There are countless things to do in London that it would be impossible to get them all done during just one trip. However, you may be a little concerned about how much all of these activities are going to cost you. So, if you’re looking for something to do in London on a budget, check out our ultimate list of 100 free things you can do.

1. Take a look around the National Gallery
2. Visit the British Museum
3. Attend the Tate Modern
4. Take a walk up to Greenwich Park
5. Experience the magic of Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station
6. Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
7. Admire the portraits at the National Portrait Gallery
8. Discover the city’s history at the Museum of London
9. View artistic treasures at the Victoria & Albert Museum
10. Have a laugh at the Angel Comedy Club
11. Get involved in the Pride in London parade
12. Get a taste of the Chocolate Museum
13. Catch a lunchtime concert from the students of the Royal Academy of Music
14. Take a stroll through Camden Market
15. See the neon lights at Gods Own Junkyard
16. Take a look inside Westminster Cathedral
17. Get some great views from the Walkie Talkie’s Sky Garden
18. Enjoy nature at Hyde Park
19. Stop to smell the flowers at The Churchill Arms
20. Attend a free lecture at Gresham College
21. Explore the past at the Natural History Museum
22. Head to Covent Garden to be entertained by the street performers
23. View the modern art at the Saatchi Gallery
24. Spend an afternoon surrounded by literary classics at The British Library
25. Get exploringat Wimbledon Common
26. Take a look around Covent Garden
27. Be entertained at London’s outdoor amphitheatre, The Scoop
28. Explore Soho on a hunt for the Seven Noses of Soho
29. Track down the rare police box of Piccadilly Circus
30. View the fabulous artwork at the Wallace Collection
31. Exercise your free speech at Speakers’ Corner
32. Experience the magic on a free Harry Potter tour
33. Navigate the seven seas at the National Maritime Museum
34. Spend your Friday evening listening to Cuban music at Ronnie Scott’s
35. Dive into London culture at the Tower of London’s Ceremony of the Keys
36. Take a moment of reflection at the Choral Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral
37. Venture out to London’s only beach
38. Take a walk along the South Bank and see some of the most popular sights
39. Enjoy a comedy show at the Top Secret Comedy Club
40. Delve into history at the Imperial War Museum
41. Take a stroll through Columbia Road Flower Market
42. Learn more about the grizzly story on a free Jack the Ripper tour
43. Reflect at Hyde Park’s Diana Memorial Fountain
44. View the treasures of the Rock n’ Roll world at The Vault
45. Visit Southwark Cathedral and see if you can spot the Cathedral cat, Doorkins
46. See the centre of the world’s time at the Prime Meridian Line in Greenwich
47. Meet the farmyard animals at the Vauxhall City Farm
48. Remember heroes who lost their lives trying to save others at Postman’s Park
49. Get lost in the Barbican Centre
50. Jump back in time at the Strand Lane Roman Baths
51. Spend a Sunday afternoon at the bustling and colourful Brick Lane Market
52. Soak in the art on London’s streets on a graffiti and street art tour
53.  Visit the ‘Ain’t Nothin But…’ bar for free music from Sunday-Thursday
54. Admire the beauty within Holland Park’s Kyoto Garden
55. View the weird and wonderful natural treasures at the Grant Museum of Zoology
56. Attend a free gig at The Social
57. Experience a taste of Roman history at the London Wall
58. Dance the night away at one of the free gigs at Hootananny Brixton
59. Browse the eclectic stalls at Portobello Road Market
60. Enter the world of William Morris at the William Morris Gallery
61. Escape the city feel when you watch the deers in Richmond Park
62. Visit the 17th century stately home, Kenwood House
63. Head up to Parliament Hill for fantastic views over the city
64. Share in the secret of the West End’s Phoenix Garden
65. Learn a little at the Science Museum
66. View the remains of the medieval Winchester Palace
67. See behind the scenes at the National Theatre on the Sherling Backstage Walkway
68. Enjoy a lunchtime concert at St Martin-in-the-Fields
69. See a miniature version of the city at New London Architecture
70. Explore the history of money at the Bank of England Museum
71. Watch the opening of Tower Bridge from the South Bank
72. Discover the hidden tropical oasis at the Barbican Conservatory
73. Visit the oldest church in the City of London, All Hallows by the Tower
74. Head to Abbey Road to recreate that famous Beatles album cover
75. Look around Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, the Old Royal Naval College
76. Take a Fire, Pestilence and Plague tour to see the disaster sites of London
77. Visit Fulham Palace, the home of the Bishops of London for over 12 centuries
78. Climb Primrose Hill and take a look at the London skyline
79. Explore the wonderfully colourful streets of Neal’s Yard
80. Experience luxury when you go window shopping at Harrods
81. Escape to the country at the Brixton Windmill
82. Be inspired by the garden that engulfs the ruins of St Dunstan in the East
83. Take a walk along the canal in Little Venice
84. Take in the inspiring art exhibitions at Whitechapel Gallery
85. Be wowed by the oldest dinosaur sculptures at Crystal Palace Park
86. Get creative at the Design Museum
87. Feel youthful when you visit the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens
88. Learn the stories of the statues of London with Talking Statues London
89. Step back in time at Sir John Soane’s Museum
90. Visit St James’s Park and watch the pelicans being fed
91. Take the kids to the Diana Memorial Playground, complete with pirate ship
92. Take a photo with the stone lions in Trafalgar Square
93. View the weird and wonderful items at the Wellcome Collection
94. Spot the famous names such as Karl Marx and George Eliot at Highgate Cemetery
95. Grab a free ticket for a lunchtime recital with the Royal Opera House
96. Take a look around the exciting toy store, Hamleys
97. Immerse yourself in the culture of Chinatown
98. Find tranquility in the city at Paddington’s Floating Pocket Park
99. Get to know Soho on a Soho walking tour
100. Time your visit to coincide with a free London music festival

50 Things to do in London for Under $10 

1. Visit the Brunel Museum and see the oldest section of the London Underground. (£6/$8)
2. Pick up any and every piece of M&M’s memorabilia that you can imagine at M&M’s World.
3. Check out the street performers at Covent Garden. (leave a tip of at least £1/$1.50)
4. Check out a stand up comedy show at one of the city’s many clubs.
5. Hop on a ‘Boris Bike’ and explore the city on two wheels. (from £2/$2.50)
6. Find a cocktail bar with a two-for-one happy hour!
7. Visit the home of Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin. (£8/$10)
8. Grab a bite from a street food truck.
9. Visit Red House, the Arts & Crafts former home of designer William Morris. (£8/$10)
10. Head to one of the many independent coffee shops.
11. See adverts, cartoons and more at the House of Illustration. (£7.50/$10)
12. Climb to the top of the Monument to the Great Fire of London for great views of the city. (£4.50/$6)
13. Try to catch a local gig. Ones at smaller venues can often cost less than $10.
14. Visit Sutton House, a Grade II* listed Tudor manor house. (£6.30/$8.50)
15. Find a pub by the river and enjoy a cold pint.
16. Visit the world’s oldest surviving music hall, Wilton’s. (£6/$8)
17. Try to grab some bargain last minute tickets for a West End show (try TKTS London).
18. Buy a bouquet for your significant other at New Covent Garden Market.
19. Jump on a bus and take your own sightseeing tour of London.
20. Experience the royal splendour of Banqueting House. (£5.50/$7.50)
21. Get a glimpse into the surgical practices of the past at the Old Operating Theatre. (£6.50/$8.50)
22. See the world’s biggest collection of fans at the Fan Museum. (£5/$6.50)
23. Take a ride over the Thames on the Emirates Air Line (£4.50/$6 - less with Oyster or contactless)
24. Take a trip down the Thames on the Thames Clipper service. (£6.50/$8.50 - price with Oyster or contactless)
25. Look around Highgate Cemetery, where Karl Marx is buried. (£4/$5.50)
26. Get up close and personal with farmyard animals at Belmont Children’s Farm. (£7/$9)
27. See some of the old belongings of John Keats at Keats House. (£6.50/$8.50)
28. Find out more about the city’s canal network at the London Canal Museum. (£5/$6.50)
29. See Shakespeare as it was meant to be seen at the Globe Theatre. (Standing tickets from £5/$6.50)
30. Rent a deckchair and take in some rays at Hyde Park. (£1.60/$2 per hour)
31. Visit the collection at the Courtauld Gallery. (£7/$9)
32. Take a spin on one of the city’s ice rinks (winter time only, of course).
33. Try the UK’s national dish, fish and chips.
34. Have a cup of tea amongst some feline friends at This is a Coffee Shop (formerly London Cat Village).
35. Pick up a bargain at one of the city’s street markets.
36. Visit Dr Johnson’s 300-year-old townhouse. (£7/$9.50)
37. Find out about the sometimes brutal history of prisons at the Clink Prison Museum. (£7.50/$10)
38. See a show at the Royal Opera House (standing tickets for as little as £3/$4)
39. Take a swim in the ponds on Hampstead Heath (£2/$2.50 per day)
40. Visit the Dulwich Picture Gallery. (£8/$10)
41. Grab a mulled wine from the Christmas markets (Christmas time only).
42. Grab a cheap meal in Chinatown.
43. Have a game of table football (foosball) at Cafe Kick. (£1/$1.50)
44. Read a book with your cup of coffee at the London Review Cake Shop.
45. Visit one of the city’s famous bookshops such as Foyles.
46. Take trip through the history of some of the UK’s favourite comics at the Cartoon Museum. (£7/$9.50)
47. If you’re in town, try to get tickets for the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. (start at £6/$8)
48. Take a dance class at the famous Pineapple Dance Studios. (from £6/$8)
49. Take a ride in a famous London black cab.
50. Have a drink at the Sky Garden. (free entry, so just pay for your drink)

Plan your London Trip

So, if you’re thinking of booking a trip to London, be sure to check out our:

• Cheap flights to London
• London City Guide
• London Restaurant Guide
• Things to do in London
• Day trips from London
• London Nightlife and
• A LGBT Guide to London