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.

Escapes Things to do

You can take a stunning steam train day trip along one of the UK’s most famous railway lines – with gorgeous views of the coastline and a stopover to explore a historic city’s castle and cathedral

In the world of , one mode of travel has always reigned supreme. Regardless of how you might feel about buses, trams or ferries, nothing has ever really surpassed the . And this is particularly true when the discussion...

Escapes Things to do Top news Wellness & nature

You can explore the ‘real’ Hundred Acre Wood that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh, less than 2 hours from London – with new trails and experiences landing in the forest to celebrate 100 years of the beloved stories

Inarguably, one of the most beloved groups of is that of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. Regardless of which one was your favourite - Tigger, Roo, Owl, Piglet, Kanga, Eeyore, Rabbit, or Pooh h...

Escapes Top news

This UK beach has been recognised as one of the very best beaches in all of Europe – it’s just a few hours away from London, and beat out stunning beaches in Spain, Greece, and Italy

As we cower in our homes, rueing the that has been hitting the UK virtually non-stop this year, we're naturally thinking ahead to warmer, sunnier times. And as part of that, we're dreaming of and beachy holidays. Conv...

Culture Things to do

The UK’s first and only museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history has reopened with all-new exhibitions and gallery displays – highlighting queer stories that range across music, football, LGBTQ+ activism, and more

Did you know there is only one museum in the entirety of the UK that is dedicated to LGBTQ+ history? Sure, there are a handful of around the country that feature prominent exhibitions or showcases, but only one is whol...

Food & drink Things to do

This lovely new literary-inspired afternoon tea draws from a beloved children’s book – step into the storybook with a special meal that brings the characters to (edible) life

We all, no doubt, have those childhood that mean a lot to us. Books that we were read night after night before we went to sleep, or books that we treasured as children, that have never lost their magic. One such book f...

Food & drink

These London venues are serving up Spicy Margarita flights with increasing levels of chilli – challenging you to find out how much heat you can take

Here in the Secret London office, across pretty much the entire team, one cocktail rules supreme: the spicy . It's become the stuff of workplace legend at this point that any team outing is likely to result in incessant...

Phone thefts in London are down by 12% year-on-year, and violent crime is falling – ignore the online voices who don’t even live here, London is getting safer every single day

If you were to read through the online comments left on our articles, , you'd be forgiven for being wary of visiting London. According to a loud subset of social media users, almost all of whom don't even live in London...

Culture Things to do

Europe’s largest immersive art experience is set to open in London this year – when it opens, it will boast 80,000 square feet of mesmerising interactive installations

London has no shortage of impressive art experiences. Even outside of the world-class and , our city is also full of artistic experiences. But a new opening, set to land in London later this year, is set to rival them...

Music Things to do

A stunning Avatar The Last Airbender concert will present live orchestral performances of music from the beloved TV show – celebrating 20 years since it landed on our screens

A stunning new performance is set to take animation fans back to their childhood, as Avatar The Last Airbender gets the live concert treatment this year. An 'In Concert' series of performances will bring the music from...

Culture Things to do

There’s a film-themed statue trail in the middle of London with artwork of legends from the silver screen – wander around and find everyone from Batman to Mr Bean, Paddington Bear, and more

If you've spent any time in Central London's Leicester Square, you've no doubt noticed that there are a number of statues around the area. Perhaps you've spotted , marmalade sandwich in hand. Or maybe you've taken a sea...