Don’t fear London’s expensive reputation; the city has hundreds of free things to do. From London’s tourist attractions to lesser-known spots, here are the best free things to do in London, including some that kids will love, too!
Free Things to do in London
1. Visit the Tower of London and Tower Bridge
One of the greatest things about London is that so many of its famous attractions are within a short walking distance of each other. One of these is the Tower of London; it once served as a royal palace, fortress, prison, and place of execution. There is an admission charge to the Tower, but the nightly ceremony of the keys is free when booked online in advance. This experience is definitely one of the best free things to do in London at night!
Right beside the Tower of London is one of the city’s most recognizable sites, Tower Bridge (just don’t confuse it with London Bridge, a common mistake!). There’s nothing like taking a photo in front of Tower Bridge to prove that you really were in London.
2. Spend time at one of London’s many museums
An amazing feature of London is that so many of its museums and galleries are by donation, meaning there is no admission fee to enter them. It would be nearly impossible to list all of the amazing museums in London, but some of the most popular are The British Museum, The National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, The Tate Britain, The Tate Modern, and The Victoria and Albert. There’s nothing like seeing the masterpieces of Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, Monet, and more… all for free!
3. Go inside the Houses of Parliament
Again, taking a photo of the famous Houses of Parliament (home to Big Ben) is free, but even more exciting is sitting in as a visitor on debates, Prime Minister’s Question Time, and Ministerial Question Time. While you can show up on the day and hope to get a spot, it’s best to try to book in advance. The galleries are open from Monday to Thursday, though the times vary. Tickets are not required for general debates, but they are required for the Prime Minister’s Question Time and the Ministerial Question Time. For more information, visit the UK Parliament website!
4. Head to the park
As big and industrial as London is, it is actually filled with green spaces. There is no shortage of parks to visit around London, many of which have terrific picnic spaces, boating ponds, and sometimes free performances in the summer. The top picks of parks in London are Victoria Park, Regent’s Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Hampstead Heath, and Kensington Gardens.
5. Watch the Changing of the Guard
Make your way to Buckingham Palace to catch the Changing the Guard ceremony which takes place at 11:30 a.m. The ceremony has been performed since 1660 and takes about 45 minutes to complete. This is one of those quintessential London experiences that everyone will love, including kids!
6. Check out the views from Sky Garden
The view from Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street is one of the best in the city, and better yet, it’s free. The building is nicknamed ‘The Walkie-Talkie,’ and it provides stellar views of London’s South Bank from the 35th floor. Admission to the Sky Garden is free, but you must book your viewing well in advance.
7. Discover East London’s street art
East London is the epicentre of fantastic street art in London. Some of the world’s greatest graffiti and street artists have showcased their work here, even Banksy! While there are plenty of walking tours you can join for a fee, simply walking around the Shoreditch/Brick Lane area will allow you to see some of the very best the area has to offer.
8. Browse one of London’s markets
While there’s no promising that you won’t want to spend money at one of London’s many markets, visiting is absolutely free! Borough Market, Broadway Market, and Maltby Street Market are great for food, while Spitalfields, Greenwich Market, Brick Lane, and Portobello Road Market are ideal for trinkets and antiques. The markets are a great way to save money while in London, as you can get a large (and often healthy) meal for cheap!
Free Things to do in London With Kids
1. Visit Richmond Park
While all of the parks listed above are great for kids, Richmond Park holds a special place on this list for one fact alone: deer. While touching and/or feeding the deer is strictly prohibited, kids will love spotting the red and fallow deer as they roam across the park.
2. Head to the Southbank Centre
If you’re travelling to London with little ones, they’ll love the Southbank Centre. There are free things to see and do across the site including art, performances, activities, workshops, talks, and exhibitions. If you happen to be visiting on a weekend, be sure to head outside and grab a quick snack at the Southbank Centre Food Market.
3. Spend an afternoon at the Natural History Museum
While some of the galleries and museums listed above might not be as entertaining for small children, all ages will love the Natural History Museum. With interactive exhibits and plenty to keep kids occupied, visiting is not only free, it’s both educational and fun.
4. Visit Hackney City Farm
A farm in the middle of London? That’s right! This small farm found in Hackney is perfect for children. Not only do you get to see a variety of farm animals, but the kids can learn about gardening and the environment.
5. Check out the V&A Museum of Childhood
While adults may appreciate the V&A in Knightsbridge, the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green is perfect for the little ones! This museum has collections of toys, games, and other objects that range from the 1600s to present day.
6. Be wowed in Covent Garden
While Covent Garden is a great place for shopping, restaurants, and gorgeous architecture, there’s an added bonus in that many street performers congregate here. Kids will love the entertainment that ranges from singers to jugglers to magicians and everyone in between!
Getting Around London for Cheap
As mentioned previously, a lot of London’s major tourist attractions are found within a relatively short walking distance of one another, so always check out the walking times before instinctively jumping on a bus or tube. Many tourists make the mistake of taking the tube from Leicester Square to Covent Garden, for example, while the two are actually only a five-minute walk apart!
The cheapest way around London is by bus. It is a very efficient system, with most central buses running often (even throughout the night), and the bonus is that you get to see a lot of the city while you ride. A single bus fare in London is £1.50 (approximately $2.60 CAD), and you have unlimited journeys within one hour of first tapping in. Please note that cash is not accepted on buses, so you must either get an Oyster card (you can buy one at any tube station) or use your contactless payment (such as a contactless credit card). If you know you’ll be travelling by bus a lot in London, you can buy a day or seven-day pass to save money.
Travelling by the underground, or tube, is more expensive. Tube prices are dictated by which zones you travel through; Central London is Zone 1, for example, and it is the most expensive zone to travel in. It is also very expensive to buy single journey tickets; those start at £4.90 (approximately $8.50 CAD) for a single journey, while if you use an Oyster card or your contactless payment, the price starts at £2.40 (approximately $4.15 CAD).
The cheapest way to get to and from the airport in London is almost always the airport bus, no matter if you are flying from Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, Luton, or City. Trains to and from the airport are usually must faster but cost sometimes three or four times the price of the bus. You’ll find a variety of bus companies at each airport that will take you to Central London.
For more ideas of free things to do in London, check out the Visit Britain website. Also check out our top March break destinations for other holiday ideas!
