Five great FREE things to do in London

by Noah Patton

London, the capital of England, is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Annually approximately 30 million people visit the sprawling metropolis. Naturally, there are hundreds of attractions throughout the city and it can be difficult to choose how to spend your time on a trip here. Here are five free things you can do in London almost any time of year.

Tate Modern

• ENTRY: Free (except for special exhibits)
• OPENING HOURS: Sunday to Thursday 10.00–18.00 | Friday to Saturday 10.00–22.00
• INFO: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern

The Tate Modern is one of London’s free national museums of art. Tate Modern covers modern and contemporary art from around the world, as well as some exhibitions which showcase artworks from the likes of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol. The art gallery looks strikingly industrial from the exterior, and this is due to the building’s original use as a power station. The Tate Modern consistently has interesting, new exhibitions every month – so even if you have visited it before there is always something new to see. If you’re a lover of any kind of art, the Tate Modern is a must.

Hyde Park

• ENTRY: Free
• OPENING HOURS: anytime, this is a public park
• INFO: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde-park

Hyde Park is the largest of the four royal parks that form a chain between the Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace. It is home to numerous sights, including the beautiful Kensington Gardens, the Long Water lake and the Serpentine lake. Adjacent to the lake is Princess Diana’s Memorial Fountain, Kensington Palace is within Hyde Park and was her residence within London until her death. The park has historically been home to protests and rallies, which are still hosted to this day to address social issues. The Speakers’ corner exists for people to speak their mind and views on current events, if you head there on a Sunday, you’ll often hear heated discussions as the crowd heckles the speaker. Hyde Park is perfect for a breath of fresh air and relaxation in an otherwise bustling city, you can boat or swim along the lakes or enjoy a cup of tea and breakfast at the cafes scattered around the lakes.

British Museum

• ENTRY: Free (except for special exhibits)
• OPENING HOURS: Daily – Great Court: 09.00–18.00 (20.30 on Fridays) (closed on some public holidays)
• INFO: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

The British Museum is dedicated to human history, culture and art. It has one of the largest and most comprehensive permanent collections in the world, containing some eight million works. Most of these pieces were collected during the peak of the British Empire by various Kings. Some of these pieces have been the subject of decade long arguments – as their origin in other countries and the means by which they were obtained are still debated today. With pieces like the Parthenon Marbles – a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures – and Egyptian artifacts – the conversation is set to continue for even longer. Nevertheless, the British Museum’s collection is breath-taking, containing immensely historically significant items from various cultures like the Rosetta Stone, the Diamond Sutra, the Mummy of Katebet and the Oxus Treasure. Entry is free, except for temporary exhibitions on loan from other museums, but even without these exhibitions you could spend weeks exploring this behemoth of a museum.

Piccadilly Circus/Trafalgar Square

• ENTRY: Free
• OPENING HOURS: day and night 365 days a year
• INFO: https://www.visitlondon.com/

These two plazas are possibly London’s most well-known tourist destinations. Trafalgar Square was built to honour Lord Horatio Nelson’s victory over the French and Spanish at Trafalgar in the 1800s. His monument, Nelson’s Column, is an enormous 183-foot granite statue overlooking the square. All the bronze cast fountains and fences in the square were made from French cannons, taken after his victory. Piccadilly Circus is the embodiment of the hustle and bustle of modern London, it intersects some of the busiest streets on London and is surrounded by hundreds of upper-class shops. In the centre of it all is a statue of Eros, balancing on the tip of his foot aiming his bow down into the streets.

Buckingham Palace – Changing of the Guard

• ENTRY: Free
• OPENING HOURS: The ceremony starts at 10.45am, but be sure to arrive much earlier to secure a good viewing spot. Visit the Household Division website for the full schedule of dates and timings. There is no Changing the Guard in very wet weather.
• INFO: https://www.rct.uk/visit/the-state-rooms-buckingham-palace

It wouldn’t be a visit to London without at least a glimpse at the official extravagant residence of the Queen. The palace has a staggering 775 rooms, used to host the thousands of guests that visit the Royal Family each year. The palace is home to the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremony, where the Queen’s Guard is relieved of their duties by a fresh infantry battalion. This ceremony takes place each day and provides some insight to the strict schedule and expectations of the Queen’s Guard. If the gardens and exterior of the palace aren’t enough, there are a plethora of Buckingham Palace tours offered (extra charge). You will see the grandiose State Rooms, the throne room and more of the interior.