I love London, but it’s so bloody expensive! It’s as if stepping outside your door costs you £20. That doesn’t mean that seeing the city without draining your pockets is impossible. We’ve collated a list of London places to see and things to do in London that cost absolutely nothing. There are some things to check off your tourist bucket list, as well as some insider recommendations that locals enjoy; read on!
What to see in London for free
Music
Get a seat at one of the many free musical concerts held at Southbank Centre in Queen Elizabeth Hall or Royal Festival Hall.
Take in opera for free as part of the Live at Lunch events presented by the Royal Opera House.
Enjoy free admission to blues bar Ain’t Nothing But… from Sunday to Thursday nights.
Watch world-class musicians play at the esteemed Royal Academy of Music.
Discover free lunchtime concerts at St Martin-in-the-Fields church.
Every Sunday and Monday, The Troubadour has live jazz music to tap your feet to.
Museums
The beauty of the UK is that museums are free. Special exhibitions will require tickets, but general admission is free of charge. The paid exhibits are quite exciting, so something may catch your eye while you’re there. London has excellent museums for any taste: art, design, history, science, you name it.
Art and design
The Victoria & Albert Museum: One of the world’s leading art and design museums with a vast collection of over 5,000 years of human creativity.
The Tate Modern: The national museum of modern and contemporary art featuring work by renowned artists such as Hockney, Warhol and Picasso.
The National Gallery: Home to a huge collection of European paintings from the 13th to 19th century. Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Money and Vincent Van Gogh are some of the painters showcased here.
The Design Museum: As the name suggests, the Design Museum focuses on modern design across a range of disciplines, including architecture, product design, fashion, and graphics.
The Serpentine Galleries: Consisting of the Serpentine Gallery and the Serpentine Sackler Gallery, these two contemporary art spaces include innovative and cutting-edge contemporary art, including installations in architecture and design.
The Saatchi Gallery: This gallery has a focus on displaying contemporary works by up and coming artists from around the world.
Science
The Science Museum: One of the most famous science museums in the world, featuring a massive collection of scientific and technological artefacts.
The Natural History Museum: Here you’ll find a mix of natural history as well as displays with scientific components with an impressive collection of rocks, minerals and fossils. It’s also loved for its grand architecture.
The Hunterian Museum: This museum is a hidden gem. It showcases the history and science behind medicine and surgery and houses a fascinating collection of anatomical preparations, specimens, and surgical instruments.
The National Maritime Museum: Home to historical nautical artefacts, maps, instruments, ship models, and maritime art. It addresses a broad range of subjects, including trade, naval warfare, and exploration and navigation.
Grant Museum of Zoology: Part of University College London, this museum is home to an amazing collection of preserved animals, taxidermy, and zoological specimens. For those interested in biology and zoology, visiting this hidden gem is a must.
Geological Society of London: The Geological Society runs a museum containing fossils and educational materials about the geology and history of the planet. It’s an excellent resource for learning about minerals, rocks, and what is happening on Earth.
History
The British Museum: Home to numerous pieces of art and artefacts from all over the world, such as the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, and the Egyptian mummies.
The Museum of London: This museum specialises in the history of London, from prehistoric times to the present day. It provides a fascinating trip through the growth and change of the city.
The Imperial War Museum: With substantial artefacts relating to both World Wars as well as more current conflicts, this museum specialises in military history and combat.
The Royal Air Force Museum: This museum exhibits the history of aviation and the Royal Air Force. It has an extensive collection of weapons, aircraft, and relics from military battles and aviation history.
The Museum of London Docklands: Originally built as a warehouse in the 19th century to store sugar and molasses, the museum now showcases the history of the River Thames, port and trade.
Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology: This museum, housed in University College London, has a vast collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts, such as jewellery, pottery, and mummies. It sheds light on the technology and culture of ancient Egypt.
The Best Parks in London
Being in a city can be tiring, so walking through a park to slow down is always a great idea, and London has some lovely ones.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens: At over 350 acres, Hyde Park is the biggest of the Royal Parks. See the Peter Pan statue at Kensington Gardens.
Greenwich Park: One of the largest single green spaces in southeast London. Climb to the top of the hill with the Royal Observatory for stunning city skyline views.
Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill: Home to London Zoo. Hike to the top of Primrose Hill for a great view of London.
Richmond Park: One of the largest parks in all of Britain, home to ancient trees and deer!
Crystal Palace Park: A great one to bring kids to see the world’s first dinosaur sculptures.
St James’s Park: In the heart of Westminster, can’t be missed after seeing Buckingham Palace. Watch the pelicans being fed every day at 2.30pm.
Victoria Park: Have a picnic in one of London’s most visited green spaces.
Underrated Green Spaces
Get away from the city in the ancient woodland of Highgate Wood.
Check out rare plants and insects in Epping Forest.
Hang out in the Barbican Conservatory, filled with tropical plants, trees and fish (check opening times in advance.)
Find tranquillity in the Kyoto Japanese Garden in Holland Park.
Don’t miss the ruins of a church bombed in the Blitz in the enchanting St Dunstan in the East gardens.
Spend some time winding down at Mayfair’s Brown Hart Gardens.
Stop by Postman’s Park and take a look at the Watts Victorian memorial.
Take in the colours and smells of Columbia Road Flower Market.
Wander through the gorgeous botanical garden at Fulham Palace to admire rare plants and walled gardens.
Free Views Of London
Find some of the best views of London from the high heights of the Sky Garden or nearby The Garden at 120, both located in the City of London.
See the capital from elevated free public viewing galleries at One New Change and Oxo Tower.
Head to the top of Hampstead Heath’s Parliament Hill for incredible vistas across London.
Walk on Westminster Bridge for a photo-op of the Houses of Parliament.
Nice Places To Walk Around
Be stunned by the ornate arches and pagodas in Chinatown, home to plenty of affordable eateries and Asian supermarkets.
Witness the ever-changing light installations in Carnaby.
Follow in the footsteps of The Beatles by walking across the infamous Abbey Road zebra crossing featured on the eponymous album cover.
Follow the towpath through tranquil Little Venice to discover a plethora of waterfront cafes and pubs.
Check out the neon wonderland that is God’s Own Junkyard, home to Europe’s most extensive collection of vintage neon signs.
Hunt down the best places to see street art in London, including works by Banksy and pieces in the Leake Street Arches as well as Shoreditch.
To find out more about London’s neighbourhoods, click here.
