Madeline Gowers

London

Spotter since 2023

About me

<strong>About me</strong>
When I moved to London after graduating in 2020, I didn’t plan to stay for long. My dream was to travel the world and moving to the Big Smoke just felt like a way to bide my time until the pandemic ended and international borders reopened. I found a simple job in a frozen yoghurt shop and spent my days off exploring the local sights.

The longer I stayed in London, however, the more attached I became to the people, places and the chaotic but exhilarating way of life. At times, making ends meet was challenging, but I knew this was where I wanted to be and so I persevered. A few years later, I feel truly settled here. I work four days a week in my local deli and spend the rest of my time seeking out new bookshops, cafés and art galleries. In May 2022, I started documenting these outings on TikTok and I now post daily videos in the hope of encouraging other Londoners to get out there and make the most of all that their city has to offer. After all, while I still dream of travelling to distant lands, I know that I won’t be running out of things to do here any time soon.

<strong>Why London?</strong>
I love that there is always something to do in London: always a new neighbourhood to explore, a new exhibition to attend or a new restaurant to try out. I love that you can be anonymous here – a small fish in a big pond – but also that there are so many ways to connect with like-minded people should you be in search of a community. There are little pockets of green, even in the most built-up areas. It's amazing how culturally diverse this city is and how there is space for everyone to be themselves here. Most of all, though, I love that every person and every building has a story to tell. I love knowing that London has touched so many people’s lives and that, in return, so many people have left a little piece of themselves behind.

<strong>Where can you find me online?</strong>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lesser.known.london/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lesserknownlondon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>

My spots (20)

Fitzrovia Chapel

An architectural masterpiece

Aside from its compelling history, what really sets Fitzrovia Chapel apart is its extraordinary gold mosaic ceiling. So don't forget to look up!

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Art & culture

by

Madeline

Gowers

May 13, 2025

London Review Bookshop

A must for book lovers

Twice a week, all the tables are pushed to one side, and the bookshop is transformed into an intimate venue for author talks, film screenings and debates.

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Art & culture
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Coffee & tea
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Shopping

by

Madeline

Gowers

May 13, 2025

Book 28 Library

A tiny queer utopia

What really sets Book 28 apart, is their commitment to sourcing intersectional literature that would be unlikely to appear in your average public library.

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Art & culture
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Relaxing

by

Madeline

Gowers

May 13, 2025

Strawberry Hill House

London’s Gothic castle

Walpole spent most of his life transforming the building into his own ‘little Gothic castle’, with battlements, arched doorways and stained glass windows.

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Art & culture
020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea

by

Madeline

Gowers

May 13, 2025

Alba Caffè

A taste of the Mediterranean

Savour your food, indulge in good conversation and when you’ve scraped your plate clean, go out onto the patio for a long, drawn-out coffee in the sun.

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Bars
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Coffee & tea
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Restaurants

by

Madeline

Gowers

May 13, 2025

Woburn Walk

A taste of Regency London

Designed in 1822 by Thomas Cubitt (the architect behind large parts of Belgravia & Pimlico), Woburn Walk retains many of its original Georgian shopfronts.

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Coffee & tea
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Shopping

by

Madeline

Gowers

May 13, 2025

Barnsbury Wood

London’s smallest nature reserve

Barnsbury Wood is enjoyed by Londoners all year round, but it is at its most glorious in the summer months when the trees are drenched in golden sunlight.

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Relaxing

by

Madeline

Gowers

May 7, 2025

Dalston Eastern Curve Garden

A tiny urban jungle

Built back in 2010 on the site of a disused railway line, it’s a local secret: a quiet, forest-like space to retreat to when city life becomes overwhelming.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Madeline

Gowers

Apr 29, 2025

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