If you are wondering what to do in London, use our app to browse through our lists of free London sightseeing ideas for inspiration.

We have over 1000 free to visit attractions listed including museums, art galleries, children's farms, gardens, historic sites, markets, nature, parks, children's playgrounds, skate parks, sports, leisure and landmarks.

Search by keyword, browse by category or by borough map

Make a list of favourite places and places you have visited

Our android app is now available on Google Play.

Map of todays 50 things to do in London

See below for 50 random free places to visit in London.


2

Kingston Market

The market place in Kingston has been used since around 1170 in the time of Henry II. Now Kingston Market provides local food and drink and features a number of street performers.
3

London Wall

A section of the Roman London Wall built around AD200 adjoining the Tower of London.
4

Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court)

The current building was built in 1907 but there has been a court on the site since medieval times.
2

Columbia Road Flower Market

Sunday flower market and shops in the East End.
3

Beckenham Place Mansion

The 18th century mansion is home to artists studios and has a visitor centre run by the friends of the park which displays information on the history and natural history of the park.
4

Chiswick House Gardens

The gardens of the 18th century Chiswick House are inspired by classical Roman design and were created by landscape architect William Kent.
2

Royal Academy

The oldest artistic institution in the UK founded in 1768.
3

Tower Bridge

One of the most famous sites in London, this twin bascule bridge was built in 1892.
4

Regents Park

Regents Park covers 395 acres and includes Queen Marys Gardens where you can see more than 30,000 roses.
2

Valentines Mansion

Recently resored grade II listed mansion.
3

Abney Park

Abney Park is a beautiful garden cemetry, woodland memorial park and nature reserve.
4

Beam Valley Country Park

An award winning green space which has been designed to provide flood protection for the surrounding area.
2

Wellington Arch

In 1885 the arch was moved from its original location a short distance away to make way for a new road.
3

Big Ben

Big Ben is the popular name of the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Great Bell which has the nickname of Big Ben.
4

Thames Barrier

Opened in 1982, the Thames Barrier provides flood defences for the city of London. Costing £16,000 to close the flood barrier each time, it has been closed 175 times up to April 2015.
2

Diana Memorial Fountain

This fountain is a memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales and was opened in 2004.
3

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the monarch and has been since 1837.
4

Woolwich Ferry

A free ferry service for cars and pedestrians.
2

Street Performers at Covent Garden

A variety of street performers can be seen in the Piazza at Covent Garden.
3

Imperial War Museum

Museum with exhibits about conflict, particularly those involving Britain and the Commonwealth from World War 1 to the present.
4

Scratchwood

A country park covering 140 acres of ancient woodland
2

Wanstead Flats

A large expanse of open common land designated as a site of special scientific interest.
3

Ingrebourne Hill

Country park with dedicated mountain bike course.
4

Hadley Green

A ten hectare site of importance for nature conservation.
2

Kingston Bridge

Kingston Bridge was the only bridge crossing the Thames between Staines and London Bridge until Putney Bridge was opened in 1729.
3

Basing Hill Park

A small park operated by Barnet Council with shrubs and trees around the perimeter.
4

Tate Modern

National Museum of modern and contemporary art.
2

South Norwood Skatepark

Concrete skatepark refurbished in 2009 located in South Norwood Recreation Ground near the tennis courts.
3

Boat Race Start Line

Marker post on the North Bank of the River Thames locating the start line of the annual Oxford V Cambridge boat race.
4

Oaks Park

Site of the house where the Earl Of Derby and colleagues created the famous horse races, The Oaks and The Derby.
2

Friary Park Skatepark

Refurbished in 2015.
3

British Academy

British institution supporting humanities and social sciences. The Academy host a range of public events including conferences, talks and discussions.
4

Hamleys

The biggest toy shop in the world, Hamleys has seven floors of toys and games to browse through.
2

Happy Valley

Glacial action formed this steep sided valley in the last ice age.
3

Whitechapel Gallery

Whitechapel Art Gallery hosts a range of permanent and temporary exhibitions, meaning there's always something new to see. The gallery features work of artists from all over the world, as well as from London. The gallery is free to enter!
4

Novelty Automation

A collection of home made automata and other amusing machines.
2

Carnaby Street

World famous for boutique fashion shops and the centre of the swinging London of the 1960s.
3

Homerton Grove Adventure Playground

Adventure playground for ages up to 15 years old.
4

Admiralty Arch

Built in 1912 the arch was commissioned by King Edward VII in Memory of Queen Victoria and is a Grade 1 listed building.
2

The Shard

The tallest building in Western Europe located at London Bridge station but visible for many miles around.
3

Westminster Cathedral

This is the primary church of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and is the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster.
4

St. James Park

St James Park is the oldest of the royal parks. It contains both The Mall and Horse Guards Parade.
2

Chiswick Bridge

Opened in 1933 it is the approximate finish line of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race.
3

Cheam Park

Previously part of the grounds of Cheam Park House, which was demolished after being damaged by a flying bomb in World War 2.
4

Sky Garden/Walkie Talkie Building

Three storeys of landscaped public gardens at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street - generally known as the Walkie Talkie building. Fantastic views across the capital from the floors 35-37.
2

Bromley Palace Park

The park is what remains of the gardens of the residence of the Bishop of Rochester.
3

Diana Memorial Playground

Playground based around a huge wooden pirate ship. Opened in the year 2000 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
4

Railings Gallery

Gallery on New Cavendish Street holding exhibitions of prints from contemporary atists.
2

British Library

You can access the British Library for researching over 150 million items or to visit one of the free events or exhibitions.
3

Markfield Park

Eighteen acres of grassland, formal gardens, playground and skatepark.
We have over 1000 ideas for FREE things to do and places to go for anyone visiting, or living in London.

If you are looking for ideas about having a day out then browse through our lists of sightseeing ideas for inspiration - whatever the weather London has in store there are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities listed.

The majority of London attractions listed are free to visit and include museums, art galleries, childrens farms, childrens playgrounds, gardens, historic sites, markets, nature, parks, skateparks, sports, leisure, landmarks and London events.

Many of the most famous art galleries the city has to offer are featured on the site including Tate Modern, The National Gallery and the Saatchi Gallery. Details can also be found of much smaller and less well known sites including the Serpentine Galleries in Hyde Park and the Pump House Gallery in Battersea Park.

Children are well catered for in the city with many parks having playgrounds ranging from swings and slides to the pirate ship in the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens.

There are several childrens farms spread across London - one of our favourite ones is in Crystal Palace Park where you can also take the children to check out the Victorian dinosaur statues that reside in and around the lake.

For a slightly older age group are many skateparks and you can also find free to use tennis courts and outdoor gym equipment in some of the parks.

We will soon have an events page that lists out the well known annual events including Notting Hill Carnival, The Lord Mayors Show, Trooping The Colour and The Boat Race. Several institutions such as the LSE and The Royal Society offer free lectures and you can also be entertained at places like The Scoop next to City Hall or watch the street performers at Covent Garden.

London is a surprisingly green city with the large Royal Parks in the centre of town and Battersea Park just a short distance away on the South side of the River Thames. Greenwich Park is partly a deer park and also houses historical sites such as the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum which are both free to visit.

Further out there are many woodlands, the largest being Epping Forest which covers 6000 acres of North London stretching from Chingford to Epping. Large areas of the forest are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Special Areas of Conversation and there are 4 visitor centres.

Historic sites and London landmarks frequently go hand in hand, for example both Tower Bridge and The Tower Of London are known around the world but with interesting historical backgrounds - and don't forget The Monument to the Great Fire of London, located in Pudding Lane just a short walk across the river from London Bridge Station.

Then of course there are more modern landmarks such as the Gherkin and the Shard which are both spectacular buildings, but the areas around can also reveal other places of interest like the public artworks in the streets surrounding the Gherkin (including rusty metal dinosaurs and a large globe made from stainless steel nuts and bolts).

Marble Arch hosts two large public artworks in the form of a giant horses head and Ghengis Khan mounted on his horse. Henry Moore sculptures can be found by the Thames at Millbank and at College Gardens near the Houses of Parliament. Please note that not all of the landmarks and historic sites are free to enter but we have included them if good views can be had of them from the surrounding streets.

So there is plenty to see and do for a daytrip, an extended visit or a full holiday in London and it need not be expensive.

Our android app is now available on Google Play.


© 2019 BHA Cromwell House