5 Things To Do In London That Are A Little Bit Different

Finding new, fun things to do in London isn’t hard. With so much fascinating culture, unique independent businesses and quirky activities, the possibilities are quite literally endless. But filtering through all of the options to find the best one for you can be time consuming. We’ve partnered with Secret London to round up some great pastimes that are guaranteed to fascinate, excite and delight. From extra-terrestrial immersive experiences to neon life drawing classes, these activities will broaden your horizons no end.

Embark on an audio-visual journey through the elements

So this is where it all began. Well, not literally - but the astounding technological innovation you’ll encounter at Genesis: A Breathtaking Spectacle of Light and Colour might make you feel as though you’re witnessing the world’s inception. With dazzling visuals and audio you’ll be taken on a journey through the first three days of creation. Experience light, water, earth and plants as you never have before!

How to get there: Catch the Northern line from London Waterloo to Tottenham Court Road, then walk for six minutes. The address is 79 Endell Street, WC2H 9DY.

Take a neon life drawing class

Think of your run-of-the-mill life drawing class, but this time, the naked model is covered in glowing neon paint. And at Neon Naked, instead of sketching in muted monochrome, you’ll be using glowing pastels, chalks, pens and crayons (all of which are included in the class). Lit up with LED ultra-violet, your model will also be sporting flamboyant handcrafted accessories, providing you with a fantastic spectacle on which to base your masterpiece. You’ll warm up with some quick drawing exercises, then you’re free to experiment as you wish!

How to get there: Catch the Northern line from London Waterloo to Kennington, then walk for seven minutes. The address is 140 Newington Butts, SE11 4RN.

Step into a real life Martian invasion

POV: it’s 1898 and Martian forces are attacking Parliament and Big Ben. Brought to life with immersive theatre, augmented reality, VR and holograms, War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience will take you on a startlingly lifelike adventure through a Martian invasion. This multi award-winning event is set across 24 interactive scenes based on Jeff Wayne’s iconic album. From 300 ft Martian fighting machines, to hot air balloon rides, this multi-sensory experience is nothing short of extraordinary. And you can enjoy £10 off your ticket with this SWR reward.

How to get there: From London Waterloo, walk to Embankment tube station and hop on the southbound District line to Tower Hill, then walk for seven minutes. The address is 56 Leadenhall St, EC3A 2BJ.

Wes and Sandy’s pick of the week

South Western Railway’s winged friends, Sandy and Wes are always on hand to provide their top London recommendations. Sandy is a culture vulture with a love for the arts, theatre and lunching with the girls, while Wes loves clubs, pubs and going to gigs with his mates. But one thing they can both agree on is their love of soaring through the air. Circus Glory Trapeze School is run by a woman named Genevieve, whose career in circus, music and theatre spans from The Royal Opera House to George Michael music videos. So she’s more than qualified to show you the ropes and build your confidence with this exhilarating activity! Classes are available for a range of abilities and ages and are held in small groups or 1-1.

How to get there: Catch the Northern line from London Waterloo to Chalk Farm, then walk for nine minutes. The address is 29 Hopkinsons Place Primrose Hill Community Centre NW1 8TN.

Go BTS of one of the UK’s most prominent theatres

The thespians and theatre-goers among you may have sat in the audience at the National Theatre many a time before. But how many of you can say you’ve seen behind the curtain? On a 75 minute tour you can discover the secrets of this iconic Southbank building. Witness incredible sets evolving in the on-site carpentry, drop in on prop and painting workshops and gain an insight to how their world-class productions come to fruition. Got a group of ten or more? Get discounted tickets and opt for the private tour!

How to get there: From London Waterloo, walk down Theatre Ave for six minutes.

Save money by travelling with SWR

Now you’ve discovered these wellbeing activities to try, it’s time to plan your travel. Find cheap train tickets by travelling off-peak and enjoy further discounts with a Railcard. If you’re travelling in a group, you could benefit from GroupSave.

Don't forget to check out SWR Rewards to unlock rewards when you travel with us. Enjoy discounts on any of our rewards including days out, dining deals, theatre tickets, hotel stays and much more.