LONDON: FREE THINGS TO DO YOU SHOULDN’T MISS
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London is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, so people with all kinds of budgets want to visit this city. If you’re wondering how to experience London without paying for the trip an arm and a leg, keep reading to find out what are the best things you can do for free. Exploring London really doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
London is the capital city of England and the UK and it counts over 8 million citizens. You can totally expect a city like that to have something for every budget. As most of my travels are still very much budget-friendly, I want to share some of my favourite things you can do in London without spending a penny.
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1. VISIT LONDON’S MUSEUMS
Probably the best perk of London, and something you won’t find in many other cities, is that most museums and galleries are free. That is a big deal because London has some of the most incredible historical artifacts and art in the world, so the fact that you can see most of them for free is absolutely crazy! Here are my favourite museums and galleries you must see:
Natural History Museum
Probably my favourite museum I’ve ever been to, Natural History Museum is so educational, fun, and interactive that both adults and children are going to be obsessed with it. From dinosaurs to diamonds, the museum is full of incredible things you can learn and experience. Keep in mind that you have to reserve a time slot on their website to enter (It was necessary for July 2022).
British Museum
Another incredible museum is the British Museum. Did you know that the British Museum is the world’s oldest national public museum? In fact, it’s so old that the USA didn’t even exist at the time the British Museum opened its doors. As the pioneer of all national museums, British Museum has many coveted collections which people from all over the world come to see. The entrance to the British Museum is free!
Some other places you might want to visit are Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate Modern and Tate British, or the National Gallery!
2. EXPLORE THE BEAUTIFUL PARKS OF LONDON
London is famous for its green parks which are mostly used as an escape from the busy, tourist-filled city centre. There are some very famous parks which are a staple if you’re visiting London.
Read more >>>KEW GARDENS: HOW TO DISCOVER THE MOST UNIQUE DAY TRIP FROM LONDON!
Hyde Park
The biggest and most popular park in London is Hyde Park. The „Central Park“ of England is an incredibly beautiful green oasis near Buckingham Palace. If you need a break from city life, head to Hyde Park and enjoy everything it has to offer. Whether you want to take a walk, have a cup of coffee, or maybe enjoy a run or a tennis match, you can do all that in London’s most beautiful park!
Regent’s Park
Regent’s Park is another popular park in London, and it’s especially beautiful in autumn. Right next to Camden town, this park offers the largest area for sports out of any other London park. Regent’s Park is also the home to London’s ZOO so if you’re with children it might be something interesting for them to see!
Holland Park
Another lovely park that I love is Holland Park. If you’re staying in Kensington or visiting Notting Hill don’t skip this little gem. It’s significantly smaller than Hyde and Regent’s park but it’s still equally lovely!
3. SKY GARDEN
It’s hard to believe that a place like Sky Garden could be free, but it is, and you absolutely shouldn’t miss it. Situated in the Walkie-Talkie building, Sky Garden is an exceptionally famous modern London landmark with stunning views of the city.
Each Monday, new tickets go out and your task is to book your date and time slot on Sky Garden’s official website. Once you’ve got your ticket, you can freely enter the enormous skyscraper and visit this rainforest. You can also book a table at one of the restaurants or bars. it won’t be cheap but it will surely be an extra special experience in the Sky Garden.
4. MOST IMPORTANT FREE LANDMARKS
London is incredibly special because there are not many cities in which you can see most of the famous landmarks completely for free. If you like to walk, I have a perfect walking tour for you! If you take this self-guided walking tour you will get to see the 15 most popular landmarks in London on one single (long) walk! Some of the landmarks you can see for free are:
The Big Ben
Probably the most famous landmark in London is the Elizabeth Tower, nicknamed Big Ben. This clock tower went through the biggest conservation work since the Victorian times and now looks better than ever. You can even get a tour of the tower and the parliament, but that of course isn’t free.
London Eye
The most famous Ferris Wheel in the world gets over 3.5 million visitors every year. While you can buy a ticket for the London Eye and take a ride, I would opt out and just go to the Sky Garden mentioned before. London Eye is quite expensive and the views are even better at the Sky Garden.
Tower Bridge
My favourite landmark in London is Tower Bridge. The colourful bridge is one of the most important traffic routes in London, so you can cross it by walking or by car. Inside the two towers, there’s a museum you can visit but the ticket is around 10 pounds.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
At one point in time, this magnificent cathedral was the tallest building in London! Today it’s definitely not, but it is still one of the most famous sights in the city. I’m also inclined to tell you a little secret… Next to the Cathedral, there’s a shopping centre with an open roof terrace, so you can get some of the best photos of the dome completely for free!
Buckingham Palace
Only a short walk from Hype Park, you’ll stumble upon one of London’s greatest landmarks. Buckingham Palace, now housing a King, always attracts many tourists so prepare for crowds. Nevertheless it’s a place you cannot skip on your trip to London.
5. MARKETS
Several incredible markets in London offer everything from food to second-hand clothes. I am a big foodie so I will base my favourites on that, but even if food isn’t so important to you, make sure to visit these!
Borough Market
Borough Market is London’s most famous market and rightfully so! It’s very popular among tourists because it offers unique, freshly made food and organic produce which you can’t really find anywhere else. Meat, seafood, or vegan treats, you will find anything in Borough Market!
Camden Market
Camden Market, on the other hand, is not food based yet offers an abundance of other things to do and buy. There are over a thousand local shops, bars, and restaurants, so once you’re there, you will not want to leave! You can try different food, shop at vintage stores, buy merch at art and music shops, and sooo many other things.
I hope this was a useful post for your next trip to London. Which of these places would be at the top of your list?
gorgeous photos! this looks so great! i really enjoyed the natural history museum and now want to see the sky gardens! great tips, thank you for sharing!
This is amazing, I would love to visit London and check out these places and do these things. I will keep them in mind when going there. Thank you for sharing!
We didn’t get a chance to visit the Sky Garden on our last visit and it is on my list!
What I love most about England is that most of not all museums are free! Thanks for all the tips!
I love the British Museum. I haven’t been to the Sky Garden before. I’ll have to put that on my list next time I go visit my uncle.
This is perfect, I have been wanting to visit London but have been nervous because I tend to travel on a tight budget. After this, I feel like I can actually go now! The sky Garden making the top of my list! Thank you for sharing!
I just came back from London and wish I had this write-up! Luckily I accomplished almost all the recommendations on this post aside from a day in the park and Sky Garden! Great to know about the booking in advance for Sky Garden and the fact that it’s free!!
What a helpful post! Love it. My number one thing to do when I go to London is to visit the British Museum. Home to so many treasures, I really look forward to going there. The Sky Garden is also someplace that looks fascinating. I would love to check that out.
That is such a helpful post. Loved reading it. London eye is dream.
Don’t visit the London Eye, it’s very expensive and it’s only for half an hour and the blogger doesn’t recommend it either. They just rip off poor tourists. The Sky Gardens are free and have a breathtaking panorama. There are also other wonderful views for free or much cheaper.
London has so many amazing free things to do, especially all those huge museums where you can spend hours and not need to pay anything!
I never heard of the Sky Garden but you can bet that I will try to get a ticket to see this garden in a skyscraper on my next visit to London.
Great list of free things to do in London! Your suggestions make exploring the city both affordable and enjoyable. Thanks for sharing!