Alexandra Palace drone show. Photo: Skyshark Media / Shutterstock.com Visiting London doesn't have to be limited to Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, and a few hasty photos with Buckingham Palace in the background. From party boats to fashion shows, hidden cab rides, adult-only funfairs, a glass elevator inside a former power station chimney, and dining in the dark, there is plenty to fill a trip to London and make it memorable.
Photo: The Nott'm Lass / Shutterstock.comLet's jump straight to some fun night activities in the city. Head to Fairgame at One New Change, directly opposite St Paul's Cathedral. This adults' playground brings the traditional funfair indoors, with 12 games ranging from the giant hook-a-duck Beaky Finders to competitive shooting, racing and arcade-style challenges, all connected to live leaderboards so you can compete against your friends.
After the games, you can grab street food from Burger & Beyond, Alby's Pizza or Le Bab, while cocktails, frozen margaritas and even Prosecco-infused candy floss add to the funfair atmosphere. DJs also play from Wednesday to Saturday evenings.
Photo: marissa yeung / Shutterstock.comIf you want something even more exciting, experience the city from the water aboard a party boat taking you past landmarks including Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Westminster and the City of London, all while dancing the night away and listening to live music from a DJ and grabbing a light buffet.
If you plan a September trip, don't miss Totally Thames starting on the 12th. The annual celebration brings art, performances and other events to locations along the river.
The Great River Race is also taking place on September 12, adding another spectacle as crews race along the Thames in a variety of boats.
During the day on September 12, the Open House Festival will give visitors the unique chance to enter buildings and architectural spaces that are normally closed to the public. It's a fantastic way to discover another side of London beyond its traditional tourist attractions.
Photo: Cup Of Spring / Shutterstock.comFashion takes over the capital later in September, with London Fashion Week beginning on September 17.
While access to the official shows is generally limited, visitors can still experience the atmosphere around the event as designers, models, media and fashion enthusiasts arrive in the city.
Photo: anutr tosirikul / Shutterstock.comFor an adrenaline-filled experience in London, head to the ArcelorMittal Orbit at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford and try Helix, a 178-meter tunnel slide that spirals around the outside of the UK's tallest sculpture. The ride twists around the structure 12 times, taking you through curves, drops and a tight corkscrew section before reaching speeds of up to 15 mph.
The Orbit itself stands 114.5 meters high, and visitors can also head up to its viewing platforms for panoramic views stretching across London, including sights such as the Shard, St Paul's Cathedral, Big Ben, Canary Wharf and the O2.
Photo: Lewis Creative / Shutterstock.comOne of London's most unusual attractions is Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station.
The experience takes visitors inside the iconic building and into its north-west chimney. A glass elevator climbs 109 meters, eventually providing spectacular 360-degree views across London's skyline.
Photo: Marcus E Jones / Shutterstock.comOne of the most unusual things to do in central London is hiding in plain sight opposite Tottenham Court Road Station. Outernet London is an immersive entertainment district at the junction of Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road, and at its center is The Now Building, a huge digital space covered in floor-to-ceiling LED screens.
Marcus E Jones / Shutterstock.comThe best part for visitors? The Now Building is free to enter. From outside, the building's enormous screens already make it difficult to miss. But stepping inside is when the experience really begins.
The Now Building rises four storeys and surrounds visitors with giant, high-resolution screens that create immersive audiovisual displays. Rather than simply watching a large screen from a distance, you stand inside the experience as digital landscapes, artwork, animation and other visual productions surround you, covering music, art, film, gaming and culture.
The surrounding Outernet district also features Now Trending, another digital space next to The Now Building, while Now Arcade offers an LED tunnel with immersive content and augmented reality experiences.
Aerial view of Alexandra Palace in North London. Credit: Vittorio Caramazza / ShutterstockIf you want to see a different side of London, spend an afternoon or evening at Alexandra Palace, better known as Ally Pally. Sitting in 196 acres of parkland in north London, the historic venue combines panoramic city views with concerts, festivals, outdoor activities and plenty of unusual things to do.
UK, England, London, city skyline from Alexandra Palace. Credit: Robert Harding Video / ShutterstockOne of the biggest attractions is the Alexandra Palace Fireworks & Drone Festival, which returns on November 7 and 8, 2026. The event combines a large fireworks display with a synchronized drone show, a bonfire, funfair rides, live entertainment, street food and a beer festival, creating much more of a festival atmosphere than a traditional fireworks night.
You don't have to wait until November for an adrenaline rush. Summit at Alexandra Palace, which opened in February 2026, offers a guided rooftop adventure taking visitors to around 130 meters above sea level. The experience provides 360-degree views across London and can be booked for daytime, sunset or nighttime climbs.
For something closer to ground level, Go Ape offers high ropes challenges, a Tarzan Swing and the 46-foot Plummet, while the boating lake has pedalos and rowing boats.
Inside the Palace, visitors can also go ice skating, watch ice hockey or attend seasonal ice discos. The historic venue regularly hosts concerts, comedy, theatre and other major events.
Photo: Chris Lawrence Images / Shutterstock.comHead into London's neighborhoods and explore Covent Garden's restaurants, cafés, shops and street performers if you want a lively place to spend an afternoon. Nearby Soho offers a completely different atmosphere, with independent restaurants, bars, theaters and some of London's most recognizable streets.
Borough Market is one of London's best-known food destinations offering everything from British produce and cheeses to international street food, pastries and desserts.
There is more to Madame Tussauds London than taking photographs with famous wax figures. Hidden inside the attraction is one of its more unusual experiences: the Spirit of London Ride, a short journey through the capital's history in an iconic London black cab.
Photo: NorthSky Films / Shutterstock.comFor a fun underground adventure, visit the Postal Museum and ride the Mail Rail. The miniature railway once carried letters beneath London's streets, connecting postal sorting facilities.
For something genuinely unusual, head to the Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities in Hackney.
The museum is filled with eccentric collections spanning art, natural history and bizarre objects. It is a far cry from London's traditional museums and is ideal for anyone who enjoys the strange and unexpected.
Photo: ShutterstockFor an experience that is as much about your senses as sightseeing, look for dining in the dark experiences.
Instead of seeing your food, you rely on taste, smell, touch and sound while eating in complete darkness. It is certainly not a conventional London dinner and makes a memorable option for couples or travelers looking for something unusual.