50 Favorite Free Activities in London To Check Out

1. Changing of the Guard

Perhaps the best known London event, the Changing of the Guard occurs at 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The guards switch out in front of Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, and Wellington Barracks with an elaborate ceremony that includes fanfare, formations, and more.

In June and July, the ceremony happens every day. If you’re want to watch from in front of Buckingham Palace, arrive early!

2. National Gallery

There’s no charge to visit the National Gallery in Trafalger Square. Check out their Vermeer, Turner, and Constable, along with paintings from other European notables such as Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and da Vinci.

3. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

These beloved green spaces in central London offer a quiet escape from the city. Features include many statues and memorials, including the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain; several gardens like the Italian Gardens, the Serpentine Lake and rowing club, and even a couple contemporary art galleries.

4. Thames Path

The Thames Path is 184-mile long National Trail that follows the Thames River from Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier in southeast London. Well signed with little to no elevation, the path makes for easy and interesting walking.

I love the section from London Bridge to Westminster Bridge on the Southbank in Central London. Or venture out to beautiful, forested section between Hammersmith and Chiswick, which is easily accessed via the Piccadilly Line headed towards Heathrow.

5. Victoria and Albert Museum

Kind of like hanging out in a somewhat eccentric relative’s attic, the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington is my absolute favorite museum in London. I love the fashion and Britain collections, but you really can’t leave without seeing the Cast Gallery or Raphael cartoons.

6. The British Museum

For better or worse (since so many of the displayed artifacts were straight up stolen) the British Museum displays some of the world’s great treasures including the Elgin Marbles, Portland Vase, and Rosetta Stone. I like the Sutton Hoo exhibit best.

7. Greenwich Day Trip

While you will need to pay Transport for London a little money to arrive in this historic southeastern London neighborhood either by light rail or riverboat, Greenwich is my favorite affordable London day trip, thanks to its free attractions like the National Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House, and Greenwich Park.

8. Covent Garden

A hotbed for London performers and buskers, there’s always a spectacle on at Covent Garden. I’ve stumbled upon jugglers, acrobats, fire eaters, and more. You can also while away a happy afternoon window shopping at the market’s various stalls. Watch for pickpockets. One thing that’s not free in Covent Garden: the restrooms.

9. St. Bride’s Church Lunch Recitals

Walks

Self-guided walks
Guided walking tours
Regent’s Canal
Greenwich Foot Tunnel

Pro Tip: Most free activities in London require quite a bit of time on your feet, so make sure you pack comfy shoes!

11. Go on a self-guided walk

If there’s a particular London topic you’re interested in, you can probably design a self-guided walking tour around it!

For example, it’s super easy to do a self-guided Harry Potter walk in central London. Or do the City of London’s Roman ruins walk in the City of London. You can also use self-guided walking tour apps like GPSmyCity.

12. Free guided walking tours

I generally recommend London Walks for guided walks around the city. They offer tours on just about every topic under the sun and are quite affordable, as well as extremely reliable and informative! For a no-cost option, check out Guruwalk. While I haven’t used them myself, folks have had very positive experiences with them. Just be ready to tip at the end.

13. Walk along Regent’s Canal

Once upon a time, canals were an integral part of England’s economy. Today, the country uses other methods to move commerce goods around the country, but the attractive waterways remain. You can make a nice walk along Regent’s Canal from Little Venice through Regent’s Park. Along the way, you’ll pass house boats, leisure boats, and anglers.

14. Greenwich Foot Tunnel

If you day trip to Greenwich, you can take a 50 feet deep, .25 mile length tunnel beneath the Thames River between the Greenwich dock area on the south bank of the Thames to the Isles of Dogs on the north side. You’ll need to climb 100 steps down a wide spiral staircase in Greenwich and then up another 87 steps at Isle of Dogs.

Museums

Imperial War Museum
London Museum
London Museum Docklands
Natural History Museum
National Portrait Gallery
Sir John Soane’s House
Tate Britain
Tate Modern
Wallace Collection

Check out my post on the 18 Best Museums in London with no admission for the full line up of the city’s free museums!

21. Tour John Soane’s House

John Soane, an 18th century British architect, traveled the world. Now you and I get to see all the amazing artifacts he brought home – including a massive Egyptian sarcophagus – and crammed into every inch of free space in his Lincoln Inn Fields home.

22. Check out the armor in the Wallace Collection

Housed in the spacious Hertford House just north of Oxford Street, the Wallace Collection is a selection of artifacts once belonging to the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace.  Artwork, sculpture, and an impressive armor display fill this carefully curated gallery.

23. Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum was created in the midst of World War I to help document the impact of warfare in human history. Over the last century, it’s become one of the definitive institutes for military history in the world. You can learn about modern conflicts, starting with World War I at their flagship museum in Lambeth.

24. Barbican Conservatory

You could head all the way out to Kew Gardens . . . or you could head to the urban jungle that is the 23,000 square foot conservatory on the top level of the Barbican Centre in the City of London. While admission is free, you will want to snag your timed tickets about a month before your planned visit. If you’re lucky, they might have walk-up availability.

25. Fulham Palace

The thing about London is that sometimes you’re just walking along and you end up in a palace. That’s what happened to me in west London when I stumbled upon Fulham Palace during a stroll down the Thames Path.

This estate served as the home of London bishops for centuries. The current palace dates back to Tudor times. Today the Hammersmith Council manages the palace grounds as a museum and art gallery.

26. Little Ben Tower

You might know that Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the famous clock tower on the Houses of Parliament, but did you know that there’s also a Little Ben? Located in Westminster near Victoria Station and Westminster Cathedral, it’s worth seeking out this petite Victorian clock tower.

27. St. Dunstan-in-the-East

This bombed out church located on the north side of the Thames between London and Tower Bridges has become an Instagram darling. The beautiful garden growing amid the ruins of this medieval church is definitely visually stunning. Just show up early to avoid hordes of influencers.

28. Take your photo crossing Abbey Road

Why not try to recreate the famous Beatles’ album cover in the crosswalk near Abbey Road Studios up in St. John’s Wood near Regent’s Park? Just remember that this is a real crosswalk and British motorists are required by law to stop if there’s someone in a crosswalk so make sure the coast is clear and you’re not impeding traffic before snapping your photo.

29. Leake Street Tunnel

Sometimes referred to as London’s graffiti tunnel or the Banksy Tunnel, this 300 metre long abandoned tunnel which runs beneath Waterloo Station in Lambeth is London’s most ever-changing art exhibit. It’s an authorized area for graffiti artists to practice their craft and rose to acclaim when famous graffiti artist Banksy selected it for a graffiti exhibit in 2008.

30. Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station

It’s true, heading out to the Making of Harry Potter Tour in Watsford is definitely not a budget activity. But you can still have the fun of trying to get onto Platform 9 3/4 at London’s actual King’s Cross Station. There can be quite the queue to get your photo taken by the luggage trolley that’s embedded in a wall in the station’s main concourse.

I’m not sure it’s worth to head to King’s Cross Station just for a photo-op, but you happen to passing through on your way to a northern destination like York or Edinburgh, this is a fun little side quest.

31. Highgate Cemetery

Perhaps the most famous London cemetery, Highgate Cemetery in north London is the final resting place for some 170,000 Londoners. It’s known for its elaborate graves and beautiful wooded paths. Karl Marx, Douglas Adams, George Michael, and Christina Rossetti are among the London notables buried here.

32. Bunhill Fields

An ancient cemetery on the northern edge of the City of London, Bunhill Fields contains approximately 2300 graves. About 123,000 individuals including John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe, and William Blake, were buried here over the course of nearly three centuries. I actually ate my lunch here most days one spring when I worked right across the road.

After your visit, pop into the Wesley Chapel across the street. Methodist founder John Wesley, preached here in the 1700s.

33. Kyoto Garden in Holland Park

West of central London, in between South Kensington and Hammersmith lies Holland Park. Both the neighborhood’s name and an actual park, Holland Park is known for its high-end homes and lovely green space.  Don’t miss peaceful Kyoto Garden in the middle of the park. Kyoto, Japan gifted London this Japanese style garden which features a small waterfall, cherry trees, and lots of statues.

Views

Primrose Hill
Sky Garden
Horizon 22
Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden

34. Hike to the top of Primrose Hill

Often overlooked by London visitors, Primrose Hill Park sits just north of central London. Not only is it the (albeit fictional) site of the Twilight Barking in 101 Dalmatians, it offers a fantastic view of central London. Pack a picnic and enjoy lunch with a view!

35. Sky Garden

At the top of the Fenchurch Building, a wonky modern skyscraper in the City of London, you can enjoy a free panoramic view of central London that includes the Shard, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf. You do need to reserve a timed ticket in advance which can sometimes be a headache to book.

Some folks who aren’t fans of the building’s unique architecture claim this is the best view in London because it’s the only view that saves you from having Fenchurch Building, aka “The Walky Talky” in your photos!

36. Horizon 22

Not concerned about having the Walky Talky skyscraper in your photos? You can also get a free ticket for the observation deck of another City of London skyscraper, 22 Bishopsgate. This is the highest viewing platform in London so you’ll can see everything.

37. Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden

This summer only attraction is found on the top of the Southbank Centre near the Waterloo Bridge. Not only will you get a sweeping view of the Thames River and London landmarks on the north side of the river like Charing Cross Station and Somerset House, you’ll be surrounded by a lush garden featuring more than 200 native British plants.

41. Hampstead

Sometimes referred to as the “little village” of London, Hampstead is a picture perfect neighborhood in north London known for its celebrity residents. For me, Hampstead’s draw has always been Hampstead Heath. This stunning, rambling park vacillates between grassy plains and wooded copses. Swing by Kenwood House (yes, it’s free!) to see a great art collection in a beautiful 17th century house.

42. Notting Hill

Located just northwest of Kensington Gardens in central London, the Notting Hill neighborhood leans hard into the quirky. Perhaps best known for its Portobello Road Market antique market, I love this neighborhood’s little shops, beautiful rainbow colored homes, and garden nooks so much that I chose it as our base for my most recent trip to London in November 2025.

43. Camden Town

Another vibrant London neighborhood, Camden Town centers around Regent’s Canal. You can’t miss the massive Camden Market. It’ll take you awhile to get to all 1000+ stores!

Events and Other Activities

Church services
Special annual events
Leicester Square movie premieres
Underground station tour
Watch “the game” at the pub
Pub trivia night
Columbia Road flower market

47. Tour underground stations

Okay, you might need to be sort of Sheldon Cooper-y to think this is an exciting idea, but I’d do it! For just the cost of a single ride ticket on the London Underground, you can tour all the central London underground stations. The stations usually feature beautiful themed tilework that reflects the neighborhood overhead, like the Sherlock Holmes themed artwork found at the Baker Street Station.

48. Go to the pub and watch the game

While not completely free, for the cost of a pint or two you can head to the nearest pub and watch whatever game’s on.

My fellow ex-pat housemates and I used to head in to the Maple Leaf Pub off of Covent Garden to catch taped hockey games on Sunday evenings. It was like our own little piece of Canada in the middle London! For something a little more British, try to catch a football or rugby match. It’s especially fun during World Cup season.

49. Participate in a pub quiz

Another fun way to spend an evening at the pub is to participate in pub quiz or table quiz. (Here in the States we do the same thing, but usually call it “trivia night.”) There’s sometime a small cover fee to participate.

50. Columbia Road Flower Market

Immerse yourself in a world of greenery at the weekly flower market held every Sunday at 8 a.m. along Columbia Road in east London’s Bethnal Green neighborhood. The market is held along a hip shopping street and includes both plants and cut flowers.

Come early for the best selection, come late for bargains, or just come to enjoy the beauty and people watching. If you’re feeling peckish, the road is also known for its excellent cafes and bakeries.

Conclusion: Save Your Quid and Still See the Best of London

I hope this post makes you feel empowered to explore London even if you don’t want to spend a lot of money. As you can see, if you can’t think of something free to do in London, you’re simply not thinking hard enough!

My personal favorite no cost activities in London are going for long walks on the Thames Path (especially the section between Hammersmith and Chiswick), browsing the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, exploring the varied neighborhoods like Notting Hill and Knightsbridge, and happening upon hidden gems like Little Ben and Fulham Palace.

Whether you head to some of the most famous attractions like the Changing of the Guard and the British Museum or you prefer to head off the beaten track to hidden gems like Holland Park’s Kyoto Garden and Columbia Road Flower Market, I hope you’ll add at least a couple of free activities to your London itinerary.