Free things to do in London

Image by Anirudh Koul via Flickr

With London’s great attractions and entertainment, it often feels like you can't do London on a budget, but that is completely untrue. Take a look at some of the less talked about events or sights and you will see that many of them are completely free. It is however easy to fall into the sightseeing craze where you want to see it all. In that case, it can prove very expensive indeed.

So, what do you do if you don't have much money and still want to soak up the famous atmosphere?

You join in on all the fun, the only exception, you won't have to pay. Whatever your hobby or interest, London offers a great variety of freebies and it's there for your taking.

1. Head over to Buckingham Palace and watch the changing of the guards. Note that in winter this occurs every other day rather than daily like in the summer. Not only is it free but every visitor to London will eventually turn up here so you get plenty of atmosphere. Once you are here, walk around the palace, take some photos and then stroll over to Harrods for some window-shopping.

2. Walk around the lovely parks; Hyde Park, St James's and St Regent's park. The Speaker's corner is an area in Hyde Park where public speaking is allowed. Sit down, relax and enjoy whatever the subject might be of today's speakers. A few blocks away you have Oxford Street with all of its shops. If you like browsing through the merchandise, this might be a place to stop.

3. London's museums are often free and very interesting. If not all the time, there are times and days when you get in without having to pay. Take a look at the British museum, Sir John Soane’s Museum, the Natural History and Science museum, Victoria & Albert Museum and the Imperial War Museum. There are plenty of interesting things in these museums to occupy you on a rainy day.

4. Take a stroll around Covent Garden and sit down and enjoy the free street entertainment. This place always drags a crowd of tourists so you won't be the only one there. The place has a terrific atmosphere and the crowd is always enthusiastic whatever the entertainment. There is usually a market as well and a few local shops. A stroll away is Leister Square which comes alive at night.

5. Visit the various markets around London. Most famous are the Portobello market, the market in Camden Town and the Notting Hill market. Why not try and find the blue door from the film Notting Hill?

6. Walking is as always free and a stroll along the river Thames is a great way to pass away a few hours. See the Globe from the outside; they sometimes act parts of the play outside. Take a closer look at the Tower Bridge and listen to the men and women entertaining the pedestrians.

7. Trafalgar Square is one of those famous places in London you shouldn't miss. Lord Nelson is
raising high above street level and the birds are being feed all around you. Sit down and look at the people passing by or try and climb up on one of the lions underneath Lord Nelson. It is great fun for all ages.

8. Piccadilly Circus is another landmark that people tend to take a look at. Walk down there and join the crowds. There are a few good restaurants and bars in this area if you are feeling hungry or thirsty.

If you do feel like spending a few pounds, I suggest that you jump on one of the busses and take a trip around London. It's a great way of seeing a lot without paying much. It's nearly as good as those tourist busses driving around. It's also good for your bearing. London is so big that you sometimes lose track of where you are and how long to get from A to B. Try and do everything in one area at the same time so that you don't have to go back and forth too much.

Related posts:

• Free things to do in Paris
• Top 10 cities or towns to visit in Europe.
• What to do in London.

What to do in London?

Image via Wikipedia

London is one of my favourite places in the world. Not just because of its convenient location and status as a gateway to the world, but because of the never ending sights to see and the places to stroll around in. London might seem like a hectic place but if you look behind the corner, you will find peace and tranquility too. There are places crowded with tourists, like Buckingham Palace, Madame Tussuad's and the London Eye, but also places less likely to be visited, like St James' Park. With so many attractions, there is bound to be one that you like. Here are my top 5. Perhaps you will think different? Let me know.

1. Covent Garden - to me this is the heart of London. It is a place where I return over and over again. It is a perfect place to sit down and relax and enjoy the atmosphere. There is usually market stalls to browse through and free entertainment to amuse you.

2. The Imperial War Museum - an important museum as it is dedicated to the 2 World Wars. Here you will find everything you could possible want to know and see about these wars. You really will get a feel to how it was during the London bombings in their bunker. Try it if you dare.

3. Greenwich - take a ferry from Westminister to Greewich and enjoy the Thames. In Greenwich the pace is a lot slower and strolling around the streets is interesting. There are plenty of markets where you can pick up bargains.

4. The Tower of London - meet a Beefeater and let yourself be guided through the history of London. Not many places have such a rich history and the anecdotes are told extremely well. It is an interesting place to visit and you get a lot for your money.

5. The West End - no visit to London is complete until you have visited one of the many shows in the West End. Even just walking around Leicester Square will lift your spirits.

Related posts:

• Top 10 cities or towns to visit in Europe.
• Free things to do in Paris.
• Free things to do in London.
• Top 5 capitals in Europe.
• 5 amazing countries to visit.