A trip to London is not a cheap vacation. Thankfully there are many free things to do in London, so that you can balance out the costs. To help you plan your vacation with a mix of experiences, I have put together a list of different free activities you can do in London.
This list includes the best viewpoints in London, free museums that are interesting for all, and free things for kids in London. Of course you can always wander around the many amazing boroughs of London too without paying a dime!
The activities below are partly from my own London trip research and the places my family and I visited in June of 2024. In addition to this, I spoke with my friend, Alex, who writes the blog, Alex Jessica Mills – Mum In the City. She has lived in London for almost 2 years now and gave me even more details and recommendations. Together we have come up with some really great options.
I hope this list inspires your London itinerary and you find many amazing FREE things to fill your trip!
Some of the links on this post are affiliate links. When clicking on the links and booking travel, I receive a small commission with no extra costs for you. Please note, I only recommend brands I actually use and trust. Please see full disclosure here.
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Free Museums In London
If you are interested in free museums of London, you will find 10 great options below. There is a mix between art, history, science and children’s museums.
I am not usually a big museum person, but sometimes they can be really interesting. The great things about free museums is that there’s no real risk to checking them out. If you find you don’t like it after you enter, you can just move on.
Take a look at this free museums in London list and choose which one takes your fancy.
The National Maritime Museum
Where in London: Greenwich
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm
How long for a visit: About 2 hours to go through the free galleries
What to expect: The gigantic National Maritime Museum has an extensive collection of Britain’s naval history and maritime heritage. You will see ship models, paintings and artifacts in this free museum.
There is no need to book in advance, but if you want to guarantee entry, you can. There is a free audio guide available for download.
The special exhibitions do cost money. The current one is all about pirates. Costs for this special exhibit is below.
| Adult | £15.00 |
|---|---|
| Student | £11.25 |
| Child | £7.50 |
For children: The Cove playground is probably one of the coolest playgrounds I’ve ever seen. Plan to spend some time playing here if you are visiting London with kids.
The Science Museum
Where in London: Kensington
Opening hours: 10am to 6pm
How long for a visit: About 2 hours for the free galleries
What to expect: Included in the free admission are several object galleries including Making the Modern World; Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries; The Future of Food (opening January 4th); and Exploring Space among others.
You need to pre-book to visit the Science Museum, even for a free ticket.
Click here to choose an entry time for your tickets to the Science Museum.
For children: Pattern pod is a multi-sensory area for kids under 8. This free area of the Science Museum teaches children to make predictions through fun interactive play.
There are certain parts of the museum that do cost money, but look super fun. These include the IMAX theatre, Power Up and Wonderlab.
Power up is a gaming kids’ heaven on Earth. With 160 consoles, kids and adults alike can play games from the past 50 years.
Wonderlab is an interactive gallery where kids can become a scientist. There are 50 exhibits where they can do interesting hands-on experiments. There are also live science shows and demonstrations. Wonderlab is perfect for kids 7-14 years old.
| IMAX – ages 4+ | £12 |
|---|---|
| Wonderlab | £15 day pass, £24 annual pass |
| Power Up | £12 day pass, £18 annual pass |
The Natural History Museum
Where in London: Kensington
Opening hours: 10am to 5:50pm
How long for a visit: About 1 hour if you just see the dinosaur gallery
What to expect: The Natural History Museum has an extensive dinosaur, animal kingdom, earth, mineral and the environment exhibit and so much more. Don’t miss the dinosaurs and the enormous blue whale skeleton.
You can just show up and get in, although there is an option online to book your tickets in advance.
This is one of the most popular free things to do in London, so timing your visit is a must. If you go during the peak times (mid-day) you might have to wait up to 45 minutes just to enter.
For children: The kids will absolutely love the dinosaurs, but it can be very busy and crowded. My advice would be to go in the morning, right when they open, for the dinos and then get out!
The Museum Of London Docklands
Where in London: Canary Wharf
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm
How long for a visit: About an hour
What to expect: The Museum of London Docklands is 400 years of Docklands history. This free history museum has a special focus on maritime and the social history of London’s docks and port, the River Thames, the growth of the Port of London and so much more.
You will find interactive displays and life-size replicas. This walkthrough experience has been recreated to show how the docks used to feel, look and smell.
For children: Mudlarks family gallery is for kids under 8 years old. This area of the Museum of London Docklands is filled with interactive play.
Due to its popularity it is recommend to book online. This special area of the museum is not free but affordable.
Book your 45 minute time slot for the Mudlarks family gallery here. Costs are below.
| 1 Adult & 1 Child | £7.00 |
|---|---|
| 1 Adult & 1 Baby (up to 9 months) | £3.50 |
| Child (10 months +) | £3.50 |
The British Museum
Where in London: Bloomsbury
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, Fridays open until 8:30pm
How long for a visit: About 3 hours to see it all
What to expect: The British Museum is an incredible history museum that covers history from the across the world, not just Britain. The building is one of the best parts, as it is incredibly beautiful. Book your free tickets online. It is one of the most popular free museums in London.
For children: The British Museum has a Families Desk where they have fun informative activities for the kids to enjoy during a visit. There are explorer trails to follow, themed backpacks for little kids, and other hands-on activities for kids over 6.
Note: The Families Desk has different hours than the museum. Check the website for more information.
The Young V&A
Where in London: Bethnal Green
Opening hours: 10am to 5:45pm
How long for a visit: About 1 to 2 hours
What to expect: The Young V&A is a part of the Victoria and Albert Museums. This national museum of applied arts is a children’s museum like no other I have seen. It was designed for kids up to 14 years old with three main galleries, Imagine, Play and Design.
There is no need to book in advance.
For children: In the Imagine gallery, you will find creative places for performance, storytelling, and using your imagination. The Design gallery is for older children and introduces them to design processes, creating ideas and problem solving. The Play gallery is for babies and toddlers to discover color and shapes, all at their eye level.
The National Gallery
Where: Trafalgar Square
Opening hours: 10am to 6pm, Fridays open until 9pm
How long for a visit: About 3 hours
What to expect: An amazing art gallery with a wide range of European paintings from Leonardo da Vinci to Vincent Van Gogh is The National Gallery. There are over 2000 paintings to be seen in their permanent displays that range from Medieval, Renaissance to Impressionist pieces.
It is one of the best free things to do in London if you are an art enthusiast.
Due to its large size, it can take awhile to see everything you want to see. One option would be to break up your visits into two different days.
Pro Tip: This museum is also very popular so, visiting in the morning is advised, especially on weekends and holidays.
For children: For older kids, there is an interactive hide and seek game that can be played in the Roden Centre for Creative Learning.
The National Portrait Gallery
Where: Trafalgar Square
Opening hours: 10am to 6pm , Friday and Saturday 10:30am – 9pm
How long for a visit: About 1 to 2 hours
What to expect: If you are looking for a free art gallery and enjoy portraits, the National Portrait Gallery is for you. Here you will find the world’s largest portrait collection that gives a visual history of Britain through its portraits.
Advanced booking is recommended. Book your free tickets for the National Portrait Gallery here.
For children: Children can enjoy free activity trails designed for kids 5 and up. These activities will keep the kids engaged and entertained as you admire the portraits.
Help yourself to the free entertainment at the Family Art Cart at the Ross Place entrance or download them before you arrive.
The Queen’s House
Where: Greenwich
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm
How long for a visit: About 1 hour
What to expect: Want to visit a former royal residence for free while visiting London? You can! The Queen’s House is stunning to visit, especially the Tulip Stairs spiral staircase, and has been transformed into an art gallery with work from Canaletto, Rembrandt and Gainsborough.
Booking online is recommended.
Special: If you are visiting London in the winter, be sure to check out the ice rink in front of the Queen’s House. A beautiful setting for a fun glide around the ice.
The National Army Museum
Where in London: Chelsea
Opening hours: 10am to 5:30pm
How long for a visit: About 1 hour
What to expect: This history of war museum contains collections that relate to the British army which include the English Civil Wars (1642-51) up until the present day.
For children: The kids will love the military helicopter, tank and other military equipment on display.
In addition, there is a military themed “Play Base” with an immersive play area for 8 and under. Unfortunately it isn’t free and booking online is advised. Prices for the Play Base are below.
| Children (0-8 years old) | £7 |
|---|---|
| Adults | free |
| Online booking fee | £1 |
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Free Viewpoints In London
If you are anything like me, you like to get a bird’s eye view of a city wherever you go. There are so many great free viewpoints in London, that I made a list for you to choose from.
Check out this list of some of the best viewpoints in London that are FREE!!!
Sky Garden
The Sky Garden is a free view in London that offers beautiful gardens inside and a nice outdoor viewing area at a great location. While it can get quite crowded, the experience is worth it.
You have to book your time slot in advance and you are only allowed to be there an hour, which honestly was plenty of time for us when we visited.
Horizon 22
As London’s tallest free viewpoint, Horizon 22 is very popular. You will need to book a ticket in advance and they often book up quickly. Tickets are released 14 days in advance.
They do accept walk-ins, but availability depends entirely on how busy it is at the time and isn’t guaranteed.
The impressive 300-degree views from this elevated perch offers amazing free views in London when the weather is clear. It is worth the extra planning!
The Garden At 120
London’s largest public rooftop space is perfect for taking in the views on a clear, warm day. You’ll find benches for relaxing in the garden space, surrounded by large skyscrapers.
The views aren’t as high up as some of the other free London viewpoints, but they are still spectacular and there’s no need to book in advance. That’s a big bonus if you are visiting with a flexible itinerary.
Simply show up and enjoy. Check The Garden at 120’s website for opening hours, as they vary throughout the year.
Must-visit timing: Come in late April to mid-May to see the spectacular wisteria in bloom if you can!
Greenwich Park Viewpoint
If you are planning on going to Greenwich, don’t miss out on the visiting the Greenwich Park viewpoint. This free London viewpoint has the Queen’s house in the foreground with London’s skyscrapers in the background.
The Lookout
The Lookout is a quieter, hidden gem viewpoint which makes it easier to get tickets compared to other popular spots. The viewing area is located inside, which would be particularly nice on a cooler day and serves as a great backup if you can’t secure tickets to Horizon 22 or the Sky Garden.
Primrose Hill Viewpoint
Visit Primrose Hill at The Regent’s Park and be rewarded with a magnificent view of London. It is a more distant view of the city, but beautiful in the park setting, making the climb up the hill definitely worth it.
Primrose Hill is a great option for seeing a view with young kids too. They’ll giggle with glee as they roll down the hill and run through the park.
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Free Things To Do In London With Kids
If you are visiting London with kids, looking for more kid-specific activities might be on your list. I usually drag my kids with me wherever I go, but if you are looking free things to do in London with kids that they will enjoy besides the free museums listed above, here are few more additional activities. And don’t worry, you’ll like these too!
Changing of the Guard – Buckingham Palace
A visit to Buckingham Palace is a must, especially if you are visiting London for first time. If you can plan it around the Changing of the Guard that is even better. This is an iconic experience that will fascinate the kids.
When we were at Buckingham Palace we didn’t get to see it because our timing was off, but Alex has brought her kids and they were enthralled. Instead we got to see a horse race through the gardens, which made up for it!
The Changing of the Guard ceremony is usually held at Buckingham Palace on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11am. A more elaborate parade can be seen on Sundays at 11am. Times may change, so check the Changing of the Guard website to confirm.
Outernet
Free immersive art in the heart of London? Yes, please! This is not only for the kids. You will also be in awe as you gaze up at the ever-changing images. There are even cool interactive aspects to the experience from manipulating how the wall art moves to creating melodies with other visitors.
Visit Outernet any day of the week between 10am and late. Check the Outernet website for more details about this captivating activity.
Holland Park
A visit to Holland Park will be a mix of fun for the kids and a relaxing stroll for the adults. Don’t miss walking around the peaceful Japanese gardens as you make your way to the Adventure Playground. There are two parks, one for little kids and another one for kids 5 to 14 years old.
Visit A Royal Park
There are 8 Royal Parks in London that used to be owned by the Royal family. These beautiful green spaces are scattered throughout London making it easy to stop at one between attractions.
Kids love being able to be set free to run and parks are perfect for this when visiting a city. Some of the best royal parks are Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Regent’s Park, Richmond Park and St. Jame’s Park.
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Conclusion
A trip to London doesn’t have to be too expensive. Plan your itinerary around these wonderful free things to do in London and you will have a fantastic trip without over spending. Enjoy!!!
