'After 6 months of living in London, these are the best non-touristy hidden gems I've found so far.'

London is a city with a distinct charm that you may not get to experience if you only hit the tourist spots. 

I'm not saying you should ditch your selfie with Big Ben or scrap your plans at the West End, but if that's all you do, just know you're missing out on a version of the city that the locals love.

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Beyond Central London, each borough has its own alluring personality. 

From the vibrant, creative pockets of East London to the charming, slow-paced life of Hampstead, there are so many places to take in and get a feel for what life here is really like.

And just a warning, it will be impossible to tick it all off. 

Believe me, I've been here for 6 months, and my list of things to do still keeps growing.

But that's part of what makes London so great.

So for your next visit, here are some of the city's best-kept secrets approved by the people who actually live here.

What to do and where to go in London

A Sunday roast in Hamsptead.

A café in Hampstead. Image: Supplied.

If your trip doesn't fall on a Sunday, I urge you to change the dates. 

A proper Sunday Roast is a deeply British tradition you need to try at least once. 

For locals, they're a special treat, so picking the right pub with the best roast is an important decision.

On my first Sunday in London, a friend took us to her favourite spot in the heart of Hampstead Heath called the Magdala Tavern.

A slow-cooked meat of your choice, crispy roast potatoes, fluffy Yorkshire puddings, cauliflower cheese and gravy so good you'll want to drink it straight from the boat. 

I'm yet to have a roast that's topped with this one.

After you've filled up, you'll probably want to walk around for a bit, which luckily Hampstead's charming village vibe is perfect for.

Finally, you can pop round to an 18th-century pub called The Holly Bush and drink a pint the English way, standing outside.

Tate Modern after dark.

Tate Modern Lates is a locally-loved monthly after-hours event at London's most famous contemporary art gallery.

Appealing to art enthusiasts and non-artsy people like me alike, you can enjoy a rare tourist experience that combines music, film and art together.

The event calls for a complete mood shift from day to night.

There are DJ sets echoing through the Turbine Hall, immersive art installations and workshops where you might find yourself sketching with a wine in hand on the gallery floor.

Not to mention, it has the perfect spot to take in the glittering city skyline and the River Thames from the terrace.

It's vibey and cool and completely flips a normal tourist outing on its head.

Football, the local way.

To watch a football game in a London local way is a must. Image: Supplied.

If embracing football culture is on your checklist, you don't have to spend half your travel budget on Premier League tickets.

Instead, opt for a lower league game like the EFL Championship, which sits just below the Premier League, or you can get more local with League One or League Two.

The stadium is smaller, the match views are better, and the atmosphere of the game feels undeniably intimate. 

It's less about celebrity names and more about feeling the community spirit and supporting talented up-and-coming players. 

The best part is, you'll still get to hear the roaring chants and temporarily adopt the collective adrenaline, euphoria and heartbreak of supporting a local team.

A London-style house party.

For a unique nightlife experience, book a ticket to Stormzy's House Party.

Yes, that Stormzy.

The venue is a 7-storey terrace house in the heart of SoHo, with each floor designed as a room in someone's home.

The decor and the music have been crafted in such a way to give you the perfect hit of nostalgia. 

And everything is interactive. 

You can play Nintendo 64 in the living room, sing karaoke in the master bedroom, verse strangers at beer pong in the kitchen, take photo booth pics on an old desktop computer and dance for hours in the basement.

The way the venue is set out makes it easy to make new friends.

It's curated but still feels incredibly reminiscent of being at an actual house party. 

To top it off, all drinks are served in iconic red cups with actors dressed up as house characters pottering around to make sure you have an unforgettable night. 

A one-of-a-kind Indian meal (that isn't Dishoom).

London's Indian food scene draws in a lot of locals and tourists, which is why popular franchises like Dishoom have branched out to 15 different locations.

While its reputation is not undeserving, there's a lesser-known local-approved recommendation that hits the mark on every culinary level beyond Dishoom flavours.

Let me introduce you to Brigadiers, a grill-style Indian restaurant nestled in the City of London.

Brigadiers, the grill-style Indian restaurant in London. Image: Supplied.

It's unassuming from the outside, but as soon as you walk in, you're transported elsewhere with dark wood interiors that blend an Indian army mess hall feel with a typical British gastropub look. 

The menu is packed with bold Indian flavours with a modern twist.  

If you get the chance to try it, my stand-out dishes include the masala scallops, BBQ butter chicken wings and beef shin biriyani.

Whichever season you're travelling to London in, I have some not-so-touristy things you should definitely tick off the list.

1. Indian food

2. Church-turned-food spot

3. Leake street arches for graffiti art and a board game cafe

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Feature image: Supplied.