The National Theatre’s backstage tours are the perfect way to get an insider’s look at the stages, sets, props and costumes that make each play what it is. We’ve all heard of the National Theatre right? We’ve snuggled into the comfy seats and watched the plays (if you haven’t, you should – The National puts on some of the best plays in town and tickets are totally reasonable), then toddled off home.īut what if you could do more… What if you could take a peek behind the scenes to learn about the history of the theatre and learn about how a play actually gets onto the stage? Read more: 150+ Things to do in London: The Ultimate London Bucket List Take a Backstage Tour of the National Theatre The result is a stunning palace of art and design – resplendent in rich colours, created from materials sourced from all over the world. Lord Leighton wanted Leighton House to be both somewhere he could work and somewhere he could showcase his extensive art collection, curated from the work of his contemporaries.

Lord Leighton was an artist – at the time the house was built he was an associate of the Royal Academy, and he rose to become its president before his death. Visit Leighton House The Narcissus Hall © Leighton House Museum, RBKC.įabulous, opulent and verging on the bizarre, Leighton House is one of those cool and quirky things to do in London that you simply must visit.īuilt as a private studio-house for Frederick Lord Leighton in 1866, it houses one of London’s most beautiful interiors. The houses also pop up in much-loved detective drama Sherlock. Over the years, the houses have seen more than their fair share of scandal – in the 1930s a con man sold tickets to a ball in the houses, and it was only when the guests turned up that they realised they’d been duped. They demanded that two fake facades were built to cover up the unsightly gap. Two houses were demolished to create an air vent for the Metropolitan Line, which was being constructed at the time.Īs you can imagine, the local residents were furious. The fake houses of Leinster Gardens in Bayswater are one of the more obscure things to do in London – probably because they’re so difficult to spot. These houses look completely normal right? Nothing to see here. Unusual Things to do in London Check out the Fake Houses of 23 and 24 Leinster Gardens

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