If wit and wonder are your thing(s), head to Novelty Automation. Engineer and cartoonist Tim Hunkin calls it a “satirical arcade”, and it’s packed with hand-made slot machines that offer a truly alternative, unpredictable and above all very funny perspective on what games should be.
For 400 years, Leather Lane has been one of the capital’s top destinations for street food and comestibles of all sorts. Leather Lane Market, which is where the really interesting stalls come out, is on from Monday to Friday, 10:00 till 16:00, but there are also numerous cafes, restaurants and bars here that open later and throughout the week.
We’ve said it elsewhere, but Sir John Soane’s Museum is a delight. The home of the great 19th century architect is a literal treasure trove of culture, with paintings by Canaletto and Turner, breathtaking statuary and even a sarcophagus—namely that of Pharaoh Seti I—alongside more than 30,000 architectural drawings. Pound for pound, this is one of London’s greatest museums.
Shutterbugs should run, not walk, to the Camera Museum, which is a truly whimsical combo of camera store and cultural collection that charts the history of photography. It even has a coffee shop! There is an admission fee of £3 if you want to see the gallery, however.
Built in 1773, Ye Olde Mitre isn’t London’s oldest pub, but it’s one of the most charming. Tucked cozily away down an alley at Ely Court, the Mitre offers a tempting selection of real and craft ales, authentic scrumpy—and simple yet delectable toasted sandwiches.
Cinephiles rejoice: the Garden Cinema is that very rare thing: a truly independent arts cinema with its whole own character and history. Opened in 2022, this is not the place that’s screening the latest Marvel blockbuster, but rather shows curated picks of the latest independent releases alongside choice classics. Truly the antidote to the multiplex.