Free Things to Do in London

The Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, the Egyptian mummies and the Sutton Hoo treasure under the Great Court roof. One of the world's great museums, and one of the best free days in London.

Paintings from the 13th to the 20th century, including Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Turner's Fighting Temeraire and Monet's water lilies. The Sainsbury Wing holds the early Renaissance collection.

Portraits of every notable figure in British history, from Henry VIII to Tracey Emin. Recently renovated. A perfect free hour when you are already in Trafalgar Square.

Modern and contemporary art in a converted Bankside power station. The Turbine Hall commissions are always free. Free viewing terrace on the 10th floor with a river view.

Design, fashion, theatre costume, furniture and jewellery under one roof. The Cast Courts and the jewellery gallery are the standouts.

A blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall, the dinosaur gallery with moving T-rex, the earthquake simulator and the Earth halls. The most family-friendly free museum in the city.

Apollo capsules, the Babbage Difference Engine, Stephenson's Rocket and hands-on galleries. Next door to the Natural History Museum, so both fit into one free day.

An 18th-century townhouse filled with Old Master paintings, porcelain and one of the best arms and armour collections in Europe. Quiet, beautiful and often overlooked.

The house of the architect Sir John Soane, preserved as he left it. Layers of paintings, sculptures and architectural fragments in a labyrinthine space. The Hogarth series and the sarcophagus of Seti I are the highlights.

The story of London from prehistoric times to the present, including the Lord Mayor's coach, a reconstructed Victorian street and Roman artefacts. Moved to a new home near Smithfield.

A free museum and library exploring medicine, health and human experience. The permanent collection includes Victorian amputation saws, a Japanese tea house and a 19th-century prosthetic hand.

A public garden on the 35th floor of the Walkie Talkie building. The best free panoramic view of London. Book three weeks ahead or check for same-day cancellations.

London's highest free viewing platform, on the 58th floor of 22 Bishopsgate. 360-degree views from a glass-walled space. Quieter than Sky Garden and easier to get a slot.

A free rooftop garden on the 15th floor of 120 Fenchurch Street. No ticket, no queue, no time limit. Good for a quick skyline view without planning ahead.

The classic London skyline viewpoint. A grassy hill in Regent's Park with a view over the whole city. Best at sunset.

The highest natural viewpoint in London. St Paul's, the Shard and the whole skyline from a wild heathland. Bring a picnic.

A royal park with a view over the Thames and the Canary Wharf skyline. Stand on the Prime Meridian for free in the courtyard outside the observatory.

The most central royal park, with a lake, pelicans and the best view of Buckingham Palace. A good shortcut between Westminster and the Mall.

London's biggest royal park, with 600 wild deer roaming free. The Isabella Plantation has rhododendrons in spring. A full day out that costs nothing.

A hidden Edwardian raised walkway covered in wisteria and climbing plants. Quiet, romantic and almost always empty. Enter from Inverforth Close.

A flat towpath walk from Camden Lock to Angel passing through the Islington tunnel and past narrowboats. A free walk that shows a different side of the city.

The most famous food market in the city. Artisan cheese, bread, oysters and street food under a Victorian roof. Busy at lunchtime, quieter on weekday afternoons.

Street food from around the world, vintage clothes and music stalls along the Regent's Canal. Arrive early at weekends to beat the biggest crowds.

A Sunday institution: flowers, plants and cut stems along both sides of the road. Bakeries and cafés nearby are good for brunch.

The famous Notting Hill market: antiques on Saturday, fruit and vintage stalls the rest of the week. The pastel houses are free to photograph.

A covered market with independent designers and food stalls. The Sunday market on the square outside has vintage and handmade items.

A relaxed Hackney market with bakeries, coffee, independent food stalls and vintage clothes. Pair it with a walk across London Fields.

The covered piazza with independent shops, street performers and the Apple Market stalls. One of the best free entertainment spots in the centre.

Street art, curry houses, vintage shops and bagel bakeries. The walls near the railway arches change constantly. Beigel Bake at 159 Brick Lane is open 24 hours.

The Banksy Tunnel: a graffiti tunnel under Waterloo station where the art changes weekly. Legal to paint, so every visit shows something new.

A tropical glasshouse hidden inside the Barbican Centre. Over 2,000 species of plants, plus a koi pond and exotic birds. A surprise in the middle of the Brutalist estate.

A small garden with the Watts Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice: ceramic tiles commemorating ordinary people who died saving others. Quiet, moving and completely free.

A medieval burial ground for the "Winchester Geese" (medieval prostitutes). Now a memorial garden with ribbons, poems and a quiet shrine. One of London's most unusual free places.

A warehouse of neon signs collected by Chris Bracey, the late neon artist. Walls covered in Hollywood-style movie signs, church relics and vintage advertising.

A community garden built from reclaimed materials in a former railway yard near Brick Lane. Murals, planters made from bathtubs and an ever-changing art installation.

Free choral service inside one of the great cathedrals of Europe. Go for the architecture and the choir, not the religious content. The service is sung by the cathedral choir.

Free live music most evenings in the Clore Ballroom and the foyer spaces. Everything from jazz to classical to world music. No ticket, just walk in.

Free classical recitals in a beautiful 18th-century church on Trafalgar Square. A 45-minute concert at lunchtime, featuring emerging and established musicians.

The National Gallery stays open late on Fridays with music, talks and workshops. A free cultural evening in Trafalgar Square.

The British Museum opens late on select Fridays with themed events, talks and a cash bar. Free entry to the permanent collection, with a different focus each month.

Free 45-minute recitals by Royal Opera House artists. Opera, classical and piano in one of the most beautiful theatre spaces in London.

Adults-only evening events on the last Wednesday of most months. Talks, demonstrations, silent disco and a bar. Themed each month.

Route 1: South Bank Walk (about 3 hours, all free)

1. Start at Westminster Bridge (Elizabeth Tower, free to view). Walk time: 0 min.
2. Walk east along the South Bank past the London Eye (free to view). About 10 minutes.
3. Stop at Southbank Centre. Check the free stage programme. About 30 minutes if you watch.
4. Continue to Tate Modern. Free permanent collection and the 10th-floor viewing terrace. Allow 1 hour.
5. Cross the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's. Walk time: 5 minutes.
6. If the time suits (17:00 Mon-Sat), attend free evensong at St Paul's. Allow 45 minutes.
7. End at Borough Market. Browse for free or buy lunch from the stalls. Walk from St Paul's: about 12 minutes.
8. Total walking: about 2.5 km. All free.

Route 2: Museum Mile, South Kensington (about 4 hours, all free)

1. Start at South Kensington station. Walk time: 0 min.
2. Visit the Natural History Museum. Free timed entry, allow 1.5 hours.
3. Walk next door (1 minute) to the Science Museum. Free timed entry, 1.5 hours.
4. Lunch: picnic in the Natural History Museum garden or a supermarket meal deal in Hyde Park.
5. Walk to the V&A (7 minutes). Free permanent collection, 1 to 2 hours.
6. End at the Serpentine Galleries (Hyde Park, 15 min walk). Free contemporary art exhibitions.
7. Total walking: about 2 km between venues. All free with free timed booking.

Route 3: East London Markets (Sunday, about 5 hours, mostly free)

1. Start at Old Street station. Walk to Columbia Road (15 minutes).
2. Browse Columbia Road Flower Market (08:00 to 15:00). Free to walk through. Allow 45 minutes.
3. Walk to Brick Lane via Bethnal Green Road (15 minutes). Street art and vintage shops. Free.
4. Lunch: Beigel Bake on Brick Lane (about £4 for a salt beef beigel) or browse Spitalfields Market.
5. Afternoon: Spitalfields Market (free to browse). Allow 1 hour.
6. Walk to the Nomadic Community Garden (5 minutes from Spitalfields). Free, 15 minutes.
7. End at Liverpool Street station (10 min walk).
8. Total walking: about 3 km. Only food costs money.