Free Things to Do in London | My Top Picks

London is a dream city for almost everyone. Many people want to live here or at least visit London once. But London is not cheap. Living in or visiting the city can be very expensive, but there are lots of attractions you can visit for free—you just need to know about them. When I first came to London, I didn’t know about these. Then I researched a lot, visited these places, and picked some of the best spots for you. I spent a lot of time researching websites and asking friends and family, so I’ve written this blog to save you the effort.

Free Museums in London

If you love history and want to learn more, you can visit these museums. They are great places to visit with children, as they can learn about history and culture.

British Museum: The British Museum is a public museum focused on human history, art, and culture. It is located in the Bloomsbury area of London.
Natural History Museum: This museum mainly focuses on natural history. You can learn about dinosaurs, dolphins, and many other ancient animals and their histories.
Science Museum London: Science has made our lives easier and more comfortable. In the Science Museum, you will find early innovations, old cars, mobile phones, and the history of science.
Victoria and Albert Museum: The Victoria and Albert Museum is located in South Kensington, near the Natural History Museum and Science Museum London. It houses collections of art, design, fashion, photography, furniture, theatre, performance, architecture, and ceramics. This museum is also known for being the UK’s national art library.
Bank of England Museum: If you are interested in currency, coins, and the history of money, then the Bank of England Museum is perfect for you. One of the main attractions is an ancient gold bar, which was once used as an exchange medium. This museum is located inside the Bank of England in the City of London.

Free Parks in London

Richmond Park: Richmond Park is located in the Richmond area, in the southwest of London. The nearest tube station is Richmond. The top attraction in this park is the deer. This park is known as the “heaven” of London’s wildlife.
Hyde Park: Hyde Park is one of the world’s most famous parks, and many movies have been shot here. It is a 350-acre green space where you can have a picnic with your friends and family. One of the main attractions is the Diana Memorial Fountain, which opened in 2024 in memory of Princess Diana. This park is quite large and can take more than three hours to fully explore.
St. James’s Park: While walking through St. James’s Park, you can enjoy a view of Buckingham Palace, which was the Queen’s residence. This park is very close to Buckingham Palace. It also has a man-made lake where lots of birds gather, and it’s filled with beautiful flowers.
Greenwich Park: Greenwich Park is located in Greenwich, southeast London. You can access it from Blackheath, Greenwich, or Maze Hill stations. From these stations, it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the park. This royal park is at the heart of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site.
Kensington Gardens: Kensington Gardens is a royal park located in southwest London. It is the private garden of Kensington Palace. The park has public toilets, picnic tables for family picnics, and many more amenities. You can enjoy it with your family.

Free Attractions in London

Tower Bridge: Tower Bridge is the heart of London and evokes strong emotions for Londoners. For visitors, it is often at the top of their must-see list. Tower Bridge and London Bridge are located next to each other, spanning the River Thames. Tower Bridge is near the Tower of London and the Old City Hall. The nearest train station is Tower Hill, which is about a 7-minute walk from the bridge.
Piccadilly Circus: Piccadilly Circus is one of London’s top tourist destinations. There are many big screens where famous brands display their ads, and visitors love to take photos in front of these screens. You can also enjoy live magic shows or music performances. From Piccadilly Circus, you can easily walk to Piccadilly, Leicester Square, Shaftesbury Avenue, or Regent Street.
Chinatown: Chinatown is located near Oxford Circus, with the nearest underground station being Leicester Square (0.1 miles away). Chinatown is famous for its Asian food, especially Chinese cuisine. You can enjoy dumplings, noodles, Korean-style chicken wings, and much more. Is halal food available in Chinatown? Yes, there are plenty of halal options for Muslim visitors.
Camden Market: Camden Market offers a unique shopping experience. There are many shops where you can buy fashion items. The food stalls at Camden Market are also excellent, offering famous dishes from different countries around the world.
Trafalgar Square: The square’s name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory during the Napoleonic Wars. You can reach Trafalgar Square via the Bakerloo or Jubilee lines. The nearest station is Charing Cross, just a 3-minute walk away.

Please contact Habit England if you need any more assistance!