Everybody loves a freebie, and there’s no reason to visit London and spend a fortune. So here is a list of free things to do in London.
Free things to do in London: Visit the Sky Garden
The garden at the top of the “Walkie-Talkie” skyscraper is well worth a visit; wander around the gorgeous gardens whilst getting some excellent views of the City of London. Bookings need to be made in advance.
Free things to do in London: Enter the Tate Modern
The first of the art galleries to make a list. Tate Modern is one of the largest collections of modern art globally; it features art dating from 1900 to today. The primary collection in the gallery features 8 separate areas. Each of which has a named theme. Noteworthy artists featured in the gallery include Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Located near Southwark station on the Tube, it is easy to get to and well worth a visit.
Free things to do in London: Go to the Houses of Parliament
Home to the world-famous Big Ben and located in the Palace of Westminster. The Houses of Parliament are visited by most tourists who arrive in London. But did you know you can visit the public gallery free of charge to watch ongoing debates and discussions? The galleries are open from Monday-Thursday. Tickets can be booked ahead of time, but you can enter without a ticket if there is space in the gallery. A fascinating experience and something different from the usual tourist activities.
Free things to do in London: Camden Market
One of London’s most famous markets. Camden is very diverse and vibrant. It’s a great place to just walk around and explore because of the people you meet here. Mohawk wearing punks, black-clad goths, hipsters, mods, ageing hippies; people from all walks of life can be found visiting the unique shops and stores available in Camden.
Free things to do in London: Victoria and Albert Museum
The V&A is the largest museum of decorative arts in the whole world. There are 145 galleries featuring art spanning 5000 years. Examples of artwork are represented from all around the globe, from the Middle East to the UK. Sculptures, portraits, ceramics, glass and more are spread across the museum’s galleries. The museums’ Asian collection is of particular interest, containing over 160,000 pieces. The religious sculptures are especially worth seeing. The British collection makes up 15 galleries covering 1500 to 1900.
Free things to do in London: The lovely Hackney City Farm
This farm in London is a vital community centre that features a vegetable box collection scheme for locals and runs several classes and events. Children will love seeing the cute little critters living at the farm. This includes two Tamworth pigs, a pair of friendly donkeys, some cheeky goats and a whole gang of mischievous chickens. The farm offers volunteering opportunities for kids to get up close with the animals and is an excellent way to learn about different animals. This is also free of charge.
The friendly staff and even friendlier animals will be delighted to welcome you to their farm. Make sure to stop by the farm shop for the honey from Hackney City Farm’s very own hive. This fabulous place is a lesser-known gem in London and is a must-visit to see the farm’s vital role in the local community.
Free things to do in London: Temple Church
The Knights Templar built this church, and it served as their headquarters in England. It differs from usual churches seen across Britain as a “round church”. A design standard for Knights Templar churches. Check out the ten effigies of various knights found inside. History buffs won’t want to miss this.
Free things to do in London: Natural History Museum
This museum features 80 million items within five main fields. These are botany, entomology, mineralogy and zoology. Many of the collections inside have a significant scientific value. The museum’s excellent dinosaur exhibit is a must-see, and children especially will love it. The dinosaurs on display include Triceratops and Stegosaurus skeletons and a life-size, moving T-Rex.
The other sections of the museum all feature skeletons of living and extinct animals as well as stuffed and mounted examples so that you can get up close and personal with some of the wonderful animals on our planet.
Free things to do in London: The National Gallery
Art lovers rejoice; one of the finest art galleries in the world is free for you to enter. The National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square and houses over 2,300 paintings. Highlights of the collection include The Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci and Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh. Other noteworthy artists whose work can be found here include Michelangelo, George Stubbs, Canaletto and Monet. These art-world legends are reason enough alone to visit The National Gallery.
Free things to do in London: Pay a visit to the British Museum
Last but not least, one of the largest museums globally. It is dedicated to human history and culture. Within its cavernous halls are over several artifacts from all across the globe. The 80,000+ artifacts on display at one time make up just 1% of the museum’s total collection. The collection includes examples from Rome, Ancient Egypt, the Middle East and Asia. For example, visit the Egyptian section and see a real mummy, coffins, statues and the world-famous Rosetta Stone.
In the Greek and Rome sections, treasures on display include the Elgin Marbles, materials and statues from various famous tombs and the Jennings Dog, which dates from the 2nd century. The Middle Eastern section contains over 300,000 works and the largest Mesopotamian collection outside Iraq.
You can spend hours roaming the British Museum and still not see it all. Not only is it the number 1 must-see attraction in London, but it is also one of the top attractions in the city overall. A trip to London isn’t complete without a visit.
