21 Free Things to do in London Town
Those who have recently visited London often come back with the same four words on their lips:
‘Amazing! But soooooo expensive’.
And that can certainly be the case. Last year I inadvertently paid AUD $24 for a modest pour of white wine, cabs across town cost north of $60 and newspapers from $5-$10.00 – and then there’s entertainment and eating out. Tickets to the theatre are hundreds of dollars, coffee often $8 or higher and meals for two up to $300 in the more upmarket neighbourhoods.
It seems to be a rich (wo)man’s game.
But that is only one, albeit highly visible, face of London. There’s another way to tackle this fabulous town – one that doesn’t cost a cent beyond your airfare and accommodation. Here are some diverse ways to dig in and get to know the different neighbourhoods and attractions on a low or no budget. The following suggestions are categorised by activity so you can enjoy the widest possible selection of free places to visit in London while you’re there.
Things to do in London for Free
First up, the galleries.
It’s an under-recognised fact that nearly all major London cultural institutions are open to the public for free. London is home to some of the best galleries in the world, so this means you can indulge your love of the fine arts to your heart’s content for no charge. Here are just a few that I have enjoyed in the past 12-months.
1. The Tate (Britain) is London’s classic home of traditional British paintings from 1500 to current times, with Turner’s light-filled works the highlight of any visit.
2. Tate Modern is its even better-known ‘upstart’ offspring, featuring every permutation of modern creativity you could hope to view. It’s located in a former power station and the architecture is every bit as spectacular as the works on display.
3. The National Portrait Gallery is a total treat, with themed and chronological displays of portraits of just about anyone of note over the past 1000 or more years. Monarchists will adore the portraits of royalty, but there are also writers, musicians, politicians, poets and rock stars galore. The gallery abuts Trafalgar Square, which has so much history, including Nelson on his column and the church of St Martin in the Fields.
4. The Royal Academy of Arts is located in Piccadilly. It’s the home of the society that celebrates the best in British art, architecture, photography and sculpture.
5. The Wallace Collection (saving the best until last) is less-well known than some other galleries, but oh my, are you in for a treat! This is a ‘house’ collection in the true sense of the word. Located in Hertford House in Marylebone, this beautiful townhouse provides a gorgeous backdrop for paintings, sculptures, books, porcelain, armour and much more. Budget a few hours as you literally won’t want to leave.
Free places to visit in London
What about the museums?
Most museums are also open free, most days of the week. There are so many major museums to choose from.
6. My favourite is the Victoria and Albert in Kensington (or as the locals call it, the V&A). This is a virtual powerhouse of art and design from around the world, across the centuries, with many, many galleries dedicated to different forms of fine arts. Many visitors spend an entire day here, so don’t plan on just popping in for a short while.
7. A short walk down the road is the vast Natural History Museum with its dinosaur gallery. Also free, but you can pre-book your entry times to save queuing.
8. The British Museum in Bloomsbury is similarly huge, with such striking architectural features you can spend an hour or so just entering or leaving the buildings.
9. And then there are the very niche ‘house’ museums in former homes of notable Londoners such as Sir John Soane and Charles Dickens. Sir John Soane was a famous architect and collector – his Georgian townhouse has been preserved exactly as it was when he died in 1837. It is a remarkable space, all the more so when visited during an evening candlelit viewing.
Charles Dickens museum in WC1 is not free – but it does offer over-60s concession tickets as a tribute to a generation brought up on his books.
Free things to do in London
Readers be warned!
That London is a city for booklovers is well-known – but the breadth of offering is impressive.
10. Start at the British Library (free entry) where amongst the 170 million items, you’ll see manuscripts and writings from the Magna Carta to Jane Austen, John Lennon and more. It doesn’t hurt that the British Library is located a short walk down Euston Road from the St Pancras Hotel – surely one of London’s most beautiful buildings?
11. Over the road is the Wellcome Collection, a free museum and library connecting health and the human experience. But back to the books!
These are five of my favourite bookshops where I spend at least a couple of hours in each almost every time I visit. Each one has its own special features – they are equally good and offer hours of pleasure to anyone who loves the printed word as I do. Warning – if your budget is tight, leave your credit card at the hotel – with all the latest books in print, you will be sorely tempted.
13. Hatchards Books, Piccadilly
14. London Review Bookshop, Bury Place
15. Foyles Bookstore, Charing Cross Road
16. Notting Hill Bookshop, Blenheim Crescent
Foodies delights
17. For those on a strict budget, window shopping for food is now a thing. And no one’s windows are better than those of Yotam Ottolenghi– the British-Israeli cook, author and restaurateur. Sure, if you have the wherewithal you can eat in these restaurants as well, but there is often a queue, so just admiring the windows is very satisfying in itself. Or you can purchase one of his salads and dine in style in a local park.
18. Harrods Food Halls remain the benchmark of fine gastronomy – albeit a busy one.
19. The Borough Markets can be found on the south side of the Thames, near London Bridge. Browsing here is like a trip around the world with stalls and pop-ups offering the best of the best street food. While in this neck of the woods, you can enjoy breathtaking views of many of the other famous London bridges, and maybe walk the eight minutes to see the rebuilt Globe Theatre, home to Shakespeare’s brilliance.
Directly opposite the Globe, reached by a stroll across the more recently built Millennium Bridge is St Pauls Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren who was inspired by St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Which brings us to ….
20. Places of worship
Most major tourist sites charge a high fee to enter, but churches continue to remain the exception. St Pauls is an extraordinary building and it remains a miracle that it survived two world wars without being extensively damaged. There is a general entry fee, but at 5pm daily, the choir practices evensong and this is free. You will need to queue, but it allows you to enjoy the beauty of Wren’s architecture as well as the uplifting sounds of the choir.
London is full of amazing churches – there is no point in trying to list them – but it’s worth noting that many of the oldest churches were created close to the work places of different artisans.
For instance, in Fleet Street can be found St Brides Church which provided ministry to printers and writers on the major newspapers of London. Every church has a story above and beyond its purpose to provide a place to worship. See if you can dig these stories out during your visit.
21. Parks and gardens
In addition to the special interest activities, London is linked by a series of wonderful green spaces – from the huge expanse of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens to the more modest Green Park in Piccadilly and then some of the smaller squares in Bloomsbury and Mayfair.
You can spend hours enjoying the delights of these spaces. One in particular, Regents Park, covers 400 acres with lakes, rose gardens, sculptural exhibitions, art installations and even outdoor theatre. Slightly further to the north is the delightful, if vertiginous, Primrose Hill, made famous in many films including the Bridget Jones series and Paddington Bear. One of my favourite walks is at the far end of Kensington Gardens, in Kensington Palace Gardens, which is a ‘Diplomats Row’ where many of the foreign embassies are located. The trees, gardens and houses are a visual delight – but be warned, security is high so no images can be taken.
Handy tips to accompany your free things to do in London
- There’s no longer any need for a travel or Oyster card – you can simply tap on and off for all transport using your own credit card.
- Many paid sightseeing attractions offer seniors’ discounts, so don’t forget to ask every time if you do need to buy a ticket.
- Many of the attractions above form natural geographic clusters. If you want to tackle the sights of London in an organised manner, treat yourself to the latest Lonely Planet ‘Pocket London’ and use the pullout map to curate your own neighbourhood experiences, with rest stops in local parks. By choosing sites that are situated close by, you’ll save a lot on Tube or taxi fares and enjoy the greatest luxury of all – walking in old London town.
Do you love London as much as we do?
We would love to hear your tips on ways to enjoy this extraordinary city on a budget.
I hope this post has inspired you to get out and explore London! Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to find out more ways to discover (or rediscover) the joy of exploring Melbourne and beyond.
Kaye Fallick has been writing on finance and travel for the past 30 years. The former joint-owner and publisher of YourLifeChoices website, Kaye is also author of two best-selling self-development books and a regular radio and press commentator on retirement income. Apart from spending time with her family, her strong passions are Italian language and culture and exploring the world, one street at a time.
