Free things to do in London
London might have a reputation for pulling at your purse strings but there are so many free things to do in the capital, too. For starters, London has some of the best museums in the world, of which most are free. Keep reading for more on our favourite museums later on but we particularly love the Victoria & Albert Museum in Kensington, The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, the recently reopened National Portrait Gallery and the Barbican, especially for a free wander inside its verdant Conservatory, a glass-bound rainforest hosting more than 2,000 species of plants and trees in the heart of the city.
Some of the British capital’s most recognisable destinations are also free. Cross London’s iconic bridges, from the magnificent Tower Bridge to the modern Millennium Bridge, stroll down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace in time to see the iconic Changing the Guard ceremony and marvel at the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St Margaret's Church where you’ll find the recently revamped Big Ben.
With over 3,000 parks in the city, London is technically considered a forest so there are plenty of green spaces, including spectacular Royal Parks from Richmond to Greenwich and charming canalside walking paths like Little Venice to Camden – all of which are free to explore.
Music lovers don’t need to splash out on concert tickets at Wembley. For something a little more affordable you can catch some free live music at one of Southbank Centre's regular free musical performances in the Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall, see opera for free as part of the Royal Opera House's Live at Lunch concerts, tap your feet along to a broad array of jazz musicians at Free Jazz Sundays and select Monday nights at the world-famous Troubadour and catch an intimate free gig at Rough Trade East in Shoreditch.
Things to do in London with kids
There are plenty of things around the capital to keep children of all ages entertained, varying from free activities to those that cost a little more but might keep them occupied a little longer. Art galleries across London – from as far west as Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham to the Young V&A in Bethnal Green – have upped the ante when it comes to providing for families. Gone are the days of traipsing round after your parents, bored and wondering when that ice cream will magically appear; instead, there are now dedicated kids’ rooms at Tate Britain and the Barbican Centre with themed activities to keep them busy. Over at Tate Modern, there’s an interactive drawing room where their art will then be displayed on the gallery wall – a must for any budding artists. Most galleries these days have special children’s packs with interactive activities to keep them going as you make your way around, and if that’s not enough, then the new Young V&A is dedicated to children and a must-visit.
Museums are also an excellent source of entertainment, education and exhaustion for little ones and offer something for babies to teens. The Science Museum is jam-packed with interactive spaces and games, while the Maritime Museum and Transport Museum are surprising hits for babies and toddlers alike, as well as bigger kids too, of course. There’s a role play area in the Transport Museum that can help extend a visit for those with shorter attention spans. Over in south east London, the Horniman Museum has a lot of offer; a walkway of brick dinosaurs, an aquarium and a butterfly exhibit. For a larger aquarium experience, there is of course London Aquarium.
When the weather is good and you want to get outside, Hobbledown Heath and Kew Gardens – both in west London – are where to go. Kew has a dedicated children’s play area and adjoining café that is truly wonderful and has many different sections to keep children busy and running wild for hours. There’s what must be the largest and most exciting sandpit in London, tons of slides running into it, treetop walkways and textural elements to explore. Hobbledown Heath is a little off the beaten track but worth the journey when you’re there as it is the largest adventure playground in London and very impressive too. There’s soft play for little ones, a farm with animals ranging from the domestic to the exotic varieties, and climbing frames with activities of all sorts. You could while away a whole day there and leave with very happy and very tired children.
For theatre-goers, Matilda and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have both been running for years for good reason and they simply never get old. Book in to a matinee and sit back for an hour or two. For something a little more interactive, head to Watford and the Warner Bros Studio Tour which details the making of Harry Potter and is truly spectacular.
Arty things to do in London
There is no shortage of things to do in London for art lovers; the city is full of galleries, exhibitions and outdoor installations in every borough. Of course, the best way to soak up the culture on offer is check out our listing of exhibitions to see and book into the ones that appeal most, but the main collections of all the big galleries are always worth a visit. When it comes to free galleries (and London is very good for that), the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Saatchi Gallery, Serpentine Gallery and Whitecube Gallery are all big hits. Of course, they’ll all have paying exhibitions on too, but the likes of the Barbican, Royal Academy, Hayward Gallery and Dulwich Picture Gallery are all paid entrance or exhibitions only.
For something arty but a little different, consider The Wallace Collection in Marylebone – it’s free to wander around and take in the sumptuous interiors and burgeoning art collection but there is also an exhibition space in the basement for a more traditionally curated experience. In a similar vein, Marble Hill House in Twickenham is free to wander through and then there’s the inimitable and utterly unmissable Sir John Soane Museum in Lincoln Inn Fields, which is not free but is worth so much more than the price of entry. Make sure you are there for the proper Hogarth Room experience – we’ll say no more on the matter so as to keep it a surprise but do enquire when you arrive as to what time that will happen and be there for it.
For contemporary art, Whitecube, the ICA, the Photographer’s Gallery and Newport Street Gallery are worth a visit. Truly though, whatever area of London you find yourself in, there will be art nearby and the small, conceptual galleries are as worth a stop as the big names.
Historical things to do in London
Britain is a place rich in history, and there are myriad ways to explore it in the city. For the traditional experience, you can choose a museum based on your interests. Head to the historic heart of the city in the east to delve into London’s own history: the Tower of London is an excellent place to start, where you can view the Crown Jewels, see the dungeons where the enemies of the monarch have traditionally been held, and meet a Beefeater, the tower’s ceremonial guardians. Not far off is St Paul’s Cathedral, the astonishing centrepiece of the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666, and one of Sir Christopher Wren’s most magnificent achievements. Wandering around this area of London will bring you to many of Wren’s churches and other buildings.
Heading west, Buckingham Palace is an obvious place for sightseers to gather, though do note that it’s only open to visitors for 10 weeks every summer when you can tour the state rooms. For a hefty dose of royal history, why not visit Westminster Abbey, where England’s and Britain’s monarchs have been crowned for centuries? A nose round the neighbourhood of St James on the other side of Green Park is highly recommended for a bit of historical shopping: wine shop Berry Bros & Rudd is one of the oldest shops in London, as is the hatters Lock & Co. Stop off at the Guinea Grill in Mayfair for a taste of one of London’s oldest pubs.
If London’s more modern history appeals, try experiencing the city through the lens of its transport network. The London Transport Museum makes a perfect day out in itself, allowing visitors to explore the absorbing history of the Tube and famous London buses, and it also organises trips into disused Tube stations such as Aldwych, which are usually closed to the public. For World War II enthusiasts, the Churchill War Rooms are a must-visit. This underground warren of rooms was the top-secret base of the British government during the war, and is absolutely packed with atmosphere.
For traditional history nuts, The British Museum is one of the world’s great museums, largely dedicated to ancient cultures, with a wealth of artefacts from all over the world, including the famous (and controversial) Elgin Marbles from Athens’ Parthenon, the Rosetta stone, and countless other fascinating objects. Depending on your interests, the Victoria & Albert Museum is an endlessly beautiful repository of UK and world design history, while for creature buffs, the Natural History Museum has all the dinosaur skeletons you could wish for.
Finally, it wouldn’t be House & Garden without a few interiors-y recommendations. London has some genuinely beautiful historic interiors to see, including our perennial favourite, the Sir John Soane Museum, the most elegant 18th-century interior we could imagine. The William Morris Museum in Walthamstow offers an insight into the work of the great Arts & Crafts designer, and visit 2 Willow Road in Hampstead for a jolt of modernist brilliance.
Outdoorsy things to do in London
London is a green city. A rather large 47% of the city is dedicated to parks and green spaces. In fact, the British capital is actually so wooded that, following one United Nations measure, it counts as a forest. So when it comes to all things outdoorsy, the city delivers in bucketfuls. For miles of open spaces complete with free-roaming deer make for Richmond Park, the largest of London's eight Royal Parks. Make sure to visit the Isabella plantation, a beautiful 40 acre woodland garden set within a Victorian plantation established in the 1830's. You’ll also be near Petersham Nurseries (one of our favourite places for afternoon tea) as well as the buzzing Richmond Riverside which is a great place for a stroll, boat ride, kayak or paddle board. Other major parks well worth a visit include Hampstead Heath, Victoria Park, Battersea Park and Kew Gardens, not technically a park but a UNESCO-approved horticultural paradise.
Those wanting to take the city by water have plenty of spots for rowing and paddle boarding in the city. For something a little closer to zone one there’s paddle boat hire in The Serpentine in Hyde Park, Greenwich Park, Victoria Park and Regent’s Park. London is also famous for its public outdoor swimming pools and lidos, from the modernist 1930s lidos enjoying a renaissance in recent years, to the idyllic ponds you won't believe are surrounded by urban sprawl. Hampstead Heath’s swimming ponds are a firm favourite. The single-sex ponds are open all year round, and are popular for winter swimming. The largest freshwater swimming pool in the UK can be found in Tooting Bec, complete with colourful changing rooms.
For a more stationary way to embrace the outdoors, visit London in the warmer months when open-air movie theatres crop up across the city. There’s something for everyone, from Rooftop Film Club’s 360-degree views at Peckham’s Bussey Building and Stratford’s Roof East to screens by big historic houses like Manor House Gardens by Pop Up Screens.
Foodie things to do in London
London has one of the best food scenes in the world, and it’s something we cover extensively at House & Garden. There are new restaurant openings worth checking out on a near-weekly basis and we keep track of the ones that are worth your attention via our Restaurant of the Week column, so that’s where to look if you’re after the hot new thing. For the classics that you simply cannot and should not miss, check out our list of the 50 best restaurants in London. It’s constantly updated to reflect the ever-shifting sand that is the restaurant scene here. If it’s date night, we have you covered with the most romantic restaurants in London, but we also have neighbourhood guides to drill down into where to eat in Soho, the restaurants to know in Covent Garden and our top spots in Notting Hill.
The same goes for bars – there are a lot and some are much better than others. Luckily, we’ve listed the best bars in London so you can take your pick from there. If you’re after something experiential or a little different, try the Ginstitute experience at The Distillery in Notting Hill, where you are taken on a world history of gin before making your own blend to take home. More of a wine fan? There are plenty of wine bars to keep your glass full but also wine tastings across the capital if you’re wanting to extend your knowledge – try Berry Bros & Rudd’s one day wine tasting events for a proper education on a certain region or grape. Of course, we couldn’t write about London’s drink offering without mentioning the glorious English pub. There are many to choose from in every part of London but these are the best pubs in London so you don’t have to put a foot wrong.
It’s not all about breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. What about brunch? There’s a lot on offer, from something high-end like kedgeree at The Wolseley to the famous Dutch baby pancakes at Where The Pancakes Are. We have a full listing of the best brunch in London to keep you tied over. Afternoon tea is big too and there are two places that top the rest when it comes to where to find it: Fortnum & Mason and Claridge’s. Both offer the pinnacle of afternoon tea in London and, while expensive, they are truly spectacular. If cake isn’t your thing but you want a lavish mid-afternoon stop, there’s an ice cream parlour in Fortnum & Mason that is everything you’ve ever hoped for.
What about where to buy food? Well, there are plenty of speciality delis to head to if you’re looking for a certain cuisine and, while they may be sadly diminishing, London does still have some markets to enjoy. Borough Market is a one-stop shop for all things food; it’s less of a farmer’s market these days and more of a food emporium, with restaurants, bar, producers and greengrocers all vying for attention in one place. It can be a sensory overload at times but if you want to be surrounded by food wherever you turn, it’s where to go. Grab a seat at Mei Mei for some excellent Singaporean food to revive you. Pimlico still has a farmer’s market on a Saturday morning, as does Portobello Road (though the food stalls are somewhat diminished by the clothes stalls now) and Broadway Market in east London.
Cultural things to do in London
London is one of the world’s best cities for theatre shows, which range from classic musicals like Mamma Mia and Matilda in the West End to modern takes on Shakespeare at The Globe. The latter is a must-visit for history buffs, since it presents the opportunity to watch plays in an atmosphere more or less authentic to Shakespeare’s own time (although don’t expect slavish adaptations, and there’s plenty more on offer beyond the Bard). For a bit of a mischievous night out, don’t miss Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, an immersive experience at the Playhouse Theatre in Westminster. If you want a very traditional English experience, it has to be The Mousetrap. This Agatha Christie adaptation is the world’s longest running play, and it’s jolly entertaining - just remember not to tell anyone whodunnit.
When it comes to music, much depends on when you visit, of course. In the summer, make sure you get tickets to The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, one of the highlights of the classical music year. Ballet and opera fans must head to the Royal Opera House for performances, as well as wonderful behind the scenes tours. For pop music lovers, a ticket to the pioneering holographic ABBA Voyage at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a serious highlight. Record collectors should take a stroll around Soho (Berwick Street in particular) for some excellent independent record shops, and Beatles devotees can make a pilgrimage to the recording studios at Abbey Road. In Mayfair, you’ll find a unique musical museum at Handel & Hendrix, a neighbouring pair of townhouses that have housed Georg Friedrich Handel and Jimi Hendrix a mere three centuries apart. London is also awash with excellent venues for any kind of music lover, from Ronnie Scott’s in Soho for jazz to Fabric for clubbing.
If you’re after a one-stop cultural shop, the South Bank is a great place to be. You’ll find the National Theatre, the Southbank Centre and the British Film Institute all within a few minutes’ walk of each other. You could easily spend a day here; each venue has bars and cafés to hang out in between performances, and you can stroll along the river for a spot of fresh air.
Where to get the best views of London
As far as skylines go, London's is up there with the most recognisable. Newer landmarks like The Shard brush shoulders with historic sites like St. Pauls and the Tower of London. To get the best views head to some of the best rooftop bars. Facing Kings Cross St Pancras, the glass lift on The Standard Hotel takes you to Decimo, one of our favourite restaurants and some of the best sites in the city. Go up a level and you'll reach The Rooftop, stretching over the 11th floor of the hotel. Similarly south of the river, Joia's rooftop bar, located on the 16th floor at the top of the new art'otel London at the iconic grade-II listed Battersea Power Station offers up dazzling riverside views. There's also the Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station, a ticketed experience that whizzes you up to a viewing platforms 109 meters above ground for panoramic views. Frank’s Cafe in Peckham also has some of the best views of London. It is achingly cool – a sparse concrete former car park that plays host to South London’s hipsters all summer long.
When it comes to natural viewpoints, Londoners are also spoiled for choice. Parliament Hill on the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath is one of the highest points in London at 98 metres high. That means you get one of the best view points of the city, its gaze spanning almost the entire expanse of the capital. Another tourist favourite is Greenwich Royal Observatory. Climb to the top of the hill in Greenwich Park and outside the Royal Observatory you will find a fantastic viewpoint in front of the statue of General Wolfe. Primrose Hill is another favourite, and a great viewpoint to see the New Year's Eve fireworks. For a more underrated gem of a viewpoint, we'd recommend Telegraph Hill in Lewisham, surrounded by local, independent cafes (get pizza at Dinner for 100).
For something a little different, soar over the city in the The IFS Cloud Cable Car. The journey from Greenwich Peninsula takes 10 minutes and rises to a height of 90m – the highest views directly over the Thames.
