FUN THINGS TO SEE IN LONDON
London doesn’t just keep its history in museums – it’s built into the streets. Beneath the polished buildings and crowded pavements are thousands of years of secrets, scandals, and engaging little stories waiting to be uncovered. StreetHunt Games is here to give you a taste of the most fun things to see in London, this influential city’s lesser-known past, and some facts you won’t find on the postcards.
Architecture – bricks with backstories
Humans have walked this land for thousands of years, and you can tell. In London, history isn’t locked away in a museum. It’s in the streets, the skyline, and the landmarks you walk past every day.
1. Narrow neighbourhood
Think your hallway’s tight? Emerald Court near Great Ormond Street is London’s narrowest alley – just 26 inches across.
Many people believe Brydges Place holds the record. It doesn’t. Emerald Court wins by seven inches and a whole lot of shoulder shuffles.
2. Fantastic founders
Fleet Street is an ancient area that dates back to Roman times, and has some of the most fun things to see in London.
Tucked inside an alcove along the street stands the statue of King Lud – the mythical founder of London – and his two sons.
Dating from the 14th century, these 14th-century figures might just be the city’s oldest standing statues.
3. Ancient apothecaries
Apothecaries’ Hall is the oldest surviving livery hall in London. Rebuilt in 1672 after the original was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666, it still stands on its original site in Blackfriars. During World War I, Agatha Christie sat her pharmaceutical exams here. She passed – though not on the first try.
4. Slice of history
St Bride’s Church – all crisp lines and grandeur – was designed by Christopher Wren and built in 1675.
Its layered spire is said to have inspired the tiered wedding cake. So next time you’re slicing into one, raise a fork to 17th-century London.
Culture – royals, rivers & hidden corners
London draws millions of visitors every year – and for good reason. From royal landmarks to riverside walks, culture here isn’t just for museums. It’s in the architecture, the street names, and the local pubs. Here are a few spots where London’s past still shapes the present.
1. Famous films
Senate House, the home of the University of London, began construction under King George V in 1932.
It isn’t just a university building, however – it’s a scene-stealer. The Dark Knight Rises, The Theory of Everything, and Orwell’s 1984 (he based the Ministry of Truth on it) all owe it a cameo.
2. Religious robes
Blackfriars began as a Dominican friary in 1278. The name comes from the black cloaks worn by the friars who lived there. By 1529, the site had a new role: hosting royal divorce proceedings. Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, to be exact. Spoiler: it didn’t go her way.
You can explore this historic corner of London on one of our StreetHunt Games. The Case of Colombia’s Finest starts in Gunpowder Square close to Blackfriars. There’s more brewing at Goodbeans=Goodbrews than just good coffee. Suspicious staff, buried files, and a trail of cryptic clues scattered through some of the city’s most iconic streets. You and your team need to follow the evidence, sniff out the truth, and stay one step ahead.
3. Peculiar prints
Magpie Alley celebrates Fleet Street’s long print and newspaper legacy with a mural of illustrations – one of the most fun things to see in London and Fleet Street’s main claim to fame (apart from the demon barber, Sweeney Todd).
Follow the art and peek over the railing – you’ll spot a crypt that spent centuries buried, just waiting for curious eyes.
4. Lion love
Lions are everywhere in English culture – from pub signs to football shirts. The Barbary lion, once kept at the Tower of London, is England’s national animal.
And yes, the Red Lion might just be the most common pub name in the country.
Discoveries – ancient history in plain sight
London’s built on layers – Roman roads, medieval walls, forgotten rivers. History isn’t just in museums here; it’s under your feet. Archaeologists and historians are still uncovering secrets the city kept buried for centuries.
1. Curious camping
After the Great Fire of 1666, Lincoln’s Inn Fields became a place of refuge. Open space, away from the smoke and rubble.
Archaeologists have since found oversized tent pegs buried deep in the soil – clues to a temporary camp built in a moment of crisis.
A brief shelter anchored in the city’s memory.
2. Saxon secrets underfoot
The name Aldwych has old roots – literally. “Ald” means old, “Wych” means village. Historians hunted high and low for signs of Saxon London, not realising the clue was right there in the street name. Sometimes, the past isn’t hidden. It’s just been walked over for centuries.
History – the city’s heartbeat
Anywhere you walk in London might be the site of a scandal, a standoff, or a slice of history. The trick? Look closer. This city has stories to tell – if you know where to look.
1. Frightful fields
Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the largest public square in London, saw more than livestock in its long history. It hosted public executions between the 1500s and 1600s, notably including Anthony Babington, Robert Morton, Hugh More, and Lord Russell. Today, the square is less grim, more picnic-like.
2. Conspicuous courts
The Royal Courts of Justice cost over £1.4 million to build – and they hide a few secrets. Room 666, said to be the coldest in the building, still hasn’t been painted.
The story goes that no cleaner could remove the original colour. Decide for yourself what that means.
3. Peaceful pedestrians
Sicilian Avenue is rumoured to be one of London’s first purpose-built pedestrianised streets. Its flats are called mansions, its offices chambers, and while the name hints at Italy, it’s mostly just a stylish spot for the chain restaurant Spaghetti House. A recent refurbishment is underway, but it is still a fun thing to see in London!
Artists – legends who painted London’s spirit
London is home to more than its history – it’s where iconic creatives and celebrities live and roam. With so many famous faces around, the city’s streets are full of unexpected antics. Keep your eyes peeled – you never know who you might spot.
1. Sneaky smuggling
In 2005, British street artist Banksy smuggled his work into the British Museum – a fake cave painting of a caveman pushing a shopping trolley.
Entitled “Early Man Goes to Market”, it went undetected for a couple of days before staff realised! Subtlety? Mastered.
2. Secret spies
In a twist worthy of fiction, famous novelist and playwright George Ivanov Markov was assassinated in London by a weaponised umbrella. A hit linked to the Bulgarian Secret Service. Truth, it seems, can be stranger than thrillers.
3. Olde originators
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (yes, that’s the name) is one of ye oldest pubs in London.
The pub made regulars out of both Charles Dickens and Mark Twain.
A pint with literary ghosts? Not out of the question.
There’s more where that came from
Want to do more than read about London’s history? Step into it.
StreetHunt Games turns the city into your playground – and your puzzle.
From dark alleyways to royal courts, each clue uncovers a layer of London you didn’t know was missing. Two mysteries are waiting to be cracked, you just have to follow the trail!
Unlock hidden secrets along the way to your Uncle’s inheritance with Will Breaker, or uncover the truth about a coffee company crime using clues in The Case of Colombia’s Finest.
Why choose StreetHunt Games as a way to discover London?
- Part story, part escape game – you’re not just solving clues, you’re deep in the mystery.
- Self-guided and flexible – go at your own pace or race against the clock.
- Designed for thinkers and doers – smart puzzles for all levels, woven into the city around you.
- Better than your average scavenger hunt – every step reveals a clue, and every clue gets you closer to the truth.
By the end, you’ll have uncovered more than a mystery. You’ll have a story to tell.