Travel

100+ Free Things to Do in London

London for Free

By Laura Porter, About.com Guide

Don't let people put you off with tales of how expensive it is here as there are an incredible amount to do in London without spending any money.

London doesn't split into neighborhoods as easily as US cities but I have tried to organize this list by area. Every free thing listed has a link for more information.

1. Westminster

Changing of the Guard
Four O'Clock Parade
Westminster Abbey (not always free)
Supreme Court
St James's Park
Trafalgar Square
National Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
World's Smallest Police Box (in Trafalgar Square)
Giro the Nazi Dog (near Trafalgar Square)
London Nose (near Trafalgar Square)
Savoy Hotel Museum
Inner Space Quiet Room
Leicester Square Film Premieres
New Year's Day Parade (1st January)
Chinese New Year in London (January or February)
Trooping the Colour (every June)
London Gay Pride (every June or July)

2. Fitrovia & Bloomsbury

Peter Pan Statue at Gt Ormond Street Hospital

Fitzrovia is the area north of Oxford Street and Bloombury is east of Tottenham Court Road.

Wallace Collection
L. Ron Hubbard's Fitzroy House
Coram's Fields (Children's playground)
British Museum
Grant Museum of Zoology & Comparative Anatomy
Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
Peter Pan Statue at GOSH
Wellcome Collection
Jeremy Bentham Auto-Icon
Treasure Trails offer some free smartphone trails, including one of Fitzrovia, Canary Wharf, and Shoreditch

3. Mayfair / St James's / Piccadilly

Areas north and south of Piccadilly.

4. City of London

The City of London is actually only a small area known as the Square Mile. Also see Free Things to Do in the City of London.

5. City Borders

Somerset House (Down in the light wells)

City Borders is not an official area but I've tried to group places near to the City of London.

London Roman Baths
Twinings Tea Museum
Somerset House Free Guided Tour
Courtauld Gallery (free on Monday mornings)
Lincoln's Inn Fields
Sir John Soane's Museum
Library & Museum of Freemasonry
Hunterian Museum

6. East London

7. South London (including South Bank)

Appearing Rooms Fountains, Southbank Centre

The South Bank itself is a magnificent free area in London. It's a wonderful place to walk next to the River Thames with iconic views. The summer brings the Watch This Space free entertainment outside the National Theatre and the Appearing Rooms Fountains outside the Southbank Centre.