If you’re hunting for the top 10 jaw experiences that most visitors miss, you’ve landed in the right place. London’s famous sights are amazing, but beneath the tourist‑packed streets lie secret rooms, forgotten chapels and private clubs that will make your jaw drop. Below we’ve compiled a fun, chatty guide to ten of the city’s most spectacular hidden spaces – each worth a detour from the usual itinerary.
10 The Foreign And Commonwealth Office
This stately building is a must‑see for anyone who appreciates grand interiors. Its sweeping Grand Staircase dazzles with marble columns, restrained gold‑leaf accents and neoclassical frescoes that whisper of a bygone elegance.
Back in 1856 an international design competition was launched for the office’s façade. Though his entry placed third, chief architect George Gilbert Scott was ultimately commissioned to lead the project, shaping the overall exterior. He was later joined by Matthew Digby Wyatt, who added his own flair.
Scott gave Wyatt the reins to design the India Office’s interior, where Wyatt crafted the spectacular Durbar Court – an open‑sky‑styled hall that later received a protective roof in 1868, preserving the illusion of an endless ceiling while shielding visitors from the elements.
You might consider swapping a quick photo stop at Buckingham Palace for an extra hour or two wandering this lesser‑known architectural marvel. While many London institutions exist to educate or entertain, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is a working hub bustling with real diplomats.
If the idea of a guided tour through a passport office sounds as thrilling as watching paint dry, you’re not alone. Yet we can’t help but imagine how fascinating a behind‑the‑scenes look‑around would be.
Nearest Tube Station: Embankment
Why This Is a Top 10 Jaw Must‑See
From its opulent stairwell to its diplomatic history, the FCO offers a rare glimpse into the grandeur that powers Britain’s foreign affairs.
9 The Clermont Club
Who doesn’t love a little flutter? Imagine stepping into a setting that feels ripped straight from a James Bond film – that’s the Clermont Club for you.
Don’t expect to stroll in and place a fiver on the table; it’s a members‑only casino. For over four decades, the elite of London gathered in this 18th‑century townhouse, originally crafted by William Kent, to try their luck at high‑stakes games.
Nestled in the swanky Mayfair district, the club epitomises opulence. Though it shuttered its doors in 2018 due to financial strains, plans were set for a 2020 reopening.
Even if you can’t get past the velvet rope, many guided tours of historic Berkeley Square include a glimpse of the club’s façade. Ghost‑hunters often swing by No. 50, reputedly the most haunted house in London, just a few doors down from the Clermont Club at No. 44.
So, before you hear the spine‑tingling tales of No. 50, steal a quick peek through the windows of No. 44 – a brief taste of heaven before descending into the underworld of hauntings.
Nearest Tube Station: Green Park
8 Middlesex Hospital Chapel
Middlesex Hospital shut its doors in 2005, and most of the complex was demolished in 2008. Yet the chapel survived, and with good reason – it’s a true marvel.
Designated a Grade II* listed building, the chapel cannot be altered or demolished without official consent, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Now surrounded by sleek 21st‑century office blocks and apartments, the chapel stands as a solitary island of beauty amid a sea of modernity. A £2 million restoration returned it to its former glory, preserving its intricate mosaics reminiscent of Eastern‑Orthodox churches, vibrant stained‑glass windows and restored lighting that together create a tranquil sanctuary.
Nearest Tube Station: Goodge Street
7 Sir John Soane’s Museum
Sir John Soane (1753‑1837) was a true luminary of the Regency era, celebrated as an architect before becoming a professor at the Royal Academy.
His museum, housed in Nos 12, 13 and 14 of historic Lincoln’s Inn Fields, showcases buildings he purchased and personally rebuilt. The result is a shrine to architectural brilliance, filled with his own collections and ingenious design tricks.
Walking through the museum feels like stepping into a living lesson on architecture – the space itself is as much an exhibit as the objects within. After the pandemic, the museum is once again open for visitors to explore at their leisure.
Nearest Tube Station: Holborn
6 The Royal Courts Of Justice
This imposing court building can inspire awe in a tourist and send shivers down the spine of anyone facing a serious legal battle.
Its interior feels almost ecclesiastical, yet it exudes a palatial grandeur. The vaulted Great Hall radiates authority, reminding you of the weight of decisions made within its walls.
Designed by Gothic‑Revival architect G.E. Street (1824‑1881), construction spanned eight years, culminating in an 1882 opening by Queen Victoria. Within the complex lies the “Bear Garden” – a series of small rooms and antechambers where pre‑hearing negotiations occur, despite the name suggesting a literal garden.
The term “Bear Garden” likely references the historic, brutal sport of bear‑baiting, adding a quirky historical footnote to the elegant surroundings.
Nearest Tube Stations: Temple, Chancery Lane, Holborn
5 Masonic Temple At The Andaz Hotel
The Andaz Hotel on Liverpool Street conceals a genuine Masonic Temple that was once hidden behind a thin, false wall – even the former owners didn’t know it existed.
Inspired by ancient Greek architecture, the temple boasts twelve varieties of marble imported from Italy, creating a luxurious, timeless ambience. Its location adjacent to East London’s busy transport hub makes it easily reachable, yet its splendor is so arresting you’ll want to linger.
Rumor has it that Jack the Ripper may have been a Freemason, suggesting this could have been his secret lodge. Regardless, the space now hosts a range of events – from product launches to weddings, private dinners and even burlesque shows. HBO even used it for a Game of Thrones pop‑up restaurant in 2015.
Nearest Tube Station: Liverpool Street
4 Drapers’ Hall
This magnificent building houses the ancient Drapers’ Company – formally known as “The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Blessed Mary the Virgin of the Mystery of Drapers of the City of London” – one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies.
Founded in the Middle Ages, the Drapers’ Company originally represented wool and cloth merchants. Today it operates as a charitable organisation, using this splendid venue for weddings, dinner parties and fundraising events.
The hall dazzles with awe‑inspiring chandeliers, marble statues and ornate plaster ceilings. Its cinematic appeal has attracted film crews for James Bond’s GoldenEye, Agent Cody Banks 2 and the award‑winning The King’s Speech.
Nearest Tube Station: Bank
3 Crossness Pumping Station
Crossness Pumping Station feels more like a cathedral than a utilitarian water‑works facility – a true testament to Victorian ambition.
Built to combat the cholera outbreaks and the infamous “Great Stink” of 1858, the station’s massive pumps cleaned the polluted Thames, safeguarding countless lives.
Its stunning ironwork, painstakingly repainted, resembles an arts‑and‑crafts wallpaper, proving that even functional infrastructure can be breathtakingly beautiful.
Nearest Tube Station: None – the nearest rail link is Abbey Wood train station.
2 The Princess Louise
What could be more quintessentially English than a classic pub? The Princess Louise offers a genuine Victorian‑era drinking experience.
Step inside and you’ll be greeted by a richly decorated interior, complete with marble urinals for the gentlemen – a quirky yet authentic touch that adds to the historic atmosphere.
It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a room‑temperature ale while chatting with a moustachioed artisan, perhaps a hipster T‑shirt printer, who’ll regale you with stories of the neighbourhood.
Nearest Tube Station: Holborn
1 Harrow School
Remember those cramped, chilly gymnasiums and teachers droning on about dull subjects? Harrow School offers a very different vibe.
Founded in 1572, Harrow has produced a remarkable roster of world leaders, Nobel laureates and royalty, cementing its place as one of the world’s most prestigious schools.
The campus could give Hogwarts a run for its money. Highlights include the awe‑inspiring Speech Room and the Fourth Form Room, where former pupils – including novelist Anthony Trollope, four prime ministers and photography pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot – left their names carved into the paneling.
Talbot’s experimental work was so destructive that the school’s insurers refused to cover any building he used, underscoring his fiery passion for invention.
Nearest Tube Station: Northwick Park