ADVENTURES OF THE UNEXPECTED
For those who’ve frequented London on their business and leisure trips, here are a few lesser known yet fascinating sites of the British capital
The sites, sounds (Mind the Gap), restaurants and parks of London have always appealed to us. Exploring the British capital post work and meetings means visiting pubs, diners in nooks, exploring the city’s history and architecture. If you, like us, wish to explore different facets of London and venture into the lesser known yet fascinating parts of the city, read on.
DENNIS SEVERS’ HOUSE
Situated at 18 Folgate Street in Spitafields, Dennis Severs’ House is considered a time capsule. Created by its erstwhile owner Dennis Severs, the house is a “still life drama” that aims to encapsulate what life would have been like for a family of Huguenot (French Protestants that faced severe persecution) silk weavers. The sites, sounds and even smells take you on a historic trip through an alternative 18th century world. Dennis Severs, an artist, has created the house as if it were a painting. A tour here is a “game” where visitors “interrupt a family of Huguenot silk weavers named Jervis". As you journey off into a silent search through the ten rooms, you receive a number of stimulations to your senses. The experience is conducted in silence and the house’s motto is “you either see it, or you don’t”.
LEAKE STREET ARCHES
“Eat. Drink. Paint. Play,” says the website of Leake Street Arches, located below the hustle and bustle of Waterloo Station. Pegged as a “celebration of urban art, dining and entertainment”, Leake Street Arches houses a mix of bars and eateries including Mamuśka! Polish Kitchen and Bar for traditional Polish food and Banh Bao Brothers for quirky Asian cuisine. It is also home to Draughts London that is London’s first board game cafe. For anyone who loves alternative art, the graffiti tunnel is a mustvisit as it showcases the eclectic works of local artists. You can also visit the Vaults Theatre that plays host to various theatrical performances and club events. Visitors can also access the historic Lower Marsh Market that was founded in 1850 and today houses an array of independent shops.
EEL PIE ISLAND
Known for its legendary musical history, Eel Pie Island is located along the banks of the Thames between Twickenham and Richmond. The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Black Sabbath have hosted their iconic gigs here. The island was also home to one of the UK’s largest hippie communities. In today’s era too, the isle exudes its artistic and free-spirited energy and is ideal for those on the lookout for something alternative in London. Eel Pie Island is home to an amiable community of craftsmen, artisans and inventors that welcome visitors officially between June and December. Upon walking across the bridge that separates it from the mainland, you come across little studios that are bejewelled with snazzy jewel-coloured lamps and guarded by mannequins. If you’re interested in learning more about the island’s history, bookmark the Eel Pie Island museum.
MILK TRAIN
Deemed to be the first candy floss ice cream cone place in the UK, Milk Train is your go to ice cream parlour for those perfect, gram-worthy shots. Milk Train’s candy floss milk shakes and ‘inspired by travel’ ice cream pints are quite appealing to the eye and the palate as well. Poised as an ‘experiential ice cream brand’, Milk Train’s Covent Garden store invites you to create your own ice cream and milk shakes by swirling their own creamy ice cream base with different mix-ins. The recently created recently seasonal range of ice cream pints inspired by travel are made using British milk and cream that’s coupled with natural stabilisers for balanced flavours. Milk Train also has dairy-free options for vegans. visitbritain.com