What to do for free in London
I love London. It is a city that was once home to me almost 20 years ago when I came to here work in the city for a poorly paid summer internship. I didn’t have much money at the time so it was a pretty rough time. However, as expensive it is to rent or find cheap accommodation here, London has such a huge amount of cool things to do for free -National Gallery of Art for example is probably the most amazing temple of art in the world and it is FREE. Paris, eat your heart out. For many of you reading this article and planning to come here, a trip to London is the culmination of a life-long dream. Though sometimes bordering on the prohibitively expensive when it comes to accommodation, there are so many ways to enjoy the best of London on a budget. Here are my recommendations for the best 51 free things to do in London.
PS: Recommend checking Eventbrite which is always a brilliant source for free music concerts in London and free movie screenings in London Plus Time Out London has an excellent weekly guide to the best stuff to do in London. Plus checkout these excellent free self guided walking tours of London.
Free Museums and Galleries in London
1) National Gallery
Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
Timings: Daily 10am–6pm, Friday 10am–9pm
This is a behemoth of an art gallery with a formidable collection of world-class art. It might just be that you would want to see everything on display. If however, this is not possible, the Gallery itself has thoughtfully listed 30 of the top must-see paintings on their website including: Johannes Vermeer’s ‘A Young Woman standing at a Virginal’, Van Gogh’s ‘The Sunflowers’, Ingres’s ‘Madame Moitessier’, van Eyck’s ‘The Arnolfini Portrait and Turner’s ‘The Fighting Temeraire’.
One of the best free things to do in London is visiting the Science Museum and seeing this : The Moon rock in the ‘Exploring Space’ section of the museum. This piece of Moon rock was cut from the ‘Great Scott’ rock that Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott picked from the Moon’s surface in August 1971.
2) Science Museum
Address: Exhibition Rd, London SW7 2DD
Timings: Open everyday 10am-6pm
There’s plenty to see for children and adults alike at the Science Museum. If short of time, consider viewing the following highlights: offbeat attractions like a space toilet, a seven-toed cat and a pregnant man; space exploration including satellites, rockets (like Stephenson’s rocket) and the Apollo10 command module and the Energy Hall, containing life-size steam trains with plenty of history.
Photo by Claudio Testa on Unsplash
3) Natural History Museum
Address: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
Timings: Open everyday 10am-5.30pm.
The Natural History Museum is worth a visit for just a glimpse of the great Hintze Hall itself, housing the massive T.rex dinosaur fossil. There are 36 free galleries inside the museum. The museum is divided into various colour zones: the blue zones features the diversity of life from large mammals to dinosaurs; the red zone focuses on the different life forces that have shaped the creation of the Earth; the green zone features the Earth’s evolution and the orange zone features scientists at work and the Wildlife Garden.
4) Tate Britain
Address: Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, United Kingdom
Cost: Free at all times
Timings: 10am-6pm daily
With only an hour or less on hand, a good idea would be to check out the Constable and Pre-Raphaelite paintings on display, notably Constable’s ‘Flatford Mill’ and Sir John Everett Millais’ ‘Ophelia 1851-2’. Painter Francis Bacon and also the sculptor, Henry Moore also have masterworks on display.
5) National Portrait Gallery
Address: St. Martin’s Pl, London WC2H 0HE
Timings: Sat-Wed: 10am-6pm; Thurs/Fri: 10am-9pm
This is a museum, which displays exactly what the label says: i.e. the portraits of several figures in British history. The primary collection boasts 11,000 original works of which 4000 are either paintings or sculptures and 7000 are light sensitive drawings.
6) Victoria and Albert Museum
Address: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, United Kingdom
Timings: Sat-Thurs: 10am-5.45pm; Fri: 10am-10pm
When visiting the V&A you are stepping into a treasure trove of several thousands of years of decorative art and design history. The building itself is a triumph of Victorian architectural design. Definitely see Cecil Beaton’s collection of Royal Portraits, ‘Trees at Hampstead’ by Constable, ‘Tipoo’s Tiger’- a life size wooden sculpture of a man being attacked by a tiger from Mysore India and the Unicorn Tapestries if stretched for time.
7) Saatchi Gallery
Address: Duke Of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, London SW3 4RY
Timings: open daily 10am-6pm
The Saatchi Gallery displays contemporary art from lesser-known international artists who have mostly not been exhibited in the United Kingdom. The interest in contemporary art has steadily grown and the thirty-year-old gallery now records a 1.5 million-visitor footfall per annum. British artists who have used the gallery as a springboard to launch their careers include Damien Hirst, Jenny Saville and Gavin Turk.
8) Wallace Collection
Address: Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
Timings: open daily 10am-5pm
It has a wide variety of fine and decorative art pieces but notable are the collection of the Old Masters, porcelain, miniatures, furniture and French 18th century paintings. There are remarkable paintings by Titian, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Velázquez, Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds and others to feast the eyes on.
9) National Maritime Museum
Address: Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF
Timings: open daily 10am-5pm
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich is part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. The complex also includes the Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House. The museum itself is a repository of over two million valuable artifacts related to the maritime history of the nation including cartography manuscripts, old scientific instruments designed for time-keeping, astronomy and navigation and a sizable portrait collection rivaled only by the National Portrait Gallery. You can see all sorts of cool things like the Armada Portrait or Nelson’s uniform.
10) Imperial War Museum
Address: Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ
Timings: Open daily 10am-6pm
The Imperial War Museum captures stories of the war experiences of different people, starting from the First World War right up to the present day. The First World War galleries take about 90 minutes to cover, the New Atrium, Witnesses to War and Levels 1 and 2 will take approximately 2 hours and the holocaust exhibit 90 minutes.
Free Outdoors/Walks/Parks in London
11) Hyde Park
Location: Contiguous to Kensington Gardens, Central London.
Timings: Open daily 5am -12am.
This is one of London’s largest parks forming part of the Royal Parks of London. On the southeast corner, outside the park is Hyde Park Corner. This park is the home of the water bodies The Serpentine and Long Water. The park was the site of the Great Exhibition of 1851, where the Crystal Palace was built. Historically it was also the hunting grounds of King Henry VIII. Points of interest include the Serpentine, Lady Diana’s commemorative memorial and also Speaker’s Corner. It is host to concerts in the summer and the ‘Winter Wonderland’- replete with fun fair rides during the winter.
Free Things to do in London: St James Park, London
12) St James Park
Location: London SW1A 2BJ
Timings: Open daily 5am-12am
This smaller park is located in Central London in the City of Westminster. Of the continuous chain of parks that form London’s lungs, this park is the most eastern. The park is flanked on all sides by notable landmarks. Buckingham Palace on the west, Horse Guards on the east, the Mall to the north and the Birdcage Walk to the south. A prominent feature of the park is St James Lake which has a small island in the centre called Duck Island. The Park is home to some avian wildlife including several ducks and a host of pelicans and other birds. There is a nice glimpse of Buckingham Palace in the distance, across the lake from the Blue Bridge.
13) Wimbledon Common
Address: Windmill Rd, Wimbledon Common, London SW19 5NR
Timings: Open daily 9am-5pm
This is a large open green space found in Greater London. It is primarily a large conservation area containing a large area of undisturbed heath land. A number of plant and insect species can be found here including the stag beetle. It is a fabulous place to go for a long nature ramble. If you have ever watched the Children’s TV programme, ‘The Wombles’, this green space will hold a special place in your heart.
14) Prime Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich
Address: Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ
Timings: Open daily 10am-5pm
The Prime Meridian Line is found at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. For the longest time Greenwich has been associated with the country’s navigational and maritime history. The ancient Romans landed here, the Royal Observatory was founded by Charles II to charter the longitudes of different places. It is the founding place of the Prime Meridian Line and Greenwich Mean Time. A laser projected from the observatory marks the Prime Meridian Line at night
15) Walk along the Thames
Some of the best walks in London are to be had along the banks of the River Thames. It is the longest river in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. It’s source is at the Thames Head in Gloucestershire and empties into the North Sea at the Thames Estuary but there is no stretch of this river that is so highly populated with iconic buildings and monuments as the stretch traversing the heart of the London city. In the nineteenth century raw sewage was dumped into the river rendering it an effluent riddled with germs and sickness but nowadays it is not unheard of to take a Thames river cruise or a walk along the banks. If you reach the Palace of Westminster you will be face to face with the largest four-faced clock in the world, Big Ben, adjacent to the Houses of Parliament.
The London Eye
16) South Bank Walk
Location: It is a commercial and entertainment district of Central London along the River Thames just opposite the City of Westminster.
A walk along the south bank of the River Thames is a wonderful way to take in many of the sights of London. If you cross the River Thames near to Big Ben along the Westminster Bridge you will find yourself directly on the South Bank of the River. Sights that you will behold are The County Hall, The London Eye, The Southbank Centre, The Royal National Theatre, Oxo Tower and Gabriel’s Wharf, The Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre, the Millennium Footbridge back across the River to St. Paul’s Cathedral.
17) Queen Mary’s Rose Garden, Regent’s Park
Address: Chester Road, London NW1 4NR.
Regents Park is one of the Royal Parks of London and is home to the London Zoo and Regent’s University, London. Queen Mary’s Rose Garden located in the Inner Circle of Regent’s Park can boast of a plentiful display of 40,000 roses in bloom during the summer. The roses are planted in a circular display with stone pillars outside them but are interspersed with formal rose beds and more informal ones.
18) Bushy Park
Address: Hampton Court Rd, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2EJ
Timings: 6.30am-7.30pm
This is a large park under the Royal Parks service in Greater London, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The park is north of Hampton Court Palace so a visit to the two could be combined. Historically, King Henry VIII acquired the park for hunting deer when he obtained nearby Hampton Court Palace from Cardinal Wolsey. In the present day, it is possible to engage in a number of outdoor activities when visiting the park. Fishing, nature rambles, wildlife spotting of the different kinds of deer in the park are all good options.
19) Free Walking Tours
A free London walking tour under the guidance of a knowledgeable guide is an excellent way to find your feet in this busy city. It is customary to tip your guide if you believe he has done a good job. All kinds of opportunities are available to get to know the city better, including a London food tour, a street art and graffiti tour, family tours and much more.
Cool Markets and Stores in London
20) Covent Garden
Address: Covent Garden is a district in London between St. Martin’s Lane and Drury Lane. It is located in the West End.
The former fruit and vegetable market that was founded in Central Square has now been modified in to a popular tourist spot in the Central Building: the abode of several pubs, cafes, small shops and a craft market called the Apple Market. It is a popular place for shopping. The district is also home to the Royal Opera House also called Covent Garden. There are a number of independent shops in the vicinity like Neal’s Yard.
Daunt Books by Charlotte Gilhooly, Creative Commons License
21) Daunt Bookshop
Address: Daunt Books 83 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 4QW.
Timings: Open Mon-Sat: 9am-7.30pm
London is a treasure trove of independent bookstores and second hand bookstores. An eminent name that comes to mind is Daunt Books. This Edwardian Bookshop has so much history nestled in its long oak gallery sweeping skylights and stain-glassed windows. The shop opened by James Daunt was intended to provide an alternate browsing experience for the reader. All the books are arranged according to their country, irrespective of the genre they hail from: an experience similar to going around the world in many, many books.
22) Columbia Road Flower Market
Location: Columbia Road, London E2 7RG Bethnal Green, Tower Hamlets, Greater London.
Timings: Every Sunday: 8am-2pm
Columbia is a street in East London housing many Victorian shops that undergoes a floral transformation every Sunday: the Columbia Road Flower Market. Vendors set up shop from 4 am on Sundays and the street is a bower of floral wonder by the time it opens at 8. Vendors import all sorts of flowers and plants ranging from locally grown to imported. Watch out for amazing deals, when you can find everything for a ‘fiver’. In between flower shopping, browse the quaint Victorian shops- everything from cupcake shops to antiques and vintage clothing stores.
23) Portobello Street Market
Address: Portobello Road, London, Greater London, W10 5TA.
Timings: the Market is open all days of the week although in a limited capacity on Sundays at Portobello Green. Saturday and Friday are the busiest days when the full street market is open.
Mon-Wed: 9am-6pm; Thurs:9am-1pm; Fri/Sat:9am-7pm.
The Portobello Street Market is a bustling affair consisting of several smaller markets that come together on different days of the week to reach a crescendo on Fridays and Saturdays. There’s the fruit and vegetable market, the antiques market, the second-hand goods and bric-a-brac market, vintage clothing market and furniture market just to name a few. Come to haggle, meet different types of people or watch street performers at this one of a kind market.
24) Window shopping at Harrods
Address: 87-135 Brompton Rd, London SW1X 7XL.
Timings: Mon-Sat: 10am-9pm; Sun- 11.30am-6pm
I know what you are thinking- Harrods of Knightsbridge and a free London guide? What do these have in common? Well you would be right in thinking these are oxymorons. However, Harrods is such a veritable English and London Institution that just browsing the store is an unmissable London experience in itself. And browsing the store doesn’t cost a penny. The upscale department store consists of 330 retail departments spread over 1 million square feet of retail space. It is especially lovely to visit the seasonal Christmas department and the Food Halls selling all kinds of luxurious food.
25) Borough Market
Address: 8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL.
Timings: Mon-Thurs: 10am-5pm; Fri: 10am-6pm; Sat: 8am-5pm.
This market is the last word in wholesale fruit, vegetable and retail food therapy. This is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London. It has it’s origins in the 13th Century. The gourmet food market is the place to go to sample breads, cheeses, cider, cakes, and ready-to-eat foods. Don’t miss the opportunity to eat that great British tradition and the best finger food: the Scotch egg.
26) Hamleys Toy Store
Address: 188-196 Regent St., London W1B 5BT.
Timings: Mon-Fri: 10am-9pm; Sat: 9.30am-9pm; Sun: 12-6pm.
This children’s toyshop is another London shopping institution. It was founded in 1760 by William Hamley in High Holborn and moved to its current location in Regent Street in 1881. There are six floors filled with every kind of toy imaginable: soft toys, arts and crafts, building toys, dolls, action toys, games, outdoor games and much more. It is not hard to appreciate why this store was labelled William’s ‘Joy Emporium’ back in the day. It continues to delight generations of children.
27) Camden Market
Address: Camden Lock Pl., London NW1 8AF.
Timings: Open daily: 10am-6pm.
‘Camden Market’ or ‘Camden Lock’ is the name given to the interconnected chain of retail markets grouped under the common name. Not surprisingly the market is found in the London borough of Camden and consists of over 1000 stalls selling anything and everything from fashion, food, music and art items. This is a highly popular visitor attraction, particularly on weekends, with crowds swelling to the 100,000 mark.
London for free? Nothing beats the free lunchtime concerts at St Martin in the Fields.
Free Arts Culture and Entertainment in London
28) St Martin’s in the Fields (lunchtime concerts)
Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ
Timings: Mon, Tues, Fri at 1pm.
This is quite a famous Anglican church perched on the northeastern corner of Trafalgar Square. There has always been a church on the site since medieval times. It has been a premier concert location for over 250 years. The free lunchtime concerts are a wonderful way to sample the virtuoso performances of world-class musicians. From choral music, to piano solos, there is always something to look forward to for music lovers.
Tip: Also checkout my earlier guide to finding free music concerts in London and Europe.
A photo posted by Kash Bhattacharya (@budgettraveller) on
29) Royal Opera House Free Recitals at Swiss Church/ Free Concert at St Giles in the Fields church
Address: Swiss Church, 79 Endell Street, London, WC2H 9DY. St Giles in the fields church is just off Tottenham Court Road Tube Station
Timings: Every Monday at 1pm. St Giles concert is every Friday at 1.10pm
The majority of the tickets for the free lunchtime concerts are available on the day of the performance at the Royal Opera House Box Office until 11 am and then at the Swiss Church from 12 pm onwards. Tickets are limited and distributed on a first come first served basis so make sure you grab those early tickets. The artists performing the recitals are members of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme. Also every Friday, 1.10pm: St Giles-in-the-fields Church offer a free concert.
30) The Scoop
Address: Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2DB.
Timings: There are events and exhibits most days of the month. Please check their calendar for details.
On the south side of the River Thames in London, is a large outdoor amphitheatre with a 1000-person capacity devoted to live entertainment shows, be they theatre, opera, movies, music, dance and more. Film is shown at More London and the events that are free require no tickets or prior booking. Seating is limited so it is advised to arrive early.
31) British Library
Address: 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB.
Timings: Mon-Thurs: 9.30 am-8pm; Fri: 9.30am-6pm, Sat: 9.30am-5pm, Sun: 11am-5pm.
According the number of catalogued items this is the largest library in the world. Highlights include the exhibition rooms where there is a single room dedicated to the Magna Carta, also a Gutenberg Bible, Charles Dickens’ manuscript of ‘Nicholas Nickleby’, Woolf’s ‘Mrs Dalloway’, Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre’ just to name a few.
32) London’s Street Art by Banksy
Banksy is a street graffiti artist and political activist who has left his signature stencil, graffiti style art on several walls and surfaces in and around the city of London, amongst other places. His identity still remains somewhat enigmatic, which adds to the aura of his artwork. Though many of his artworks have been removed from their place of origin in London you can still find some pieces. ‘Guard Dog and His Master’s Voice’, found in the beer garden of Cargo, Rivington Street, London; ‘Phone Tap’ on Chrisp Street in London, ‘Sorry the Lifestyle’ in Poplar, East London; ‘Blur Crazy Beat Art Work’ in Stoke Newington Church Street, London are all memorable. Hurry to see them while they last!
33) British Film Institutes Mediatheque, Southbank
Address: South Block, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XT.
Timings: Mon closed; Tues-Fri: 12pm-8pm; Sat/Sun: 12.30pm-8pm
The British Film Institute (BFI) is a charitable institute dedicated to the promotion and preservation of filmmaking, mostly British. It is the largest repository of film archives in the world. Their Mediatheque at Southbank also offers free films for the family. It is advisable to book in advance, especially on weekends. Examples of movies in the collection include John Masefield’s classic, ‘The Box of Delights’, ‘The Kids Are Alright’, a kid’s television teatime classic, and several Dickens’ film adaptations.
34) Angel Comedy Club, London
Address: 2 Islington High St, London N1 8DY
Timings: Saturdays at 8pm
Angel Comedy Club has certain flagship nights where the stand-up comedy shows are absolutely free to attend. The shows feature professional, award-winning stand up comedians who are very good. The shows start at 8 pm on Saturdays and fill up fast so please arrive an hour earlier to avoid disappointment.
Free London Attractions
35) Westminster Abbey
Address: 20 Deans Yd, London SW1P 3PA
Though it costs a pretty sum to visit Westminster Abbey it doesn’t cost anything to attend the worship, held on Sundays and religious holidays like Easter and Christmas. Everyone is welcome to attend and the service is free of charge. It is a wonderful way to view the interior of this great church and bask in the beauty of a religious ceremony. Apart from this the Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of 17 monarchs. The present church built in 1245 is a prime example of Gothic architecture.
36) Watch a Trial at the Old Bailey
Address: The Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EH.
Timings: Mon-Fri: 9.55am-12.40pm and 1.55pm-3.40pm.
The Old Bailey is the name given to the Criminal Court of Justice of England and Wales that convenes in courthouses on Old Bailey Street. The Crown Court sitting at the Central Criminal Court deals with all major criminal cases, mostly those of Greater London. Trials at the Old Bailey are open to public viewing although there is a high level of stringent security practiced during gaining entry to the court. Visitors must be above 14 years of age to gain admission to the viewing galleries and must bring age verification.
37) Highgate Cemetery
Address: Swain’s Lane, London N6 6PJ.
Timings: Mon-Fri: 10am-4pm; Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm.
This is an important burial ground situated in North London. There are approximately 50,000 graves here. Several prominent personages have made this their last place of rest. They include: Douglas Adams, George Eliot, Karl Marx, Catherine Dickens (wife of Charles Dickens), Stella Gibbons, John Galsworthy, Michael Faraday and many more. If you are a bibliophile, this is most certainly the place to go and pay homage.
Free things to do in London: Nothing beats a visit to Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross
38) Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross
Address: King’s Cross Railway Station, Euston Road, London, N1C 4TB.
You don’t need to be a Potterhead to know about the existence of Platform 9 3/4 located in the heart of busy King’s Cross Station in London. This is the fictional place where Harry Potter boarded the famous Hogwart’s Express that would take him to school. You will find a sign emblazoned with Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross together with a luggage trolley that has been half buried in the wall reminiscent of that famous scene form the book. It makes for a wonderful photo opportunity.
39) London Wall
Address: English Heritage London Wall, Tower Hill, Greater London, EC3N 4DJ.
Timings: London has a history that predates most modern cities and evidence of its antiquity is remarkably evident at different places around London: particularly at the site of London’s Roman Walls.
The London Wall is the name of the ancient wall built by the Romans around the ancient port town of Londinium on the Thames River. London Wall is the name of the street that runs contiguous to a part of the ancient wall. The wall dates from the second or third century AD and was fortified till the Roman departure of Britain in the fourth century.
40) St Paul’s Cathedral
Address: St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD.
Timings: Mattins is at 7.30 am, Holy Communion at 8 am and 12.30 pm and Choral Evensong at 5pm.
St. Paul’s Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the English Baroque style, is an Anglican Church perched at London’s highest point, on Ludgate Hill. The church was constructed in the late 17th century but had a church on site since the sixth century AD. St Paul’s is a church that holds hourly service and prayers to this day. Though it does cost money to visit the interior of St. Paul’s, since it is a place of worship it is possible to enter the church during services.
41) Free lecture at the London School of Economics
Address: Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE.
Everyone is welcome to attend a public lecture at the esteemed London School of Economics. It is best to check the website for lecture topics and times but one thing will be guaranteed: superlative discourse with some of the biggest minds in social science.
Piccadilly Circus, London
42) Piccadilly Circus
Location: Piccadilly Circus is a road junction to be found in the West End of London, where Regent Street meets Piccadilly.
Move over Times Square- London has its own version of bright lights and it is to be found at Piccadilly Circus. Be mesmerized with the bright neon lights that brighten up the surroundings at night and bathe people’s faces in a golden glow. Curious fact: ‘circus’ is derived from the Latin word, meaning circle.
43) Speaker’s Corner
Address: northeast corner of Hyde Park, London
Speaker’s Corner is an open-air space renowned for public speaking. The space is to be found on the northeast corner of Hyde Park, in the paved area closest to Marble Arch. Despite popular belief, speakers must adhere to the law when making their speeches, although police tend to be lenient towards them unless they receive specific complaints. It is a great place to stand and perhaps deliver an impromptu speech of your own!
44) The Tower of London (Ceremony of Keys)
Address: Tower Of London, London EC3N 4AB
The Ceremony of the Keys is a 700-year-old ritual in which all the doors of the Tower of London are locked every night. Each night, at 9.30, 40-50 visitors are allowed entry to witness the procedure. The Chief Yeoman Warder conducts the ceremony, which is quite short, but everything is done with great theatrical aplomb and exactitude.
45) Buckingham Palace (Changing of Guard)
Address: London SW1A 1AA
Timings: 11.30am-12.15 pm April-end of July. Alternate days, the rest of the year weather permitting.
Though it does cost money to enter Buckingham Palace, watching the changing of guard ceremony is a curious and memorable thing to do. As we all know, Buckingham Palace is the residence and administrative headquarters of the ruling monarch of United Kingdom. During this ceremony, new sentries relieve the guards who protect the Palace. It is a piece of pomp and pageantry that the British do so very well.
46) Trafalgar Square (stone lions)
Address: Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London WC2N 5DN.
Trafalgar Square is a public square found in the City of Westminster in Central London. It was named to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, a battle of British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars that took place in 1805. Four stone lions guard a Corinthian column with a statue of Nelson on top. The stone lions at Nelson’s Column are an iconic part of Trafalgar Square and great for a photo opportunity.
47) Abbey Road
Address: 3 Abbey Rd, London NW8 9AY (Abbey road Studios)
If you’re a Beatles fan then a photo opportunity at London’s famous Abbey Road is a must! Make sure you bring Ringo, George and Paul along with you to set the scene!
London from Parliament Hill by DncnH, Creative Commons License.
48) Parliament Hill
Location: Hampstead Heath, London NW3 1TH.
Parliament Hill forms the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath and is a great place to visit, to capture the corrugated topography of London’s skyline. Discernible from the 100 metro high summit are the Gherkin, the baroque dome of St Paul’s, the Shard and Canary Wharf. On a clear day you can also envisage the Houses of Parliament.
49) Regent Street
Location: Regent Street is found in the London Borough of Westminster
It is a major shopping street in London, also famous for its Christmas decorations but it is also notable for its stunning buildings and architecture. Buildings of note to be found along this street are: All Souls Church, BBC’s Broadcasting House, Cafe Royal, Hamleys and Liberty Department Store among others.
Tower Bridge, London
50) Tower Bridge
Location: Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP
Tower Bridge is certainly one of London’s most eye-catching landmarks. While it does cost money to view the Tower Bridge exhibition and walk on the glass walkways, watching Tower Bridge open and close is a wonderful thing to do. Tower Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the river Thames, completed in 1894. The Bridge consists of two towers that are clasped together by horizontal walkways on the upper level. The Bridge Deck is accessible to vehicles and pedestrians, whereas the twin tower’s walkway, exhibition and engine rooms have an admission fee. The Bridge lifts at certain times during the day (check the schedule) to admit of the passage of ships and viewing this is a delight to behold.
51) Best free tour in London? Free Harry Potter Tour of London
If you are interested in budget-friendly accommodation options in London check our posts here and here. We also have a useful family-friendly budget guide to London which you can access here.
Creative Commons License Attribution
London from Parliament Hill photograph was licensed under Creative Commons License courtesy of DncnH; Daunt Books photograph was licensed under Creative Commons License courtesy of Charlotte Gilhooly.
If you are visiting London checkout our guides to London
50 Things to do in London for Free
Yes! Yes! Yes! And Yes!
I used to live in London many years back, and I still find plenty of things that cost absolutely zilch, to do!
Nice one Kash!
Great list! Will definitely be saving this for later!
Kate | http://www.petiteadventures.org/
Yes! It’s so funny how London is so expensive but has so many free things to do! Love it!
And with that – sir, when a man doesn’t appreciate parks, museums, and markets, he doesn’t know how to travel on a budget; for in London, that is all that most people can afford. Lol. Completely joking of course. Truly a great list! This could keep someone visiting occupied for at least 5 days 🙂 Thank you
Amazing list! Cannot wait to visit all the museums on your list! Scoured your blog for 50 free things to do in London after I was your 50 free things to do in Paris post. As always, very helpful!
Cheers and glad I could be of help!