London has an infinite amount of things to do and even when you have been living in this exciting city for years, like myself, there is still a lot left to explore. Whether you’re planning a trip to London or whether you live here and you’re looking to experience the best of the city in a quirky way, here are my recommendations for some fun and unique ways to see London.
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Fun and Unique Ways to See London
Gourmet double-decker tour of London
Who hasn’t done a bus tour around a city before? I think pretty much everyone has done that at least once. But what if you had the opportunity to cruise the famous streets of London while enjoying the most delicious meal with wine pairing? Does that sound like your kind of thing? Great! Keep reading.
Bustronome have created a great concept where you can enjoy a gourmet meal while taking in the most beautiful views of London. Bustronome is essentially a fancy restaurant on wheels. The restaurant is on the top floor of a double-decker bus with a state of the art panoramic glass roof and windows, so you don’t miss out on the famous London landmarks. A highlight of the experience is going through Tower Bridge and looking up!
But the food is also a great highlight. It is all cooked in the downstairs area of the bus. It’s British cuisine with a French twist while using fresh and seasonal produce, so the menu changes depending on the season.
I had the dinner service, which included a glass of champagne on arrival and a six-course meal with wine pairing. My favourite dishes were the crab and artichoke gateau with tobiko in a light crab and wasabi sauce, and the strawberry and ginger pavlova with ginger sorbet. Truly mouthwatering!
I also loved that you are given a map of the route the restaurant follows so you can follow the journey. And with the map you get an interactive audio-pen so you get all the fun facts about London in 9 different languages.
Would I do it again? Definitely! It was a really fun and unique way to see London. But next time I would try the four-course lunch or the afternoon tea, just to try something different again.
Book your unique experience here:
High-speed sightseeing tour of London on a RIB boat
By Alex from A Life Well Travelled
I’m always on the look out for unusual and unique ways to see London, especially when I have visitors staying. My parents visited recently and I’d consider them ‘tier two’ tourists, as in they have visited previously and exhausted the more obvious sights so were looking for something different to do.
Thames Rockets has been rated number 1 outdoor attraction in London on Tripadvisor which is no easy feat, but it certainly does tick a lot of boxes. It’s centrally located; the launch point is just by the London Eye, it’s suitable for all ages and it’s a great mix of exhilarating adventure and education making it ideal for both a day out with family or a fun activity with friends. If you love this sort of activities, here are other adventurous things to do in London.
The rockets themselves are bright red RIBs and once past Tower Bridge they get up to some pretty high speeds leaving guests clinging on as the boat zooms towards Canary Wharf. Each boat has a guide and a captain and the guide gives amusing and unusual facts about the locations the RIB passes on the Thames. With so many of the main sights in the capital lined along the river, you can’t say you’ve really seen London until you’ve seen it from the water. Many of the most famous bridges have details on the columns that you can only see from below so were actually intended to be viewed by boat.
Whether it was the high speeds or the general experience; on board the Thames Rocket is the only time in Central London I’ve ever seen people actually shriek in delight so perhaps it’s no.1 rating is well deserved.
Here are other RIB boat tours of London:
- 40-minute Ultimate Tower RIB Blast Speedboat Tour
- 50-minute River Thames Speedboat Tour
- 75-minute Thames Barrier RIB Speedboat Tour
London from the Thames with a musical twist
A fun way to see London is from the River Thames. The banks of the Thames have some of London’s most important sights, so why not experience the city from the water?
But what is unique about sightseeing London on a river cruise? Well, this river cruise is a little bit different to other river cruises out there. It is a showboat dinner cruise. So not only do you get to enjoy dinner while cruising along the river and taking in the London sights, but you get a live performance with it too.
You are welcomed to the boat with a glass of sparkling wine and the cruise includes a lovely four-course meal and half a bottle of wine per person. The evening evolves from a floating restaurant to a music show, with a variety of pop and West End musicals on the repertoire.
But let’s not forget the star of the show, London. The views are stunning and you will be able to enjoy London at sunset and at night spectacularly lit up along the riverside.
The boat sets off from Westminster Pier at 19.45h and it lasts about three hours. Tables by the window are only for two people, so if it’s only two of you, try and get a window seat. However, the boat has been designed in a way so you can get a good view from any angle.
Book your Showboat Dinner Cruise
Here are other river cruises alternatives:
- River Cruise from Westminster to Greenwich by the Thames Barrier
- London: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames
- London: Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise
Tour of London on two wheels
With major cities like London being habilitated for cyclist, moving around on two wheels is now more popular than ever. So why not jump on the saddle and enjoy a cycling tour of London’s classic sights?
This bike tour covers all the major attractions of London from Westminster to The City of London. It sets off from Kennington in Central London and it takes you through backstreets and cycle paths through some of the most iconic landmarks in the city. From Big Ben to Buckingham Palace, to street performers in Covent Garden and the imposing dome of St Paul’s Cathedral.
One of the advantages of going on two wheels is that it gives you access to areas you can’t get to on foot or by bus, and it skips the traffic queues.
The tour lasts 3.5 hours and the guide gives a great insight on the history of London, but also on little secrets that only a local would know, like where to find the best local markets in London.
Book your Classic Cycling Tour of London
Here are other alternative for London bike tours
Helicopter sightseeing tour of London
Now, this one is a pretty special way to see London. And a once in a lifetime experience too! Take to the skies with a helicopter tour of London and see the city from a unique angle.
The route will take you and up to 5 other passengers up the River Thames from Putney in West London to Greenwich in the East. You will be able to see London’s most famous monuments such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern, from up high.
You will get to appreciate how high some of the skyscrapers in The City are as well as The Shard, and you’ll also get to see other well known sights outside of Central London, such as the Olympic Park, The Royal Naval College in Greenwich and Wembley Stadium.
The tour departs from the London Heliport in Battersea and it takes 20 minutes. It is available as a group tour or as a private option, and it’s narrated by the pilot.
Book your 20-Minute Helicopter Tour of London
Here are other helicopter tours of London:
Tour of London on a Black Cab
What could be a more unique way to see London than on a quintessential London mode of transport? The Black Cab.
A black cab tour of London will take you through the highlights of the city, stopping at each landmark for a photo and a historical explanation. You will cover sights such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, Kensington Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and many more.
You can also see hidden treasures and unusual places that most tourists don’t get to see. But remember that as this is a private tour, it can be tailored to your needs and what you want to see.
Did you know that the book that a London black cab driver has to memorise as part of their training is called ‘The Knowledge of London’? That’s why a black cab driver’s insight of the city is considered to be some of the most in depth, so you’ll be in good and knowledgeable hands.
Book you Black Cab Tour of London
Other black cab tours of London
- Private Black Cab 3-Hour Taxi Tour
- 4-Hour Secret Places Tour in a Black Cab
- 4-Hour Panoramic Tour by Black Taxi
A black cab tour is a great option in winter when it’s cold or the weather is not great. If you happen to be in London when it’s cold in winter, another great thing to do is visiting Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.
Private walking tour of London with a Londoner
There is no better way to get the local perspective of a new city than through the eyes of a local, so it only makes sense to explore London with a Londoner. And I would recommend doing this as soon as you arrive, as that way you will kick-start your time in London knowing your way around.
Your private tour with a local guide will take you around showing you the unique sights in the city. Aside all the famous landmarks, you will discover spots that only locals know about, so you can brag about how well you know London to your friends!
You’ll meet your local guide outside of Pimlico Station, where you will discuss what landmarks or areas you would like to see. Would you like to include all the ‘must-sees’ in your tour? Or only a few? No problem. Your guide will show you the way to your favourite spots and he’ll let you in on a few inside secrets too, from finding the best places for food to the most photogenic spots in London. Any questions you have about London, your guide will help you!
Book your Walking Tour of London with a Local
Alternative walking tours of London with a local
Planning your trip to London
- Plan your trip to London with these guidebooks.
- Get the best deals on flights with Skyscanner.
- Find the perfect place to stay on Booking.com.
- Prefer living like a local? Here’s an Airbnb £25 ($30) credit towards your first booking.
- Discover more about London through local experiences.
- And last, but not least, don’t leave without travel insurance!
Do you have any other ideas for fun and unique ways to see London?
Let me know in the comments!
Visiting London? Check out my other London articles
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Teresa is an award-winning travel blogger based in London. She’s on a mission to explore the world through responsible cultural and adventure travel, and through deeper, more meaningful local experiences. She’s a lover of adventure, the outdoors and everything food related, and she’s always looking for ways to make a positive impact through sustainable travel.
Great tips for London – most I knew about, but not Bustronome… so thanks for that little gem!
It’s such a great way to sightsee London! 😀
Beautiful written post about my home city. Surprising there is quite a bit for me to do which I havent done and I been here all my life! 😀
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it. London has never-ending things to do 😀
I can definitely see me on the gourmet bus around London, then I can walk it off on a walking tour.
I would love to take a helicopter tour of London. It would be so cool to see the city from a new perspective. I always enjoy taking boat trips along the river too. There’s just so many awesome ways to see London.
great article! So many lovely places to see – I really want to do the fantastic bus dinner tour!
I just love it! It brings me great memories from when I lived in London, I just love this city and how diverse and fun it is.