London Guide – Free Activities And Attractions

You may worry if you are visiting London that you will end up spending a fortune; after all, London has a reputation for being one of the most expensive capital cities you can visit. However, with a spot of forward planning it is possible to find lots of things to do for free in London, where you can take in the atmosphere and culture without spending a single penny.

A great place to start is with some historic locations; Trafalgar Square, which was built in the 1830’s and is home to London’s iconic Nelson’s Column, is free to visit. Covent Garden is also nearby and although this area is famous for its shops and eateries there are also lots of street performers here you can watch for free. Performers at Covent Garden must be licensed and they have to audition to earn their spot so you can be sure you’ll be watching something that extra bit special.

A real London tradition is the Changing of the Guard ceremony held at Buckingham Palace. This takes place at 11.30 AM everyday during the summer time and every other day throughout the winter months. If you get yourself there early you may even be able to watch from the front row just outside the palace gates. The ceremony takes place inside the gates on the forecourt outside the palace.

Most of London’s major museums and art galleries are free to visitors and although some exhibitions within these museums must be paid for you can mostly spend a few hours browsing around for nothing. Free museums and galleries include The British Museum, the Natural History Museum, The Tate Modern, The V & A, The National Gallery, The Science Museum and The Museum of London Docklands to name just a few!

There are lots of free parks and gardens that you can visit when in London. The oldest Royal Park is St James Park where you can take in great views of Buckingham Palace. During the summer months free concerts are held at the park so it is worth taking a look at the schedule. Another Royal Park is Regents Park, which has beautifully maintained gardens including Queen Mary’s Rose Garden and the Wildlife Garden. Kensington Gardens next to Hyde Park is home to the famous Peter Pan statue and the Diana Memorial Playground.

It is free to view the inside of London’s Westminster Abbey if you are coming to attend one of the regular services. Evensong takes place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 5pm and at 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. The famous Westminster Abbey Choir performs at Evensong and the service is considered to be one of the most beautiful and moving. If not attending a service at the Abbey there is an admission fee to go inside and look round.

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