Free London – Free things to do in London, Part 1

There are so many things to do around London for free, so I have covered this over 4 posts – 1 each day this week! 😀

Generally speaking, if you’re looking to find out what’s on, there are a few good sites:

View London – you can search under ‘free events’ for free stuff

Time Out London – great online resource without having to get the magazine.

London Town – has a free London link on the front of their home page, just scroll down.

Permanently Free 

1. London’s museums and galleries

You only have to pay for special exhibitions that are on – eg Summer Exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts (great annual exhibition). There are so many museums and galleries, it really depends on what you like as to which ones to go to, a few of my favourites are:

• National Portrait Gallery – go to the top of the gallery, there’s a bar/restaurant there with views over central London
• Victoria and Albert Museum has the most beautiful interior/architecture.
• Natural History Museum – has a great imposing cathedral-like structure & a new modern cocoon wing where you can see scientists at work!
• British Museum – just an amazingly big beautiful old building

2. Somerset House  – free guided tour

This great Tudor house overlooking the Thames in central london offer free guided tours on Thursdays and Saturdays. It’s a great place to walk into the stunning courtyard if you can’t make the tour and have a drink on the balcony or in the courtyard. In winter they have an ice-skating rink set up (expensive about £11/hour) and in summer they show movies in the courtyard (expensive again for about £10/movie).

Continued in Part 2...