London: 5 Unusual Places to Visit

VIVO Clinic now offers PCR tests and Express Antigen tests for travel at three different locations in London: London Central, London Gatwick and London Heathrow. With that in mind, we have scouted the internet for entertaining yet unusual places you could visit in and around the city, when you come to London for your tests.

England’s capital is a cultural hub drenched in history, progress, and variety. There is something for everybody: from the rustic castles of aeons past to the sleekest, most hip malls. Bookshops that sell the rarest first editions, famous pubs which important authors used to frequent, and restaurants that vend the delicacies of delicacies. Oh, and let’s not even get started on the museums!

‘But what of the quirky, the esoteric, and the outré?’ you may ask. Well, London has plenty of those as well. The more ‘out there’ attractions are not exactly difficult to spot, but sometimes it’s easier when you know where to look.

Doing a little medieval time

Right next to a good ol’ Gourmet Burger Kitchen joint on Clink Street, you’ll find the oldest prison in London. The Clink Prison Museum is what it’s now called, but a few centuries ago, it was simply known as The Clink. It was operational from the 12^th century through to the 18^th. A costumed tour is yours for the taking, where the nitty-gritty workings of a medieval jail will be demonstrated.

Location: 1 Clink Street

Fancy a neon dream?

In East London lies a genuinely intriguing experience for all who are willing. God’s Own Junkyard is a neon sign gallery curated by the late Christopher Bracey, aka the Neon Man. From old sex-shop signs to cast-off props from fashion photoshoots. A stroll down this gallery is equal parts psychedelic and cinematic. At the end of a memorable tour filled with snaps for Instagram, you’ll come across the on-site café, The Rolling Scones Café.

Location: Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate Shernhall Street, Walthamstow

The powder room coffee affair

The Attendant has quite a few coffee shops in London, but it’s the one in Fitzrovia we speak of. It is built in a space that used to function as a public toilet in Victorian times. A key attraction of this café is the old-timey urinals along its walls, albeit non-functional and thoroughly cleansed now. Another Victorian-era leftover is the wrought-iron entrance – an item of true splendour.

Location: 27A Foley Street, Fitzrovia

Lights, camera … action!

It’s a wonder that the Cinema Museum is not more well-known. Especially if you consider how big an impact films have on our lives. With passion and vigour, founder Robert Grant collects and displays everything related to movies, literally. This unique emporium’s displays consist of props and film reels, stills and scores.

Whether you’re a cinephile or not, the Cinema Museum is sure to offer you a very specific sort of quirky fun.

Location: 2 Dugard Way (off Renfrew Road)

There’s always time for tea

What’s life without a bit of tea, eh? The Twinings Café on the Strand is a 300-year-old tea shop. This olden café’s doors opened way back in 1706. In fact, Twining was one of the first merchants who brought the magic leaf drink to the UK. Also, Twinings has been the supplier of tea to royal households since 1837.

Location: 216 Strand

You can also get the Day 2 and Day 8 PCR tests done at our London clinics or any of the several others located throughout the country.