London: five somewhat lesser-known (and charming) corners to escape the crowds these days

London is one of the most visited cities in the world.

Any excuse is a good one to escape to

, regardless of the time of year.

At Christmas, the influx of people multiplies and walking through its main streets, markets and emblematic monuments can sometimes be overwhelming due to the amount of people.

Iconic places like Westminster Bridge, watched over by Big Ben on one side and the London Eye on the other, the Tower of London next to the picturesque bridge, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, the British Museum, Oxford Street , Soho or Covent Garden, among others, are some of the main attractions of the city, and a must if you are

to it

But the attraction of this macro-city of just over nine million inhabitants (more than 14 million including the metropolitan area) goes much further and you can find many corners more or less unknown to tourists that are worth going to.

If it's not the first or second time you've visited London, we recommend getting off the beaten track a bit and visiting these five places (they all reach them by subway) to discover another London.

Battersea Power Station, in Nine Elms

It is the new

in London.

It is a new neighborhood (Nine Elms) born around the iconic

a power station inactive since 1983 nestled on the Thames, on the opposite bank from the Chelsea neighborhood.

After 40 years closed, the emblematic brick building (the largest in Europe of its kind), in which coal was used as raw material, opened its doors to the public on October 14 as an innovative shopping and leisure destination.

The

the building (the first built in 1930 in art deco style and the second completed in 1950) have been transformed into an elegant and luxurious shopping center that houses more than 60 stores of the most cutting-edge and exclusive brands. , and also art galleries, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

What used to be the boiler room is

with all kinds of proposals for national and international cuisine (such as the restaurants of the well-known and television star Ramsey Gordon: Street Pizza or the Bread Street Kitchen & Bar), which will fill up little by little. little from next year.

Baterrsea Power Station Turbine Hall A converted into a luxury shopping mall.

The place has a guided tour that goes through, among other things, the old control rooms of the power plant turbines and the huge chimney, today converted into

, a fascinating panoramic elevator that reaches 109 meters high with incredible 360 ​​degree views of London (16 euros; book here).

The exclusive new hotel, art'otel, with a spa and a rooftop pool, hosts exhibitions and cultural events and will feature several restaurants, including

, by chef Henrique Sá Pessoa (two Michelin stars).

Outside, next to the river, lovers of ice skating can practice it on the rink presided over by a huge Christmas tree that will be open until January 8 (12 euros; reservations here).

Kew Gardens

Play of water and lights in

In the middle of the charming neighborhood of Kew, to the west of London and just 40 minutes by tube from the center, lies one of the most beautiful and important botanical gardens in the United Kingdom.

Commonly called Kew Gardens,

and its more than 120 hectares house a royal palace, a library with more than 750,000 books, plates and specialized magazines, one of the most important seed-generating herbaria in the world, elegant greenhouses, historic buildings, lakes and ponds (don't miss the one with the water lilies), an

with more than 14,000 trees and a Japanese garden, another one with bamboo and even carnivorous plants...

A path of almost three kilometers runs through the extensive gardens and all its wonderful enclaves, whose history dates back to the 17th century when they began to be developed next to Richmond Palace, the royal residence at the time of Henry VII of England.

They were remodeled a century later with King George III.

It is worth stopping at each of the five greenhouses, inside incredible buildings, especially the one with palm trees and exotic plants, the one with bonsai (some over 150 years old) or the alpine one, with plants that normally only grow at high temperatures. altitude.

Other must-sees are the

, from 1663 and known as the Queen's Cottage, used by George III in 1781 and Victoria of England as a summer residence, and the elevated

, which runs about 200 meters from the gardens above the treetops.

Laser projections at Kew Gaedens.

Until the 8th of January, at nightfall you can enjoy

an incredible and magical light and sound show along the entire route.

More than a million bright LEDs accompany you on a path with live performances, art installations and laser beam exhibits.

All to the sound of the most popular Christmas carols (admission: from 22 euros; more information and reservations here).

Greenwich

Also 40 minutes away by tube, but this time to the east of central London,

.

On the banks of the Thames, it has also been declared a World Heritage Site and its maritime past is confirmed by several enclaves located there.

In a dry dock is the

a historic

-type sailing ship from 1869, the fastest of the time and the oldest that survives today (admission: 17 euros; reservations here).

Greenwich Observatory.

Also there are the

the modern

the

, in a splendid Baroque building, and the

, next to the park of the same name.

The astronomical observatory, built in 1675 by order of King Charles II of England, is famous because the Zero meridian of Greenwich was established there in the 19th century, which is the center of world time, the starting point for cartographic measurements of longitude and a division of the globe between east and west.

In fact, you can put one foot on the east of the longitudinal line that divides the world and one on the west.

In the historic enclave, it is possible to see the first Tompion clocks, the rooms and rooms of the 17th century and discover how the first telescope was created (entrance 15 euros; reservations here).

Limehouse and Canary Wharf

Between the East End and Canary Wharf, there is an oasis of calm away from the bustle of the big city.

This is the

.

What were once the slums of London, next to the docks, today is a quiet and charming place that seems to be taken from a story.

It is like a small fishing port, with piers propped up with wooden beams, huge cranes (today decorative) and house-barges, as well as charming two-story residences next to the river with their flower-filled balconies.

The Limehouse neighborhood.

About 15 minutes walk from the banks of the Thames inland, next to the historic church of

(pre-18th century), incredible as it may seem, is

a three-acre farm with everything kind of pets.

Visitors can feed goats, donkeys, pigs, ducks, rabbits..., learn to plant vegetables, participate in craft workshops and enjoy the fresh food market every Saturday.

It is a real rural oasis about six metro stops from La City and, best of all: admission is free.

Another of the charming places is

, where some 90 sports boats dock.

Several canals leave from there where you can navigate and discover part of the neighborhood from the river.

Canary Wharf.

A few minutes walk to the neighboring

.

Where, between 1802 and 1980, was one of the busiest ports in the world, and a strategic location in the 16th century for maritime trade between the United Kingdom and the Canary Islands, today it is a modern and large financial complex with some of the buildings highest in the country.

Architecture lovers will enjoy a walk through this area, and also on the elevated train that passes between the skyscrapers.

The area, located on the so-called Isla de los Perros, has a large shopping center, cinemas, shops, restaurants and other entertainment venues, but it also has several pedestrian streets, parks and canals to enjoy a pleasant walk along the river.

Another way to get to know this part of London from another point of view, specifically from the river, is through fast zodiacs along the river.

The Thames Rockets company offers fast boat

along the Thames from where you can see more than 20 iconic enclaves, including the neighborhoods of Limehouse and Canary Wharf (price: from 60 euros; more information here).

Practical Guide

SLEEPING

:

(100 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, London).

Contemporary hotel in the alternative neighborhood of Shoreditch, surrounded by bars and pubs.

The rooms, spacious and with all the comforts, have a modern decoration.

Next to Blackfriars Bridge, on the Southbank, the luxurious and modern

(Sea Containers London, 20) is located on the river, with incredible views of the city.

TRANSPORTATION

: To move around the city, it is best to do it by public transport and for this, the

, a rechargeable magnetic card, is ideal, as well as being the cheapest, since prices vary depending on the time and distance to go

More information here.

MORE INFORMATION

visitlondon.com

visitbritain.com

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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