21 Free Things To Do In London Today (That You'll Actually Want To Do)

Looking for the best free things to do in London? Enjoy some of the unique experiences the city has to offer without breaking the bank with our guide to the best of London’s free activities.

London is an expensive city; we know this from living here for the last 20 or so years.

But in a city this size, there are plenty of fantastic free things to do.

Since December 2001, all UK National Museums have been free of charge; a policy implemented by the Labour government at the time to increase access to cultural experiences for everyone.

This policy has become a revered feature of British cultural life.

But it’s not just museums that are free, there are a host of experiences, walks, views and festivals that don’t cost a penny.

After some lengthy negotiations, Mark and I have agreed on our top 21 free things to do in London that you can try today. This is a list for visitors and residents alike.

FREE MUSEUMS IN LONDON

1. BRITISH MUSEUM

The British Museum was the world’s first national museum open to the public. It has a collection of art, artefacts, and relics representing thousands of years of human history and culture.

Some of the most important items include the Rosetta Stone, the Bust of Ramesses the Great from Luxor and a collection of 140 mummies from Tutankhamun.

The Great Court is a beautiful free space in London and the largest covered square in Europe.

Booking Tickets – You can book a timed entry ticket online. Mark and I have generally found that it’s not necessary.

Note – Don’t be fooled by the fact that the entry queues direct you to what looks like a payment desk. This is to encourage you to make a donation, but rest assured, the British Museum is free to visit.

2. TATE MODERN

The Tate Modern is one of the UK’s national galleries, and it’s completely free. It houses the country’s collection of modern and contemporary art in a converted power station.

There are many famous pieces in the collection, including works by Lichtenstein, Matisse and Picasso. However, the real attraction for us is the quirky installations, some of which we get, others we don’t.

The gallery’s hit-and-miss aspect is one of the main reasons to go. You never know what surprises are in store.

There are two things that are always good at Tate Modern.

The first is the Turbine Hall, which displays huge-scale art installations in the basement, which once housed the electricity generators.

The second is the café on Level 10. We’re not normally huge fans of art gallery cafés, but this one is worth it for the excellent views of London.

3. V&A MUSEUM

The Victoria & Albert Museum is a celebration of human creativity and one of the most interesting and diverse free things to do in London.

The collection spans 5,000 years and includes everything from Egyptian artefacts through to modern fashion, photography and performance.

Some of the amazing things you can see completely free of charge include the 7 huge Raphael paintings, which were early designs for tapestries to hang in the Sistine Chapel, and the Cast Courts, which feature incredible reproductions of famous sculptures.

It’s free to enter the main galleries, but there are always excellent temporary exhibitions (paid) that are worth checking out. See what’s on at vam.ac.uk.

4. WHITE CUBE GALLERY

The White Cube gallery has spaces in Hong Kong, Paris, New York and London. It’s one of the leading contemporary art galleries in the world with an artist-led philosophy that has supported creatives for the last 30 years.

The gallery operates across various locations from time to time, but the main space is White Cube Bermondsey, Europe’s largest commercial gallery.

You’ll find large-scale exhibitions and smaller collections from a diverse range of artists, and there’s always something interesting happening.

Find out what’s on at the White Cube website.

5. NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

For us, the great thing about London’s world-class national museums being free is that we can just pop in for a quick look whenever we’re nearby.

Which is something Mark and I do regularly at the National Portrait Gallery, possibly our favourite art gallery in London.

The collection celebrates notable figures of history through portraits in both photographs and paintings.

You’ll find contemporary tributes to modern personalities, as well as paintings of historic figures from across the centuries.

The main exhibition is free, but they have regular temporary collections (paid), so it’s worth seeing what’s on at npg.org.uk.

6. BRITISH LIBRARY

The British Library is the National Library of the United Kingdom, containing over 170 million items.

You can use the Reading Room free of charge for personal study and access the collection, although you can’t borrow books like other libraries.

The Treasures Gallery contains a wealth of historical documents, including the Magna Carta, handwritten Beatles lyrics, Florence Nightingale’s original manuscripts and Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks.

Visit the Sound Gallery, the largest collection of recorded sounds in the world.

The British Library was the victim of a cyber-attack in 2023, which they are still recovering from. Most public spaces are now available; however, some research services are disrupted. Find out more at their website: bl.uk.

7. BFI MEDIATHEQUE

For movie fans, the BFI Mediatheque is probably the ultimate free activity in London today.

Home to the National Film Archives, the centre has over 85,000 films and TV programmes which you can watch free of charge. Thanks to funding provided by the National Lottery, the archive continues to grow as more and more titles are digitised.

They have around 10 private viewing booths where you can settle in and watch anything you like. Some booths seat multiple people, others are for solo viewing. Headphones are provided, or you can bring your own.

Watch rare TV, films from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, classic films and long-forgotten British masterpieces.

There’s also a massive selection of kids’ films and animated gems.

Tell the attendants how long you want to watch for (maximum 2 hours), and they’ll show you to a booth.

SHOP WITHOUT SHOPPING

8. CAMDEN MARKET

Camden Market is the largest and most interesting market in London. As a celebration of counterculture, it’s a melting pot of music, fashion, arts, crafts, and food.

It’s a delightful jumble of spaces which are: the Stables Market, Lock Market, Hawley Wharf Market and Buck Street Market.

They are all worth exploring, but our favourite sections are the Stables Market, a cool labyrinth of cobble lanes and alleyways, and Camden Hawley Wharf, a new complex with covered food courts and modern boutiques.

Seeing both is a good way to see the traditional and modern sides of Camden. See it all for free today with our Camden Town self-guided walk.

9. BOROUGH MARKET

Borough Market is a foodies delight and an unmissable attraction for anyone visiting London for the first time.

The market dates back to the 12^th century and today has a staggering amount of local and international produce.

Obviously, the food isn’t free, but we’re including it in this guide because even if you don’t want to buy anything, strolling around and soaking up the atmosphere is a wonderful way to spend time in London.

This is London’s biggest market, so it can get busy. The best time to go is early on Saturday morning or later in the weekday afternoons.

10. HARRODS

Shopping at Harrods is far from free, but we’ve included it in this guide because it’s an architectural marvel that showcases the grandeur of Edwardian London. All of which you can enjoy for free, every day of the week.

The most dramatic element is the Egyptian Escalator, an Art Deco-inspired piece with sphinx-head balusters and hieroglyphic friezes.

There is also the Memorial Fountain commemorating Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana.

Mark and I always make a beeline for the Food Halls. Even if we’re not buying (which we generally aren’t—you can find this stuff cheaper elsewhere), the Victorian and Art Nouveau tilework is stunning, particularly Royal Doulton’s 1902 ceramic panels.

11. COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET

This small Victorian lane in East London comes alive every Sunday with one of our favourite markets in London, the Columbia Road Flower Market.

The market runs from 8 AM to 3 PM, though it’s best to arrive mid-morning when the atmosphere is buzzing.

You’ll find everything from potted plants and bedding flowers to exotic blooms and succulents. The stallholders are passionate about what they do, and the “everything for a fiver” announcements will give you a taste of the true cockney accent.

The area is a great place to hang out for a few hours with independent shops selling vintage furniture, handmade jewellery, artisan bread, and homewares.

Even if you buy nothing, it’s a great part of London to stroll around.

QUIRKY & INTERESTING

12. SHOREDITCH STREET ART

London’s street art scene began in the 1960s and 1970s with the rise of punk rock, mod and skinhead subcultures. What started as illegal graffiti has evolved into some of the best, but transient, art in London.

An influx of artists to Shoreditch in the 1990s, looking for affordable studio space, transformed the area into the epicentre of street art in London.

Now, artists from all over the world come to make their mark on this cool London neighbourhood.

Some of the best areas are around Brick Lane, Rivington Street and New Inn Yard. Naturally, all this amazing art is completely free.

Our self-guided Shoreditch street art walk takes you past a lot of the best works.

13. LEAKE STREET ARCHES

Beneath Waterloo Station, Leake Street Arches has some of the best street art in London.

Forming a free open museum, the arches were originally made famous by Banksy, who organised a festival here in 2008.

Since then, the Leake Street Arches have become a canvas for local and international artists who have transformed the tunnel into a colourful explosion of murals.

The great thing about Leake Street Arches is the temporary nature of the art. When an artist puts their mark on the walls, there’s no guarantee that it won’t be painted over.

This means there’s always something happening in the tunnels with artists working around the clock.

14. NOW BUILDING

The Now Building is a four-story public atrium with 2,260 square metres of wrap-around screens. Featuring tenures from rotating international artists, the massive multi-media installation shows mind-blowing visuals in 8K resolution.

The atrium space is open, and it’s free to walk in and watch the presentation.

Located above the Tottenham Court Road Underground station on the corner of Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road, it’s a great thing to do while wandering around Soho.

15. ST DUNSTAN IN THE EAST

St Dunstan in the East is a former church which was largely destroyed during the Blitz in 1941. It has been transformed into a free public garden, with nature left to reclaim the Gothic ruins.

The remains of the stone walls, tower and window frames overrun with ivy, shrubs and climbing plants create a magical scene. It feels a world away from the financial district surrounding it.

The church was built in 1100, but most of what remains today was from the restoration by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666.

NEIGHBOURHOODS

16. COVENT GARDEN & NEAL’S YARD

Covent Garden is the dining and entertainment hub in the West End of London. It’s one of those rare entities that is very popular with tourists, but somewhere the locals actually like to go as well.

Including us. We often gravitate towards Covent Garden after a night out in the West End.

Covent Garden has a rich history of supporting buskers, and you can see quality street performances every day for free.

The Apple Market is the most iconic market in Covent Garden, where you’ll often hear free performances by musicians from the National Opera House.  

The Jubilee Market is a great place to stroll around and soak up the atmosphere, even if you’re not looking for souvenirs or vintage jewellery.

Have a look around Neils Yard, one of the prettiest streets in London. It’s home to independent businesses recognised for their sustainable and ethical practices.

Finally, another great free activity in Covent Garden is to spot movie locations. Some of the classics that have been filmed here include My Fair Lady, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Mary Poppins, Tomorrow Never Dies, Spectre and Bridget Jones’s Diary.  

17. SOUTH BANK

South Bank is the promenade south of the River Thames, stretching from Lambeth Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge.

There are several top attractions along the South Bank, including the London Eye, Sea Life Aquarium, and the National Theatre.

You’ll also find plenty of restaurants, shopping and street performances.

Strolling along the promenade is a great free thing to do in London. We have put together a South Bank London walk which has all the main attractions and hidden gems you can find along the river.

The other attraction is the South Bank Centre, a hub of creativity with regular free performances, festivals, events and exhibitions. Check what’s on at southbankcentre.co.uk.

18. NOTTING HILL & PORTOBELLO MARKET

Notting Hill is one of London’s most colourful neighbourhoods.

Famous for its rows of pastel-hued terrace houses, Notting Hill’s diverse cultural makeup makes it one of our favourite areas to explore.

It’s the perfect neighbourhood for visitors from the US looking for charming London residential architecture.

Some of the cool free things to do include strolling Portobello Road during market days (the best is Saturday), finding the very hidden Banksy and ticking off locations from the Notting Hill movie.

We have more details in our Notting Hill Guide, which includes all the best things to do as well as information on getting there, where to eat and where to stay.

WALKS & VIEWS

19. SKY GARDEN

The Sky Garden is a free observation deck on the 43^rd floor of the Fenchurch Building, also known as the Walkie-Talkie.

It has a lush tropical garden and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking panoramic views of London.

Sky Garden is free to visit, but you need to book a timed entry ticket, as numbers are limited to avoid overcrowding.

There are 2 bars and 2 restaurants in Sky Garden. We haven’t eaten at the restaurants, but the bars on the observation floor are a bit overpriced. Our recommendation is to take in the views and enjoy a drink somewhere else.

Book your free Sky Garden tickets.

20. RICHMOND PARK

Richmond Park is a sweeping park in west London with woods, rolling hills and wide-open grassland.

It’s a great place for animal lovers as it’s a haven for several rare and endangered species. You’ll also encounter the deer, which have roamed the park since 1637.

Other highlights include Isabella Plantation, a beautiful 40-acre manicured garden, and Pembroke Lodge gardens.

Richmond Park is free to visit, and the pedestrian gates are open 24 hours a day.

We have developed a walk that covers the park’s best sections while also exploring Richmond. Read more on our guide to the best walks in London. 

21. TAKE ONE OF OUR SELF-GUIDED WALKS

One of the best ways to experience London for free is to take a walk through the city.

We’ve put together 15 self-guided walks in London that explore different areas of the city. They range from easy strolls (around 2-4 miles) to longer all-day excursions (6-9 miles).

Each walk includes detailed descriptions of what you can see along the way, with a map to follow your progress.

Here are some of our most popular walks:

• Regent’s Canal walk
• Hampstead Heath circular walk
• London’s royal parks and palaces walk
• Southbank walk
• City of London walk
• Notting Hill walk

MORE LONDON GUIDES

• Plan your trip with our 4-day London itinerary.
• To see all these great attractions and more, read our Notting Hill walk guide.
• For the best brunch options, read our guide to breakfast in Notting Hill
• We regularly update this guide with our top free things to do in London.
• See the best of the city on our London walks.
• To find the best area to stay, read our guide to the best places to stay in London.
• Get into the spirit by visiting the most magical London Christmas Lights.
• Enjoy an iconic stroll along the Queen’s Walk.