The top FREE things to do in London
London has a huge amount to offer if you’re planning a city break. Famous landmarks, top-class museums, galleries, and experiences, beautiful parks, riverside walks, and a wonderful theatre and restaurant scene.
But like any big city, the cost of sightseeing can add up quickly. However, the good news is that London has plenty of top attractions and things to do that won’t cost a penny.
Here’s a quick guide to some of the best free things to do in London.
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The top free things to do in London
London Cards
– This post outlines the top free things to do in London.
– If you decide you want to see more of any of them (i.e. go inside any that charge you to do this), then I’d consider buying one of London passes that are available.
– Depending on which one you purchase, you’ll get discounts on various sights – some of which are covered here – as well as hop-on hop-off buses and river cruises.
– You can also buy them for different durations.
– Although purchasing these types of cards cost money, it’s a way to reduce your overall costs, especially if you’re keen to actually go into a lot of the sights in London.
– You can take a look at the different passes & cards that are available here.
Top free things to do in London
Below are the top free things to do in London. They cover a variety of different activities and experiences.
The top free things to do in London
– Visit Trafalgar Square & see Nelson’s Column
– Wander around the Westminster area
– Take snaps of Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament
– See Westminster Abbey & the statues in Parliament Square
– Gaze over to the London Eye
– See the grandeur of Buckingham Palace
– Watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony
– Wander along the River Thames & see the sites from the riverside
– Stop off at Covent Covent
– Stroll around one of the Royal Parks
– Be cultural in one of the many free museums
– Spend time in Battersea Park
– Visit the iconic Battersea Power Station
– See the city from Sky Garden or from the Horizon 22 viewing platform
Visit Trafalgar Square & see Nelson’s Column
One of the most famous places in London to visit is Trafalgar Square. This is located within walking distance of many of the top attractions in the city, including St. James Park and Buckingham Palace in one direction, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in another, and Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden in another.
It’s therefore arguably a good place to start your sightseeing when you arrive in London.
The square itself commemorates the British Victory in the Battle of Waterloo. In prime position is Nelson’s Column, a statue built in the 1840s in honour of Lord Nelson. There are also other statues dotted throughout the square, and two beautiful fountains.
And on the north side of the square, there is the National Gallery, one of the free art galleries you can visit in London.
The square is always lively and really busy. During the festive season, it has a huge Christmas tree, an annual gift from Norway.
Wander around Westminster
If are starting your London sightseeing in Trafalgar Square, then you can walk south down Whitehall to the Westminster area. This street will take you past Horseguard’s Parade, the Cenotaph War Memorial, and the entrance to Downing Street. It then connects onto Parliament Street and Parliament Square.
Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament
As you approach Westminster Bridge, you’ll start to see the famous Big Ben (officially, the Elizabeth Tower, with Big Ben being one of bells inside). This is apparently one of the most photographed landmarks in the world.
Big Ben is part of the Houses of Parliament (the Palace of Westminster). This grand building sits along the river on this side and is home to the British government. It’s a stunning Gothic building and worth seeing from both sides.
I’d walk down onto the bridge for a couple of minutes to see it with the river in front (you’ll also get a good view of Big Ben from this vantage point), and then also snap it from Parliament Square.
Parliament Square & Westminster Abbey
From the Houses of Parliament you can then cross over to Parliament Square. Stop briefly here to see some of the statues. These include those of former British Prime Ministers such as Winston Churchill and Benjamin Disreali, as well as other significant world figures – Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandella among them.
You can then cross over the road to see the magnificent Westminster Abbey.
Another Gothic structure, the Abbey was founded in the 11th century and has since been the site of many important events in British history. These include the wedding of the previous Queen to Prince Philip, and her Coronation in 1953.
More recently, it hosted the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. In addition, the Abbey is home to the tombs of many famous British figures, including Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, and Isaac Newton.
Gaze at the London Eye
Over the other side of Westminster Bridge, on the south side of the river, there’s the London Eye.
Otherwise known as the Millenium Wheel, this giant ferris wheel is one of the most recognisable sights in central London. It opened on New Year’s Eve in 1999 and has since carried millions of passengers in its 32 capsules. You’ll be able to see this from the Houses of Parliament, especially at night when it’s lit up in different colours.
Depending on whether you plan to take a ride in the London Eye (which does incur a cost), you may not need to actually cross over the bridge. If you just want to take a look at it, walk down the bridge and take a few snaps from there.
See the grandeur of Buckingham Palace
If you’re in Westminster, you could then head to St James’ Park and walk through here (or along The Mall, which skirts the side of the park) to Buckingham Palace. Home to the British Royal Family since the 1830s, you can’t leave the city without seeing it.
The neoclassical building is a vast complex with nearly 800 rooms inside. During the summer (early July to late September), you can go inside and explore some of these. You’ll get to see the State Rooms, the Ballroom, the Grand Staircase, and the Palace Garden, among other things.
If you don’t want to go inside, or if you visit at times of the year when it is closed, then you can admire it from the outside. In front of it is the massive 82 feet high Queen Victoria Memorial. Not far away you’ll also find Green Park, one of the eight Royal Parks.
Watch the Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard is one of London’s most famous ceremonies. It’s also another of the top free things to do in London. Signifying the changeover of the King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace to the new guards, it’s quite a spectacle to watch.
It takes place around St James’s Palace, Buckingham Palace, and the Wellington Barracks on selected days and is a popular thing to experience when you’re in London. Because of this, it’s advised that you get a spot early so that you’re as near to the front of the crowd as possible.
When I went to see it, we arrived about half an hour early and stood behind the barriers along The Mall. This was a perfect spot from which to witness the procession. You can also go nearer to Buckingham Palace if you’d prefer, but this was extremely crowded on the day we went.
The Changing of the Guard generally takes place at 11 am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. But if you plan to go, check out this website to make sure it’s going ahead and to avoid disappointment.
Wander along the River Thames
A walk along the River Thames is another good way to spend your time without the need to fork out on sightseeing. There are plenty of places to do this, but one stretch I particularly like runs from the Tower of London by Tower Bridge station.
If you start here, you can look over to the famous bridge and see the Tower of London. The Tower is one of the most popular attractions in London, but you will need to buy a ticket to go inside. If you do, you can visit The White Tower, one of the city’s oldest buildings, see the Beefeaters wandering around, and be wowed by the glittering Crown Jewels.
If you choose not to go inside, you can walk from here along the riverside promenade. Along the way, you’ll get to see HMS Belfast, a Royal Navy light cruiser that is now a museum ship. The Monument to the Great Fire of London is also not far from the river on this side, and there are views of The Shard.
You can then cross over to the south side of the river and wander along this stretch. You can look back over the river to St Paul’s Cathedral. Spot the dome on the skyline: it’s the highest in the world at over 360 feet.
Borough Market, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and the Tate Modern museum, are also along this side of the river.
Along the way, there are several tube stops on both sides if you want to end your walk at any stage.
Stop off in Covent Garden
Another must-visit place is Covent Garden in the West End of the city. Historically a fruit, veg, and flower market, it’s been regenerated into a vibrant, trendy covered market with small boutique and artisan shops, bars, and restaurants.
Next to the market area is an open plaza, a lively area where you’ll often see crowds of people watching the various street performers who come here. The Royal Opera House is also nearby, as is the Transport Museum.
If you’re in the area, it’s worth popping into Covent Garden and maybe stopping off for a drink.
Stroll around one of the Royal Parks
London has eight Royal Parks, all of which are great places to get out into the fresh air. And as none of them cost a penny to visit, they are definitely among the top free things to do in London.
St. James’ Park
In central London, you can stroll around St. James’ Park. This is the oldest Royal Park and, in my opinion, is one of the most attractive ones.
It’s a beautiful green space to wander around, with a large lake and a fountain.
There’s a lot of wildlife that live here, including pelicans, ducks, and swans. So on a fine day, you could grab a seat on one of the benches around the park and sit and watch them.
You can get into the park from near Westminster Abbey, or at the other end, right by Buckingham Palace. Its location makes it a good place to add onto your sightseeing if you’re in these areas.
Hyde Park
You can also spend some time in Hyde Park, an area covering 350 acres including the Serpentine Lake. Near the Serpentine is the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. This modern structure was opened in 2004 and has a path alongside that you can wander along.
Further on – towards Green Park and near Buckingham Palace – you can go to the famous Speakers’ Corner. This is where people come to debate and discuss politics. It is said to be “the oldest living free speech platform in the world”.
Kensington Gardens
Not far from Hyde Park are Kensington Gardens. These surround Kensington Palace, where Queen Victoria was born. More latterly, Princess Diana lived here.
The gardens cover 265 acres and contain some interesting things to see. Nearest to the palace is a late 19th-century statue of Queen Victoria sitting regally in front of it.
Not far away is the Round Pond, an ornamental lake constructed in the 18th century. Kids will no doubt love it, as it always has crowds of ducks and geese wandering around the path surrounding the lake.
Other sights in Kensington Gardens include the Serpentine Gallery, a free art gallery, the Albert Memorial, and the Peter Pan statue.
Other London parks
The other Royal Parks that you can visit and spend time in are Regent’s Park, Green Park, Bushy Park, Richmond Park, and Greenwich Park. However, note that the latter three parks are outside of central London.
You can get more information on these, as well as other London parks and green spaces, here.
Be cultural in a museum
London has an incredible wealth of museums to visit, and there’s something for everyone. And the best thing is that many of them are free (although specific exhibitions may incur a fee or require a pre-booked ticket).
Top free museums in London
Among the free museums is the British Museum in Bloomsbury. Showcasing artefacts from throughout history and from all around the world, you have the chance to see the famous Rosetta Stone and Parthenon Sculptures when you visit.
Other history museums with free entry are the fascinating Imperial War Museum, and the Bank of England Museum.
For art lovers, you can visit both the Tate Britain and Tate Modern museums for free, as well as the National Gallery.
If you want to make a day of visiting museums and fancy popping into a few of the free museums, then I’d suggest heading to South Kensington. Here you have three outstanding museums to experience: the Natural History Museum (one for dinosaur lovers!), the Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
For a fuller list of the free museums in the capital, click here. I’d recommend checking the websites in advance if you plan to visit. Although they are free, some require you to book your free ticket in advance.
Spend some time in Battersea Park
Battersea Park is another park to consider visiting when you’re in London, especially if the weather is being kind to you. It’s one of the most popular and best parks in London and sits right next to the River Thames with a riverside promenade to wander along.
In the evening, you’ll get a fantastic view of the beautiful Albert Bridge, all lit up in the night sky.
Unsurprisingly, for a park that covers 200 acres, there are lots of things to do here (you can check out these here, although some do involve some costs).
Across the entire site, there are more than 4,000 trees and several different gardens to explore. If you’re looking for a great view along the River Thames, head for the Promontory Garden.
The park also has the stunning London Peace Pagoda overlooking the river. It is over 33 metres high, with bronze statues of the Buddha on the outside and a large staircase leading up to it.
Visit the iconic Battersea Power Station
If you visit Battersea Park, you’ll be in the right area for a quick detour to Battersea Power Station. This iconic landmark is just a 15 to 20-minute walk from the park. It was once an operational coal-fired power station, with the two parts (hence the four famous chimneys) being built between the late 1930s and the mid-1950s.
The station was decommissioned in the 1980s and lay empty and derelict until new owners started developing it in recent years. It was reopened in October 2022.
The beautiful building is now a shopping centre with a range of bars and restaurants. You can window shop when you visit or stop off for a quick drink.
Outside the power station, you can also wander around. At Christmas, when we visited, there was a small Christmas market and an ice rink.
Browse the stalls in Borough Market
If you’re looking for a foodie experience while in London, head to Borough Market. This vibrant market, located just south of the River Thames, is home to over 100 stalls selling fresh fruit and veg, meat, fish, cheeses, and more.
It’s a really buzzy place, and you’ll realise just how popular it is when you go and see how many people visit! But it’s worth looking around – you might want to grab a small snack here rather than forking out on an expensive meal. There’s also plenty of stalls where you can sample small tasters to see if you want to buy more.
Other markets you could also consider visiting include Portobello Market in the Notting Hill area, and Camden Market in Camden in north London.
See the city from the Sky Garden…
Many visitors to London include a visit to The Shard on their itinerary. This is definitely a great experience, but depending on your budget, it can also be quite expensive.
There are other options, however. An alternative to The Shard is a visit to the Sky Garden, London’s highest public garden. This is located on the 43rd floor of a building at 20 Fenchurch Street (otherwise known as the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building).
The building is situated on the other side of the river to the Shard, but also offers spectacular views over the city and river from 155 metres up. All while allowing you to wander through a garden containing a variety of plants from around the world.
You can visit for free for 1 hour (the website states that these tickets need to be booked 3 weeks in advance). I visited one evening at dusk and got incredible views of the city as the sun went down.
…Or from Horizon 22
Similarly, you can go to Horizon 22, “London’s highest free viewing platform” in Bishopsgate. As with the Sky Garden, you can book a free ticket to experience this (tickets are released every Monday for the following two weeks but can get booked up quickly).
Your ticket allows you to ride a high-speed lift to a 58th-level viewing platform. From here, there are 300-degree views through the massive glass windows – including of The Shard itself!
Best things to do in London
If you are planning a trip here, I hope you find this guide to the top free things to do in London useful.
You might also be interested in some of my other posts which collate the sights in different parts of the capital, or those if you’re visiting for a special occasion. I also have some posts on day trips from London if you’re thinking about going further afield during your stay.
