Non-Touristy Things To Do In London In 2025

Ask anyone who lives in London where they'd like to live and they'll answer 'Hampstead'. This gorgeous postcode is home to Hampstead Heath but if you want to dodge the crowds, make your way to Bobby Fitzpatrick for cocktails and retro interiors that would put That 70s Show to shame. 

London's awash with secret bars but you need to visit Evans & Peel. Enter an evidence-filled office in Earl's Court and you'll be ushered into an illicit bar with drinks names after notorious criminals, and beer that comes poured it from an unassuming radiator. 

When looking for the best non-touristy things to do in London, The Last Tuesday Society's got your back. This bizarre cocktail bar in Hackney comes decorated with taxidermy and skeletons and after you've had one of their absinthe cocktails.

A pint with a side of cool? You'll want The Four Thieves in Battersea. This quirky pub might be a little bit away from the hubbub of the city but it's got an entire floor dedicated to retro games alongside Wednesday comedy nights and private karaoke rooms.

Afraid of heights? Take the stairs to London Bridge Rooftop, where you can marvel at the famous Shard with a cocktail in hand. This central rooftop bar not only gives you amazing views of the monument, but winter sees it transformed into an Après Bar pop-up complete with snowy firs, heated and covered pergolas, vintage ski memorabilia and even ski lift seating.

There's free-flowing mulled wine teapots and bottomless brunches too, as well as interactive darts in the room upstairs.

Sure, Saint Paul's is pretty cool, but have you seen it from Sabine's rooftop? This open-air bar in the sky offers you the chance to get up close and personal with one of London's oldest landmarks without stepping foot inside. 

We can't promise you a crowd-free experience at Flight Club (it's one of the best activity bars in the city and they have an incredible beer garden) but we can promise you one helluva time when you're there. Book an oche for quirky cocktails, pizza paddles and round-after-round of interactive darts. 

Sky Garden is one of the biggest tourist attractions, so why is it in this list? Well, everyone knows about Sky Garden but they don't know about their cool events that include everything from yoga at sunrise to VIP music nights fuelled by Champagne. 

London's food scene is bubbling with flavours from across the globe. If you want a hack to try it all in one evening, book a table for Mercato Metropolitano. This sustainable community has over 40 street food vendors and they dish out £5 plates between 12pm and 5pm from Monday to Friday.  

London's best kept secret? It's in an old bike shed and it's called The Brig. For £65 per person you can rent out this intimidate space and order whatever you like from your own personal bartender. They'll even let you jump behind the bar and plug in your own playlist. 

When you think of London, do you think of beer? Thought so. If you're looking to do something a little bit different in the city, have a snoop at London's best brewery tours. You'll get history lessons, plenty of beer, complimentary cheese boards and in some cases, some free merch. 

A trip to London isn't quite complete without sitting down for a full English at The Breakfast Club. Towering pancakes, meaty sausages and hot cups of coffee are the order of the day and if you whisper "I'm here to get lucky" to one of the waiters you might get taken to a secret bar. 

Soho is as iconic as it gets. When you're done wandering around and getting a feel for the area and its people, plan ahead with a booking for Swift. This bar is a London treasure with enough awards to sink a battle ship. They even have £7 aperitivo cocktail until 6pm Monday through to Friday. 

Get yourself down to Canary Wharf for a whale of a time at Fairgame: a nostalgic activity bar that's full of colourful decor, allowing you to let out your inner kid. It's the world's first fairground-themed bar with unique twists on all your favourite childhood games, including Whac-A-Mole, Roll-A-Ball Derby and everything in between.

Make use of their innovative wristband technology to automatically log your scores, which can be tracked on a virtual leaderboard. Nab tickets for as little as £15, promising unlimited games, before you tuck into mouthwatering street food from the likes of Burger & Beyond, Rudy's Pizza or Taco Collective. Plus, there are creative cocktails and boozy slushies up for grabs too.

There's something to be said for finding a hidden gem. If you love jazz and a good night out, grab yourself some tickets to the Hidden Jazz Club. This artist-run pop-up has sets from some of the best in the biz and tickets start at just £20 a pop. 

If you fancy venturing a little further to the beautiful borough of Ealing on your visit to London, then be sure to stop by The Pretty Parlour. This unique venue combines high-quality nail treatments with amazing cocktails and Veuve Clicquot Champagne, making for a luxurious pampering session. Choose between 13 different cruelty-free products, with hot towels and head massages on the cards too.

If you're looking for a way to explore the city without the crowds, then head on a Silent Sounds Boat Party. Available on a monthly basis, this fun-filled event sees you cruising down the Thames while boogieing to silent disco tunes played directly through your headphones.

This two-storey boast has a bar on each level, with plenty of outdoor space that's perfect for seeing all the landmarks along the way. Tickets start from only £27 each, and there's even the option to head to an afterparty at Ballie Ballerson afterwards.

Step into one of the city's most luxurious hotels for a unique offering: the Original Sweetshop Afternoon Tea at the Chesterfield Mayfair. Having won an Award of Excellence at the Afternoon Tea Awards, this £75 offering brings you tiers full of nostalgic treats paired with hot chocolate or teas such as yellow gold oolong and liquorice blends. Expect free range egg or honey-roasted ham sandwiches, paired with classic scones and themed homemade pastries like the cherry love heart cheesecake.

Love theatre but seen it all? Take a journey to Hoxton to find Alcotraz; London's BYOB prison-themed bar, where you'll be trusted with becoming part of the story line. You'll be expected to sneak a bottle of booze past the guards in an orange jump suit in pursuit of criminally good cocktails. 

We all know that London is full of great bars, but when you're searching for something a little more unique? We've got just the thing. These bars on a boat are a great way to enjoy the city's rivers and canals, with a pint in hand of course.

Whether you fancy boogieing to a silent disco on the Thames, drinking on a barge in Hackney or admiring the skyline from a floating cocktail bar, there's something for everyone here.

If you're looking for a truly unique, non-touristy spot to enjoy a pint by the river, head to The White Cross in Richmond. This charming, traditional pub is perched right on the River Thames, offering a stunning riverside setting that's hard to beat.

What makes it even more special? When the tide rolls in, the water slowly creeps up the pathway, completely submerging the beer garden - sometimes leaving you feeling marooned in the best way possible.

Torrential downpour or glorious sunshine, London always takes our breath away. If you want to do something that's non-touristy, take a look at these grade A ways to catch the sun set across the city. Think steak dinners with Thames-side views to walks through London's most iconic postcodes. 

If you've been wondering how to live like a local in London, then why not try some of their very favourite spots for a Sunday roast? There's nothing more quintessentially British than this end-of-week tradition, and we've rounded up the very best of the best across the capital.

Whether you're in the mood for a tender chicken breast, a hearty cut of beef or a plant-based alternative, there's plenty to choose from in our city. From cosy pubs to high-end restaurants, check out our top picks.

Wondering about the best things to do in London as a local? Then check out our guide to the prettiest and the best secret gardens across the city, promising gorgeous scenery and pretty picnic spots.

We've rounded up all our favourites, including St Dunstan In The East, Hampstead Hill Garden and Pergola, and Chelsea Physhic Gardens and much more.

Ever wondered where to get the very best views in London? Luckily for you, there are quite a few brilliant places to choose from, whether it's a hill that overlooks the city or a stylish skyscraper.

Primrose Hill, The Shard and Sky Garden are obvious favourites, but we've also included some lesser-known picks too. So whether you're sipping cocktails while looking out over St Paul's Cathedral or seeing the sights from Battersea Power Station, you can snap plenty of unbeatable photos.

Some of the best non-touristy neighbourhoods in London just happen to be on the water, making for a great walking route and plenty of pubs and bars along the way. 

We've got strolls in King's Cross along the Southbank and beyond, but our absolute favourite is the stretch from Little Venice to Camden. Soak up the canalside views and admire all the cute boats along the way, before ending up at the vibrant market for well-deserved refreshments.