London is a city known for its icons like Big Ben (ahem, actually Elizabeth Tower), Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye. But what if you’ve seen the postcard version and you’re craving something different? The real magic often lies in the unexpected, the tucked-away, and the wonderfully strange. To discover that side of the city, you’ll want to seek out the best offbeat tours London has to offer, ideally led by someone who knows the city’s secrets inside and out.
London is full of spots most visitors (and even many locals) overlook:
- A Roman temple under a modern office building
- A neon-lit junkyard art installation in Walthamstow
- Dinner on a disused Tube car
- A Gin Palace built on the site of a former prison
The key to finding these places isn’t luck. These are the kinds of places we geeky tour guides go scope out on our time off, because we love our city! That’s why travelers turn to the best private tour guides in London, people who can take you far beyond the standard itinerary and into the stories hidden behind everyday façades.
The best offbeat tours in London are deeply immersive. We don’t just point out odd landmarks. We tell you why that cemetery cat has a fan club, how that alley inspired a Dickens character, or what the graffiti under that bridge really means.
These tours bring you into the soul of the city, revealing how layers of history, subculture, and rebellion shape London’s personality today.
If you want to avoid crowds and uncover the city’s secrets, look for:
- Locally-run companies focused on alternative or themed tours
- Guides with niche expertise like street art, folklore, or industrial history
- Small group or private options, so you can ask questions and go off-script
- High reviews for storytelling, flexibility, and passion
The best private tour guides in London aren’t reciting from a script. We’re sharing our version of London, shaped by years of geeking out on exploring our own city.
Want to see where punk was born? Track down filming locations for your favorite weird movie? Visit every blue plaque for scandalous Victorian women? You can with a private guide. We are always happy to build you a custom tailed experience. Whether it’s odd museums, literary ghosts, or taxidermy pubs, London’s weird side becomes your own adventure.
London isn’t just one city, but more like hundreds of overlapping worlds. To explore the most intriguing corners, skip the tour buses and dig deeper with the best offbeat tours London has to offer. A walk with one of the best private tour guides in London like Londunnit can turn a good trip into an unforgettable one.
You won’t just see things. You’ll discover things and better yet, be fully immersed.
