Quiet Spots In London You Didn’t Know About

London is one of the busiest cities in the world and sometimes you just want to get away from the hustle and bustle. Maybe you want to get out of the office on your lunch break, or want somewhere to chill outside after class, or even a quiet place to escape to for the day. Central London is filled with loads of little parks but here is a list of the some of the quiet spots in London that you can escape to and you might not have even they known existed.

Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden

One of the most colourful quiet spots in London, Neal’s Yard is tucked away between cobble stoned side streets – it’s easy to miss! It’s a mini enclosure of coloured brick buildings covered in murals. The small square is inhabited by cafes, shops and outdoor seating ideal for when the warmer weather comes around (hopefully!), and secluded enough to escape the noisy Shaftesbury Avenue.

Granary Square, Kings Cross

Granary Square can be found at the back of Kings Cross St. Pancras station. There are steps right by the canal side that are used as a seating area (an opportunity to feed some ducks!) with a couple of restaurants located in the old warehouse building in the square. As one of the more popular quiet spots in London it does get quite crowded in the summer on those warmer days, especially when the colourful water displays are up. If you want a more confined area then walk a bit further down to St. Pancras lock following the canal stream.

Regents Canal, Islington

This is part of the canal the stretches from Paddington through to the Docklands in London. The easiest access entrance to the canal is sandwiched between industrial residences and a block of penthouse apartments on the stretch of City Road. Although locals will know about the small gate you can slip into from the high street in Angel to get down to the footpath and walk the stretch of the canal. The lake is inhabited by a number of Swans and a small residential area that guarantees peace and tranquillity. Have a seat on the steps or either of the benches and enjoy the serene view while you bite into your lunch.

The Docklands, Canary Wharf

A personal favourite as a quiet spot in London, there are always places to chill around the docks. Canary Wharf is London’s technology hub in what can only be described as a maze of glass infrastructure littered with business associates, all of which is surrounded by the Thames. The Crossrail Place Roof Garden is an ideal spot if you want to be indoors but still surrounded by greenery. Just be sure to go at a time when there aren’t any events being held, so you’re not disturbed. A few stops further down on the DLR, Island Gardens is another area where you’ll find tranquil views of Greenwich from walking along the Thames path – perfect for a romantic stroll.

Barbican Centre

Home to performing arts events, the Barbican Centre contains one of the less obvious quiet spots in London, as it houses a tropical glass-roofed indoor conservatory which hosts a variety of birds and exotic fish. The conservatory is perfect for if you want somewhere indoors to escape the cold weather. Otherwise, if you want to stay outside there is also a lakeside terrace and plenty of outdoor seating inside the complex and its surrounding area. This is ideal for a quiet group hang-out.

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Little Venice, Paddington

True to its name, Little Venice is a unique haven in the West side of London where you’ll find the top end of Regents Canal running right the way through the area. Little Venice is filled with colourful canal boats, accompanied by quirky cafés and tearooms, perfect for a quiet lunch with some picturesque surroundings. Why not hop on one of the canals and take a boat trip down the locks?

Kyoto Garden, Kensington

This beautiful Japanese inspired botanical garden is a scenic spot to take in the natural beauty in one of London’s most affluent boroughs. Kyoto Garden is one of the more peaceful spots located at the top end of Holland Park. The garden inhabits an array of fish, trees and brightly coloured flowers that bloom dependent on which season you visit in. Although it doubles as a tourist attraction, this space rarely gets crowded so no need to worry about any spike in noise levels – apart from the running waterfalls in the garden, naturally.