Here is a huge list of things that you can do in London for free. We’ve put a lot of work into this list, and we hope that you can create some lovely London memories by doing some of the things listed. This is a springboard for doing your own research in how to get to each of these places and when they’re open.
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- British Museum – The best Museum in London. Plan a whole day here.
- National Gallery – Some of history’s best art for free.
- Trafalgar Square – Go see Nelson and people-watch as London goes by.
- Walk through Hyde Park – No trip to London is complete without a walk through Hyde Park.
- Covent Garden – Explore the old market, watch street performers, hear musicians. Plenty of free fun to be had in Covent Garden!
- Walk along the Thames – Smell the fresh river air and listen to the Thames lap along the shore.
- Tate Modern – Some of the art is questionable, but the building is amazing in itself and worth a visit alone.
- Evensong Church Service – You have to pay admission to get into most of London’s cathedrals, but if you go to evensong service you can get in for free.
- Cross Tower Bridge – It’s a free thrill for all tourists to cross the bridge! Wait around, and you might even see it open and close.
- National Maritime Museum – Explore Britain Royal Navy’s history.
- Walk through the Woolwich Foot Tunnel – Cross one of the oldest tunnels under the Thames – get off a the DLR stop King George V and walk to the entrance.
- Pollocks Toy Museum – Toys from around the world – great place for the kids!
- Imperial War Museum – See Britain’s Military History in all its glory.
- Borough Market – Explore one of London’s coolest markets!
- British Film Institute’s Mediatheque – Explore Britain’s film heritage.
- Houses of Parliament – It costs money to go inside, but that doesn’t have to stop you from checking out the building from the outside.
- Museum of London – Fun look at the history of London.
- National Portrait Gallery – Might not interest everyone as it’s pictures of aristocracy through the ages.
- Natural History Museum – One of the world’s finest natural history museums. Check out the Darwin Centre!
- Victoria and Albert Museum – A strange hodge-podge museum that provides an interesting insight into Britain’s cultural heritage.
- Science Museum – Who doesn’t like science? Kids will love it!
- Serpentine Gallery – Art Gallery located in Hyde Park that rotates various exhibitions through the year.
- Tate Britain – Like the National Gallery, it’s home to some beautiful art.
- Guildhall Art Gallery – Collection of art collected by the Corporation of London.
- Wallace Collection – Collection of European art and artifacts.
- Whitechapel Gallery – Modern Art gallery in East London.
- Bank of England Museum – Take a look at the monetary history of the world.
- Changing of the Guard – It’s a tourist trap, but always fun to see on a sunny day. Every day in the summer at 11:30. Arrive early.
- Ceremony of the Keys – You have to request permission to witness this, but it’s pretty cool. Watch the nightly lock-up of the Tower of London.
- Sir John Soane’s Museum – The eclectic collection of a famous London architect exactly as he left it.
- Kenwood House – Lovely stately home located in Hampstead Heath.
- Geffrye Museum – Period rooms museum from 1600 to today.
- Royal Air Force Museum – See the history of Britain’s flying aces.
- Horniman Museum – An eclectic family museum with many different displays.
- Queen Mary’s Rose Garden – London’s largest and best rose garden.
- St James’ Park – One of London’s fine Royal Parks.
- The Globe Theatre – See the replica of the theatre that was home to Shakespeare’s plays! It costs to get in for a tour, but not to have a look outside.
- Princess Diana Memorial – Located in Hyde Park, you can pay your respects to Princess Di.
- Speaker’s Corner – Arrive on a Sunday morning, and watch the colorful characters gathered to speak about anything.
- Leicester Square – Relax in the park in the middle or admire the glitzy lights of this tourist haven.
- Tower Bridge Lifts – Watch Tower Bridge open and close.
- Museum of London Docklands – A lesser known London, but cool none the less. You can explore London’s maritime shipping history.
- Lunch Concerts at St. Martin in the Fields – Enjoy lunch in the Crypt at St. Martin in the Fields, and also enjoy free concerts every day.
- Free Concerts at the National Theatre – Check with them for regular free concerts open to the public.
- Watch a TV Show Recorded at the BBC – It’s free to be in the studio audience of a show as it’s being recorded.
- View London from Primrose Hill – Admire the view from London’s Primrose Hill.
- London Silver Vaults – Check out the world’s largest retail collection of fine antique silver.
- Hunterian Museum – See a unique collection of animal specimens kept in jars.
- Watch a Trial at Central Criminal Court – It’s free to watch a trial take place from the public galleries at the Central Criminal Court.
- Walk through the City on a Saturday – The Square Mile or City of London is practically abandoned on the weekends. Check out the cool architecture and enjoy the quiet streets.
- Street Performers in Covent Garden or the South Bank – Seek out buskers throughout London for free and fun entertainment.
- Catch a Film Premiere in Leicester Square – The Odeon Theatre in Leicester Square regularly holds film premieres where you can catch a glimpse of stars.
- Coram’s Fields – Unique seven-acre playground and park for children living in or visiting London.
- Foundling Museum – Britain’s original home for abandoned children and London’s first ever public art gallery.
- The Photographer’s Gallery – Largest public display gallery dedicated to photography.
- Peter Pan Statue – Check out the statue of the literary classic located in Kensington Gardens.
- Museum of Childhood – Dedicated to the history of childhood.
- See the London Stone – Check out the Roman Stone from where all distance from London was measured located at 111 Cannon Street.
- Touch the Roman Wall – Throughout the city of London you’ll see traces of the original Roman Wall fortification. There’s large pieces around the Museum of London.
- Check out Picadilly Circus – See the iconic bright lights and the famous statue of Eros.
- Musicians in Covent Garden Apple Market – On the lower levels of the Market, there’s usually musicians busking while people eat.
- Explore Leadenhall Market – Gorgeous market located in the City of London worth exploring for the architecture alone.
- Walk Across Hampstead Heath – Beautiful park in London that provides lovely views of metropolitan London.
- Visit Regent’s Park – Another great Royal Park, and there’s a zoo!
- Wellington Arch – One of two triumphal arches in London.
- Marble Arch – The second triumphal arch in London.
- Visit Platform 9 3/4 – Doesn’t really exist, of course, but station authorities have set up a fake entrance for Harry Potter fans at King’s Cross Station.
- Visit St Pancras International – Admire this beautiful station, watch Eurostar trains arrive and depart, and visit the statue of the couple kissing.
- Free Music at the Notting Hill Arts Club – Regular free music in Notting Hill.
- Harrod’s Food Hall – Browse quail eggs, cava, and custom-made cakes in the sumptuous food halls in Harrods.
- Walk along the South Bank – Walk from Waterloo Bridge to the Tate Modern, and see a huge part of London.
- Walk through Richmond Park – Another lovely park.
- Changing of the Guard in Windsor – If you happen to be in Windsor, there’s a changing of the guard there as well.
- Visit Bushy Park – Yet another lovely park.
- 5th View Bar – Check out the priceless views.
- Canals of Maida Vale/Little Venice – See London’s waterways and cute boats where people actually live!
- Abbey Road Crosswalk – Become a traffic hazard, and have your own Beatles pictures taken.
- Admire the Barbican – Built after World War II, it’s a triumph of modernism.
- Postman’s Park – The square from the movie “Closer” where memorials are dedicated to people who died saving Londoners.
- Take a free London guided walk – Pick up a guidebook or download a free audio tour, and do your own London walk.
- Travel Bookshop in Notting Hill – Visit the bookstore that the shop in the film Notting Hill was based on.
- Portobello Road Market – Be prepared for huge crowds, but no visit to London is complete without a visit to the bustling market.
- Explore Blue Plaques – Look closely on old buildings, and you’ll see lots of blue plaques, which offer some history about famous people who lived there.
- Listen to Big Ben Chime – Stand in Parliament Square at noon and wait for Big Ben to make its music.
- Visit the U.S. Embassy – You can’t go inside unless you have business, but you can admire the building and the beautiful square that surrounds it.
- Visit the Cenotaph – Pay respects to Britain’s memorials to the two World Wars.
- Explore Camden Town and Camden Lock Market – Much bigger than Portobello Road and much more to see.
- Check out City Hall and the Scoop – Admire London’s new bee-hive-shaped city hall and watch out for free performances in the Scoop outside.
- Visit 10 Downing Street – Get a glimpse of the residence of the Prime Minister. Wait long enough, and you might see him come and go.
- Picnic in Battersea Park – Lovely riverside park with views of the Thames.
- Cross the Jubilee Bridge – Cross the Thames at Embankment on this beautiful bridge.
- Cross the Millennium Bridge – Best way to cross from the Tate Modern to St Paul’s or vice verse.
- See the Roosevelt & Churchill Statue – Located in Bond Street, see the two great world leaders as friends.
- See the Churchill Statue – Located in Parliament Square.
- See the Lincoln Statue – Statue of the American president located in Parliament Square. The only one to have such an honor.
- Free WiFi in the Apple Stores – Need wifi or access to the web? Then stop in the Apple Stores in Covent Garden or Regent Street and recharge your Internet batteries.
- Get Photographed in a Red Phone Box – Nothing more touristy or more awesome than a picture in a red phone box.
- Visit the National Army Museum – Discover the history of Britain’s armed forces.
- Visit Russell Square – Quiet little green park in the middle of bustling London right around the corner from the British Museum.
- Visit the 7-7 Memorial – Located in Hyde Park on the east side, you can pay your respects to those who lost their lives in the terror attacks on 7-7-05.
- Feed the Ducks in St James Park – They’ll appreciate it!
Did you find this list useful? This check out our London Guidebook – 101 London Travel Tips, which features all the travel tips about London the other guidebooks leave out. More details here.
A great resource for finding Cheap Flights to London.