The Best Free Things to do in London

We all know that living in London isn’t always the cheapest. With the price of rent and general living costs, it can often feel like you have to forgo days out to preserve your bank account. However, there’s actually a huge number of things you can do in the city without paying a single penny. 
We’ve compiled a list of the best free things to do in London so that you can explore the city without splashing all your cash.

Free Museums

A lot of people don’t realise that a huge number of London’s most iconic museums are  actually free to visit. London has over forty museums that don’t require any payment to visit.

Some of the best free museums in London are:

• The British Museum – A public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture. Located in the Bloomsbury area of London. 
• The Natural History Museum – A museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. Located in South Kensington. 
• The Science Museum – A vast collection spanning science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine, just a two minute walk from the Natural History Museum.
• Museum of London – A museum documenting the history of London, from prehistoric to modern times. Located right next to the Barbican. 

Exploring the museums is one of our favourite free things to do in London. With so many of them dotted around the city, you’re more than likely to find one that peaks your interest. 

Free Comedy Clubs

For those who like a laugh, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of comedy shows in London that offer free entry. They usually feature up and coming comedians, but occasionally you’ll find bigger names making an appearance.

Here are some of the clubs that offer regular free comedy nights:

• The Top Secret Comedy Club – The highest rated comedy club in the U.K with a regular programme of stand-up and improv shows found in Holborn. 
• Camden Comedy Club – Live comedy is on every night at this pub-inspired venue that also hosts a range of workshops. 
• The Bill Murray – The Bill Murray is a club, pub and hub, open 7 days a week, hosting an eclectic range of the finest comedy around. Located in the Angel area of London. 

To avoid disappointment we recommend booking tickets in advance, especially as the free tickets disappear very quickly. 

Free Parks and Green Spaces

One of the best free things to do in London is to explore all of its parks and green spaces. A lot of the parks have free attractions within them, as well as stunning view points across the city. 

Here are some of the best parks in London: 

• Hyde Park – Here you’ll find London’s oldest boating lake, the Serpentine, and a number of summertime concerts and the Winter Wonderland funfair.
• Greenwich Park – Head to the top of the hill and enjoy sweeping views across the River Thames and central London. Greenwich Park is also home to the Prime Meridian Line and The Royal Observatory.
• Richmond Park – This is a great spot to see wildlife, with hundreds of red and fallow deer roaming free. You can also see St Paul’s Cathedral from the highest point.

If you want to discover more of the free green spaces and parks in London, check out our blog post here. 

Free Panoramic Views

There are a number of places in London that offer breath-taking views of the city, without having to spend a fortune on the London eye.

Here are our favourite views of the city, where you don’t have to spend a penny: 

• The Garden at 120 – A public rooftop space offering exceptional 360 degree views of the city. It’s free for members of the public to visit, with no booking required. The space is home to 85 Italian wisteria trees, over 30 fruit trees, a flowing water feature and a coffee hut. The Garden at 120 is located atop the Fen Court building at 120 Fenchurch Street.
• Sky Garden – The highest landscaped public gardens in London, showcasing the iconic city skyline. Entry is free of charge and tickets are available to book on a weekly basis, up to three weeks in advance of your visit. Find it in the Fenchurch building. 
• One New Change – Head to One New Change shopping centre for spectacular views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the London skyline. With its own public roof terrace open from 6am-midnight daily, located in central London.

Free Live Music

If you’re looking for free things to do in London this weekend why not enjoy some live music. If you know where to look, you’ll find a number of places in London that perform music and opera shows, completely free of charge.

Save some money on that O2 gig and head to one of these spots instead. 

• Live at Lunch – Watch a live opera performance for no charge as part of the Royal Opera House’s Live at Lunch concerts. 
• Hootananny Brixton – Enjoy ska, roots, reggae and folk rhythms at Hootananny in Brixton, which offers loads of free gigs. 
• Ain’t Nothing But – Enjoy free entry to blues bar, Ain’t Nothing But from Sunday to Thursday nights. All music starts at 9pm!
• Southbank Centre – The Southbank centre regularly hosts free musical performances in the Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall. 

After a day of experiencing the best free things to do in London,, why not replenish your energy levels at some of the most affordable food spots in South London.

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