8 Great (Mostly) Free Things to Do in London

Something for Everyone

Tour the free museums and see some of the most recognizable sites in the world in London, a very vibrant and bustling city of nearly 9 million people. We found London to be easy to navigate by foot and by Tube. The abundance of free activities and sites to see make it a great city to visit. Starting a visit to Europe in an English speaking country worked well for our family.

8 Great (Mostly) Free Things to Do in London

Westminster Abbey

Tower Bridge

London Eye

Parliament Building

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground

Changing of the Guard

To Do in London

Free

Put on your hiking shoes and explore these free activities

The British Museum, plenty to see including a great mummy exhibit and other artifacts dating back over 4,000 years.
The National Gallery which had works by Da Vinci, Monet, Rembrandt, Michelangelo (along with the rest of the Ninja Turtle clan), and a who’s who list of classical art.
St. James Park. Great for a stroll, water views, wildlife and a few playgrounds.
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Hyde Park where you will also find Kensington Palace. This was the kid’s favorite playground of all of the European cities we visited. It has a Peter Pan theme, plenty of sand and a large wooden ship.
Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard. Check the schedule but it typically is Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday at 11. We had a nice view from the steps near the Victoria Memorial but were trapped on this “island” until the ceremony was complete.

Have tea and biscuits on a Thames River Cruise.
Tour the Westminster Abbey. It is 900 years old and features ornate architecture and the final resting places of Elizabeth I, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, as well as many other notable people.
Tour the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio. The tour includes original sets, props, and costumes along with lots of interactive features.

Worth the Money

These activities are worth the spend

Tips for Visiting London

Get an Oyster Card for traveling the London Underground (the Tube). We purchased the preloaded Oyster Visitor Card and felt a little silly with the flashy card, but it was one less thing to think about. Kids 10 and under ride free.
Get an app for the London Underground. It made it easy to get from one place to another.
We didn’t exchange any money or use an ATM to withdraw any pounds, in four days we did not need cash at activities, dining, or stores.
We visited the Science Museum and the free options were limited so we didn’t stay very long.