20 free things to do in London

No city in the world can boast more or better free attractions than London. Besides world-famous museums - almost all of them with free admission - the city is home to beautiful parks, bustling markets, atmospheric cemeteries, beautiful churches and phenomenal viewpoints. The following are just twenty of the hundreds of free attractions in the English capital.

The Houses of Parliament against the backdrop of Westminster Bridge © Julian Love / Lonely Planet

1. National Gallery

Housing masterpieces by painters including van Gogh, Renoir, da Vinci and Michelangelo, the National Gallery holds one of the most important art collections in the world and receives over six million visitors every year. To avoid the crowds go there on a weekday morning or a Friday evening. Admission to the permanent collections is always free.

The British Museum has a collection of more than 8 million objects and more than 80,000 are on display ©Anna Levan/Shutterstock

2. British Museum

The British Museum is one of London's must-sees and totally free. It has an extraordinary collection of fascinating artefacts from all over the world, ranging from Egyptian mummies to samurai armour and from Anglo-Saxon burial treasures to the Rosetta Stone. Surprisingly, the 80,000 objects on public display make up only one per cent of the museum's eight million holdings.

3. Houses of Parliament

Home to the world's most famous clock, Big Ben (officially the Queen Elizabeth Tower, but nobody calls it that), the Houses of Parliament building is a neo-Gothic marvel built in the mid-19th century. Parliament consists of two chambers - the House of Commons and the House of Lords - and by booking in advance (or trying your luck on the day) you can see British democracy in action.

Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge at dusk. London. ©chrisdorney/Shutterstock

4. Tate Modern

Located in the former Bankside Power Station on the south bank of the Thames, the Tate Modern is one of the city's most popular institutions. The permanent collection, with free admission, displays works by Pollock, Warhol and Matisse. The café on the upper floor has a wonderful view of the Thames, and the building itself is extraordinary.

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View of Canary Wharf from Greenwich hill. ©IR Stone/Shutterstock

5. Greenwich Park

Climb to the top of the hill in the centre of Greenwich Park and you'll be rewarded with a spectacular view of the city: the skyscrapers of Canary Warf tower behind the 17th-century Queen's House, and beyond that the Thames meanders through the heart of London. It's a perfect - and free - place for a picnic on a summer's day.

Street art on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch. ©Ron Ellis/Shutterstock

6. Street art in East London

The ephemeral nature of street art makes it difficult to say with certainty where you can find it at any given time. However, certain areas of East London - and particularly Shoreditch - are famous for their particularly intriguing graffiti. The side streets around Brick Lane always sport noteworthy artworks, and the same goes for Middlesex St and Sclater St.

7. Borough Market

Having celebrated its 1,000th birthday in 2014, it's safe to say that Borough Market is one of London's most popular haunts. Located under a maze of Victorian-era railway viaducts, the market is open Monday to Saturday, and chock full of delicious food and foodies. Here you'll find everything you need for a memorable breakfast or lunch, or you can just wander leisurely among the stalls.

8. Museum of London

Overlooked by most visitors, although it is one of the city's main attractions, this museum offers an overview of London's various incarnations - from the geological history of the Thames Valley to Anglo-Saxon inhabitants to modern bankers. In addition, there is a lovely café in the garden.

Kensington Gardens started out as a hunting reserve commissioned by Henry VIII © Will Jones / Lonely Planet

9. Kensington Gardens

The lovely Kensington Gardens are a treasure trove of treasures, including the Albert Memorial, the Peter Pan statue, the Serpentine Gallery, the Round Pond and the Diana Memorial Playground. All of these attractions can be admired or visited free of charge, followed by a walk along the tree-lined paths that criss-cross the park. To the east are several royal parks, all with free admission: Hyde Park, Green Park and St James's Park.

10. Queen's House

This magnificent former royal residence was designed for Anne of Denmark - wife of James I - by architect Inigo Jones, an absolute genius of the English Renaissance. Large areas of the estate can be freely explored, and free exhibitions of maritime-themed artwork often take place here.

11. National Portrait Gallery

Before Google and Wikipedia, Brits visited this gallery to put faces to famous people in their history, which explains why the paintings are valued more for their subjects than for the artists who executed them. Masterpieces include portraits of Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth II, the latter courtesy of Andy Warhol's sensational pop art.

12. Natural History Museum

The Victorians certainly loved collecting and cataloguing. And here is one of the most interesting results of their passion: this museum has an extraordinarily large collection (about 80 million objects) on the subject of nature, exhibited in a delightful neo-Gothic building opened in the late 19th century. The wildlife garden is open from March to November.

13. Victoria & Albert Museum

Probably the best museum of decorative arts in the world, the V & A was opened more than a century and a half ago and houses no less than 4.5 million objects. The first floor is dedicated to Asian art (Japanese swords, ancient Chinese ceramics, and so on) but also displays some European art, including the plaster casts used by Michelangelo for his David. The Ardabil Carpet in the Jameel Gallery, dedicated to the Middle East, is the oldest carpet in the world, made in Iran in the early 16th century.

14. Sky Garden

The best free views in central London are probably from the indoor balconies and restaurants occupying the top three floors of the 20 Fenchurch Street building (nicknamed 'walkie talkie' by Londoners) - a great place to relax without spending a penny. The building is open every day, but you should book your visit in advance.

St Paul's Cathedral as seen from the Southbank, London. ©joe daniel price/Getty Images

15. St Paul's Church

Not to be confused with St Paul's Cathedral (a splendid building for which a ticket is charged), this church located on the western side of Covent Garden Square is also known as Actor's Church. The first Punch and Judy show took place here in 1662, and the church holds monuments dedicated to Charlie Chaplin and Vivien Leigh.

The Portobello Road antiques market, Notting Hill, London. ©QQ7/Shutterstock

16. Portobello Road Market

Located in the heart of charming Notting Hill, this lively and atmospheric market sells everything from vintage clothes to great street food and antiques. It's busiest on Saturdays but always has something to offer the visitor, whatever day of the week.

17. Science Museum

Extremely informative and entertaining, London's science museum occupies seven floors with its interactive exhibits. The Energy Hall illustrates early steam locomotives from the early 19th century, while the exhibitions on the third floor, which include old paragliders, hot air balloons and flight simulators, are popular with children.

18. Sir John Soane's Museum

Housed in the home of the prolific Regency style architect, Sir John Soane, this museum is full of personal memorabilia and curiosities, making it one of London's most atmospheric and fascinating places. The house remains pretty much as Soane left it when he died in 1837, with drawings by Christopher Wren, a 'lantern room' and old slave chains. Try to visit on the first Tuesday of the month, when the house is lit by candles.

19. Temple Church

For fans of The Da Vinci Code, this 12th-century church is a must-see in London, having been the setting for a key scene in the novel. It is a very special place, built by Crusader monks, with a quiet (and free) green oasis among the steel and glass skyscrapers of the City.

20. Wallace Collection

One of the best small art galleries in London, off the beaten tourist track, the Wallace Collection offers an exciting glimpse into the lives of aristocrats in the 18th century, and is housed in a carefully restored Italianate palace filled with works of art from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The article was first published in February 2012 and updated by Will Jones in February 2017.