Guest Post: Free Stuff to do in London This Summer

Ah, London in the Summer! Sure, we might not always have the best weather (in fact, when it comes to the weather, it’s probably best to expect the unexpected and *always* carry an umbrella), but it really is a great place to visit. With numerous parks, museums, galleries, theatres and buzzy nightlife, London is a great place to explore, and the great news is much of what’s on offer is free.

Below are my top picks for Summer 2011 – best of all, it’s all free – and everyone loves free, right?

More London Free Festival at The Scoop

August and September 2011
Tubes: London Bridge, Tower Hill

The area between London Bridge and Tower Bridge has been totally transformed in recent years into a clean, modern open space overlooked by some glittering, newly erected architecture. The Scoop is an open air amphitheatre nestling just under the building known to Londoners as The Egg. During August and September The Scoop will be putting on free plays and film showings, including a production of Jules Vernes’ ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ and Bertold Brecht’s ‘The Mother’.
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Spend Your Summer Holiday in Space – the Science Museum

From 23 July
Tube: South Kensington

From the 23 July the Science Museum in West London is hosting a special space-themed adventure, which will see visitors searching the museum for space codes and space facts, culminating in a visit to a full-size replica of the lander that took Neil Armstrong onto the moon’s surface.
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Contemporary Art Group Exhibition; ‘Memory Box’ at the Brick Lane Gallery

21 – 23 July
Tube: Aldgate

If you’re in the mood for a bit of contemporary art you can’t do much better than the Brick Lane Gallery, which will be showing work from British and International contemporary and street artists. The area around Brick Lane is full of lovely boutique shops and bars, so it’s worth a visit in its own right.
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Home-made ice cream master class – Peter Jones

27 – 30 July 6pm Wed, 10.30am Sat
Tube: Sloane Square

Did you know that Britain has a whole range of traditional ice cream flavours? Well, if you’re from the UK then of course you know, but if you’re not, find out what they are at this master class and tasting session at department store Peter Jones on the edge of the famous Kings Road shopping street in West London.
Find out more.

Le Boum, French Pop Party – Brixton Club House

6 August
Tube: Brixton

Mon dieu! French pop in the middle of South London? Well, why not? If you like your indie music with a touch of Gallic fun then come down to Brixton and dance to classics from the 70s, 80s and 90s on the Brixton Club House’s private terrace.
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Serpentine Gallery Summer Pavilion 2011, designed by Peter Zumthor

1 July – 16 October 2011
Tube: High Street Kensington

Every year the world’s most notable architects vie to design the pavilion commissioned by the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens. This year it’s the turn of Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, who has created a calm, minimalist plot surrounding a peaceful garden in the middle of one of London’s most beautiful parks.
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So what did I miss? Do let me know via the comments 🙂

About the Author – This is a guest post written by Hannah Smith, a travel writer for thetrainline.com the UK’s leading independent retailer of cheap train tickets.