10 hidden gems to discover in London this summer

History is around every corner in London and it’s amazing what you can uncover in even the smallest nooks and crannies. Take Pickering Place for example. London’s smallest public square is hidden away at the end of an unsuspecting walkway off of Mayfair’s St James’ Street – and what it lacks in size, it makes up for in stories. Over its 300-year existence, it has been the site of a gambling den, the Texan embassy (before it became part of the USA) and is rumoured to have been the location of the city’s last public duel. Not bad for a quaint little courtyard.

Think the City of London is all skyscrapers and glass monstrosities with stupid nicknames like the Gherkin, Walkie Talkie or Cheesegrater? This bombed-out church in the heart of the financial district will make you think again. The Grade-I listed church has been a feature of the area since 1100 and has had to deal with the Great Fire of London and being partially destroyed by the Blitz in its near-1,000-year history. Today, its ruins are a public garden and offer up a strangely beautiful contrast to the extravagant surrounding buildings.

Walking down a dark and dingy passage isn’t generally advised, but you can make an exception for the Graffiti Tunnel. Located beneath Waterloo Station and home to immersive theatre and alternative arts venue The Vaults, the space is a kaleidoscopic trip of masterpieces, tags and stencilled spray can creations. The best bit about it is that there are always budding aerosol artists going over older pieces, so you’re bound to see something new on every visit.

London is home to a lot of bars in strange places. There’s the one in a former public toilet. Or the one in a pie ‘n’ mash shop in Walthamstow. But this bar is easily the ‘coolest’ of the bunch. Taking cues from Narnia, the hidden speakeasy can be found behind the door of the Smeg fridge in Spitalfield’s branch of all-day dinner The Breakfast Club. Once inside, you can expect to be treated to quality cocktails served in a trapper’s log cabin setting. Cheers!

A museum dedicated to post might sound as fun as an afternoon spent looking at someone’s stamp collection, but the Postal Museum has an amazing underground experience up its sleeve – the Mail Rail. Set deep below Royal Mail’s Mount Pleasant sorting office, the miniature train shuttles passengers along a railway that was previously used to move mail around the city, all while an audio-visual show tells its fascinating story.

The south London spot of Streatham isn’t exactly known for its greenery. It’s common is left firmly in the shade by the likes of Clapham or Tooting Bec in terms of size, while you’re better off heading to the Wandle river walk if you’re on the lookout for wildlife. But, it is home to an amazing little garden – if you know where to look. Head to the furthest west point of Streatham Common and you’ll soon stumble across a beautifully landscaped space, complete with luscious beds and a pergola that looks magical when its flowers are in full bloom.

If you’re a serious street food fan, there’s a good chance you’ll have sampled the wares at Mercato Metropolitano’s Elephant and Castle spot. Well, just before the pandemic hit, it opened up a second site in an amazing old church in Mayfair – complete with two levels of food stalls and bars, rooftop terrace and a vaulted crypt that hosts an wine cellar and micro-brewery. And as if this couldn’t get any better, it’s also dog-friendly. Woof!

London’s underground network of tubes and trains is well-known, but did you know that there could be another subterranean maze just beneath your feet? If you’re in the south east spot of Chislehurst, there’s a chance you might just be standing on top of a web of man-made tunnels dating back hundreds of years. Originally dug for chalk, the caves have had an interesting history, including at one point being a live music venue that hosted the likes of the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin – truly putting the rock in rock and roll.

Eating on the tube is generally not the done thing – it’s dirty, unhygienic and no one else in your carriage wants to smell your sweaty sandwich; especially if it’s tuna. This neat supper club turns pigging out on public transport on its head though, creating a fine dining experience in an everyday setting. Stationed at Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum, the decommissioned 1967 Victoria Line carriage hosts a six-course Latin American menu three nights a week in the truly unique setting. This is one tube stop you definitely won’t want to miss.

Ever wondered how music was recorded before the invention of the microphone? This space in Brentford reveals all, telling the story of recorded music from the last four centuries through its collection of instruments (that includes a self-playing violin) and inventions. The museum doesn’t just focus on the past either, and puts on live concerts and events where you can listen to everything from all-out Wurlitzer performances to sultry jazz standards.