Off the Beaten Path: Exploring Hidden Treasures in London

So often when we travel we feel like we barely have time to scratch the surface of the “main tourist attractions” of whatever city we happen to be visiting.  One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to get off that tourist trap path and explore smaller, lesser known parts of a city in order to really get a feel for how people live.  Last time we were in London we had the chance to explore the Primrose Hill  neighborhood.  Choosing this particular part of the city may or may not have been driven by my Paddington loving 9 year old.  We read about Primrose Hill on and learned about some interesting things to see and do, and fortunately our friend Shannon knew right where to take us.

Primrose Hill is a darling neighborhood full of colorful houses, pretty parks, cute shops and one of our favorite stops in the city…Primrose Bakery.

After you eat cupcakes for breakfast, work them off by hiking to the top of Primrose Hill on the north side of Regent’s Park for some of the best views of London.

Regents Park is also home to the London Zoo, children’s playgrounds and boating on the main lake when the weather is nice.

While you may not be able to “check a box” when you forego visiting a more popular tourist attraction in lieu of exploring other parts of a city less traveled, you will leave having experienced a part of the city few others get an opportunity to.

Looking for more help planning a trip to London?  Check out these posts:

Things to do in London: Visit Borough Market

Visiting Notting Hill

Afternoon Tea at the Orangery at Kensington Palace

Take a Spin on the London Eye

Tour the Tower of London

Tips for Using Public Transportation in London

Primrose Hill: Home of Paddington Bear

What it’s like to rent a vacation flat in London

How to Stay Connected While Traveling in Europe

A Walking Tour of London

Happy Travels!

Tammy