Twenty-SomethingTravel

London is one of the most expensive cities on earth. In addition to food and lodgings there are quite a few attractions that will set your budget back: the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, The London Eye and the tourist trap Madame Toussads are all rather pricey.

Fortunately there is a wealth of free things to do in London that will give you a thorough overview of this exciting and ancient city.

Stroll through the Park

One of London’s greatest features is it’s abundant green space. On a sunny day the many parks are bursting with Londoners enjoying some recreation. I’m partial to Kensington Gardens, but you can’t go wrong traipsing through Regents Park, Hyde Park or Green Park.

Walk the South Bank

The southern shore of the Thames is a growing and vibrant cultural center. On a simple east west trajectory you can see the National Theater, the interesting Southbank Centre, the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.

Walk across a Bridge

The Thames is the lifeblood of London, and many gorgeous bridges span the banks. For a futuristic experience walk the pedestrian millennial bridge, for a more postcard experience there’s the Tower Bridge and Wordsworth buffs might try Westminster Bridge, preferably at dawn.

“Shop” at Harrods

To see how England’s upper crust lives, without spending a dime, spend some time wandering around this immense and iconic department store. With seven floors selling everything imaginable (ski suits! Dinosaur bones!), several elaborate food halls and a creepy larger than life Diana tribute, there’s plenty to keep you occupied here for hours

Visit a Museum

Almost all of London’s many museums are free, including the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the elegantly gothic Natural History Museum.

Travel through Time at the British Museum

Epic enough to warrant it’s own mention; the British Museum is a testament to the reach and power of the 19^th century British Empire. This vast museum has innumerable treasures from all over the planet, including two of the wonders of the ancient world. Absolutely can’t be missed.

Marvel at the Albert Memorial

The Albert Memorial is an ornate and bizarre testament to Queen Victoria’s love for her late husband. The memorial features elaborate sculptures, Greek friezes and a golden life sized statue of the Prince.  Across the street is the architecturally memorable Royal Albert Hall.

Spot a Star at a Movie Premiere-

Leicester Square frequently hosts big budget movie premieres where high wattage movie stars often make appearances. Friends of mine staked out the Casino Royale premiere and managed to have their pictures taken with Daniel Craig. For up to date information on what film is opening when check out PremiereHub.

Browse a Market

No visit to London is complete without browsing one of the many markets around the city. You can go antiquing on Portabello Road, shop for edgy fashions in Camden Town or but unique crafts at Spitalfields, among others. You can browse for hours without buying a single thing, although it certainly is tempting!

Look Down on London

Sure you could drop £14 on the London Eye (something I’ve yet to do in all my many visits), but there are several spots in London with terrific FREE views. You can take an elevator to the top floor of the Tate Modern, which is particularly scenic at night. A dramatic daytime view can be found on Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath Park in Northern London.

As you can see, there is a lot to do in London that requires no more money than tube fare.

Related posts:

1. 8 Lesser Known Things to Do in London
2. 8 Free Things to Do in Rome
3. Timeless London