20 Free Things to do in London (or Nearly Free) That You’ll Love

This is our no compromise list of cheap and free things to do in London

London is the city of free. We have free museums, galleries, parks and interesting streets and alleyways. Combine this with some exotic, tasty and cheap street food and you are all set to go.

1. Check out the Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum.

You won’t need to look far to find your favourite dinosaur as there is a massive beast towering above you in the Victorian foyer. In fact, the Natural History Museum is a bit obsessed with these animals as relics, exhibitions, talks and colouring books are everywhere. And best of all it is one of our top free things to do in London.

2. Find the Mummies at the British Museum

Mummies, coffins, funeral masks and all manner of useful objects that the dead took with them into the after-life are displayed in the Egyptian room of the British Museum. Look out for the beautifully engraved inner coffin of the priest Hornedjitef from Thebes 240BC and the mummy of a cat from Abydos AD 1-100.

3. Explore Modern Art at the Tate Modern

There’s no need to splash a lot of cash when you visit the Tate Modern.  This contemporary art museum is housed in the Bankside Power Station. There is an impressive selection of free art in its public galleries which includes works by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. You can find out more about its top exhibits here.

If you head to the Kitchen & Bar on the 6^th Floor, you can sit on a bar stool and enjoy the majestic view of the River Thames, Millennium Bridge and St Pauls – all for the price of a coffee.

4. Ride on the Top of a Red Double Decker

Forget the touristy and expensive Hop-on Hop-off bus we have a cheaper alternative. Take one of red buses on the 9, 11 or 73 bus routes and see famous London sights for a fraction of the price. The stops and attractions on these routes are explained here. The cost of a day bus pass is currently £6 and you can check out the latest prices and child ticket prices here.

5. Discover Your Inner Foodie at Borough Market

This famous foodie market in London Bridge has all manner of delicacies sold from their more permanent stalls to their food pop-ups towards the rear of the market. You won’t be dining in a lot of elegance…there are a few tables and loos. Bring your wet wipes and paper tissues. Sauce on your chin is never a good look

Our blog post on popular London Snacks may provide you with less foodie inspired ideas that can be purchased at the local supermarket.

6. Feed the Ducks at the Serpentine

This was a favourite pastime for a generation of children growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. Parents would give kids a bag of stale chopped up bread and they headed to the serpentine to feed the ducks while their parents had coffee in the Serpentine Lido café.  Why not revive this tradition on a nice Spring day.

7. Watch an Old Movie at the BFI

The British Film Institute (BFI) on the South Bank has Mediatheque. This is a media viewing lab with an archive of 95,000 films and television programmes. Just go in, wait for a booth and they will give you a set of headphones. A happy way to spend a rainy afternoon when you don’t want to walk much. There are plenty of nearby interesting places and cafes all with a view of the Thames.

8. Window Shop at Harrods

Harrods is one of our most outrageously expensive stores but this makes it window shopping heaven. The designer boutiques on the first floor showcase the cutting edge in fashion from Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Versace and Valentino (to name a few).

Their lingerie department is a paradise of totally unwearable intimate apparel and expensive silk kimonos. Just don’t reach for your credit card.

9. Walk with a Londoner

There are many free walking tours in London. Of course these guides make a living from the tips that they receive so we recommend that you tip generously.

One of the best tour guides is Barry Greene from Back in the Day Walks.  His tours are reasonably priced and he knows his stuff.  Barry is a born and bred Londoner who conducts the most fascinating and well researched walks all over London. I have been everywhere with him from Brick Lane to Kensington. His latest tour of Southall is truly eye opening.

10. Eat Weird Stuff in China Town

If you fancy a tasty morsel that can be held between a paper napkin and licked off your fingers go to China Town. Check out the Pleasant Lady for tasty wraps. The Evening Standard has many more great suggestions in Cheap Eats in China Town for under £10.

11. Listen to Live Jazz at Café Boheme

Get on your toe tapping shoes. Café Boheme is probably on one of the busiest corners in Soho and between the hours of 3-5pm they have a live jazz band playing…these are usually the hippest and most talented jazz musicians on the London scene. You can hear them for the price of a couple of drinks. See their live music schedule here

12. Take a Boat Down the River Thames

There’s no need to pay for a luxury Thames cruise just head to Embankment (near Westminster tube station) and embark on an Uber boat by Thames Clippers  and set sail down the river. You’ll down the river past the South Bank, the Globe, the Tower of London and all the way to Greenwich.

After you’ve fortified yourself, strolled in the park or visited to the free National Maritime Museum you can do the journey back. Have a drink on deck and wave at the other vessels. You will pay in the region of £10-20 for a return journey depending on whether you qualify for one of their many concessions.

If you are looking for tips on how to plan a day out in London read our guide.

13. Admire the Deer at Richmond Park

When feel like a break from the great metropolis take a safari to Richmond Park. I prefer to go by car (avoid sunny days at the weekend when the car parks are busy). You can take the tube to Richmond and the 65 or 371 bus.

You will see ancient trees, lakes and a herd of red deer. It’s all on a scale that is breath taking. You almost feel that you are on an African safari. The park is free with several very good value cafés and ice cream vans.  Our blog post on Richmond Park will give you more information.

14. Become a Groundling at the Globe

In Shakespeare’s Day, the poor who couldn’t afford the more expensive, covered seats would elect to stand for a performance. The same is true today. Ditch the pricy seats in favour of a £5 ticket and experience the play like the Elizabethan peasants. The groundlings are closely monitored, so you’ve got no chance of sneaking into the seated area, sitting on the floor or leaning against a balcony. Standing means standing. Not many people can last the whole performance and you’ll be at the mercy of the elements but you can leave anytime you like.

15. Ogle the Street Performers at Covent Garden

Covent Garden, our famous fruit and vegetable market of days gone by, now has a new speciality…street performers. You’ll find jugglers, musicians, human statues, theatre troupes. Take your camera and small change for tips.

Our original inspiration for this blog post came when we experimented with going out in London on an extreme budget of just £5 a day. Find out more about it in our post on London on the Cheap.

16. Watch the World go by on Piccadilly

This is great activity on a sunny day when you don’t feel like walking much. Head to Pret or any of the other outdoor cafes on Piccadilly. Get yourself neatly sandwiched between Fortnum and Masons, the Royal Academy and the Ritz. Then sip iced coffee and people watch. You’ll see celebrities, tourists, business men, tramps and people from out of town dressed in their best. When you feel like a break you can visit the free galleries at the Royal Academy. Or take a stroll down St James’s and find the shops with Royal Warrants who supply the King and the Royal Household.

17. Eat a Salt Beef Beigel in Brick Lane

Eating a salt beef beigel at Beigel Bake is like going on a religious pilgrimage. It must be done at least once in your lifetime. And you’ll join the queue with actors, royalty, office workers, police men. They all know a bargain when they see it. You’ll get a massive bun stuffed with salt beef, gherkins and a tingly mustard which you can eat while walking down Brick Lane looking at the menus of the Indian Restaurants,

18. Check out Graffiti Art in the Leake Street Tunnel

Banksy popularised the Leake Street Tunnel under Waterloo station. It is the only legal graffiti wall in London. Local artists are encouraged to bring their spray cans and paint here. You’ll now find an ever-changing display of street art as new artists paint over existing exhibits. If this is your thing, be sure to check out our blog post on the Leake Street Tunnel.

19. Walk Across Tower Bridge

Before braving this iconic London landmark, I recommend going for a leisurely stroll to St Katherine’s Wharf. Have lunch of a drink overlooking the harbour. This is particularly idyllic on a warm Summer’s day. Then put your tourist hat on and walk over Tower Bridge. It’s a marvel of Victorian architecture. If you are lucky, you’ll see the bridge rise to let a tall ship pass.

20. Visit Temples and Sample Dhosas, Bhagis, Pakoras and Samosas in Southall

Southall is an Asian area in West London. In fact, it used to be so Asian that it was rare to see any other ethnicity. However, it’s recently become a stop on the new Elizabethan line. This will mean almost instant gentrification…new homes and a fast journey time to the City will attract many young professionals. Why not make use of this interim period and stroll around the Indian wedding dress shops?

If you bring a head scarf you can also enter the local temples.

When you want to rest, find Spice Village . This award winning Pakistani curry house. Or do what the locals do when shopping…sample the huge variety of samosas, pakoras, bhagis and other, mostly deep-fried, Indian snacks which are sold  outside shops and from food stalls. These are in the range of £1-2 per portion. You can top this indulgence off with an Indian sweet from Royal which is arguably the king of Indian sweet treats.

Additional Resources for Free Things to Do in London

The Londonist produces a weekly newsletter of cheap and  free things to do in London. Sign up here.

Blog • Eat • Relax • See