5 Things You Probably Missed on Your Last Trip to London

London is a big city. No, London is actually a metropolis. Wait, even better, London is a huge global megalopolis. One that naturally absorbs all the spices of the world and mixes them in its many boroughs, like a huge caldron of multiculturalism. But, perhaps more than that, London is the one city that has been influencing cultures around the world for the longest time.

From sports to fashion, from celebrities to popular YouTubers, London has it all. A little bit of London for everyone, regardless of whether you live in Suva or London itself. If there ever was a list of 'influencer cities' out there, London would certainly be among the top.

However, for all the things we know about London, there are still many obscure to us, 'normal people'. Some places or spots which most travelers simply are unaware of their existence. Heck, even Londoners themselves don't know about all these places. I'm sure you could stop a busy person in Hackney and ask whether they ever visited any of London's many abandoned tube stations and they would probably reply with a dramatic twist of their eyebrows, not unlike those Emilia Clarke is so famous for.

Anyway, here's a list of some great spots you probably missed on your trip(s) to London.

1. Stephen Wright's House of Dreams

Stephen Wright's House of Dreams is the kind of place that will make even those who never heard about outsider art to understand what outsider art means. Really.

Every surface and corner of this house is covered by weird objects, like dolls, lost teeth, wigs, bottles, masks, and many others. At first, it may look as if they were simply chaotically thrown together, but if you pay attention, they tell you a story. Not an easy-to-follow story, but one typical of Stephen Wright's creation.

So, next time you are in London, remember that there is a thriving art world beneath the great galleries and museums of the city. Outsider art is great to appreciate. It's perhaps the best way to understand a little of a world that just doesn't make sense. And Stephen Wright's House of Dreams is a great way to dive into this world

2. London's Abandoned Tube Stations

This is for those who enjoy the spooky areas of the cities. London - along with many other European capitals - is a heaven for those who seek this sort of thrill.

And what better place to feel these eerie vibes than walking in one of the many abandoned subway stations of London. There are scheduled tours that take you to Euston or Aldwych and reveal secret passageways, abandoned platforms, old ticket booths, and even vintage posters left behind.

The atmosphere is not the best. Nor is the air. But venturing inside one of the many abandoned tube stations in London is definitely guaranteed to boost your arsenal of interesting travel stories.

3. Eat Inside a Prison - Clink at Brixton Prison

Eat inside a prison? Yes, please and thank you! That can be arranged in London.

And believe or not, all the meals are prepared by the prisoners themselves. So, not only you will be enjoying a fine meal, but you will also be helping the prisoners who are training for NVQs in Food & Beverage Service and Professional Cookery.

As in any prison, security is a top priority here. So don't expect to just enter here as you would enter a McDonald's anywhere in the world. Here you have to book at least 72 hours in advance! This will give the Clink at Brixton Prison enough time to run a security check to make sure things go smoothl0y--both for you and the prisoners.

Moreover, cell phones are forbidden and must be locked outside. And don't even think about hiding anything in your pocket, as you have to go through metal detectors to enter the restaurant.

4. A Restaurant in a Subway Car - Underground Supper Club

Another weird experience in London, another experience in a restaurant. Also, another experience that takes places underground. 

Ok…Wait, what? Restaurants and subways… do they mix? Yes, in London they do. At Basement Galley's Underground Supper Club.

Of course, you can always carry your dinner with you and eat while you commute back home. But why do that when you can enjoy a proper meal while sitting at a table. In the Tube.

The restaurant offers a tasting menu with six courses inspired by Latin American cuisine. The ingredients used, the techniques applied, along with the environment, make it a quite unique dining experience.

For those worried about getting sick or dropping food all over the place inside a moving subway car, don't worry. The car doesn't move. 

5. London Transport Museum Depot

This awesome museum, which started as a mere storage facility, soon became a trip through the history of London's transport network.

Obviously the most noticeable items of the museum are the vehicles themselves, some that date back to the 1800s. But you will also find items such as old traffic signs, old decorative entrance arches, 'garden seat' type horse buses, and some of the first motor buses to appear in the city.

There are even food packages from the time all the food used in London Transport canteens and mess rooms was produced at the London Transport Food Production Centre.

The museum also routinely unveils new items to the public, so it's definitely worth of a visit.