73 Free Things To Do In London

There is loads to do in London, even when you are on a budget. Give your credit card a rest with these 101 fabulous London freebies.

1.  Marvel at the Jar of Moles at the Grant Museum of Zoology.
2. See the adorable over-stuffed walrus at theHorniman Museum.
3. Be awed by the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies at theBritish Museum.
4. Be amazed by the 400 exhibits – including a Spitfire and a Harrier Jet – on display at theImperial War Museum.
5. See full-size dinosaurs atCrystal Palace Park. You’re going to feel like you are seeing a real one.
6. Experience what life was like for the poor and destitute of London’s East End during the late 1800s inThe Ragged School Museum.
7. Take your pain away with a visit toThe Anaesthesia Museum, which charts the history of anaesthesia from 1846 to the present day.
8. Browse vintage sewing machines at theLondon Sewing Machine Museum.
9. See preserved creatures in jars and fascinating deformed skeletons at theHunterian Museum.
10. Go to theWellcome Collectionto see a bunch of amazingly weird objects, including an ancient mummy, Napoleon’s toothbrush and Darwin’s walking stick.
11. Get one with nature onWimbledon Commonwhere you’ll find ponds, a nature trail and a windmill.
12. Spot a deer in dreamyRichmond Park.
13. See the Prime Meridian line for free atPark Vista.
14. Relax inBushy Park, home to 320 free-roaming deer.
15. Burn off some calories by jogging around the 350 acres (142 hectares)Hyde Park. .
16. Check out the Peter Pan statue atKensington Gardens.
17. Watch the feeding of the pelicans every day at 2:30pm inSt James’s Park. Also check out other water birds, owls, woodpeckers and bats.
18. Take your kids to the singing elevator (JCB Glass lift) in theRoyal Festival Hall.
19. Bring your whole family and meet the alpaca atVauxhall City Farm.
20. Check out farm animals atMudchute Farm and Park with your kids.
21. Find out what it feels like pushing a trolley through to Hogwarts at the wall markedPlatform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross. Each Harry Potter fan shouldn’t miss this!
22. Watch the skateboarders performing death-defying tricks under theSouthbank Centre.
23. Go mudlarking – the city equivalent of beachcombing – outsideGabriel’s Wharfor on the City of London side of the Millennium Bridge, where you can check the surface for old clay smoking pipes and bits of pottery. You can also check the tide tables in advance.
24. Get entertained in theCovent Garden.
25. Little ones can be pirates for the day on Captain Hook’s huge wooden pirate ship at theDiana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground.
26. Take your kids toQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park‘s fountains for some splashing.
27. See amazing exhibits – like the Apollo 10 command capsule and Stephenson’s Rocket – at theScience Museum.
28. Explore theV&A Museum of Childhood, which houses the UK’s national collection of childhood objects that date back to the 1600s.
29. Take in the sweeping views across the River Thames and Central London fromGreenwich Park.
30. Enjoy stunning views across London fromAlexandra Palace, set in 196 acres of parkland.
31. Spot celebrities while looking out across the capital fromPrimrose Hill.
32. Read your camera and take with you our guide to London’stop photo opportunities.
33. Stroll to the top of Hampstead Heath’sParliament Hillfor marvellous views across London.
34. Stroll through the picture-perfectSouth Bank.
35. Follow the towpath through sereneLittle Veniceto discover a slew of waterfront cafes and pubs.
36. Walk acrossMillennium Bridgefrom St Paul’s Cathedral to Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe.
37. Stroll through the lush riverside village ofRichmond; start at the White Cross pub and continue past the rural idyll of Petersham Meadows, until you reach Ham House.
38. Take an afternoon walk amongst the 35,000 monuments ofBrompton Cemetery, including one of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.
39. Escape the city in the ancient woodland ofHighgate Wood.
40. Spot rare plants and insects inEpping Forest.
41. Enjoy theBarbican Conservatorywhich homes tropical plants, trees and fish.
42. Achieve Zen in Kyoto Japanese Garden inHolland Park.
43. Take a look at the Watts Victorian memorial inPostman’s Park, which features in the movie Closer.
44. Marvel at the wildflowers at thePhoenix Gardenin London’s West End.
45. Flower fans can soak up the floral colours and aromas ofColumbia Road Flower Market.
46. Under 16s can enjoy cheap entry toKew Gardens, the world’s most famous garden.
47. See prop-makers and theatre designers working behind-the-scenes at the National Theatre by walking along itsSherling High-Level Walkway.
48. Watch a film, play or band for free at More London Free Festival atThe Scoop.
49. Visit neon wonderlandGod’s Own Junkyard, which is chock-full of vintage neon signs and old movie props.
50. Have a glimpse onLondon’s public and street art,including works by guerrilla artist Banksy.
51. Feast your eyes on literary treasures like the Magna Carta and original Beatles lyrics at theBritish Library.
52. Laugh until your stomach hurts atAngel Comedy Club, which offers free comedy every night of the week.
53. Get over Hump day at Launch Pad,The Miller‘s free weekly comedy night on Wednesdays.
54. Hear musicians studying at theRoyal College of Musicperforming free lunchtime and rush-hour concerts across London.
55. Dance along to ska, roots, reggae and folk rhythms and enjoy island vibes atHootananny Brixton, which offers loads of free gigs.
56. Enjoy regular Free Church music from the choir atSt. James’s Piccadilly.
57. Open mic fans can experience free music every Sunday at theHope and Anchorpub open mic sessions.
58. TheSouthbank Centreholds regular free musical performances in the Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall.
59. Enjoy free entry to blues barAin’t Nothing But…from Sunday to Thursday nights.
60. Discover free lunchtime concerts atSt Martin-in-the-Fieldschurch.
61. Camden’sThe Forgeholds free jazz concerts every Monday night.
62. Hear London’s most vocal orators share their opinions with the world atSpeaker’s Cornerin Hyde Park.
63. Feast your eyes on luxury yachts inSt Katharine Docks.
64. Soak up the architecture inRegent Street.
65. Marvel at everything from silver armchairs to champagne swizzle sticks atLondon Silver Vaults.
66. Check out the mysteriousLondon Stoneat 111 Cannon Street. Legend says the stone was part of an altar in a temple built by Brutus of Troy.
67. Witness the remains of London’s Roman amphitheatre in the basement of theGuildhall Art Gallery.
68. Visitthe oldest cathedral church building in London, Southwark Cathedral.
69. Witness how living rooms in England have changed since 1600 at theGeffrye Museum.
70. View theLondon Wall, the remnant of the Roman wall which was built in AD 200 and once formed part of the eastern defences of Roman Londinium.
71. See what London’s streets looked like in days gone by with Museum of London’s appStreetmuseum.
72. See London on rollerskates on a two-hour tour withLondon Skate.
73. Cool off under the fountains byThe Scoop.
74. Bring a picnic to feast on inSomerset House‘s gorgeous 18th-century courtyard.