Free things to do in London
Discussion
Cotty said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Wacky Racer said:
If you are going to visit the Beatles Abbey Road zebra crossing at Abbey Road studios on the tube don't get off at Abbey Road
Getting off the tube at Abbey Road would be tricky as there's no station by that name. 
Not as bad as some foreign football fans ending up in Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire, having travelled to see their team play Chelsea.
snuffy said:
Museum of London Docklands is good. Me and missus went a couple of years ago. The mouse tooling around under our feet in the cafe was quite amusing, but then the missus was encouraging it by putting crumbs down for the little chap !
I second this. The dock/area has interesting ships to walk around on a nice day and there are lots of nice restaurants adjacent to the Museum - even the Ledger Building - a Wetherspoons is a lovely building/pub.As a curveball for cyclists. Late afternoon: Park up at Greenwich, take the Thames path to the West End or where ever else you want to visit. But cycle through the City at night. It's supremely quiet, lit up and quite spectacular. Then return via the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. Just pop an extra flashing LED light on your bike for extra safety.
AC43 said:
essayer said:
Nobody has recommended walking along Oxford Street to marvel at the shops 
I've never been a fan of it and now it's worse than ever. Best thing to is walk across it on the way to somewhere more interesting - like Marylebone to the north for example. That's worth exploring on foot. Or Soho to the south. Or the stuff around Regents St.Byker28i said:
AC43 said:
essayer said:
Nobody has recommended walking along Oxford Street to marvel at the shops
I've never been a fan of it and now it's worse than ever. Best thing to is walk across it on the way to somewhere more interesting - like Marylebone to the north for example. That's worth exploring on foot. Or Soho to the south. Or the stuff around Regents St.Oxford St has been a busted flush for a while. Even the Kings Road is but a shadow of its former self.
valiant said:
RAF museum is free and pretty good.
Up near Hendon (or is it Colinwood?) anyway, it’s up that way somewhere and for the price of a tube ticket is a good day out.
The RAF Museum is at Hendon but the nearest tube station is COLINDALE. It's a ten minute walk from the station to the museum.Up near Hendon (or is it Colinwood?) anyway, it’s up that way somewhere and for the price of a tube ticket is a good day out.
If you are driving, you need to pay if you use the museum car park.
vikingaero said:
I second this. The dock/area has interesting ships to walk around on a nice day and there are lots of nice restaurants adjacent to the Museum - even the Ledger Building - a Wetherspoons is a lovely building/pub.
That does look like a nice Westherspoons,will tick that off the list shortly.Eric Mc said:
valiant said:
RAF museum is free and pretty good.
Up near Hendon (or is it Colinwood?) anyway, it’s up that way somewhere and for the price of a tube ticket is a good day out.
The RAF Museum is at Hendon but the nearest tube station is COLINDALE. It's a ten minute walk from the station to the museum.Up near Hendon (or is it Colinwood?) anyway, it’s up that way somewhere and for the price of a tube ticket is a good day out.
If you are driving, you need to pay if you use the museum car park.
Goes off to hang his head in shame...
TwigtheWonderkid said:
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. 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.
TGCOTF-dewey said:
I'd agree with this. Whenever I'm in London with work, I always walk (from King's X) if it's within ~ an hour. I get a rough idea of direction and just set off. Don't think I've ever walked the same route twice. Found some fascinating little streets and buildings over the years.
Great to read stuff like this on this thread; such a contrast to some people's comments on London that come up in other threads. I work in London and a week ago I walked from Westminster through Pimlico and down Lupus Street so I could then cross Chelsea Bridge to have a look at Battersea Power Station for the first time since it's been redeveloped. Pimlico is such an odd contradiction of different homes, shops, pubs and other businesses. Not for everyone, but I found it fascinating. Randy Winkman said:
Great to read stuff like this on this thread; such a contrast to some people's comments on London that come up in other threads. I work in London and a week ago I walked from Westminster through Pimlico and down Lupus Street so I could then cross Chelsea Bridge to have a look at Battersea Power Station for the first time since it's been redeveloped. Pimlico is such an odd contradiction of different homes, shops, pubs and other businesses. Not for everyone, but I found it fascinating.
I had a little wonder down that way from Charring Cross
I also walked from Battersea Power station to London bridge across eight bridges
White-Noise said:
Off topic, but OP, you mentioned a couple of other threads that inspired you to start this one. Would you mind sharing please, I'd be interested in other stuff? Tks
Sorry White Noise, I have tried to look but now I cannot locate the threads I was browsing that day that sparked the thought in my mind. TBH, you're not missing much, it was a tenuous link in my head. Thanks to everyone who has contributed, what a great thread that will be available for future travelers to London.
We will partake in a few of the suggestions over the Easter school holidays.
Another one from me, not sure if it has been mentioned, but on a Sunday there is a ton of free parking in central London, and the driving conditions are quite pleasant. We often park in Grosvenor Street (outside Watch Collectors) about 100 yards from New Bond Street, and then have a good mooch around Regent Street, Soho and Piccadilly.
Puggit said:
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.
One of my mates and I went there years ago and, having wandered around various exhibits in complete confusion, we walked into one room that had a massive projector displaying a recording of an empty Mars bar wrapper being blown gently down a pavement. At that point we reasoned that we clearly weren't clever enough to be here, and u-turned out.I obviously missed an opportunity in life to commit fraud.
rawenghey said:
One of my mates and I went there years ago and, having wandered around various exhibits in complete confusion, we walked into one room that had a massive projector displaying a recording of an empty Mars bar wrapper being blown gently down a pavement. At that point we reasoned that we clearly weren't clever enough to be here, and u-turned out.
The last time I went to the Tate Modern, it made me so cross that I was tempted to raise a petition to try and have it turned back into a power station…valiant said:
Eric Mc said:
valiant said:
RAF museum is free and pretty good.
Up near Hendon (or is it Colinwood?) anyway, it’s up that way somewhere and for the price of a tube ticket is a good day out.
The RAF Museum is at Hendon but the nearest tube station is COLINDALE. It's a ten minute walk from the station to the museum.Up near Hendon (or is it Colinwood?) anyway, it’s up that way somewhere and for the price of a tube ticket is a good day out.
If you are driving, you need to pay if you use the museum car park.
Goes off to hang his head in shame...
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff