From a hidden church garden to a tunnel decked in street art and a romantic shopping arcade in the heart of the business district, London is packed with secrets. Together with local Sima, we put together a list of the best hidden pearls for you.
Local Sima Sthanakiya has been living in London for more than twenty years, which has made her a genuine expert. For her travel blog The Curious Pixie, she travels around the world, but is always happy to be back home in the city that has it all. For iFly KLM Magazine, she took us on a tour to a few of her favourite spots off the beaten track.
Glass skyscrapers, heavy traffic and business men in a hurry: there is little to suggest that there is a lovely old passageway amidst the hustle and bustle of London. The Leadenhall Market was built in the fourteenth century and was originally a meat market.
Nowadays, it’s home to charming bars, restaurants and fabulous boutiques. Not to mention access to Diagon Alley! But you have to use a bit of imagination. The blue optician’s door in one of the numerous passageways of the market was used in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as the entrance to The Leaky Cauldron, the pub that led Harry and Hagrid to Diagon Alley.
A railway station is not usually the most inspiring place in the city. But one of London’s most creative spots, the Leake Street Arches, is found under the busy Waterloo Station. Eight railway tunnels have been converted into bars, restaurants and even a theatre, all connected by an amazing graffiti tunnel.
The tunnel gained fame back in 2008 when the mysterious street artist Banksy discovered the spot and called on graffiti artists around the world to create an ‘oasis of art’ as he put it. Since then, the tunnel has been a Walhalla for street art with new works appearing daily.
St. Dunstan in the East is an oasis of tranquillity amidst the frenzy of London. The ruins of this nine hundred-year-old cathedral stand proudly among the surrounding modern architecture. Locals often enjoy their lunch break here during the work week.
