Free things to do in London

Free things to do in London

Author
Discussion

vikingaero

10,334 posts

169 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Puggit said:
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.
When we travel around the country/world, we try to educate and interest the Vikingettes and drag them into art galleries and tiny provincial museums. biggrin

One such was an exhibit at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill. The sheer look of disgust and apathy as Vikingette 1 said to me: "Dad, it's a stick and a leaf stuck to the wall. Why are we even here?!" biggrinbiggrinbiggrin

Spare tyre

9,575 posts

130 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Puggit said:
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.
There’s another one which I forget

With kids we like to take the public transport boat to millennium dome, then the cable car across, the price has rocketed mind since it was privatised

Citymapper is a good app for getting around

Horsleydown steps is a good little unknown thing. CHECK YOUR TIDE TIMES, don’t get stranded. Amazing views

We also get down on the banks and find stuff, mudlarking sites will give more accurate info than me

Scooters and e bikes are a laugh if conditions are right

Prisoner 24601

Original Poster:

536 posts

48 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Well done everyone! Cracking thread and useful for many people searching over the next few years.

Bathroom_Security

3,340 posts

117 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
dundarach said:
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!
Frequently work in London and often take the bus or walk places and observe people frantically going about their important lives.

Deranged Rover

3,397 posts

74 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
The walk along the Parkland Walk from Finsbury Park up to Alexandra Palace is one of the best free things I've done in London for years.

https://www.wkndr.guide/se-walk-parkland-walk

I'm also a big fan of the Saturday Portobello Road antiques market.

vikingaero

10,334 posts

169 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Some of the parks are lovely when you go from an urban to park setting - Crytal Palace Park, Hampstead Heath (although not if you are a MP obviously).

White-Noise

4,276 posts

248 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Great idea for a thread thank you.

The hippodrome casino is free entry. They often have shows on in the basement you can just walk down and watch listen. There is also a toilet on one of the higher floors where the urinals are by glass windows and you can look down on to the busy street while you go lol. It always amused me.

matrignano

4,370 posts

210 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
I like walking from Camden market to Coal Drop yards along the canal, often peaceful and good food available at either end!

I recently “discovered” Temple and surrounding streets occupied by barrister’s chambers, relatively small area but very atmospheric!

Similar vibe just behind Westminster abbey, with the college garden and nearby streets full of lobby groups.

Want to explore the City better next, so many alleyways and hidden buildings/churches in there!

Your Dad

1,934 posts

183 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.
To add to the list:

Grant Museum of Zoology
Wellcome Collection
Hunterian at Royal College of Surgeons

ThingsBehindTheSun

100 posts

31 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Alfa numeric said:
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).
Went there last week, it was absolutely rammed, the queue to buy fish and chips looked like it was 30 minutes+. I know the media goes on about nobody having any money, but clearly a lot of people still do. We ended up just walking around as the area is really interesting and you just stumble across stuff such as the remains of Winchester Palace, the destroyed in the blitz St Dunstan-in-the-East Church, Monument etc.

The museums are the obvious thing, I could easily spend a whole day each walking around the Imperial War Museum, Natural History Museum or Science Museum. My girlfriend doesn't share this enthusiasm so when we have visited I have felt rushed.

The army museum in Chelsea is OK, but not a patch on the IWM. I enjoyed looking at the houses in nearby Chayne Walk wondering where it all went wrong for me and how do I get one.

Got the bus back to Clapham Junction which was great as I haven't been on a bus in decades.





Rayny

1,179 posts

201 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
If you are not aware of it, do an internet search for
'diamond geezer blogspot'
It has an amazing amount of information about that place called London


dibblecorse

6,875 posts

192 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
For the authentic London experience all of these activities are free if you are chosen...

Get stabbed
Get shot
Get mugged
Get car jacked...

I love London, best city on the planet.

miniman

24,956 posts

262 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
dibblecorse said:
For the authentic London experience all of these activities are free if you are chosen...

Get stabbed
Get shot
Get mugged
Get car jacked...

I love London, best city on the planet.
Also Rejection. Disappointment. Back-stabbing Central and Shattered Dreams Parkway.

GWC

4,422 posts

195 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
The Thames Path.

essexplumber

7,751 posts

173 months

Saturday 23rd March
quotequote all
Getting stabbed.

LeoSayer

7,306 posts

244 months

Saturday 23rd March
quotequote all
Walk around the Dorchester hotel or Harrods in the summer to see supercars.

Do some window shopping in the arcades along Piccadilly.

See the pelicans in St James's Park.

Visit some normally closed buildings on open house day
https://open-city.org.uk/open-house-festival-2024

Walk along the grand Union canal from the Thames to Little Venice which takes you past some great sites like Regents Park, London zoo, Camden Town and go to the cavalcade...
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-invol...

On Sunday I'm going to the RAF museum in Hendon...
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/

bstw

147 posts

184 months

Saturday 23rd March
quotequote all
I can't recommend enough the series of 'London's Hidden walks' books by Stephen Millar. You can pick them up for very little on ebay


The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

117 months

Saturday 23rd March
quotequote all
Two Temple Place WC2

https://twotempleplace.org/

Tin Hat

1,371 posts

209 months

Saturday 23rd March
quotequote all
We work here, it is an absolute hidden gem:

https://www.soane.org/

We have also just repaired this on the edge of London, it is an absolute belter, I cannot recommend it highly enough:

http://battleofbritainbunker.co.uk/ It also has a brilliant (new) museum next door that is excellent

This map can be used for navigation purposes:

https://hoodmaps.com/london-neighborhood-map

CharlesdeGaulle

26,267 posts

180 months

Saturday 23rd March
quotequote all
Dunt forget to watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Nice sight for tourists.