Unusual Things to Do in London: Pubs, Jack the Ripper, Thames and Frameless

For unusual things to do in London, four options listed on WizardTrip step off the usual circuits. They have between 4,133 and 11,872 reviews, with ratings of 4.6 to 5.0 out of 5 (as of 18 October 2026). Here they are:

• Historic pubs: 3.5 hours on foot in the City, for ages 18 and over.
• Jack the Ripper: 1 hour 45 minutes in the streets of Whitechapel, with historic images projected.
• Speedboat: 50 minutes on the Thames, up to 30 knots.
• Frameless: an immersive art exhibition near Marble Arch, 1 to 2 hours.

All four meet at a set meeting point, with no hotel pickup. The table below compares them, and the last section suggests a choice based on your profile.

Unusual things to do in London: what to know

Each tour has its own meeting point, detailed below. All four listings grant a full refund for any cancellation made at least 24 hours before departure.

Historic pub tour: 3.5 hours in the City

The historic pub tour takes place in the City district, in the afternoon, with a local guide. The meeting point is at exit 2 of St. Paul’s Underground station, in front of the Caffe Nero on Panyer Alley. The tour ends near Holborn station or the Royal Courts of Justice, on the Strand.

You pass St. Paul’s Cathedral and St. Bride’s Church. You make a 15-minute stop at Blackfriars Bridge, in the most beautiful Art Nouveau pub in London, according to the listing. Fleet Street, nicknamed the Street of Shame, has several historic pubs. Lincoln’s Inn, Dr. Johnson’s House, Sir John Soane’s Museum and Covent Garden complete the itinerary.

The group has 14 people at most and the minimum age is 18. The listing announces at least four pubs and beer tips at each stop, with drinks at your own expense. According to a September 2026 review, the group was split into three subgroups, each of which visited four different pubs. Another review, at three stars, laments a 40-minute wait before departure because of two latecomers.

London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs5.0(11,872 reviews)From €43From€43View activity

Jack the Ripper in Whitechapel: 1 hour 45 minutes with Ripper-Vision

The Jack the Ripper tour relies on a process called Ripper-Vision. Portable projectors cast historic photographs onto the streets and alleys of Whitechapel. They also show images of crime scenes, maps and press illustrations. The listing sets the story in the London of 1888.

The meeting point is in front of the Whitechapel Art Gallery, at exit 3 of Aldgate East Underground station, next to the KFC. The listing specifies that this is not Aldgate station. Arrive 10 minutes before departure. The tour lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes and ends near Spitalfields Market.

The group has up to 35 people. The tour runs in all weather, and the listing advises against it for travelers with cardiovascular problems. In July 2026, Cheryl notes that the tour places each element in its historical context and stresses the lives of the victims. The review adds: “Can be a bit intense for younger ones.”

A two-star review from October 2026 regrets stops with no visible link to the case. Its author sees white walls for the projections and finds the tone too dramatic.

London Jack the Ripper Guided Tour with Ripper-Vision4.6(5,081 reviews)From €24From€24View activity

Speedboat on the Thames: 50 minutes, up to 30 knots

The speedboat boards at London Eye Pier, beneath the London Eye. The ticket office and boat entrance are on the right-hand side, boarding gate number one. With a booked ticket, you bypass the main ticket office. Check-in is 15 minutes before departure.

The route passes the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Shakespeare’s Globe. It also runs along the Gherkin, the Shard, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast. Around Canary Wharf and the Docklands, the boat reaches 30 knots, about 56 km/h.

The group has 12 passengers at most. The life jacket, guide and skipper are provided. The listing recommends a waterproof jacket, and a 2025 traveler advises sitting at the front to get less wet.

According to the listing, the trip may be canceled in bad weather. A missed departure is neither refunded nor rescheduled, because the operator does not hold the boat for individual groups.

In October 2026, Reuben warns: “If you want detailed knowledge about London, this is not the trip for you.” A three-star review from September 2025 finds the trip expensive for what it is. Its author also notes that the boat cannot speed up in the city center.

High-Speed Thames River Speedboat in London5.0(4,346 reviews)From €79From€79View activity

Frameless: immersive art near Marble Arch

Frameless presents itself as London’s largest immersive art experience, a short walk from Marble Arch. Four galleries present 42 masterpieces in 360-degree visuals, with soundscapes. Monet, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Dalí, Cézanne and Kandinsky are among the artists. Each gallery has its own theme:

• Beyond Reality: surrealist works.
• Colour in Motion: motion tracking lets you recreate the art with your gestures.
• The World Around Us: 360-degree cityscapes and seascapes.
• The Art of Abstraction: a digital maze, with fabric panels.

The visit takes 1 to 2 hours. The listing advises allowing 1.5 to 2 hours for the four galleries. Tickets are booked in advance, with a time slot. On arrival, you go straight to the ticket-check line.

The listing warns that the moving images and changes in light may bother some people, although there is no strobe lighting. Frameless Lates is the evening option, on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 pm to 10 pm, last entry at 8 pm. It is reserved for ages 18 and over, and a drink from the Café Bar can be taken into the exhibition.

Frameless - Immersive Art Experience in London4.7(4,133 reviews)From €36From€36View activity

The four unusual London tours compared

With children, a stroller or a wheelchair?

The pubs are for ages 18 and over. The speedboat accepts children from 6 months, those under 14 having to be accompanied by an adult. Pregnant passengers cannot board. Ashton advises against the boat for young children not used to speedboats (August 2026 review).

Frameless is presented as suitable for all ages, with strollers and prams allowed. Two reviews, from June and August 2026, nonetheless report crowds and noise because of young children. The evening Lates option is for adults only.

For wheelchairs, the boat is not suitable: the listing says they cannot be accommodated on board. A person who needs help can board with a companion, if they can sit unaided. Frameless is accessible on all surfaces.

The pub and Jack the Ripper listings announce a tour suited to all fitness levels. They do not mention wheelchairs. A September 2026 review of the pubs describes a fast pace and streets that are difficult for someone with reduced mobility.

Which one to choose?

• You like history and beer: the historic pub tour, ages 18 and over.
• You like crime stories: the Jack the Ripper tour, the cheapest of the four.
• You want views of the water and speed: the speedboat, which accepts neither wheelchairs nor pregnant passengers.
• You are traveling with young children or in a wheelchair: Frameless, whose surfaces are all accessible.

For the rest of your stay, the city’s tours, shows and excursions are gathered on the Things to do in London page. Those for the rest of the country are on the England page.