10 free things to do in London
London can be expensive and, with a falling Australian dollar, things aren’t about to change. But there is still plenty of fun to be had on a limited budget. Here are 10 of the best free things to do in London.
Museums
Almost all of London’s best museums are free to enter. See Elgin’s Marbles at the British Museum, take a sobering walk through the trenches at the Imperial War Museum or immerse yourself in the latest in art and design at the Victoria & Albert Museum. There will often be an additional charge for special exhibitions, but the general collections are impressive enough on their own.
Galleries
As with museums, nearly all of London’s major galleries offer free entry. The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square contains European works from the 13th to 19th centuries and is home to works by masters like Van Gogh, Da Vinci and Renoir. Next door, the National Portrait Gallery houses the world’s largest collection of portraits with everyone from Shakespeare to Kate Moss hanging on the walls. Lovers of contemporary art should head to the Tate Modern or the Saatchi Gallery.
Speakers Corner Hyde Park
Dating back to Victorian times, Speakers Corner is the home of the British tradition of soapbox oratory and was frequented by the likes of Karl Marx, George Orwell and Vladimir Lenin. Every Sunday, impassioned individuals will be addressing the crowd about politics, religion, the economy or anything else that takes their fancy (as long as they are within the law). You never know who you might see.
British Library
There’s much more to this library than just borrowing books. It’s the largest library in the world by number of items catalogued and has in its collection the Magna Carter, the only surviving medieval manuscript of Beowulf, a Gutenberg bible and original Beatles song lyrics, among other things.
Hampstead Heath
Hyde Park might be the most famous green space in London, but Hampstead Heath is arguably the most loved. The lush green space has fantastic views over the city and within the grounds are a butterfly house, swimming ponds, playgrounds and gardens. Take a picnic and watch the sun set.
Walk London
All of London’s most famous attractions are located within convenient walking distance and Walk London offers a series of free, self-guided walking tours that can be downloaded from their website. The walks take around two hours and, depending on the route, will take in Westminster, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, St James, Hyde Park, Royal Albert Hall and St Paul’s, just to name a few.
The Scoop
There’s a free event on nearly every night of the year at this 1,000-seat amphitheatre by the river, close to London Bridge. Concerts, talks, film screenings and even Christmas markets are on offer here and there’s no need to book tickets.
Gresham College
Founded in 1597, Gresham College is an institute of higher learning that has dedicated itself to disseminating knowledge to the general public. The college offers 140 free lectures a year on topics as far ranging as human rights, literature, the birth of the universe and ebola. The centuries old building that houses the lectures is also worth a visit in its own right.
Street Markets
London has a great tradition of markets harking back to the Middle Ages. Borough Market is the oldest food market, dating back to Roman times, and is still a great place to hear a little barrow boy patter while sampling a fresh made pork pie. Portobello Market (made famous in the movie Notting Hill) is known for antiques, Camden market for one of a kind clothing and artworks, and Old Spitalfields Market sells just about everything.
The Old Bailey
The Old Bailey is the most famous criminal court in the world and members of the public can sit in the galleries every weekday to watch a trial in progress. You’ll find a list of the day’s proceedings at the front door and, while it can be hit or miss, this is where some of the biggest cases in Britain were heard. Seating is very limited so get in early.