London, as we know, is a mesmerising city with many famous landmarks and tourist attractions to visit. 

Who doesn’t know to visit Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye when they’re in town? 

But there are lots of quirky and unusual things that might not immediately jump to mind when planning your London adventure.

There are two good reasons for this. One: they’re jolly good fun. And two: when you tell someone what you did, they’ll say, “what do you mean you did that?” 

You’ll be entertaining them with tales of fun and madness in old London town.

Cocktails in prison

You don’t even have to commit a crime, wait to be sentenced, and begin your stretch. The Alcotraz Prison Cocktail Bar on Brick Lane literally gives you a prison uniform and locks you up.

Where it differs from being inside is that other inmates will serve you cocktails. 

Smuggle in whatever liquor you fancy, hand it over and you will be served within your cell. There’s no menu – I mean, how can there be, this is prison…? – so whatever you bring will be used. 

But be sure you avoid the prison warden as he does not take kindly to such activities! 

Crazy golf on Oxford Street

Not actually in the street itself, of course, because that’s always full of thousands of tourists visiting one of London’s most famous shopping centres. 

Swingers is where you need to head. Just off Oxford Street – there’s also a venue by the Gherkin near Liverpool Street Station – Swingers offers all the charm of a seaside crazy golf experience, even though it’s a fair distance from the nearest coast. 

There are two crazy golf courses with all the features that make the game fun and, at times, frustratingly impossible. Helter-skelters, loop-the-loops, big wheels – put your golfing skills to the test. 

The venue includes bars and food vendors, and you really can forget that you’re in the middle of one of Europe’s busiest thoroughfares. 

Swingers can be found in Oxford Street just along from Oxford Circus tube station and Brown’s Buildings on St Mary Axe, right next door to the Gherkin.

Coffee in a toilet

“Sorry, say that again? Coffee in a toilet?” Yes, that’s right. On the corner of Foley Street and Great Titchfield Street you will see the entrance to an underground public convenience. 

It’s labelled ‘Attendant’ which in this case doesn’t mean that it is manned by a guard, it’s actually the name of the company that has turned it into a coffee house. 

Hot drinks, cold drinks, brunch, and lunch are all available in this you-really-have-to-give-it-a-go venue. 

Come on, when did you last sit down to lunch in a public convenience?

Attendant is only five minutes away from Oxford Street, so maybe a stop here before a round of crazy golf?

The Clink

London is brimming with fascinating museums. But how about visiting a prison museum? 

Dating back to 1144, Clink Prison is one of Britain’s oldest and most notorious jails. The Clink Museum shows instruments of torture, archaeological artifacts, and stories of torment and misfortune. 

Ye olden prisoners were charged for food. So, to raise funds to eat, the poorest among them had to beg from passers-by at the prison gates, sell their clothes or, alternatively, starve. 

The prison became so notorious that ‘the clink’ is still used as a slang term for ‘prison’.

You’ll find The Clink on Clink Street, right by the River Thames along from London Bridge.

Sail a hot tub through London

What’s your first thought when you fancy a jaunt down the waterways? A barge, perhaps? Maybe a canoe or kayak? Well, how about a hot tub? 

Come on, admit it, the thought of floating past the offices at Canary Wharf in a hot tub, glass of fizz in hand, is a tempting one, isn’t it? 

If you don’t fancy sitting in a hot tub, there’s also the option of a barbecue boat. Of course, when I say ‘boat’, what I mean is massive rubber ring. 

The good thing is that you don’t have to be an experienced sailor as the tubs are electric and very easy to handle. An experience like no other.

Skuna is the place to go for such outings, and they’re based at Canary Wharf in the London Docklands. 

The Big London Bake

Have you ever watched The Great British Bake Off and thought, “I can do that”?

On the flip side, have you ever watched The Great British Bake Off and thought, “there’s no way I can do that”? 

Whichever one it is, The Big London Bake is for you. You can experience what it is like in the famous tent even with absolutely zero cooking skills. 

There are 12 baking stations, recipes are prepared, and all the ingredients are supplied, so you can challenge your friends or see how you go against complete strangers. 

Aside from being good fun, you can relax in the knowledge that you won’t be completely shown up on TV!

The Big London Bake is on Tooting High Street, not far from Tooting Broadway underground station. 

So, there you have it. London is not only an iconic city with a host of famous attractions, but it’s also a fun place to be.

Buckingham Palace - tick, Tower Bridge - tick, Piccadilly Circus - tick. Yeah, yeah, everyone’s done those, haven’t they?

But these quirky activities, and many others dotted around the city, will give you extra kudos as you impress your friends and persuade them to visit, too.