5 Things To Do In London For Free

Hello Wonderful People!

London is famous for a lot of things; culture, history, the Queen, architecture, being great value for money.. Ok, scratch that last point. London is well known for being hideously expensive and I can completely vouch for this stereotype. Whatever you do in London seems to cost the earth; eating, drinking, travelling, shopping, renting, socialising, sleeping.. the list goes on. So, what is there to do in this wonderful city for the average cash-strapped traveller? Quite a lot, believe it or not! London is actually full of things to do that cost absolutely nothing! Who'd have thought?

Visit a museum (or 10)
The majority of museums in London are free to visit. Yep, you heard correctly.. they are completely free! There are museums to cater for everyone's tastes and interest in London, so be sure to do your research and check out the ones best for you. The most iconic and popular museums would have to be the National History Museum and the Science Museum. They're great for all ages and constantly have changing exhibitions. If art is more up your street then the majority of the art galleries in London are also free. The V&A and Tate Modern are two of the most famous galleries in the city, and are a must see for many visitors to London. You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a museum in London, and the fact that they're all free makes them even more appealing! So make the most of this little luxury and check out as many as you can!

Soak up some culture
Most tourists visiting London will want to check out Buckingham Palace, and I'd recommend timing your visit with the Changing of the Guard, which takes place daily at 11:30am and is free to watch. Heading over to the ever popular Covent Garden is also high on many visitors lists and is a great place to sit and watch a variety of street performers, especially if the weather is nice. Covent Garden usually plays host to different pop-up art installations, so if you're lucky you might also get to see one of these. Currently there are hundreds of balloons floating inside the market building, and they look beautiful. If you fancy going for a stroll to spot some of London's many landmarks, then why not try finding some street art too? There are hundreds of impressive street art pieces throughout the city and you may even spot some of Banksy's famous work. 

Head to the Southbank
The Southbank is an iconic area of London; not only is it home to the London Eye, but you can also look across the river to see the impressive Big Ben and Houses of Parliament. There is always something going on at the Southbank, it's a buzzing little hub of entertainment, stalls and food. Depending on the time of year, there will be a different themed attraction up and running next to the London Eye. In the winter you'll find a host of Christmas market stalls and during the summer there's a circus themed entertainment area.

Go for a walk
I always say that the best way to get to know a city is to head out and explore on foot. You could join a free walking tour, there are loads that depart every day from different areas of the city, every day of the week. A walking tour is a fantastic way to see the city and learn about it's history from a local guide. If organised fun isn't your bag, then head off to one of London's many parks for a stroll around, away from the buzz, crowds and concrete. If you head to one of the parks a little further out of the city, such a Forest Hill or Parliament Hill then you'll also get to enjoy a cracking view of the city.

Check out the view
London isn't famous for its high rise buildings, but the city is home to a few skyscrapers and they provide stunning views across the city. You can book a free visit to the Sky Garden, on the top floor of the Walkie Talkie building, and it's well worth a visit. The glass roof and walls provide a panoramic, 360 degree view of London and you can see all of the cities famous landmarks. Plus, there's a garden that runs up either side of the viewing area which is a pretty nice touch. After all, it isn't called Sky Garden for nothing!