Ultimate Guide to 100+ Free Activities in London

Fact checked by

Erin Medlicott

Don’t let people put you off with tales of how expensive London is. There’s an incredible array of activities to enjoy throughout the city without spending a penny.

In contrast to the neatly divided neighborhoods of US cities, London offers a rich tapestry of areas to explore. Each free experience listed below includes a link for more information, making it easy to plan your visit.

01 of 11: Westminster

Address

Westminster Abbey, Deans Yard, London SW1P 3PA, UK

Get directions

This area encompasses a significant region in central London, featuring a wealth of attractions, many of which are free.

• Westminster Abbey (not always free)
• Changing of the Guard
• Four O’Clock Parade
• Supreme Court
• St James’s Park
• Trafalgar Square
• National Gallery
• National Portrait Gallery
• World’s Smallest Police Box (located in Trafalgar Square)
• Giro the Nazi Dog (near Trafalgar Square)
• London Nose (near Trafalgar Square)
• Savoy Hotel Museum
• Inner Space Quiet Room
• Leicester Square Film Premieres
• New Year’s Day Parade (1st January)
• Chinese New Year in London (January or February)
• Trooping the Colour (every June)
• London Gay Pride (every June or July)

02 of 11: Fitzrovia & Bloomsbury

Fitzrovia is the area north of Oxford Street and Bloomsbury is east of Tottenham Court Road.

• Wallace Collection
• L. Ron Hubbard’s Fitzroy House
• Coram’s Fields (Children’s playground)
• British Museum
• Grant Museum of Zoology & Comparative Anatomy
• Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
• Peter Pan Statue at GOSH
• Wellcome Collection
• Jeremy Bentham Auto-Icon
• Treasure Trails offer some free smartphone trails, including one of Fitzrovia, Canary Wharf, and Shoreditch.

03 of 11: Mayfair / St James’s / Piccadilly

Address

Hyde Park, London W2 2EU, UK

Get directions

Phone +44 7722 523629

Visit website

The areas north and south of Piccadilly feature numerous free attractions.

• Speakers Corner
• The Vault
• Cigar Museum
• Royal Institution
• Smythson of Bond Street
• Auction House Viewings
• Brown Hart Gardens
• Sit Between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
• St James’s Piccadilly Free Lunchtime Recitals

04 of 11: City of London

Address

150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN, UK

Get directions

Phone +44 20 7001 9844

Visit website

The City of London is a small area known as the Square Mile, packed with opportunities for exploration.

• Museum of London
• Ceremony of the Keys
• Bank of England Museum
• St Paul’s Cathedral for Free
• Mudlarking
• Gresham College Free Lectures
• London Stone
• Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman London’s Amphitheatre
• Whitefriar’s Crypt
• St. Olave’s Free Lunchtime Recitals
• Postman’s Park
• The Soundmap Sweeney Todd Audiowalk
• One New Change Roof Terrace
• Barbican Centre Conservatory
• Lord Mayor’s Show (every November)

05 of 11: City Borders

Address

5 Strand Lane, Aldwych, London WC2R 1AP, UK

Get directions

Phone +44 20 7641 5264

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This region is not officially designated but offers a selection of attractions near the City of London.

• London Roman Baths
• Twinings Tea Museum
• Somerset House Free Guided Tour
• Courtauld Gallery (free on Monday mornings)
• Lincoln’s Inn Fields
• Sir John Soane’s Museum
• Library & Museum of Freemasonry
• Hunterian Museum
• HQS Wellington

06 of 11: East London

Address

136 Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA, UK

Get directions

Phone +44 20 7739 9893

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• Geffrye Museum
• Museum of London Docklands
• Museum of Childhood
• Whitechapel Bell Foundry Museum
• Charnel House Spitalfields
• Comedy Cafe (free Wednesdays)
• Clowns Church Service (every February)

07 of 11: South London (including South Bank)

Address

Tate Modern, London SE1, UK

Get directions

The South Bank itself is a beautiful free area in London, offering stunning views along the River Thames. Notably, summer brings entertaining free events such as Watch This Space outside the National Theatre.

• Tate Modern
• Tower Bridge Lifts
• Globe Theatre Park Street
• HMS Belfast (free for children)
• BFI Southbank Mediatheque
• Tate Britain
• Horniman Museum
• The Chocolate Museum
• Twelfth Night Festival (every January)
• See the Belmond British Pullman train at Victoria Station
• Cuming Museum

08 of 11: Greenwich

Address

Visitor Centre at the Old Royal Naval College, 2 Cutty Sark Gardens, London SE10 9LW, UK

Get directions

Phone +44 20 8305 5235

Visit website

• Discover Greenwich Visitor Centre
• Stand on the Prime Meridian Line (fee for courtyard but line is outside too)
• National Maritime Museum & Queen’s House
• Greenwich Foot Tunnel
• Be in a Pop Video at The O2
• Collect & Play Conkers

09 of 11: West London (including Kensington & Chelsea)

Address

London, UK

Get directions

Phone +44 300 061 2000

Visit website

• Kensington Gardens
• Peter Pan Statue
• Diana Memorial Playground
• Diana Memorial Fountain
• Kensington Roof Gardens
• 23/24 Leinster Gardens – Dummy House Facade
• Paddington Rolling Bridge
• National Army Museum & Kid’s Zone at National Army Museum
• V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum)
• Natural History Museum
• Science Museum
• Heathrow Airport T5 Pods
• Saatchi Gallery
• Kew Gardens is Free For Children
• British Legion Poppy Factory Tours
• Notting Hill Film Locations – Self-Guided Walk
• Notting Hill Carnival (every August)

10 of 11: North London (including King’s Cross)

Address

Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG, UK

Get directions

• King’s Place
• British Library
• Platform 9 3/4, King’s Cross Station
• Regent’s Park
• See some animals at London Zoo
• RAF Museum
• Hampstead Heath
• Kenwood House
• Abbey Road Crossing
• Little Venice to Camden Canal Walk