Top 5 Places to Visit in London That Most People Have Never Heard Of

Well, narrowing down the plethora of wonderful things this city has to offer to a Top 5 list is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. So, this past week I took a well deserved break from work and bus-hopped around the nooks and crannies of London Town that I've never been to myself.

I was stunned and amazed to find some real gems. I was not able to actually experience all of them, as either my timing was off or my budget simply didn't allow for them, but you can bet your bottom pound that I will. I planned to visit each place based on information I found in a 'Transport for London' magazine and personal research on the Internet. Due to the fact that I did not personally visit every place listed here, the descriptions of them are a combination of information and reviews that I found during my research.

So, with that, let the list begin. Let's start our journey from Farringdon Tube station and make our way to Dans le Noir, 30-31 Clerkenwell Green, a pitch-black restaurant staffed solely by blind waiters. Dans le Noir achieves the ultimate sensory culinary experience by pitching diners into darkness, allowing them to concentrate more fully on the food's aroma and flavour. Order from the French-inspired menu at the lit bar on arrival, or be brave and go for the surprise menu. Either way, you'll be lead to the truthfulness about taste, have your preconceptions killed and face the realities of ingredients and cuisine. I can't wait to try this one for myself.

Let's move on to Oxford Circus, but you already knew I was going to say that didn't you? Oh, you didn't? Well, maybe a visit to a telepathic cocktail bar is what you need to hone your skills. TwentyFour, situated at 24 Kingly Street, is so technologically advanced that the bar senses an empty glass and automatically alerts your waiter to refill it. With backdrops that can be colour-matched to your outfit, TwentyFour will fast become your new favourite London bar.

Ok, are you salivating already at the thought of seeing a side of London you haven't even dreamed of yet? Allow me to continue and guide you to Angel Tube station, where we'll go to Feeling Gloomy at Bar Academy, 16 Parkfield Street. Every Saturday night, a DJ duo by the names of Leonard and Cliff invite you to listen to the sad music that actually makes you happy! Between novel events such as speed hating (meet strangers and insult them as much as possible in 3 minutes) and gloomyoke (sad karaoke), the dancefloor blasts out bittersweet symphonies, from Joy Division to Kate Bush - and there are even prizes for the most melancholic tune request.

So, let's now shake things up dramatically and make our way to Cromwell Road (South Kensington Tube station) the location of the Natural History Museum, one of my favourite places to hang out. Here, in addition to all the regular and entertaining features, you can step inside a reconstructed Japanese supermarket and experience first hand the violent shaking that occurs when Mother Nature flexes her muscles. For adults and children alike, the earthquake simulation room promises to bring you as close as possible to the real thing.

My final entry is hard to decide upon, but let me flip a coin. Ok, last stop Bethnal Green Tube station and the Working Man's Club, at 44-46 Pollard Row. Here, you can delight in old-fashioned afternoon cakes, cups of tea, and Burlesque fan and feather shows. Art happenings a-plenty, acrobats, rollerblading waiters and circus-style kissing booths, this old hall is a hidden cabaret of bizarre good times...and free cuppas served all night on saturdays.

Well, I hope your inspiration has been kicked into a high gear and you'll plan to experience as much of this amazing city as possible. Top 5 places in London to put on your bucket list?

Absolutely, gov'nor!