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The best free things to do in London

WRITTEN BYShannon Updated on
The best free things to do in London

There’s no doubt that London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit hence why this free things to do in London guide is going to be your ally when you visit London.

A trip to London can set you back a fair amount if you go in blind, but as with any destination, if you prepare and do your research you’ll find many hacks and insider tips to help keep the costs down. If you’re looking for some free things to do in London, you’ve arrived at the right post. We’re here to maximise fun and minimise cost for you!

Having lived in London for 3 years, I’d like to think I have a few tips and places to share with you, so whether you’re visiting London in winter, London in summer or just here for 48-hours in London and wondering what to do in London, in this blog post I’m going to help you save money in London.

Of course, there are many amazing things to do that do come at a cost here in London, but this city can still be fully enjoyed on a budget as some of the best places to visit in London and the best things to do in London can be done really cheaply, if not for free! Like this iconic walk around London for example.

And if you don’t believe me, then I dare you to read this London travel guide and see if you can do a weekend in London without spending money on anything other than getting there, accommodation and food. See also my 48-hours in London guide here.

EXPLORE LONDON ON MY BLOG HERE

Here are 17 free things to do in London…

1. Visit the best museums and galleries in London.

It is well-known that London is full of free museums, but did you know that there are over 75 museums in London with free admission?! That’s enough to keep you occupied for months, years even! Free things to do in London eat your heart out.

My favourite free museums in London include:

  • Natural History Museum
  • Museum of London
  • Victoria & Albert Museum
  • British Museum
  • Science Museum
  • London Mithraeum
  • Petrie Museum

My favourite free galleries in London include:

  • National Gallery London
  • National Portrait Gallery
  • Tate Modern
  • Tate Britain
  • Photographer’s Gallery, Soho (free if you enter before 12 noon)
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2. Browse the markets in London.

One of the best free things to do in London is to wander around the markets, taking in the colours, smells and personalities. And they’re free to wander, as long as you don’t buy anything!

My favourite markets in London include:

See my list of all the best markets in London here.

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3. Take a picnic to one of the parks or gardens in London.

Ok, so you’d have to grab some food (but you’d be eating lunch anyway!) but having a picnic in a London park is a great way to enjoy a summer’s afternoon in London. The parks are definitely one of the best things to do in London are of course are a completely free thing to do in London.

Some of the best places for a picnic in London are:

  • Greenwich Park
  • Regent’s Park
  • Kensington Gardens
  • Hyde Park
  • Green Park
  • St James’s Park.
  • Richmond Park
  • Bushy Park
  • Kyoto Garden
  • Barbican Conservatory
  • Postman’s Park
  • Battersea Park
  • Hampstead Heath
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Here are the 16 best things to do in London in summer!

4. Marvel at the street art in East London.

The street art in East London is some of the best in the world. The best way to see the street art in East London is on foot, wandering down the streets and alleyways in Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Hoxton or Hackney. Make an afternoon out of it. Do a DIY street art tour instead of booking onto one. I got you! Free things to do in London require getting a little creative with a little more research but it’s absolutely possible!

Check out my complete guide to Shoreditch here.

Leake Street graffiti tunnel in Lambeth is another great spot for looking at street art in London.

See 13 reasons why you’ll fall in love with London here.

5. Watch the changing of the guard outside Buckingham Palace.

It happens every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 11am outside Buckingham Palace.

Note: The changing of the guard in London and in Windsor has been postponed until further notice due to Covid-19. For more travel advice during Covid-19, check out this blog post.

Here’s my complete guide to Windsor, a fun day trip from London!

6. Walk around London’s landmarks and get some iconic photos.

London is one of the best places to be a tourist for the day, and it costs nothing to see the landmarks from the outside and take some iconic Insta snaps with them! Most of London’s landmarks can be seen on this walk around London.

One of the best things to do in London is visit all those spots in the movies that bring magic into your heart. Notting Hill for example! Most of them are completely free for viewing and can be added to your free things to do in London bucket list!

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Instagrammable photo spots you cannot miss include:

  • Houses of Parliament (if you’re a UK resident you can arrange a free visit inside through your local MP!)
  • Big Ben
  • Tower Bridge
  • Tower of London (the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London is free to attend)
  • Southbank
  • Trafalgar Square
  • China Town
  • Coloured houses in Notting Hill
  • Piccadilly Circus
  • London Eye
  • Red telephone boxes, red buses and black cabs
  • St Paul’s Cathedral from Millennium Bridge
  • Little Venice
  • Leake Street
  • God’s Own Junkyard
  • Neal’s Yard
  • St Dunstan’s in the East Church
  • Covent Garden
  • Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station.
  • Abbey Road (recreate The Beatles’ album cover!)

Here’s how to improve your travel photography!

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7. Attend a free music event in London.

Yes, huge acts at the O2 are great, but they come with a price tag. There are plenty of places in London to watch live music for free, such as:

  • Concerts at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
  • Gigs at the Old Blue Last.
  • Royal Academy of Music free ticketed events
  • Rough Trade on Brick Lane.
  • Royal Opera House’s free ‘Live at Lunch’ performances.
  • Daylight Music at the Union Chapel: Pay-What-You-Can performances from 12pm-2pm every Saturday.
  • Southbank Centre for free lectures, poetry readings, musical events, and more!
  • “Ain’t Nothing But…” Blues Bar for free blues jams
  • Hootnanny Brixton

Are you getting a good list together for free things to do in London? I hope you’re enjoying this post!

Check out this post for 20 places for a fun date night in London!

8. Visit a church in London for free.

There are many churches in London that you can visit for free. The architecture is stunning and whether you’re religious or not, being in these buildings is great for a moment of reflection.

Beautiful churches in London include:

  • Westminster Abbey (you can attend a service for free, but to go as a tourist you pay entrance).
  • St Paul’s Cathedral (you can attend evensong for free, but to go as a tourist you pay entrance).

Note: During the services you cannot wander around the building, but you can sit and partake in/observe the church service.

  • Westminster Cathedral
  • St Olave, Hart Street
  • St Magnus the Martyr
  • Holy Trinity
  • St Dunstan in the East
  • St Leonard’s, Shoreditch
  • Southwark Cathedral
  • St. Martin in the Fields
  • Temple Church
  • St Pancras Old Church
  • St. Mary Abbots Church
Getting to know my camera at London School of Photography

Here’s my complete guide to exploring London in 48 hours.

9. Go wild swimming in London.

Yes, you read that correctly. If you take the trek out to Zone 7, you can swim for free in the River Colne at Rickmansworth.

You can also go swimming for free at Ruislip Lido, one of London’s only ‘beaches’!

Here are 30 things to do in London for your London bucket list!

10. Attend a free comedy show.

Laugh your socks off for free during free comedy shows in London. Venues that have regular free comedy shows include:

  • The Angel
  • The Top Secret Comedy Club
  • The Platypus Playpen
  • Dogstar Comedy
  • This Is Not a Cult
  • Camden Comedy Club

Here’s my complete guide to exploring Camden, London.

11. Go window shopping.

You might not have thought Harrods would be listed as a free thing to do in London but hear me out. Some of the best (and most expensive) places to shop in London are an experience to even walk around… without purchasing. Harrods is up there with the best, Selfridges too at Christmas.

London is one of the best places in the world to go shopping, and you can soak up the atmosphere and hustle and bustle without spending a penny! As well as the markets, the best areas to go shopping in are

  • Regent Street
  • Oxford Street
  • Covent Garden
  • Harrod’s

See my top tips for planning and researching your next adventure here.

12. Soak up London’s skyline.

You don’t have to pay loads of money for a cocktail at a rooftop bar to see London’s skyline. You can see London’s skyline for free from:

  • Sky Garden
  • Oxo Tower
  • Parliament Hill
  • Primrose Hill
  • One Tree Hill
  • Alexandra Palace

Check out this post for the best places to have cocktails in London.

13. Join in with a free fitness class.

London is a great place to work out, and you don’t have to pay lots of money to do it either! You can work out for free in London with

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Here’s my complete guide to London in winter.

14. Take in the fresh air and walk around the city.

London really is a beautiful city, and it’s best seen on foot. As well as my London landmark walk, try these walks in London:

  • Thames Path
  • Regent’s Park
  • Primrose Hill
  • Parliament Hill
  • Epping Forest
  • Follow the path of the Great Fire of London
  • Roman Wall walk
  • Queen’s Wood
  • Brockwell Park

Looking for more free things to do in London? Keep reading!

See the best walks and hikes to go on in England here.

15. Attend a free seasonal event.

London is home to some huge events which can be attended for free, but only take place once a year. Soak up, embrace and learn about the diversity that makes London the amazing, diverse city it is.

  • Watching the Christmas lights in London.
  • Chinese New Year.
  • London Marathon
  • Notting Hill Carnival.
  • Pride.
  • Boat Race
  • London Christmas Markets
  • Blackheath’s free fireworks
  • London in Bloom.

Here are the best things to do in London at Christmas.

16. Watch a free film.

The British Film Institute regularly show free films at the Mediatheque and House of Vans also have free film screenings. During summer you can also watch films in ‘open air cinemas’ on big screens all over London!

Here are my top tips for travelling on a budget.

17. Learn something new at a free lecture.

Free lectures are held all over London, including at Gresham College, UCL, KCL and LSE. Pick a topic of your choice, get a notepad, and fuel your brain with new knowledge!

Note: due to Covid-19, most lectures are being held online for 2020-21 and will be moved back to face-to-face as social distancing rules are relaxed. Learn how to stay positive during the pandemic here.

I hope you got lots of ideas for free things to do in London!

For £10 off your first Uber ride, use my code: 1l08a

EXPLORE LONDON ON MY BLOG HERE

Join 7,000+ other like-minded Global Travellers in the Facebook family here today!

Have you been to London?

What are the best things to do in London? Anything you’d add to this London bucket list?

Love as always and happy adventuring… 

Mollie Bylett

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