Sam Barker, Author at Secret London

A Staff Writer for Secret London, Sam hails from Australia, but doesn't sound like it. He splits his time between trying out the latest coffee place or craft beer taproom, or climbing up walls covered in brightly coloured holds.

Wellness & nature

There’s a secret waterfall hidden away in London’s Hyde Park – and most Londoners don’t even know it exists

Say 'Hyde Park', and different people will think of different things. It's an immense park, slap bang in the middle of London, and it's full of memorable features. Some might think of the Speaker's Co...

Food & drink Secret Guides

These are all the places where kids can eat for free during the summer holidays – from family favourite pizza spots to Indian restaurants, local cafes, and more

Now that we're well into the latter half of July, it can mean only one thing for Londoners with kids - the school summer holidays are upon us! And while you're desperately trying to find something to do...

Food & drink Top news

This West London boozer is officially one of the prettiest pubs in the UK – and inside you’ll find vintage memorabilia, a bright-blue ceramic bar front, and lashings of beer history

Pubs and London go together like ham and cheese, salt and vinegar, fish and chips, and all sorts of non-food-related pairings (none of which my hungry brain can produce right now). Our city is full of pub...

Escapes

This small Staffordshire town was the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Mercia — and it’s less than 90 minutes from London by train

England has no shortage of historic towns, sites, and destinations. Even London itself is full to the brim with history and fascinating stories. But travel just a short distance away from the capital, and...

Food & drink

This multi-award-winning London pizzeria is launching a special pizza tasting menu – with four unique pizza styles and a variety of courses dedicated to specific ingredients

If you're one of London's many pizza aficionados, you've almost definitely heard of Napoli on the Road. What started with Chef Michele Pascarella selling pizzas out of a van, has turned into a trio of piz...

Sports Things to do

This playable mini golf exhibition features weird, wild, and downright disturbing golf holes designed by women artists – and it’s just been extended due to popular demand

When you think of mini golf and crazy golf, you probably think of fairgrounds, amusement parks, birthday parties, and first dates. But have you ever considered where the game comes from? I know I never ha...

London is officially one of Europe’s happiest destinations to visit – beating out cities in Portugal, Italy, Germany, and more

When it comes to describing Londoners, there are a lot of words and phrases that spring to mind. We're fast walkers. We're Tube lovers. We love a moan about the weather - regardless of the weather. And we...

Food & drink Top news

There’s only one month left to try out London’s weirdest and wackiest ice-cream parlour – serving up scoops with shocking flavours like Yorkshire Pudding, toothpaste, sweetcorn, soy sauce, and more

London is no stranger to weird and wild stores, experiences, and food and drink offerings. After all, our city is home to a store where you can buy everything from ‘Human Snot’ to ‘Brain Jam’. But there’s...

This handy map shows you every single venue with air-conditioning in London – and the rest of the country

I don't think it's a dramatic statement to say that IT'S HOT AT THE MOMENT. To the point where temperatures of 28°C and 29°C feel like a relief! We've been doing our best to keep you cool throughout the h...

Food & drink Top news

This neighbourhood spot in North London from TV chef Ravneet Gill is officially the best local restaurant in the city – and the 4th best in all of Britain

Amidst all the glitz and glamour of London's dining scene, beyond the MICHELIN stars and the fancy starched tablecloths, there are neighbourhood institutions where real Londoners go to feed themselves on...