London’s energy is unmatched.
Not only is it home to thousands of years of history, hundreds of cultures, and millions of people, it’s the perfect playground for anyone planning an outing for friends, colleagues or families.
There are thousands of incredible, creative, exciting, and downright fun things to do, from immersive challenges and hidden-gem adventures to secret bars and tour buses that serve afternoon tea. There are endless, quirky group activities in London.
The only problem is, how on earth are you supposed to find the very best activities for your next adventure, in a veritable smorgasbord of options?
Thankfully, this is a carefully curated list of the city’s very best, and most unique activities, specially selected for you and your crew.
Let’s take a look.
1. The Race Across The World Experience
We’ve all heard of the show and had arguments with friends about how long we’d last, or who we think would win; we’ve all got that ‘gives up on day one’ friend.
Well, now is your chance to prove yourself. Pick a group of friends and embark on a high-adrenaline adventure across London with the Race Across the World Experience.
You’ll find yourself tackling challenges, following clues and solving puzzles on a city wide scale, racing from point to point and ticking off the city’s biggest attractions as you go.
Race on foot through the city streets and discover all the things you’ve been missing when riding the dingy tube!
2. Secret Supper Clubs
London is famed for its culinary scene, but now, as people seek a more experiential evening in town, foodies are seeking something new; enter London’s secret supper clubs.
This is one of the most innovative and exciting culinary experiences from a city famous around the world for its food, and it’s fantastically difficult to get involved in.
A secret supper club could see you dining in an old train car, at a literal chef’s table in their apartment, in a cave, or pretty much anywhere else that is not a restaurant. There are plenty of theatrics, incredible food and surprises galore; as well as a theme if you’re lucky.
These hidden feasts are top-tier cool, but you’ll need to do your own research; secrecy and the act of discovery is part of their charm after all.
Forget a basic night out. London’s secret supper clubs blend gourmet dining with theatrical flair.
Picture multi-course menus revealed only when you arrive, paired with immersive storytelling and exciting experiments.
These hidden feasts are one of the best things to do in London if your group craves a mix of mystery and Michelin-level flavours, and if you can get involved.
3. Urban Kayaking on The Thames
Most would never really imagine that you can enjoy watersports in the heart of London, it’s certainly not one of the first things that springs to mind when you think of that capital; there are, however, plenty of options for anyone looking for something a little different, or off the beaten track.
Swapping the crowded city streets for gorgeous tree lined canals, or paddling the Thames and seeing icons like The Houses of Parliament and the stunning dome of St. Paul’s, really hits different.
There are guided paddles, wildlife spotting trips, sunset tours, water based pub crawls, and even litter picking excursions for you to choose from.
If you’re looking for a different way to enjoy the city, this is it. Kayak the waterways of one of the world’s greatest cities, and see things in a fresh, exciting and wet way.
4. Late-Night Museum Takeovers
As kids, we all wandered around the Natural History Museum open mouthed, eyes glinting with awe and excitement; then, Ben Stiller’s classic adventure movie Night at the Museum sparked a revolution.
Many of London’s museums are now open after hours, for an adults only evening featuring DJs, cocktails, and exclusive exhibits. These museum ‘lates’ offer access to some of the world’s finest artifacts in a way that we’ve never seen before, and honestly, it’s even cooler than you’re imagining.
If you’re a culture vulture and a night owl, then surely it does not get better than this.
5. Street-Art Workshops in Shoreditch
Banksy, and many other underrated street artists, sparked a revolution that made street art valuable, prized and even protected in many areas around the world.
Now, you and your friends can channel your inner Banksy with a guided graffiti or stencil class on the streets of one of London’s trendiest boroughs.
These hands-on sessions are perfect for groups looking to get creative and have an absolute blast, whilst exploring some of the most vibrant and hip neighbourhoods in the city.
Few group activities in London combine such uniqueness, creativity and cultural exploration into one session, as a street art workshop.
6. Next Level Escape Rooms
Escape rooms are no new thing, they’ve been around for a while.
This, however, does mean that the art has been somewhat perfected, and London actually boasts some of the most high-tech escape rooms in the world.
Immersive yourself in puzzles that demand teamwork and quick thinking, enjoy sci-fi thrillers, movie themed brain melters, and historical mysteries as you work as a team to beat the clock.
If you’re looking for one of the best, quirkiest things to do in London, then you could do a lot worse than enjoying an incredible escape room challenge.
Enjoy London
Maybe you’ve never visited before and are looking for an ‘outside the box’ way to explore, perhaps you’re booking a team building exercise with a difference, or maybe you’ve been hundreds of times are simply looking for something different, London has got you covered.
It’s one of the most incredible, individualistic, and cultural cities in the world, and there is so much more on offer than simply shopping and visiting pubs (although that is a great thing to do too!).
Use this list to enjoy some of the quirky, unique and exciting things on offer in a city that gets better and better the more you explore.
