London’s Free Cultural Gems: Museums, Galleries, Activities

Get ready for an unforgettable London adventure! This guide provides budget-friendly tips on exploring hidden gems and soaking up the city’s vibrant energy.

London is full of many things, ranging from loud to quiet, grand to mundane, lavish to common. The prices of these activities and places do not detract from their beautiful nature.

1. Can You Explore London with a Low Budget?

In a consumerist world, it is challenging to enjoy travelling when everything you should enjoy has an unreasonable price tag. Nature, though, is always free. London’s ambience and collective emotion cannot be materialised and put in a box.

2. How Can You Make It Possible?

You can explore London with a budget ranging from nothing to unlimited! If you have gazillions to spend, there are a myriad of locations. If you do not, that’s okay. There is nothing to sweat about; this city has something for everyone!

Besides opting for public transportation to get an actual London civilian experience, Renting a bike or using the city’s bike-sharing program allows for greater flexibility and a more immersive experience. It lets you discover hidden gems beyond typical tourist sites.

Read further to find a list of free and the cheapest things you can do in London.

3. Places To Visit

There are so many free things to do in London that it would be difficult to run out of things to visit even if you go out every day. This list covers many things, including activities, museums, places for your kids, and more.

3.1. Free Museums/ Art Galleries

A surprising number of London’s top museums and galleries offer free visits. Full of pieces from around the world, like Egyptian mummies, samurai armour, and glittering Inca gold, it makes for an intriguing view and a worthy visit!

1. Tours at Somerset House, a palace that belonged to Queen Henrietta.
2. Participate in the Public Galleries in the House of Parliament.
3. See the Chapel of St Peter & Paul in the Old Naval College, which Sir Christopher Wren designed initially.
4. Witness internationally acclaimed artwork and renowned architecture at Queen Anne’s House, Greenwich.
5. Kenwood House is an English Heritage property with world-famous artwork and 122 acres of landscaped gardens.
6. Visit the Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition, which consists of various stills from eight movies, behind-the-scenes pictures, and more.
7. Visit the Photographer’s Gallery Soho, the first public gallery in the United Kingdom devoted solely to photography (Free on Fridays between 6 pm-8 pm).
8. Visit the sensational William Morris Gallery, which showcases Morris’s artistic endeavours, including his activism and writing.
9. From the Sutton Hoo ship burial to the beautiful collection of the Islamic world, explore all the worldly cultures at the British Museum.
10. Witness the Ancient Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology at Petrie Museum.
11. Be a witness to the famous Titanic exhibit at the National Maritime Museum.
12. Explore the rich culture at the famous Natural History Museum, South Kensington.
13. Discover the ancient home of the Bishops of London at Fulham Palace.
14. Experience the gorgeous artwork at Tate Britain, the National Gallery of British Art.
15. At the Design Museum, enjoy a free display exploring the impact of design on the world and our daily lives.
16. View the award-winning exhibitions at the Science Museum, South Kensington, Europe’s most visited museum related to science and technology.
17. Witness Tipu’s Tiger at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A), South Kensington.
18. Observe Michael Faraday’s preserved 1850s laboratory at the Faraday Museum at The Royal Institute.
19. Watch exotic plant and animal life at the Barbican Conservatory.
20. House of Minalima is a fantastic graphic design store and gallery run by designers who have worked on Harry Potter movies and their merchandise.
21. View the Harry Potter Statue in Leicester Square.
    

3.2. Go for a Walk

For a chill day out, you can always go for a stroll. London can suffice if you want to be out for a long time or take a short walk because you have too much on your to-do list!

1. Take a walk underneath the Thames on the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.
2. Walk throughout London (or join pay-what-you-like tours).
3. The Royal Parks, where the London Marathon takes place every year.
4. St Dunstan in the East was a church primarily destroyed in the Second World War. The ruins have now been declared a public garden.
5. Hampstead Heath, an ancient heath in London spanning 320 hectares, is situated at one of the highest points in London, from Hampstead to Highgate.
6. Thames Path, about 185 miles long, is a National Trail following the River Thames.
7. The Waterways in Little Venice, the loveliest city walk, is a true adventure to discover the many secrets of London for yourself.
8. Thames Barrier Park, north of the River Thames, is a 7-hectare park in Silvertownon that previously housed a site that once produced petrochemical and acid works on the riverbank. Its most famous feature is the ‘Green Dock.’
9. Explore the peaceful Zen gardens and excellent areas designed for lords and shoguns at Kyoto Japanese Garden in Holland Park.
10. Take a long stroll in London’s Gorgeous Forests and Woodlands.
11. Postman’s Park is one of the largest public park spaces in London.
12. Visit the several city farms.
13. Observe the exotic international plant life and various music, dance and theatre performances at Crossrail Place Roof Garden in this outdoor performance space.
14. Walk through the Regents Canal to experience the land used by Henry VIII to practise hunting.
15. Walk through Shad Thames, a historical street full of Victorian warehouse buildings, comprising the largest complex of wharves and mills on the river Thames in the 19th century, running through Butler Wharfs from Tower Bridge to St Saviour’s Dock.
    

3.3. Witness the London Culture

The following list comprises the most dynamic and lively things in the city, which will quite almost take your breath away, and for the best reasons possible.

1. The Changing of the Guard or Guard Mounting at Buckingham Palace every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10:45 am lasting around 45 minutes, with the whole procedure representing a formal entrustment of the guard duties
2. The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London at precisely 9:50 am, the most ancient military ceremony when the main gates of the Byward Tower are locked for the night
3. St Patrick’s Day parade on 17th March every year, where more than 50,000 people come to see the majestic procession of Irish marching bands, dance troupes and pageantry displays in central London
4. View Shoreditch’s (legal) street art is full of innumerable murals and many more graffiti art in a small space.
5. Visit Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel, London’s largest legal graffiti wall.
6. Bow your head at Mithraeum, a Roman temple dedicated to Mithras, hidden underneath the Bloomberg buildings.
7. Lurk around Walthamstow’s neon gem or God’s Own Junkyard, a collection of Chris Bracey’s works.
8. Go to Sky Garden, a three-floored atrium at the top of the Walkie-Talkie building.
9. Meet the ghosts at Highgate, London’s most famous cemetery in Brompton, with beautiful stone statues.
10. Explore the giant greenhouse at the Barbican, a gorgeous conservatory filled with exotic plants, perfect for every anthophilous.
11. Enjoy the vibrant afternoon concerts at St Martin in the Fields.
12. Home to many famous cinemas and film projects, you would love Leicester Square if you are a true cinephile.
13. Enter the waters at the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, built with 545 pieces of Cornish granite.
14. Experience the diplomatic life at the Supreme Court, open to the public from Monday to Friday.
15. Witness the breathtaking moving light patterns using LED lights at the Illuminated River Art Installation, one of the world’s largest public art installations.
16. Walk through the vibrant, colourful streets of Notting Hill.
17. Observe the beauty at the Waterways in Little Venice.
    

3.4. Visit these Gorgeous Markets

You don’t always have to shop when you visit the market. Even if you don’t have too much balance in your bank, if you want to buy some cheap souvenirs or merely want to participate in the hustle and bustle of the town, feel free to visit the given markets, where the constant buzz is sure to give you the thrill of a true London adventure!

1. Open on Sundays, stroll through the Victorian shops at Columbia Road Flower Market in Bethnal Green.
2. Dive into the largest and oldest food markets in London at Borough Market.
3. Visit this 350-year-old food and vegetable market at Old Spitalfields Market.
4. Comprising several different markets is the Camden market, a must-visit for explorers because of its immaculate vibes.
5. At Greenwich Market, you can find everything from antiques to wooden toys, designer clothes, model ships and second-hand clothes for cheap.
6. Leadenhall Market is famous primarily for its unique collection of boutiques, restaurants and other stores and an intricate architectural culture dating back to the 14th century.
   

4. Activities To Do

It’s time to get active! You can’t miss out on these beautiful locations that allow you to engage in the most fun memories. It’s an especially great idea if you travel with friends or family and have kids who are always in the mood for amusing entertainment!

1. Choose from the diverse collection of films and television shows in the BFI Mediatheque at BFI Southbank.
2. Listen to free lectures at Gresham College.
3. Sneak a peek at the many kinds of deer in Richmond Park’s 2500 acres of stunning grassland.
4. Relax in the Royal Parks surrounded by the calming natural scenery.
5. See the gigantic Dinosaurs of Crystal Palace.
6. Listen to musical live music at the Brixton Windmill.
7. Go birdwatching at Hampstead Heath, Walthamstow Wetlands, River Lea, Barnes’ London Wetland Centre etc.
8. Have a budget-friendly picnic at a nearby park.
9. Take your kids to the Princess of Wales Memorial Playground for fun.
10. Chill in the comforting ambience at The Garden at 120.
11. Take a potion-making class at The Cauldron from the Harry Potter series.
12. Bring out your inner bookworm at the British Library.
13. View the extensive selection of masterpieces of different art forms at The Wallace Collection.
14. Visit the Royal Opera House or Convent Garden, an ancient opera house and a performing hub for significant artists.
15. Watch inspiring musicians performing at Ain’t Nothin’ But, a legendary Blues bar
16. Relive the 2012 Olympics at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.
17. Explore the Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park, where famous speakers such as Orwell and Marx give speeches.
18. Record your music at the free Nando’s recording studio in Soho.
19. Watch the River Thames at the Oxo Tower Bridge.
20. Click selfies with your kids at Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross, a famous site for Harry Potter fans.

5. Conclusion

Challenge yourself: Plan your trip using this guide and see how much you can experience without spending a fortune. Also, comment below to let us know which sites excite you most!

After all, the most valuable souvenirs from London aren’t always tangible – the stories you collect and the memories you create.