27 Free things to do in London: A Local’s Guide
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Looking for free things to do in London? I’ve rounded up 27 of the best free or cheap things to do in London to make your search even easier!
Let’s be honest. London isn’t known for being the cheapest city in Europe.
Even buying a pint in a local pub will set you back about £6 ($8).
That’s why this post is going to be your bestie whilst visiting London. I’ve listed all of the best free things to do in London, and not just the generic ones that you may find on Google (we all know they’re rubbish).
Living in London my whole life, PLUS being on a very tight budget my whole life, I’ve needed to learn all of the free things to do in London quickly (or I wouldn’t have had a social life).
If you’ve got a bit of cash to spend, I’ve also listed some of the cheapest things to do in London. Not totally free, but won’t require you to get out a Wonga loan when you return home (I’m kidding, please don’t do this).
Travelling to the UK? Check out my other UK posts here:
- Fun Things To Do In Putney, London: A Local’s Guide
- Is London Safe? 11 Tips for Solo Female Travellers
- 11 Best Bookstores in London (That You CANNOT Miss!)
- Walks Near Putney: Putney Heath, Putney River Walk & Beyond
- Is Putney a Good Place to Live? A Local’s Advice
Free things to do in London: The Lowdown
Free things to do in London: Outdoors
1. Stroll through the endless amount of markets
There are so many markets all over London, regardless of the season. Flowers, food, music, clothes, you name it, we got it. Here are some of my favourites and their locations.
Columbia Road Flower Market (nearest tube: Bethnal Green) – flower, house plants, and fauna from all over the world! Open from 8am-3pm every Sunday.
Borough Market (nearest tube: Borough) – some of the best food in the city. Open every day from 10, closing usually around 5pm (apart from Sundays at 4pm).
Old Spitalfields Market (closest tube: Liverpool Street) – lively market with food, clothes, jewellery and everything in between. Open daily from 8am-11pm.
Camden Market (closest tube: Camden Town) – art, fashion food and music. Open daily from 10 am-late.
🗺️ My London must-have: I use my Insta Mini 11 to take photos on all of my trips. As they print instantly, they’re perfect for making a scrapbook and writing in all your favourite and funniest memories. I’ve even got my boyfriend joining in on it now too!
2. Have a picnic with a view
With all of London’s parks, you can find so many cool locations with a view. If you’re travelling to London during the spring/summer months (April-August), you’ll be able to enjoy an outdoor picnic in the sunshine.
Some of the best picnic spots with a view are:
Parliament Hill (Hampstead Heath)
Primrose Hill (Swiss Cottage)
Greenwich Park (Greenwich)
🗺️ My London must-have: If you’re solo travelling, don’t forget to take earphones for busy public transport. Listening to a podcast or tuning out from the noise is a lifesaver on a busy city trip!
3. Walk around London’s iconic parks
London is known for its variety of Royal parks, and there are 8 for you to visit and enjoy.
In Central London, you’ll find Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Green Park and St James’s Park.
If you’re up for header further out of central and into the southwest, Bushy Park and Richmond Park are a whopping 1500 acres combined and make you feel like you’ve really escaped the city.
You can check out my walks in London and Putney post here.
🗺️ My London must-have: Solo travelling on your London trip? Stay safe by carrying your cash or card in a money belt. I know it sounds silly, but Europe can be chaotic and pickpockets are known to work in busy areas. it’s better to be safe than sorry!
4. Marvel at London’s street art
London’s east side is known for its eclectic and colourful street art, and it’s all completely free to view. You can even go spotting for original Banksys.
Check out Brick Lane (Aldgate East), Shoreditch and Leake Street for some of the best street art in London.
🗺️ My London must-have: A wheelie backpack! Check out my favourite, the Osprey 65L wheeled backpack. It’s dreamy for long-term trips and when you need more than a carry-on!
5. Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
Free to watch, the Changing of the Guard is a formal ceremony in which the group of soldiers who currently protect Buckingham Palace switch to new soldiers. It usually lasts around 45 minutes.
Usually taking place every other day, the Changing of the Guard is one for any Royal family fans. Be sure to check the schedule before you visit, and arrive 10 minutes early to get a good spot.
The best places to watch the change of the guard are The Mall, the Victoria Memorial and Friary Court.
🗺️ My London must-have: Solo travelling but still want to take photos? 📸 I’ve found the most perfect adjustable tripod that’s lightweight and easy to set up (you don’t want any awkward moments alone, I know how it feels!)
6. Find London’s best landmarks
London is a haven for landmark lovers. With giant historical buildings and modern skyscrapers, you only need to walk around central London to find all of your iconic favourites.
Getting the tube? Here’s where you’ll find each major landmark (and some of the smaller but still cool ones)
Big Ben & Houses of Parliament – Westminster
Buckingham Palace – Green Park
10 Downing Street – Westminster
The O2 – Greenwich
Trafalgar Square – Charing Cross
Leicester Square – Leicester Square
The Shard – London Bridge
The Gherkin – Aldgate
Tower of London – Tower Hill
Natural History Museum – South Kensington
British Museum – Tottenham Court Road
Oxford Street – Oxford Circus or Bond Street
And if you’re looking for things to do at the O2, this post by Emma Online has a whole ton of ideas to inspire you!
7. Spot deer in Bushy Park
Bushy Park is London’s second largest royal park, and is home to hundreds of Red and Fallow deer. They roam freely through the park, just as they did when Henry VIII used to hunt there! Whole lotta history for you there.
One of the best spots to catch the deer is near the Diana Fountain.
The fountain is surrounded by ponds full of herons, swans and ducks (but just be careful as the swans can be pretty territorial!)
🗺️ My London must-have: Well, it’s a little more advanced, but if you want to take high-quality photos, make sure you invest in a good camera. This doesn’t have to be thousands of pounds, and our favourite is the Canon EOS 6D Mark II.
8. Attend a street party
London knows how to throw a good party. And half the time, they’re free!
With events such as Pride, Twickenham Rugby 7s and St Patrick’s Day, the streets will be full of music, dancing, independent food vendors, party poppers and parades. Forget buying a ticket or booking a table for the actual event, just being on the streets for it creates enough atmosphere!
It’s also legal to drink on the streets in London (no brown paper bag needed) so top up your bottles and get partying (for completely free!)
Pride is usually around July time, Rugby 7s is in May, St Patrick’s Day is in March.
🗺️ My London must-have: Don’t forget an additional memory card and hard drive for saving your photos on the road!
9. Go to a free fitness class
This may be some of your kind of hell (ahem, mine), but nonetheless, it’s important to know they’re out there.
London is great at hosting free fitness classes across the city. From Bollywood themed to boot camps to Brazilian dance and salsa, check out EventBrite for the best free fitness classes.
🗺️ My London must-have: If you’re travelling Europe, make sure you pack a Microfibre towel (and this one linked is super pretty too). They make life easier when getting in and out of the water, they’re portable and easy to carry on any kind of day trip. I’ve had mine for years and use it on every beach trip!
10. Admire the colourful houses of London
If you’re someone who likes their Instagram photos to look aesthetically pleasing, you’ll want to stop by some of the colourful houses dotted around the streets. And of course, this is a totally free thing to do in London!
For the best spots, check out Notting Hill, Bywater Street in Chelsea, Chalcot Crescent in Primrose Hill, Bonny Street in Camden and Kelly Street in Kentish Town.
🗺️ My London must-have: A portable power bank. Don’t get caught short and lose your phone battery whilst travelling! If you’re solo travelling, you’re going to rely on it to get you from A to B.
11. Window shop and dine on King’s Road, Chelsea
If you like window shopping and fancy brunch spots, restaurants and bars, King’s Road is one of the best places to visit in London for free. Even if you’ve got no money to spend, browsing the high end shops and markets on King’s Road is super fun!
Check out the Chelsea Flower Garden for cute Christmas or seasonal decorations and pampas galore, or stop for a coffee in Hagen Espresson bar (ok I know it’s not free, but it’s not much!)
Visiting King’s Road in Chelsea? Check out the best restaurants before you go!
🗺️ My world travel must-have: The tap water around the world isn’t always safe to drink, so I use my filter water bottle pretty much every day to keep myself hydrated. I take it everywhere with me, and it works in every country where you can’t drink tap water! You can grab yours here. 🚰
12. Browse the bookstores all over the city
London is FULL of bookstores (and not only Waterstones, although I do love a good Waterstones). And unless you’re buying a book, this is a totally free thing to do in London!
Daunt Books in Marylebone is one of the most iconic in London, with a specialism in travel and oak beams and skylights to just add to the experience.
Liberia is a quirky tech-free book store and Waldon Books is hidden just off of Camden high street away from the bustle but adorned in flowers in the springtime.
🗺️ My world travel must-have: Whilst out during the day, I use a tote bag to hold my belongings like my camera, notebook, purse and Microfibre towel. It’s easier to pack away than a big beach bag, and can be neatly tucked away when you don’t need it!
13. Have drinks with a view of Tower Bridge
Right next to Tower Bridge and in front of the Bridge Theatre is a large green for you to picnic, hang out for free and admire the view.
Stop off at the nearby M&S for some snacks and cans of Pornstar Martinis, and sit on the green listening to buskers and entertainers. You’ll even be able to pick up some cheap food from the independent street vendors and pop-up bars in the area.
🗺️ Booking hostels? I always use Hostelworld as their deals are usually the cheapest. They also have reviews from other backpackers, and explain the vibe of the hostel (party, chill, social…) so you know exactly what you’re booking.
Free things to do in London: Indoors
14. Visit London’s museums
A completely free day out in London is to visit a museum. Unless you’re paying for an exhibition, entrance to all the major museums is free.
My top picks of the museums/galleries are:
Natural History Museum (South Kensington)
Tate Modern (Southwark)
British Museum (Tottenham Court Road)
Imperial War Museum (Lambeth North)
Science Museum (South Kensington)
V&A Museum (South Kensington)
TOP TIP: If you book an exhibition, you won’t need to queue up for an hour to get into the museum. Most exhibitions are under £10, so they’re definitely worth buying to get a queue jump!
15. Attend a free music gig
You might not be seeing your favourite band or singer, but there are some live music events for you to attend for free across London.
The perfect way to find undiscovered artists or your new favourite venue, check out Eventbrite for all the latest free gigs in London.
16. Walk around a 12th Century church
London has so many beautiful and historic churches to visit, and although they make for a quieter day out, it’s a great way to escape the noise of London and soak in some culture.
The oldest being St Bartholomew-the-Great in Smithfield, which is the oldest continuous place of worship in London and was founded in 1123. Mental!
Apart from St Bartholomew’s, you can visit St Paul’s, Westminster Abbey or Southwark Cathedral.
17. Laugh at a free comedy show
Full of up and coming comedians, hundreds of venues across London host free comedy show nights. Check out Eventbrite for the latest ones in the area!
18. Feel the tropics in the Barbican Conservatory
Admission for the giant glass-roofed conservatory is free, and you can spend a few hours here admiring the tropical plants, trees, birdlife and exotic fish.
The closest station is Barbican or Moorgate and is one of the best free days out in London.
19. See views of the city at the Oxo Tower
Another great free thing to do in London is to visit the Oxo Tower.
As you exit the lift taking you to the viewing platform of the Oxo Tower, you will be greeted by a panoramic view of the city. Floor to ceiling glass windows allows you to see miles along the banks of the River Thames and buildings including Big Ben, the London Eye and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Cheap(ish) things to do in London
20. Treat yourself to a cocktail in a skyline bar
A cocktail in London usually costs around £8-9, so if you have some money to spare, I’d recommend hitting up one of the swanky rooftop cocktail bars to soak in the city’s view for cheap.
Sky Garden, Bar Elba, Sabine and Madison’s are some of the best cocktail bars with a view, and aren’t too expensive for one either! Just be sure to pre-book to get a table with a good view.
21. Tour the city on a Boris Bike
A really cheap day out in London is hiring a ‘Boris’ bike (a TFL Santander bike). The bikes are placed all over London and can be hired at the click of a button on the app.
Bikes cost £2 per half hour, but if you dock in before the 30 mins is up, you can have a whole 24 hours for only the initial £2!
(A tad confusing, but just keep docking in every 30 mins to ensure it’s free!) Otherwise, it’s £2 per 30 mins or £4 an hour. Still pretty cheap!
22. Eat tacos by the Thames
One of our favourite cheap things to do in London is to buy tacos and walk along the Thames. Just by Waterloo station, there’s a road leading to the Thames.
If you follow this, you’ll find a Wahaca stand (full of yummy tacos) and will find yourself right in front of the river.
Along this path, there are buskers, entertainers, book shops, wine bars, and a really buzzing atmosphere.
If you’re visiting in winter, there’s a small Christmas market here with a pop-up bar too!
23. Hop onboard the Thames Clipper
Known as the ‘UberBoat’, the Thames Clipper is a fast and fun way to see more of the city.
Hop-on, hop-off the services all day, and buy a River Roamer and see all the major sights as you travel pier to pier across London.
A Family River Roamer purchased on our website costs £36.70 and allows two adults and up to three children to make unlimited use of our services for the whole day.
There are a number of ways to pay, either contactless, via the app or by Oyster, and the boats run all day. It’s the perfect way to avoid the traffic!
24. Enjoy a BYOB curry on Brick Lane
Brick Lane in East London is known for its curry houses and authentic Indian cuisine and is the best place to have a cheap dinner in London.
Most of the curry houses allow BYOB (bring your own bottle), so you won’t even need to pay for drinks.
As you walk down Brick Lane, the different restaurant workers will offer you different deals, and you’ll never end up paying more than £12 for a 3-course meal! Perfect for a cheap night out in London!
25. Have a night out in Hackney Wick
Hackney Wick is a great place for a cheap night out in London. Known for its artsy, eccentric scene, a lot of the pubs and bars here have cheaper prices than central London, and you can even enjoy a drink by the Thames for free on the grass by Barge East.
Everyone has picked up on the ‘free’ vibe and buskers have started to play, groups have started to bring their speakers and it turns into a real party.
Afterwards, check out Number 90, Colour Factory and Grow for weekly events and a dancefloor!
26. Drink a pint in a cosy English pub
Having a pint in a cosy English pub is one of the best and cheapest things to do in London. There are pubs dotted all over the city and most take walk-ins (just expect them to be busy at peak times!) Some of the pubs are hundreds of years old, and have traditional low beamed ceilings and open fires. You’ll love it!
27. Visit a giant food market
Across London, there are a number of giant food markets where you can sample and taste foods from all over the world. Usually cheaply priced, most markets are indoors and have a variety of pop-up foods and bars to enjoy.
Our favourites are Borough Market (Borough), Mercato Metropolitano (Elephant and Castle), Seven Dials (Covent Garden) and Mercato Mayfair (Bond Street).
FAQs: Free Things to do in London
Where can you go in London for free?
You can visit ANYWHERE in London for free (if you don’t pay to go in anywhere!)
Parks, walks, window shopping, browsing, free events, street parties…you name it, London has it. You just have to be savvy with your planning.
Obviously, if you want to shop, dine or visit most attractions, you’ll have to pay, but just enjoying the city for what it is is totally FREE.
What is the most popular free tourist attraction in London?
The Tate Modern art gallery was the most visited free tourist attraction in London in 2020, welcoming an estimated 1.4 million visitors, although this has dropped since the pandemic.
What cannot be missed when visiting London?
It really depends on what you want from London. If you’re looking for landmarks, be sure to visit Big Ben, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.
If you want good food, head to East London for incredible Asian food, West London for idyllic pubs and Central for your choice of the lot.
Free things to do in London: In a Nutshell
London IS an expensive city, but if you plan properly and want to stick to a budget, it can be done cheaply. I’ve lived and rented here for the past few years on a really tight budget and I’ve been able to live life to its fullest!
Have you got any other ideas for free things to do in London?
Let me know in the comments below!
Happy travelling!
Jennie 😀 x
Other posts you may be interested in:
- Walks Near Putney: Putney Heath, Putney River Walk & Beyond
- Best Putney Sunday Roast: A Local’s Guide
- Fun Things To Do In Putney, London: A Local’s Guide
- Is Putney a Good Place to Live? A Local’s Advice
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