Every weekend we publish ‘London on the Cheap‘ with suggestions of things to do for < £5 or free, for every day of the forthcoming week. But there are many things that are always free to enjoy in the capital.
London For Free…Mapped:
London is blessed with hundreds of fantastic, free-admission places to go to for culture, live entertainment and family-friendly activities. We’ve mapped them for you.
View London For Free…Mapped in a larger map
This is a work in progress so please let us know what we’ve missed – email tips @londonist.com, subject line FREE MAP. We’re particularly keen to get tips on free live entertainment venues.
Seasonal stuff:
The New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festivals start on 27 April until 6 May.
Vaisakhi Sikh New Year celebrations take place in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 6 May from noon till 6pm.
Attend the free London Symphony Orchestra concert in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 12 May at 6.30pm.
Get inside your favourite museums after hours for Museums At Night weekend, 18-20 May.
If maps aren’t your thing:
The permanent collections of all the institutions listed on our Museums and Galleries page are free entry (with the exception of London Transport Museum and the Royal Academy, although the RA currently has a free Hawksmoor exhibition).
Smaller museums that are free admission are Sir John Soane’s Museum, the Hunterian Museum, the Bank of England Museum, Bloomberg SPACE, Brunel Museum (Rotherhithe) Cuming Museum, Geffrye Museum, Grant Museum of Zoology, Guildhall Art Gallery, the Hampstead Museum, Hogarth’s House, Kenwood House (Hampstead), the Library and Museum of Freemasonry, Fulham Palace, the Museum of Childhood, National Army Museum, the Old Royal Naval College (Greenwich Hospital), the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, the Queen’s House (Greenwich), the RAF Museum (Hendon) and the Wallace Collection.
If you like art there are hundreds of small private galleries to visit. Check out our map or just go for a walk along Vyner Street in E2 and Cork Street in the West End. You can also try all the stops on the South London Art Map or the First Thursdays East London art map.
There are also plenty of interesting and welcoming public buildings to explore.
The Barbican Centre is a concrete maze with elevated walkways, surprising gardens and water features, an unexpected conservatory, a special library and the free Curve Gallery. You’ll often find free music or performance in the foyers and there’s plenty of space to sit and people watch.
Bishopsgate Institute Library is an expert on London history and gets all the London periodicals your heart could desire. The institute is a peaceful refuge from the madness of Liverpool Street Station and the bustle of Spitalfields.
The Royal Festival Hall runs a series of free events in the Clore Ballroom as well as exhibitions in its many foyer spaces. There’s lots of seating, tables and sofas and good views across London from the upper floors.
City Hall by Tower Bridge is where the Mayor works, and where the London Assembly are based but it’s also a public building and you are welcome to visit. There’s usually a Londony exhibition to see and the building itself and its riverside location is marvellous. Just outside is the More London Scoop which is home to free outdoor theatre, film and performance during the summer.
Walks and fitness:
- Walk London promotes seven strategic walking routes around London that you can follow yourself. They also run special seasonal weekends with free guided walks, like the Autumn Ambles.
- Watch out for free guided walks in the Royal Parks and check noticeboards in your local park for nature walks and other outdoorsy activities.
- Check out our Nature-ist archives for top tips on little known green spaces to visit and use this link to discover Wild London.
- The Friday Night Skate and Sunday Stroll are free, weekly marshalled street skates in central London.
- Join a free, group cycle ride courtesy of the London Cycling Campaign’s website.
- Workout with MoreFit FreeFit in Finsbury Park every Saturday.
- Get involved with a Green Gym.
Talks and lectures:
Check out these links to great institutions which run regular free public lectures
Also, check ‘what’s on’ at the free museums and galleries and at your local library.
Volunteering
- Help Thames 21 with river clean-ups.
- Get involved with conservation projects with BTCV London or the London Wildlife Trust.
- Find other volunteering opportunities through City Hall’s Team London initiative.
