London Local Secrets

As an organization that sends thousands of students abroad each year, CEA has captured a list of local secrets - a collection of discoveries from our students, resident staff, as well as other locals - that make this city unique. We hope you will find the information helpful and, at the very least, an interesting read.

Leighton House Museum

This is the former home to the Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). It is located behind one of London's busy shopping streets, in Kensington, however once inside you are transported back to another time and place. The house from the outside looks like a regular 19th century building, but behind the front door is a different story. It truly is a hidden treasure, filled with beautiful artifacts, with influences from the Byzantine, Moorish and Persian period.

Open Air Theatre, Regents Park

In the middle of one of London's most beautiful parks you will find an open theatre. It was built in 1932 and is the oldest, fully professional, permanent outdoor theatre in the UK. Famous for staging Shakespeare plays, although musicals and children's plays are also featured in their repertoire, the season runs for 15 weeks (May-September). It is definitely worth a visit, a great experience.

Outdoor Markets

If you prefer markets to shops, then London can certainly offers a variety to choose from; Perhaps the most famous is Portobello which sells everything from antiques, retro clothing, vintage bric-a-brac and food, Brick Lane for clothes and household items, Greenwich for arts and crafts and Borough which is a food connoisseur’s dream.

Open Space

City life can be, at times, busy and intense, and what better way to escape than to find a little bit of calm? Hampstead Heath is the perfect getaway. It boasts 791 acres of parkland and heath-land, and 3 open-air ponds and spectacular views of London can be found at Parliament Hill. All this is but a mere 30 minutes from central London. There is also Richmond Park, located in south - west London, Richmond Park is the largest Royal Park in the capital, covering an area of 2,500 acres. On a clear day there is an uninterrupted view of St Paul's Cathedral, some 12 miles away! Richmond Park has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve, where you can find deer roaming. It is even possible to adopt a deer.

Brockwell Lido

One of London's little secrets is the Brockwell Lido, which is an open-air swimming pool located in the south of London. The"lido" is an excellent way to cool down in the summertime after living in a city with no air conditioning anywhere! Brockwell Lido is one of the only open air pools left in London, so you definitely have to check it out while abroad in the UK. Not only can you take a dip in the outdoor pool, but there are also many other activities offered year-round, like yoga, tai chi and other activities you can perform outdoors near the lido. This is definitely a cool place to check out if you are into swimming and outdoors sports!

Columbia Road Market

Among the many markets in London, you should check out the Columbia Road Market, which is located in London's East End. This market has unique products for sale, as well as trendy little boutiques that line the sides of Columbia Street. Plus, every Sunday the street is filled with flowers, topiary trees, flower bulbs and bouquets for sale! It is a beautiful sight as you walk down the street, so definitely make a stop at this market sometime while you are in London. The market is open from 8:00am-2:00pm everyday, so you can go shopping and then grab a bite to eat at one of the many cafes or authentic seafood restaurants nearby.

Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood

People claim that all adults have a "kid" in them that is dying to get out, so why not visit the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood (off of the Bethnal Green Tube Station), which will certainly allow all adults to be a kid for the day! This museum has a variety of different collections of toys, and they hold the largest collection of toys in the world. They have every kind of exhibit that you would associate with children! It is definitely a great experience for all ages, so definitely take a day trip to this museum to satisfy "the kid in everyone."

A Taste of London

Eating and drinking in London can be difficult because there are so many places to choose from; however, a few places stand out! If you like vegetarian food, you should try "Mildreds", which is an inexpensive and very popular restaurant in London. All food is made with good-quality organic ingredients. The only downside to this place is that it is always busy, so waiting for a table is quite common. Another option is Patiserie Valerie, where you can take afternoon tea and indulge yourself with one of their very tempting cakes, or choose something more substantial from their lunch or dinner menu.

St. Martin's in The Fields Church

The little church of St. Martin in the Fields on Trafalgar Square in London may not look like much on the outside, but it is definitely worth a visit. The church is famous for its classical candlelight concerts. Even if you are not a classical music fan this is a wonderful idea for a quiet night out in London. The candlelight illuminates the inside of the small historic church as the harp and strings lift their song into the night. You can get information about upcoming concerts by visiting the ticket counter in the basement of the church. Another treasure to be found in this little church is the Café in the Crypt. As you enter the main door of St. Martin in the Fields you have two choices. You can enter the main sanctuary of the church, or you can descend the steps taking you down to the basement/crypt. The Café in the Crypt, as it is so aptly named, has good food and good atmosphere. They have wonderful apple pie and their tea is welcomed warmth on a cold winter day in London. The crypt also has a very nice gift shop and a brass rubbing center. Even if you don't try the brass rubbing it is interesting to walk through it and see all of the medieval and renaissance characters immortalized in brass.

London's Secret Canals

London, like Venice, has its own series of canals, hidden waterways that meander from Little Venice to Camden Lock. Canal boat rides are a great way to discover a different part of London, and experience a gentile way of travel.