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Off the beaten path: Hidden gems in London

Location: London, England

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Many blogs and TikToks purport to uncover hidden gems in London but are not really hidden, or gems. On my most recent trip to London, England I found three true hidden gems that I had not seen anywhere else. One was quite literally off the beaten path! Read along to see my favorite discoveries from my latest trip. 

image shows two red bicycles outside a blue building that says HIRE on it
Lee Valley Canoe and Kayak rents bikes like this so you can cycle through the park and towpaths. A true hidden gem less than an hour outside London!

BIKE RENTAL IN GREEN BELTS

Before my trip, I asked for suggestions on Threads, which of course turned my Threads feed into “all London all the time.” One threader mentioned she had walked from Kingston to Richmond, and ate at a place called Hansel and Pretzel. (An AMAZING name for a German deli). That prompted me to head to Google Maps and see if there was a bike rental near a similar green belt. I needed it to be relatively close to a train or transit, and open on the weekends. 

Google Maps led me to Lee Valley Canoe & Cycle and the Lee Valley area. LVCC is right on the River Lee Country Park, a park of 1,000 acres in Broxbourne in Hartfordshire. Along the River Lea are 27.5+ miles of walking and cycling paths. LVCC rents canoes and cycles, and is a ten minute walk from the train station. 

Once I rented my bicycle, I used the map of Lee Valley to find the nearby canal towpath to ride my bike. The bike was a fat-tire bike that was easy to ride on the dirt and gravel towpath. 

image shows a small green bridge over a river-like canal, with some ducks in the foreground

Along the path I passed several canalboats moored along the canal, and some going through the locks. The path narrowed down quite a bit at parts so I would need to scoot over to give space to the occasional dog walker. At times, the ride was quite literally off the beaten path, since I was forced to ride through weeds, wildflowers, and overgrowth. It was far less crowded than a Saturday ride on the Burke-Gilman here in Seattle. 

After riding south for an hour to Waltham Arms, I grabbed a pint at the local, The Greyhound. Instead of following the same towpath back, I rode back through the park along the marshes. I saw so many birds! And a lot, and I mean a lot, of very good dogs. 

image shows a traditional english pub called The Greyhound with some bunting over a green paned window with a bicycle in front

I loved this experience because I was able to get out of the city and see a different side of exurban London that most don’t take the time to experience. I enjoyed the peaceful canal, lined by colorful canal boats and blooming spring flowers. Even though it was a bit overcast, the warm May day made for a relaxing day out for a leisurely bike ride. I could have ridden all day through the Lee Valley.

LVCC rents bicycles for £15 for two hours on the weekends, and the same price for four hours during the week. 

Getting to Lee Valley Regional Park and LVCC

From Liverpool Street Station, take the Greater Anglia train towards Hertford East or Audley End. The train will cost £16 and take about 40 minutes. I did not purchase my ticket ahead of time, and was able to just tap in using my iPhone. Ask at the Information desk if you are heading even further out; not every station has tap in/out.

Once you reach Broxbourne Station, walk through the parking lot and around the park to Lee Valley Canoe & Cycling. It was about a ten minute walk. After a great bike ride, enjoy a bite to eat at the local cafe or cross the white pedestrian bridge to the local pub.

In retrospect, I should have found some place in eastern London along the southern end of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park or Lee Valley and ridden north. Instead I trained north as mentioned and biked south. The possibilities are endless if you find a green belt on the map, you can get there by train or bus and the adventure begins.

image shows a woman with pigtail braids and a pink shirt riding a bike by a canal
I loved riding along the canal. Look at my duck frens!

Other Cycling Tours to help you discover your own Hidden Gem in London

CANAL TOWPATH WALKS

This trip is the first time I’ve saved locations for my trip in a Google Map. I know a lot of travel bloggers save everything in a saved Map, but that wasn’t me. Since I had a lot of meetings on this trip, I started saving office locations and my coworkers’ hotels so I could easily find them. 

image shows a canal in London. On one side is a large tree. On the other are several narrow boats. a duck glides in the canal.

In my Google Mapping, I noticed a small icon for a Towpath Garden. Upon zooming in, it looked like it was a walking path along another canal. One morning I grabbed a coffee from Prêt-à-Manger and set out for a walk to explore this hidden gem that seemed quite literally off the beaten path. 

Regent’s Canal is an 8.6-mile long canal with 12 locks that bisects London. I walked down the steps near the Towpath Garden in Shoreditch, and then walked east a mile or two with my coffee. I passed several runners, cyclists, commuters, and dog walkers. Parts of the canal are lined with adorably painted canal narrowboats. I love with the canal boats have gardens on the roofs and decks. 

I even passed an outdoor cafe/restaurant in one of the boats that I want to visit the next time I’m in London. It was called Bruno’s, by Shepherdess Walk, and all of the canal boats were named after flowers. 

image shows a plaque in the grouund that says Jubilee Greenway with a crown and laurel leaves, and the toes of some running shoes

In researching the Canal and River Trust, I found out there is a London Canal Museum! I can’t believe I missed a museum on canals, especially one that includes a trip on a narrowboat! 

Other boat tours that can help you explore this hidden gem Regent’s Canal

Getting to Regent’s Canal

I walked north from my hotel, the Montcalm East, to the Towpath Gardens, about 15 minutes from Old East Underground stop on the Northern Line. Another popular spot on the canal is near Paddington Basin, Little Venice – use Underground stop at Paddington or Little Warwick. 

SUMMER BY THE RIVER 

The last hidden gem in London is the Summer by the River pop-up along the south side of the Thames between the London and Tower Bridges. This “festival” is sponsored by the local neighborhood London Bridge City, and features live music, cafe seating, several bars, pop-up restaurants and more. 

image shows an aperol spritz being held in the foreground against the tower bridge by river thames, taken from summer by the river hidden gem london
I love an aperol spritz – in this case at hidden gem in London at Summer by the Bridge. It matches my nails!!!

When I was there, it happened to be the weekend of the UEFA tournament so the area was crowded with fans. I loved getting a drink (aperol spritz) and being able to walk along the waterfront taking photos. There were kids playing on the stairs, groups taking photos, and more. 

This was a delightful hidden gem to grab a drink on my way to see a show at the Bridge Theater. For anyone with kids that needs a place to let them run around while you enjoy some adult beverages and snacks, check out the Summer by the Bridge each summer, May 30-September 1.

Other Hidden Gems to Explore near the London Bridge

Getting to Summer by the River

London Bridge City neighborhood is located on the south side of the Thames, between the London Bridge and Tower Bridge. You can take the Northern line or Jubilee line to London Bridge station on the Tube. The activities are just to the west of Potters Field Park. This is a great addition if you’re visiting the Tower of London (see my last trip to London), Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, or Borough Market.

Not sure where to stay in London while you’re adventuring off the beaten paths to these hidden gems? I rounded up several places to stay in my Three Day Itinerary in London, although I also quite liked the hotel I stayed at for this trip as well.

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