Off the Beaten Path

Off the Beaten Path

So you've "done" London umpteen times before and think you've seen all there is to see? Think again. You just need to get outside the box. Not even the locals will have thought of some of these attractions, which makes them ideal bragging material to take home with you.

Bermondsey Antiques Market

If you want a brush with the cheeky types straight out of British gangster flicks, pop down to this former paradise for stolen goods. An old royal license (now canceled) ensured that stuff bought here did not have to be returned. Small stalls start setting up at 4 AM each Friday; arrive early with a flashlight to scout for the best bargains. An ominous redevelopment of the market beckons, so enjoy its raffish charm while you can.

Reclaim the Beach

When the tides are right, especially in spring and autumn, a small section of the Thames on the South Bank retreats enough to reveal a tiny stretch of sand beach. Cue a Baywatch-style celebration, complete with barbecues, music, dancing, and conversation with strangers. Don't forget to bring your own beer.

Smithfields Meat Market

If you're suffering from a little transatlantic jet lag, a visit to London's last remaining meat market, running until dawn on the edge of The City, provides a welcome late-night diversion. It's one of the few places you can see old-fashioned tradesmen at work, buying, selling, and packing all kinds of meat and offal. Nearby pubs have early-morning licenses and, naturally, serve some great cuts of meat.

Vauxhall City Farm

You have probably heard of the London Zoo: this inner-city farm, hidden away just south of the river behind Britain's spy headquarters, offers a hands-on day out for children, with donkey rides, lessons in pony grooming, and milking demonstrations all available.

Highgate Cemetery

The timeless gaze of the stone angels that stand watch over this resting place of London souls is impossible to shrug off. Everlasting home to Communist theorist Karl Marx and novelist George Eliot, the 1839 Victorian cemetery of neo-Gothic statues and sarcophagi, covered by ivy, evokes sadness and beauty.

Brixton Life

Much maligned and avoided, and a focal point of London's African-Caribbean community, Brixton is well worth exploring. Its Victorian streets offer hair-extension and nail salons, jerk chicken joints, and market stalls selling yams and plantains. Ignore the sniffy remarks from types north of the river; Brixton's bars and clubs make it one of the best bets for a night out in London.

Watch a Trial

If you came to London for spectacle, take a trip to a trial at the Old Bailey, the famed criminal court. Stories more twisted and compelling than anything on screen, strange costumes and wigs, command performances—it's true drama, without the West End ticket prices.

Brave a Burlesque

If you find yourself in London but hanker after 1930s Berlin, then the Kit Kat Club-style decadence of burlesque might quench your thirst. It's a risqué combination of cabaret, striptease, and music, definitely for adults only. Try the Tassel Club or Burlesque Bazaar to start.