THINK of art in London, and your mind immediately leaps to the National, Tate Modern or Tate Britain, but there is a side of the art scene in the capital that is untapped and ready to be discovered. It isn't found in big and impressive buildings, nor does it have large posters beckoning you to go along. Instead, it is usually found on the most unassuming streets and behind nondescript doors.

I was invited to spend a weekend discovering this unusual phenomenon, where the next Damien Hirst or Tracey Emin is about to make his or her mark.

To find out all about it, I was to be guided by the expert knowledge of Alex from Urban Gentry. Urban Gentry has linked up with Visit London to offer tours and experiences for those who want to find the other side of London away from Oxford Street and the main visitor haunts. It has a group of experts with insider knowledge in art, fashion and design in the capital.

Alex said: "Urban Gentry enables people to visit the capital and gain access to places that they do not have time to find out for themselves."

A group of us met outside a pub on Broadway market on Vyner Street, EC1. As it was Saturday, the market was bustling with stalls selling cheeses, olives, breads, fruit and vegetables. It was a hive of activity. In the '80s, the place was run down, but three years ago the market arrived and now the area is a bustling trendy place with the property prices reflecting that fact. The market had the feel and look of a French one. I could have stayed there all day sampling the olives, cheeses and cakes, but we were there to explore the art scene.

We came to a desolate cobbled street. Warehouse-type buildings were on either side. Half way down the road, Alex said: "You have passed at least six galleries already."

"Where?"

Then I noticed a tiny sign with a name of a gallery on the side of the door.

Alex revealed that the hubbub of the art world in London no longer took place in Bond Street or Cork Street, but here. Cutting-edge contemporary work is now seen in buildings that have no frontage, no windows displaying the paintings, just a door. The trick is you have to know which door to go through.

The largest of these venues in Vyner Street is the Wilkinson Gallery, where very modern artwork was displayed on big white walls. No-one came to greet us and we just wandered around admiring the very large paintings.

We stopped off at about four more galleries in this tiny road before we headed off to lunch at the Approach Pub in E2, an establishment where you could not just enjoy a pint, but where you could admire art in the gallery upstairs as well.

Then it was off to Shoreditch. Once the home of clothing manufacturers, it is now an area where two important art galleries are situated - White Cube Gallery, where Damien Hirst shows his work, and Rivington Place, which is a large new airy gallery on two floors. Both places boast showing the work of the latest up-and-coming artists.

"When an artist starts using a place, it then becomes cool," explained Alex. And we noticed trendy little restaurants sprouting up around these galleries.

For the weekend break, I was staying at the five-star Landmark hotel in Marylebone. The Landmark was built as the last of the great railway hotels during the golden age of steam, and as you walk in you are overwhelmed by an eight-storey, glass roofed central atrium.

Before I set out for dinner, I relaxed in the spa and revived my tired body in the large sanarium that overlooks the 15-metre pool. If I had had the energy I could have used the fully-equipped gym, but I decided to let my cares float away on one of the loungers. It was hard to believe I was in the centre of London.

For dinner we went to the Orrery in the heart of Marylebone village. The Michelin-starred French restaurant is situated on the first floor of a former stable block. The room is long and narrow, decorated in neutral colours and the restaurant as well as an a la carte menu offers a taster menu with eight courses. We chose that and it was great fun to have the chance to sample dishes from chef Tristan Mason. Each dish was cooked to perfection.

The next day, we went shopping. We didn't touch the crowds of Oxford Street but instead meandered along Marylebone High Street, discovering specialist outlets including Kabiri, a jewellery store which boasts Keira Knightley and Eva Herzigova as customers; Dante book shop, which specialises in travel and where you can browse for hours over the information books and novels, and a shop that sells just scented candles.

For lunch, we went to Carluccio in St Christopher's Place for a typical Italian meal - what could be a better way to end an eye-opening weekend?

Lindi travelled on the Chiltern Line to Marylebone Station.

Urban Gentry and Visit London have teamed up to create an online guide which gives the inside track on the capital's arts and boutique shopping.

Visit London: www.visitlondon.com/itineraries

Urban Gentry: www.urbangentry.com

The Landmark, 222 Marylebone Road. Weekend rates start from £239 (inc VAT) for a double room for two guests, including full English breakfast for two, and a chilled welcome bottle of champagne. Reservations: 020 77631 8000

Orrery, 55 Marylebone High Street.

Telephone: 020 7616 8000

Carluccio, St Christopher's Place Telephone: 020 7935 5927