a Roman mosaic below the market – which you can still see today, in the British Museum.
Even if you have no interest in shopping, the market is worth a visit for the architecture alone.
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Highgate Cemetery
If you’re looking for somewhere a little different to visit, we recommend a trip to Highgate Ceremony. This may seem like an odd suggestion. After all, graveyards aren’t most people’s idea of fun, but we think you will be pleasantly surprised by your visit.
The cemetery opened in 1839 and is home to some of the finest graveyard architecture you’ll find in the whole of the UK. It is the final resting place of over 170,000 people – who share 53,000 graves. It is also considered a nature reserve – so you can take in this unique tourist destination whilst enjoying some peaceful time in nature, and a break from the capital’s bustling crowds.
The East Cemetery is home to many famous graves – including Karl Marx, George Eliot, and (more recently) George Michael. But the West Cemetery is arguably the most fascinating – with grand displays of funerary that will blow you away.
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Wilton’s Music Hall
Wilton’s Music Hall is an utter beauty of a building. It’s the world’s oldest grand music hall – and the last surviving building of its type.
We recommend booking onto a guided tour of the hall. It will give you an insight into the history of this fascinating building, with all the money made from ticket sales going directly into its maintenance and upkeep.
If you can, you should also try to catch a performance here – the atmosphere is nothing short of incredible.
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The Crypt Gallery
When it comes to galleries in London, you really are spoiled for choice. However, we recommend ditching the more popular options in favor of the Crypt Gallery, which you’ll find in the Crypt of St Pancras Parish Church, close to King’s Cross Station.
The venue is slightly eerie, which only adds to the atmosphere as you check out its latest exhibition. It’s a small space – so it’s easy to tick off your list as you’re passing – but we think you’ll be glad you did. It really is one of the undiscovered gems of central London; with hordes of people rushing past each day, oblivious to its secrets.
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