The top 7 free things to do in London
Today, London may be known as one of the world’s most expensive cities, but that does not mean she doesn’t have her bargains. In fact, some of the best things to do in this city are free.
Museums
Not all museums are free in London, but a few of the best ones are! If you come with a Londunnit guide, we can show you around the Science Museum, an oft overlooked spot in London. Let us show you one of the first ever computers, muchhh bigger than the phone in your pocket, and the x-ray machines they used to measure people’s feet for shoes before we understood radiation. We can even take a selfie next to the Apollo 10 capsule that went all the way around the moon!
Want to find out how London survived the blitz? The Imperial War Museum is free and will put you right in the shoes of those that lived through some of the most harrowing times in history: not just WWII, but the Great War, the Troubles and more recent conflicts. Our guides can show you the best and worst of humanity through the stories left behind. The best guided tour for a group in London should leave you reflective but fulfilled.
Parks
London has so many trees she’s technically a forest! You wouldn’t know it walking next to the Gherkin, but on a jaunt through Hyde Park you might be convinced. London’s most famous park is massive and so stuffed to the brim with history, we could give you one of the best London walking tours in just Hyde Park. We can show you where Cromwell accidentally shot himself in the leg while horseback riding on Rotten Road (yes, that’s its real name). It’s believed to have earned its name from its dangerous history of highwaymen that constantly robbed travellers on their way in and out of London there. We’re not done! There’s also Princess Diana’s memorial, Speakers corner (Lenin and Orwell spoke there), and the Serpentine art gallery. None of this hit your fancy? Well, you’ve got over 3,000 parks in the city, so there’s bound to be one for you.
Churches
At first glance, you might think,”Wait, you have to get tickets to see inside St. Paul’s and Westminster Cathedral.” That’s true if you want to explore the entire grounds of the church. However, if you want to see inside and experience the grounds as they were built to be enjoyed, there’s no better way than going to a service. You need not be religious to do so! There are services at both of these churches everyday, unless closed for special events. We recommend checking out the Evensong that both churches have almost every day at 3 or 5 pm, to hear the voices of their choirs fill the halls. If you want the best guided tour for a group in London, why not grab a tour of Westminster or the City of London. We can finish at the church for you to enjoy the inside for free, via a service.
Street Art
London is home to some of the most famous street art in the world. Just the other day Banksy painted on our Royal Courts of Justice! The main part of street art is that it is art for the people, ever changing and often steeped in meaning, reflecting the beating heart of a modern London. The best London walking tours and we can peel back the layers of paint that make up East London’s landscape. By the end of the tour, you’ll feel like you know who’s painting, why they’re painting what they’re painting, and for a moment the times will not be rushing by with no context, but reflected in the still drying street art all around you.
Skyline views
London is a beauty, not just from her street level but also from above. There are a lot of free ways to see her gorgeous skyline for free. Most famously, The Sky Garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie” building gives a free view. Make sure to get yourself on their email list because the slots book up to three weeks in advance. If you want to check out some lesser known but just as great views, come with us on a City of London tour or Southbank tour and we will give you the chance to enjoy a great view without paying the high price of attractions like the London eye.
Pubs
You might say this isn’t free, as of course you’ll be quite tempted to enjoy a pint, but the atmosphere and the history makes up for any pounds spent. Let us show you to the pubs that define London’s landscape. Whether it’s the pub where Dickens wrote under his famous pen name “Boz”, or where King Charles the II met with his most famous mistress Nell Gwynn, London’s pubs aren’t just for after work pints. They reflect this great city’s personality in every worn front step and dented bar stool.
Markets
We‘re often surprised that tourists do not know how many great markets London has to offer. Many know of Borough Market, our great food market, but probably have never heard of Maltby market, a stone’s throw away. Some know Spitalfields market in east London, but have no idea London’s most expansive and unique vintage market is around the corner in an old historic brewery! Here at Londunnit, we are ready and waiting to take you by the hand to London’s great markets. Londunnit isn’t just our name, it’s our motto!
