Free Things to do in London

London is one of the best cities in the world but admittedly, it’s one of the most expensive places I’ve ever visited. Expedia.ca asked me if I was interested in heading back there so of course, I jumped at the opportunity. Flights to London in the low season (not the summer) are actually pretty reasonable, but depending where you stay, hotels can add up quickly. Fortunately, there are plenty of free things to do in London so you can keep your costs within reason.

Discover dinosaur bones, learn about ancient civilizations, admire art from some of the masters, or try to catch a glimpse of royalty; there are literally dozens of free things to do in London. It’s pretty easy to spend an entire day without spending any money (besides on food and transportation). I’ve visited London a few times before this trip so I was excited to see new free attractions and old favourites.

British Museum

If you have time for just one museum, make it the British Museum. The most famous pieces in the museum are the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, and the collection of mummies which represent just a few of the estimated 8 million pieces in the collection. Human history, culture, and are are the focus at the British Museum with grand sections devoted to the Egyptian, Greek, and Middle Eastern cultures. As soon as you enter, you’ll be greeted by the Great Court, a stunning glass covered area that is an architectural marvel. Even if you don’t have time to go to the museum, you can always visit the website which has the largest online database of objects of any museum in the world.

Hunterian Museum

Located inside the Royal College of Surgeons, the Hunterian Museum is dedicated to the history of surgery and not often mentioned in guidebooks. Despite its “unusual” theme, I’ve always wanted to check out this museum since I first heard of it a few years ago from friends who live in the city. Definitely not for the squeamish, the museum takes a look at how surgery has changed over the years, the amazing things the human body can do, and anything medical related. Be warned, there are plenty of specimens on display that are pretty graphic- tours are talks are available but space is limited.

Architecture

It has been four years since I last visited London so I was amazed at how many new skyscrapers have gone up that have completely changed the skyline of London. The Shard and Leadenhall building have sharp lines which have been received positively by the public while 20 Fenchurch Street  has been dubbed the walkie talking building – at least you can get an epic view of the Southbank at the top-floor Sky Garden for free. Other buildings of note include 30 St. Mary Axe, Lloyd’s of London, City Hall, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

South Bank

I wrote a full post on what to check out at London’s Southbank but it’s worth highlighting again since it truly is one of the best spots in London. Attractions you’ll see include The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, City Hall, HMS Belfast, Tate Modern (which is free to enter), Shakespeare’s Globe, Millenium Bridge, National Theatre, Southbank Centre (check out the food market on weekends), London Eye, and the SEA LIFE London Aquarium. You could easily spend an entire day just wandering around this area.

Hyde Park

There are plenty of parks in London but Hyde Park is probably my favourite. Speaker’s Corner is an interesting place but it gets boring after a few minutes, I much prefer to see the sites within the park. Many monuments and statues can be found throughout the park including the Peter Pan Statue, Physical Energy Statue, Queens Temple, Princess Diana Memorial, Holocaust Memorial Gardens and the Albert Memorial. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion which changes every year and of course Kensington Palace which is the Royal Residence of Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. In the end, this is just a park, but the Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum, and Harrod’s are within close proximity.