50 FREE (or almost free) things to do in London

London, like every big city, can be costly. Fortunately, there are also plenty of truly enjoyable things that won’t break the bank. After living in London for many years, here are fifty suggestions of easily affordable things to do in this amazing city. Forty of them can be enjoyed completely free, nine will cost the price of a drink, and one is slightly more expensive. All of them are things I have enjoyed again and again, and I hope you will too!

Museums and Galleries

There are nearly 300 museums and galleries in London, and many of them are completely free to visit! Here are five of my faves that offer something unique:

  • V&A and the Storeroom – The V&A in South Kensington is hands down my fave London museum full of decorative arts and the oldest and most beautiful café and garden. But that’s only one of their free museums! For something unique try the V&A Storeroom in Stratford which is like exploring behind the scenes.
  • Guildhall – The gorgeous medieval Guidlhall houses a fab gallery devoted to the history and identity of London, often with free and unique exhibits, and it has the added bonus of being built on top of a Roman amphitheatre that you can also visit.  
  • Wallace Collection –This place is a true gem, housed in an elegant former aristocratic townhouse and packed full of exceptional art and a great armoury display. But one of my fave reasons to visit is to have tea in their stunning glass-covered courtyard.
  • Horniman – This wonderfully eclectic museum in Forest Hill combines world cultures, musical instruments, and 16 acres of gardens. What’s not to love?? The main museum and the fab views over London are free, but you can also pay a small fee to see extra highlights like the butterfly house.
  • Saatchi Gallery – This contemporary art gallery is housed in the former Duke of York’s HQ on lovely King’s Road and showcases emerging and contemporary artists, often in visually ambitious exhibits, and many of them are completely free. I love combining a visit here with a drink in one of the fab cafes in the area, including a great one right next door.

Colourful Markets

London is packed with so many fun markets, and while you could be tempted to spend at any of them, here are five that I find fun to explore even if you don’t want to spend a penny:

  • Borough Market – London’s oldest market packed with artisan cheeses, fresh seafood and delicious food stalls in a historic setting
  • Camden Market – a massive maze of over 1000 creative shops and stalls dedicated to eclectic wares and diverse street eats
  • Covent Garden – an iconic 17th century piazza with street performers, boutique shops and a variety of pop-up displays and dining options
  • Portobello Road – the world’s largest antique market, with offshoots in each direction showcasing quirky fashion and finds from across the ages
  • Columbia Road Flower Market – a vibrant Sunday market offering an incredible selection of blooms and charming independent shops

Scenic Walks

There are so many lovely walks in London full of iconic sites and picturesque views. In fact I have a whole separate blog on it! Here are five of my faves:

  • Practically Free walking tours – Many London tour guides offer free walking tours, though there is a hope that you will pay a tip so the value is up to you. I like using GuruWalk which organises walks by theme. Living London History also has self-guided walks with maps that you can download for a small fee.
  • Riverside strolls – The views along the Thames are amazing, and you could choose the iconic sites of the Queens Walk in Central London or venture further out for quiet strolls in West London along the rowing path from Hammersmith to Chiswick, or head to East London for a maritime walk from Greenwich to the Gun, just two name three of my faves.
  • Canalside strolls – For a waterside stroll that’s not along the Thames, you could opt for a quiet walk along the canals in London. Two of my fave walks are along Regents Canal from Little Venice to Coal Drops Yard, or further east from Limehouse Basin to St Katherine’s Docks.
  • Art walks – There are often free pop-up sculpture trails around the city with fun works of art to see along the way, particularly in Chelsea and the City. In addition, there is a permanent art trail in Greenwich called the Line, with sculptures dotted on a scenic trail from the O2 to Olympic Park.
  • Richmond walks – If you head west, there are some lovely walks in Richmond. One I love is a circular route from the station into Richmond Park for deer spotting and then through Petersham to Ham House and Gardens. From there you can follow the Thames along the river back towards Richmond.

Panoramic Views

London has an amazing skyline, and there are a number of great places to soak in the views. Here are five of my fave free (or almost free) spots:

  • Horizon 22 – London’s highest free viewing point is on the 58th floor of 22 Bishopsgate with spectacular 300 degree views over London through floor-to-ceiling glass windows . Advance booking is required and it books out quickly when tickets are released each Monday morning. There are some easier-to-book early bird or evening events that include a drink but do have a cost.
  • Sky Garden – Another popular viewpoint is the observation deck and garden on the 43rd floor of the Fenchurch Building (aka the Walkie-Talkie). It’s free to visit but a timed entry ticket is highly recommended as walk-ins are subject to availability. There are bars and restaurants there as well, but I typically go just for the view.
  • Post Building – One of my fave hidden gems in the city is the completely free roof garden on the top of the Post Building near Holborn Station. It’s only 9 floors up, but because there aren’t other tall buildings nearby it offers uninterrupted views over London in a truly peaceful environment. It’s open during office hours and does require a photo ID to enter the building, but no pre-booking is required.
  • Shard – The viewing platform on the very top of the Shard is definitely not free, and frankly I’ve never thought it was worth the cost. Instead, for the price of a drink, I love the views from the bars on the 32nd floor, as well as the posh Gong Bar on the 52nd floor. Amazing views for amazing value!
  • Rooftop bars – There are so many fantastic rooftop bars across London, especially in the summer. Many book out quickly and require a minimum spend, but some are far more accessible. Two I love are the Bokan bar on the 39th floor of the Novotel Hotel in Canary Wharf and the summer pop-up Bolney rooftop terrace overlooking Westminster.

Parks and Gardens

Did you know that London has so many trees that it’s technically classified as a forest? Here are five of my fave free places to enjoy the greener side of London:

  • Greenwich Park – London’s oldest royal park sits on one of the city’s highest hills, offering spectacular views, beautiful walks, and easy access to many free local attractions
  • Kensington Gardens – More formal and refined than neighbouring Hyde Park, I love the ornamental flowerbeds, tree-lined walkways, and nods to two trailblazing royal women – Queen Victoria and Princes Diana — who are both honoured in various ways
  • Olympic Park – London’s newest major park, built for the 2012 games, is spacious, contemporary and energetic with scenic walks and fun activities alongside an emerging cultural district. And of course you can have your own medal moment in front of the Olympic Rings.
  • Postman’s Park – Just down the street from St Paul’s Cathedral is this peaceful little hidden gem, where you can escape the crowds and see a touching memorial with plaques honouring ordinary people who gave their lives to save others. The stories are truly inspiring.
  • City Farms – I love that you don’t have to leave the city to escape to the country by visiting one of the city farms. My personal fave is Mudchute Farm with animals and rolling pastures under the skyline of Canary Wharf, and plenty of opportunities for quiet ‘countryside’ walks.

Music Performances

London’s music scene is bustling from classical concerts to massive stadium tours of the top stars. But there are also plenty of free concerts around town. Here are three of my faves:

  • Evensong – While touring Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral is not free, it is absolutely free to attend a service, and the Evensong services with their famous choirs are a great way to soak up the surroundings and stroll through parts of these iconic churches.
  • Free Royal Opera & Ballet concerts – ROH performances are far from free, but they have completely free lunch performances in their magnificent glass conservatory at 1pm on select Fridays throughout the year. Entry tokens are given on a first-come-first-served basis, so I like to show up at noon, grab a token and then head to their terrace bar for a drink before the show.
  • Regular free concerts – It seems there is almost always a free concert somewhere, with regular concerts at St Martin the Fields in Trafalgar Square, or the lovely chapel of the Old Royal Naval College, just two name two I enjoy. There is also great live music at clubs around town like the Blues Kitchen, though a drink purchase may be expected or required.

Street Art

London’s art scene is thriving, including some amazing street art. Here are two of my fave spots to visit which can easily be combined with other nearby vibrant cafes and markets sites:

  • Leake Street Arches – If you’re a graffiti fan, this tunnel under Waterloo Station is for you! As the longest running legal urban art space, the art is constantly changing as artists are encouraged to come and create.
  • Shoreditch – London’s street art capital, this area has several great open-air galleries of giant murals and smaller tags along streets like Hanbury Street and Chance Street.

Seasonal Events

Fabulous free and low-cost events pop up throughout the year in London. Here are six of my faves across the seasons:

  • Winter Lights – The free Canary Wharf Winter Lights festival is a great way to brighten up a winter evening with interactive light displays across the wharf.
  • Spring florals – When the Chelsea Flower Show comes to town, so does the completely free Chelsea and Belgravia in Bloom with amazing displays popping up across the neighbourhoods
  • Wimbledon – This iconic tennis event is definitely not free, but it’s not expensive either. If you’re willing to arrive early and queue in the park with thousands of others, you can be rewarded with a grounds pass to experience a fantastic day of Wimbledon for just £35. It’s the only thing on my list that costs more than a pint, but worth it if you love tennis.
  • Summer wild swimming – I love a refreshing open water swim, and in the summer there are several free spots to do just that, like at Petersham Meadows near Richmond where you can swim in the Thames, or at the Royal Docks Summer Splash for a free session at Victoria Dock.
  • Autumn leaves — The parks are absolutely gorgeous as the leaves change, especially spots like Regents Park, the stunning Kyoto Garden in Holland Park, and the avenue of trees in Greenwich.
  • Holiday lights — London comes alive in the holiday season with fantastic light displays across the city. One easy way to hit the highlights is by hopping on Bus 89 outside of Selfridges and riding it along Oxford and Regent Street to the Christmas market on Trafalgar Square.

Unique London Spots

Here are five suggestions of super affordable things to do that can only be done in London

  • Shakespeare’s Globe – Immerse yourself in a Shakespeare play the way they were seen in Shakespeare’s day with a standing area ticket for just £5! It’s an outdoor theatre so you need to come prepared, and the shows can be long, but a great experience and atmosphere.
  • Gods Own Junkyard – This warehouse full of neon artwork is not very hidden anymore because it’s so instagrammable, but it remains a very cool and completely free thing to do.  
  • Outernet – This giant wrap-around LED screen shows a constantly changing lineup of mesmerising art installations, short films, and interactive games. It’s completely free and you can pop in for a few minutes of relaxation or stay for a while and lose yourself in shows.
  • Platform 93/4 – The Harry Potter photo opp in Kings Cross Station just outside of the Harry Potter shop does often have a queue but it’s fun if you’re a fan, it’s iconically London, and free (unless you want to buy one of their professional photos of you instead of having a friend snap the pic).
  • Barbican Conservatory – This massive glass-roofed tropical oasis and botanical garden in the Barbican Centre is a fab escape from city crowds and lovely place to refresh in a covered garden, especially on an overcast day in London. Entry is free but advance tickets are required.

Pubs and Cafes

Okay, obviously pubs and cafes aren’t free, but each of these five are worth visiting for the cost of a drink:

  • Host Café – This lovely café in the City is set in a beautiful gothic-style church designed by Christopher Wren. The church itself promotes love, hospitality and inclusiveness, and the café which is open on weekdays is a lovely spot to pause for a coffee in a lovely setting.
  • Mercato Mayfair – This stunning former church is now an amazing three-story food hall, and a fab place to stop for a drink or food. During the festive season, they serve the most amazing hot chocolate, and just the watching the preparation is worth it!
  • Riverside pubs – London has a number of amazing riverside pubs (several of which I cover in a separate blog if you’re interested). One of my faves for views and history is the Mayflower which not only has a cozy atmosphere inside but a terrace outside overlooking the river – and you can ask to see their descendants books with descendants of the Mayflower ship that have made their way to the pub.
  • Historic city pubs – London is packed with fab historic pubs. Two (of many) I love to visit are Ye Old Cheshire Cheese in the City with its maze of atmospheric nooks, and the George in Southwark which is the oldest galleried coaching inn still standing and plenty of links to days of old
  • Bermondsey Beer Mile – The Victorian railway arches in Bermondsey are now filled with craft beer microbreweries and specialty drink producers offering a festive atmosphere and a chance to sample something different. You can pair it with a  stop at the hip Maltby Street Market for gourmet bites

Neighbourhoods

One of my fave things about London is that each neighbourhood has its own character. Here are four quite different ones worth exploring:

  • Notting Hill – This lovely neighbourhood seamlessly blends high-End West London living with artistic history. Once a bohemian enclave, it showcases vibrant instagrammable pastel-coloured Victorian townhouses and lovely cafes and shops to explore, as well as the sprawling Portobello Market
  • Greenwich – This Southeast London borough feels less like a city district and more like a self-contained maritime village steeped in naval history and astronomical science. You can stroll through the market, the free Maritime Museum and Queens House, and up to Greenwich Park to stand on the Prime Meridian and admire the views over London
  • Brick Lane – This area is the heart and soul of the East End, with a history over centuries of welcoming immigrants from around the world. The area has evolved into a bustling multi-cultural centre of art and food. You can admire the street art, visit the Old Truman Brewery for retro fashion and independent goods, and sample amazing global food at every turn.
  • Butler’s Wharf – Tucked away right next to Tower Bridge, this area was once the largest industrial warehouse complex on the Thames, and it has been flawlessly preserved and converted into an atmospheric waterside hub. You can walk along the iconic Shad Thames with its iron bridges overhead, enjoy crowd-free riverside views of Tower Bridge, and some fab pubs and cafes.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve found these suggestions of 50 free (or practically free) things to do in London useful, and I hope even more that it’s encouraged you to get out and explore this amazing city!