Now the world’s biggest sporting events have graciously passed, London will be much more visitor friendly over the coming months. With autumn on its way, now is an excellent time to explore a city that can satisfy the curiosities of even the most hardened travellers.
This guide will highlight some of the ways you can live like a local and explore ‘real’ London, off the beaten track and away from the normal tourist traps.
Find an Old Fashioned through a fridge door
For a truly unique drinking experience, try a cocktail in the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town. This unusual pop-up speakeasy is found below The Breakfast Club in Spitalfields, E1.
Simply walk up to the bartender and ask to see the Mayor. They will then nonchalantly escort you through a SMEG fridge to the downstairs hidden bar, which serves up an array of inviting cocktails, away from the hum drum of the restaurant above.
There is also a selection of food on offer too, with American inspired plates including chilli cheese fries and an order of fiery meatballs on the side.
Stay in someone else’s home
For a unique place to stay, try a vacation apartment from onefinestay; a luxury rentals business based in London and New York. The company works by taking stylish homes across the city and turning them into a boutique hotel when the owner is out of town.
Homes vary from around 150$ a night for a one bedroom apartment in East London to over 1,000$ a night for a four bedroom townhouse in affluent West London, offering visitors a unique way to experience the city.
Highlights include each guest receiving an iPhone during their stay; which is preloaded with tips on the best restaurants and places to visit in the area.
Keep quiet about the Secret Cinema
For a truly immersive cinema experience, why not join in with the theatre at the Secret Cinema; lauded as one of the city’s most ground breaking film events.
The Secret Cinema team have built a cult following in recent years for hosting large scale productions around a film, which is shown at the end of the evening. Take Prometheus for example, which was shown following a post-apocalyptic introduction involving jump suits, gas masks and space age guards across over 20,000 sq feet of abandoned warehouse space.
Actors are involved from the beginning of the evening to immerse viewers in the atmosphere of the film and play out individual roles throughout the evening. Previous films have included Grease, TopGun, Ghostbusters and a more obscure pseudo-documentary The Battle for Algiers, which was received by rave reviews due to its chilling and chaotic production.
