Free things to do in London

Free things to do in London

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Prisoner 24601

Original Poster:

536 posts

48 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Building on a couple of recent other threads around days out and the like - for those that are interested, please post your hints and tips around free things to do in London.

I will start with the perfect example: The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate

What else do you all know about in a similar vein.

vikingaero

10,334 posts

169 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Most of the National Museums for starters:

V&A
Science
British
Natural History
Horniman
Imperial War Museum
National Maritime
National Gallery
Tate Modern
Guildhall Art Gallery
Etc
Etc.

But my fave is the Young V&A (formerly Museum of Childhood) in Bethnal Green.

Even places such as the British Library are interesting places to visit.

dundarach

5,037 posts

228 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Sit in a park and waste time, nothing better in London than wasting time.

If you're on holiday, it feels very wrong as you're supposed to be running and rushing around, but don't, sit and watch the world go by!

Love it!

Roofless Toothless

5,662 posts

132 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Quite a lot of free things to do at Greenwich, one of the best places to visit in London.

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/free-things-d...


essayer

9,067 posts

194 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Sky Garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie

Tours of Parliament (write to your MP)


Johnnybee

2,287 posts

221 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
essayer said:
Sky Garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie
Or Horizon 22 just around the corner which is the highest viewing platform in London.

Benni

3,515 posts

211 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Is "Speaker´s Corner" at Hyde Park still existing ?
When I was tourist ages ago I liked to see and hear the speakers and reactions.

Puggit

48,440 posts

248 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Johnnybee said:
essayer said:
Sky Garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie
Or Horizon 22 just around the corner which is the highest viewing platform in London.
Free, but advisable to book online to ensure you can get in.

drdino

1,151 posts

142 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Benni said:
Is "Speaker´s Corner" at Hyde Park still existing ?
When I was tourist ages ago I liked to see and hear the speakers and reactions.
Yeap, it's still a thing.

E3134

3,638 posts

99 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
There are free walking maps of London for download, I would go around the City, starting near Lloyds, Leadenhall Market. and go up towards the Bank, especially some of the tiny alleyways near there.

All depends if you are interested in history and architecture.

https://www.walklondon.com/london-walks/city-of-lo...


Puggit

48,440 posts

248 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Free parking - on Sundays a lot of street parking is free. We drive from Reading down the M4 and park at Belgrave Sq, always lots of parking and just outside the congestion zone. 20 min walk to the West End.

Alfa numeric

3,026 posts

179 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Borough Market's worth a walk around, it's very easy so fill up on the free samples (if you like cheese and olive oil).

TwigtheWonderkid

43,370 posts

150 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Benni said:
Is "Speaker´s Corner" at Hyde Park still existing ?
When I was tourist ages ago I liked to see and hear the speakers and reactions.
Sundays, from about 11 am 'til 2pm, at the north east corner of the park, nearest tube Marble Arch. Combine it with a stroll down Bayswater road looking at the artworks (if that's still a thing on Sundays. )

Another free thing, Brick Lane on a Sunday. Start at the bottom from Osbourne St and walk up. First half is food, then market stalls, vinyl, then vintage clothing shops, and bagels at the top. A great way to spend a few hours. From there it's a short walk to Spitalfields Market, which is great too.

Primrose Hill is lovely, with great views of the whole city from the top. Take a picnic on a sunny day. Lovely. Then a walk around Primrose ill shops afterwards, Or walk or a short bus ride to Camden Market.


Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Friday 22 March 09:46

rawenghey

483 posts

21 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Personally, I love just walking the city - the Thames Path, all the parks, there are so many different areas to explore, etc. I love getting a feel for how everything links together. You can route via various pubs, cafes or whatever suits you.

On a dry day - brisk or boiling, either is fine - not much beats it for me. I often leave work early on a Friday just to take a meandering walk home around areas I've not explored much.

It does require a slight ability to use Google maps though.

TwigtheWonderkid

43,370 posts

150 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
rawenghey said:
Personally, I love just walking the city - the Thames Path, all the parks, there are so many different areas to explore, etc. I love getting a feel for how everything links together. You can route via various pubs, cafes or whatever suits you.

On a dry day - brisk or boiling, either is fine - not much beats it for me. I often leave work early on a Friday just to take a meandering walk home around areas I've not explored much.

It does require a slight ability to use Google maps though.
Yup, walking around London is brilliant. I'm 61, lived here for my whole life (bar 3 wilderness years away) and I never tire of it. If I have to go anywhere in Central London, I get the tube to Baker St and then walk. Anything within about 5 miles of Baker St is a walk there and back for me. Different route each way.

vixen1700

22,918 posts

270 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Walking along the South Bank and seeing the architecture.

It must be mind-blowing if you're from the country or even a small town and you see some of the views from say London Bridge for the first time. I live here and it still amazes me. hehe

Agree with Brick Lane and Spitalfields, you can spend hours wandering round there with such a good choice for stuff to eat.

Had too much of the city? Jump on the Central Line and get out at Theydon Bois and spend a few hours walking round Epping Forest.


jbailey114

44 posts

2 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Slightly out of leftfield but:

My brother once took his pack raft to London and went paddling down a couple of canals. Could similarly be done with a paddleboard (inflatable one. More mobile!)

Lotusgone

1,190 posts

127 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
vikingaero said:
Most of the National Museums for starters:

V&A
Science
British
Natural History
Horniman
Imperial War Museum
National Maritime
National Gallery
Tate Modern
Guildhall Art Gallery
Etc
Etc.

But my fave is the Young V&A (formerly Museum of Childhood) in Bethnal Green.

Even places such as the British Library are interesting places to visit.
This, plus the Wallace Collection and the National Portrait Gallery from my favourite list.

Something I did while waiting for Mrs L in some girly shop (perfume, flowers, I forget which) was to walk around Belgravia. As well as the stunning architecture, there are often some interesting cars parked up in the street.




Hammersia

1,564 posts

15 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Just to mention having tried and failed to enjoy Tate Modern several times, they have finally put a huge combined gallery together with a good selection of real art (Rothko, Kandinsky, Pollock etc.) all in one place and free to view. Loads of total rubbish as well of course but that's part of the fun.

Puggit

48,440 posts

248 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Hammersia said:
Just to mention having tried and failed to enjoy Tate Modern several times, they have finally put a huge combined gallery together with a good selection of real art (Rothko, Kandinsky, Pollock etc.) all in one place and free to view. Loads of total rubbish as well of course but that's part of the fun.
I'll never forget my only trip there. Someone had created a tiny shelf with a half full glass of water on it and called it 'The Tree'.

I obviously missed an opportunity in life to commit fraud.