What are more authentic places in London, as opposed to the ones overcrowded with tourists? [closed]
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My friend has just arrived to London and she's trying to find some city areas to explore that are not yet overcrowded by tourists. She's looking for particular regions where tourists aren't as frequent and most people on the streets are Londoners.
Any suggestions?
More interesting places (i.e. a nice park, an area with good local clubs and so on) are better.
Best Answer
Parks - London has great parks. Richmond park is huge and great for a day hike. It also has a population of deer which is fun to see. Hampstead Heath is a great natural park for exploring and has Kenwood House and Parliament Hill with view of the city. North of Regent's Park is Primrose Hill which is popular for picnics and has a great view.
Theatre - The West End shows are popular with tourists, but there are plenty of other theatres around with quality performances. Check out Menier Chocolate Factory, Hampstead Theatre or the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park which I'd highly recommend in the summer.
Clubs - Look to east London for clubs and music that is away from the more tourist filled area around Leicester Square. Time Out is a great source for information on clubs.
In general, it'll be easier find local authentic experiences in Zone 2 and 3 (see Tube map) while the tourists flock to Zone 1.
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Answer 2
I second the recommendation of Borough Market (yes, all of the South Bank is touristy, but the Borough Market end is much less so), and add Clapham and Battersea to the pot: both are trendy/active residential neighborhoods catering to Londoners, with good dining/shopping/etc opportunities. Futhermore, Battersea Park is quite pretty.
Golder's Green, the traditional Jewish area, is another recommended neighborhood; not only does it have great food, but it provides insight into a part of London culture not traditionally associated with "the English."
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