Though everyone should do all the major tourist haunts on their first trip to London, there are so many other great places to visit just a tube or train ride away from the city centre. Did you know that within the M25 you'll find ancient woodlands, castles, dinosaur parks, outdoor swimming pools, and even a grand house that played host to a ring-tailed lemur? Whether you've visited London in the past, just moved to the city, or you're a Londoner who's a bit lazy at leaving your local area, these 15 destinations dotted around the tube and train map will let you see the city in a whole new way.
The Horniman is every South East Londoner's best-kept secret . . . which means it's not really a secret at all! But that doesn't make it any less wonderful. The museum houses a mish-mash of seemingly unconnected things: really old taxidermy, musical instruments, an aquarium . . . you name it, the Horniman has it. It also has a beautiful conservatory, amazing grounds with killer views over South London, and if you're lucky, food stalls selling an array of delicious stuff.
Arrive here in the early hours, and you may spot the cast of Made in Chelsea filming scenes along the riverside. But there's a lot more to enjoy at Battersea Park than the ongoing dramas of Binky and JP. The park is full of little treasures, from a lakeside cafe that serves up surprisingly good Italian food, to the golden Peace Pagoda on the banks of the Thames, built by volunteers, Buddhist monks, and nuns of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order in the mid-'80s. You can stroll through a traditional English garden, take a pedalo out on the lake, or play games on the lawns. The park gets very busy on sunny days, and it's easy to see why!
Greenwich is a huge area, so let's just clarify that we're talking about the picturesque area around Greenwich Park, South of the River Thames, which is chock-full of interesting things to do. Start out by exploring the Cutty Sark, a restored tea clipper, before heading to the Royal Naval College and the Maritime Museum (film fans will recognise the area from memorable scenes in Thor: The Dark World). Behind these buildings on the top of a hill is the Royal Observatory, where you can stand on the historic meridian line. Less famous but no less fun is the Fan Museum, located on the edge of the park, opposite the Greenwich Theatre.
Hear us out. A cemetery might not sound like a place worth visiting, but Highgate Cemetery is one of the most beautiful eerie places you will ever encounter. It's a Grade I listed nature reserve full of incredible gothic tombs and mausoleums. Split into two sections, the cemetery is the last resting place of around 170,000 people, including some very famous names like Karl Marx, Christina Rossetti, Douglas Adams, and Malcolm McLaren.
South of the river in leafy Barnes you'll find 105 acres of protected land teeming with British wildlife, from water voles to woodpeckers. There are loads of things to keep young visitors happy, including an adventure playground, an indoor discovery centre that explains more about the wetlands themselves, and a pond with underwater cameras.
While everyone else is braving the crowds at Borough Market or Camden, get yourself to East London on a Saturday for the incredible spread at Broadway Market in Hackney. You'll be greeted by a truly wonderful set of stalls (over 130 of them) selling everything from food to flowers. During the week, the area is still worth a visit as the streets are lined with shops, restaurants, and bars that draw a crowd of cool kids and locals.
What happens when a rich family in the '30s gets hold of an old Tudor house in need of serious refurbishment? Eltham Palace is born! This English Heritage property is a must-see if you're an art deco fan, as lady of the house Virginia Courtauld had some seriously modern style, which she used to breathe new life into the old building. So it is that you walk from a new home that resembles a '30s cruise ship into a grand hall straight out of Reign. Everything has been beautifully kept (or restored) to make visitors feel as if they're arriving at the house just in time for cocktail hour. There's a quirky touch around every corner, from the secret door in Virginia's gold-leaf bathroom to the cage that held Mah-Jongg, the family's pet lemur. Plus, the gardens are gorgeous.
Another gem in the Eltham area, Oxleas Wood is an ancient deciduous forest, some parts of which date back 8,000 years. Walking through these atmospheric woods, you'll quickly forget you're still within the M25! Nestled within is Severndroog Castle, a folly with hexagonal turrets built in the late 1700s. It was recently reopened to the public following restorations, and it's definitely worth a visit.
London has a number of outdoor pools, but Brockwell Lido is arguably the prettiest, with its refurbished 1930s buildings nested up against Brockwell Park. On warm-weather days, it fills up (as do other pools in places like Tooting Bec, Finchley, and London Fields) and the atmosphere is full of fun. On quieter, colder days, only the brave take to the pool. Others visit the incredible onsite cafe instead, which is worth a visit even if you're not planning a swim later.
If you want a taste of how the other half live, head to Harrow-on-the-Hill and stroll round the streets surrounding the prestigious boys' school, where the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Curtis, James Blunt, and even Sir Winston Churchill were educated. Though Harrow can refer to a huge area of North-West London, this particular part feels almost like a village; you can forget you're in London for a moment. Head to the top of the hill for amazing views across London in all directions. It's worth the trip for the photo op alone!
After the Great Exhibition in 1851, the large glass structure used to house exhibits was moved to a park in a South Eastern suburb of London, and Crystal Palace was born. Though the building is now gone (after a fire in 1936) there's still plenty to justify a trip. Perhaps the most famous occupants of the park are the stone dinosaurs at the South end. Comissioned in the late 1800s, they were the first dinosaur sculptures of their kind. A few mistakes were made (the Iguanodon has a horn: this was later discovered to be modelled on a thumb bone!) but they remain a joy to behold. When you're done, head uphill to the Crystal Palace triangle (the three streets comprising the centre of the "village") to wander through antique shops, boutiques, and great restaurants and pubs.
A hugely underrated gem, hidden away on the Isle of Dogs in the shadow of Canary Wharf's skyscrapers, this free museum delves into the history of London as a trade port, taking you back to the days of the East India Trading Company. It's well thought out and has plenty of interactive exhibits to keep kids happy. On busy weekends when the museums in South Kensington and the galleries in Trafalgar Square are jam-packed with tourists, this offers a far more subdued but no less interesting alternative.
This 16th century manor house in Tottenham now plays host to a number of collections and exhibits, many of which concern the history of the surrounding areas. There are also exhibits that pay homage to past residents, such as Rowland Hill, creator of the postage stamp. There are lots of events for kids, and Tottenham Hotspur fans will love seeing a rare copy of the "Spurs Opus", the complete history of the club.
Tourists who stay in Paddington often make the pilgrimage up to the canals of Little Venice, but those staying in other areas of central London often miss this picturesque part of the city. Take a narrowboat cruise to really get a feel for what it would have been like to navigate the city via the canal network, or stop off at one of the restaurants, pubs, or cafes that line the waterways. If you choose to board a boat heading to King's Cross, you can finish your journey with a trip to the Canal Museum. Though it's technically in zone 1, taking the scenic route there makes it count for this list!
The very South West, where London becomes Surrey, offers up lots of potential day trips: Richmond Park, Kew Gardens, Hampton Court to name but three. Lesser-known but no less spectacular is Ham House, a fully intact 17th century stately home. The inside houses a collection of furniture and textiles, hands-on exhibits, and much more. Outside, the gardens are beautifully kept and will keep kids occupied for hours.
