Free things to do · London · United Kingdom
12 free things to do in London
London without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in London without paying an entry fee: British Museum, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Changing the Guard and National Gallery are all free. The national museums and galleries, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern and Natural History Museum, are free.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 12
- Low-cost extras
- 0
- Cost level
- Very expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
Museum · Bloomsbury
1.British Museum
Pick three or four galleries — Egypt, the Parthenon sculptures and Sutton Hoo are the classics — rather than trying to see everything in one visit.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Landmark · Westminster
2.Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
The classic photo is from Westminster Bridge or the riverside path across the Thames; for a closer look, walk through Victoria Tower Gardens beside the palace.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours with a tour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Palace · St James's
3.Buckingham Palace and Changing the Guard
Arrive at least 45 minutes early and stand on the Victoria Memorial steps, or watch the guards march along The Mall where crowds are thinner.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- History
Gallery · Trafalgar Square
4.National Gallery
Start with the early Italian rooms in the Sainsbury Wing, then finish on the portico steps looking over Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Museum · South Kensington
5.Natural History Museum
Use the Exhibition Road entrance and visit the Dinosaurs gallery first, as its queue grows through the morning.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Nature
Gallery · Bankside
6.Tate Modern
Begin in the Turbine Hall, then walk across the Millennium Bridge for the framed view of St Paul's dome.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · South Kensington
7.Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
Have a coffee in the tiled Victorian café rooms, then rest by the oval pool in the John Madejski Garden.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Market · London Bridge
8.Borough Market
Come hungry on a weekday morning to graze before the lunchtime crush, and walk to nearby Maltby Street for more stalls at weekends.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
Park · Hyde Park
9.Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Enter at Marble Arch and walk west along the Serpentine to Kensington Palace — about an hour at a gentle pace with stops.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Nature
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Museum · Holborn
10.Sir John Soane's Museum
Stay for a demonstration in the Picture Room, where staff open hinged wall panels to reveal more paintings behind.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
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Viewpoint · City of London
11.Sky Garden
If the free slots are gone, a reservation at one of the Sky Garden's bars or restaurants also gets you in.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Architecture
- After dark
Park · Hampstead
12.Hampstead Heath and Kenwood
Combine a heath walk with lunch in Hampstead village on the Northern line, or arrive by Overground at Hampstead Heath station.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomsbury | British Museum | 2–3 hours |
| Westminster | Houses of Parliament and Big Ben | 1–2 hours with a tour |
| St James's | Buckingham Palace and Changing the Guard | 1–2 hours |
| Trafalgar Square | National Gallery | 2 hours |
| South Kensington | Natural History Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) | 2–3 hours + 2 hours |
| Bankside | Tate Modern | 2 hours |
| London Bridge | Borough Market | 1–2 hours |
| Hyde Park | Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens | 2–3 hours |
| Holborn | Sir John Soane's Museum | 1 hour |
| City of London | Sky Garden | 1 hour |
| Hampstead | Hampstead Heath and Kenwood | Half a day |
More ways to save
- The national museums and galleries, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern and Natural History Museum, are free.
- Use one contactless card or phone for every journey; daily and weekly caps limit what you pay automatically.
- Buy same-day theatre seats at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square or through theatres' official day-seat and lottery schemes.
- Book paid attractions online in advance; many are cheaper than buying at the gate.
- Eat your main meal at lunchtime, when pub lunches and set menus cost less, or picnic in a royal park with a supermarket meal deal.
- Free views are plentiful: Sky Garden (booked ahead), Primrose Hill, Parliament Hill and the Millennium Bridge.
- Hotels in Camden, Greenwich or around King's Cross are usually cheaper than the West End and still well connected.
Questions travellers ask
+Is London expensive to visit?
London is very expensive for most visitors, but 12 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in London?
British Museum: Pick three or four galleries — Egypt, the Parthenon sculptures and Sutton Hoo are the classics — rather than trying to see everything in one visit.