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.

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Map of todays 50 things to do in London

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


2

Hounslow Heath

A local nature reserve covering 200 acres previously used as an airfield before the expansion of Heathrow.
3

Burgess Park

A large urban park that was developed after the second world war in an area that was badly damaged by bombs.
4

Bridge House Gardens

Part of a series of gardens along the River Thames in Richmond. All gardens are accessed from the Thames Path, the other gardens are Mears Walk, Midhurst Site and Riverdale Gardens.
2

Hamleys

The biggest toy shop in the world, Hamleys has seven floors of toys and games to browse through.
3

Wimbledon Common

A large common with woodland walks, ponds, heathland and a windmill.
4

Tate Modern

National Museum of modern and contemporary art.
2

Queen's Wood Local Nature Reserve

Fifty two acres of ancient woodland mainly comprised of oak and hornbeam.
3

Newham City Farm

Cows, sheep, alpacas, rabbits, guinea pigs and horses among others.
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

Columbia Road Flower Market

Sunday flower market and shops in the East End.
3

Royal Academy

The oldest artistic institution in the UK founded in 1768.
4

South Park Ilford

Opened in 1902, South Park retains many features from that date and is home to a number of water fowl species and three species of bat.
2

The Shard

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

Walpole Park

Previously part of the Pitzhangar Manor house gardens, opened as a public park in 1901.
4

Dilston Grove Gallery

Arts project space within Southwark Park.
2

Kings Wood

A large expanse of fairly flat ancient woodland crossed by well marked paths.
3

Carnaby Street

World famous for boutique fashion shops and the centre of the swinging London of the 1960s.
4

Kew Bridge

A grade II listed structure, opened in 1903.
2

Sir John Soanes Museum

The museum was the house of the 19th century architect, Sir John Soanes who was responsible for the design of the building.
3

City Hall

Home of the Mayor Of London, the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority.
4

Big Ben

Big Ben is the popular name of the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Great Bell which has the nickname of Big Ben.
2

Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge

This hunting lodge was built in 1543 for King Henry VIII and was intended as a grandstand for guests viewing the royal hunt.
3

Alexandra Palace Park

This 150 year old park has a range of facilities and great views looking South over London.
4

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the monarch and has been since 1837.
2

Norwood Park

One of the highest points in South London with views over the City, originally part of the Great North Wood hence the name Norwood.
3

Royal College Of Music Museum

This is the Royal College of Musics collection of over 800 instruments and accessories from the 15th century to the present day.
4

St. James Park

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

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum

The museum collection covers all aspects of British pharmacy history.
3

Lordship Recreation Ground

Opened as a park in 1936, it had the original idea of hosting a Model Traffic Area including minature traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and roundabouts to be used for road safety training.
4

Victoria Park Skate Park

A concrete bowl created in 2011.
2

Museum of London Docklands

A part of the Museum of London telling the history of London as a port. It is located in Docklands at West India Quay.
3

Thames River Police Museum

Wapping hosts the Thames River Police Museum in a converted carpenter's workshop that is now Wapping Police Station. Claiming to be the world's first police force, the Thames Police Museum contains items dating back to its formation in 1798.
4

Japanese Peace Pagoda

The Peace Pagoda is located in Battersea Park on the South bank of the River Thames. It was completed in 1985.
2

Cutty Sark Gardens

The park is dominated by the Cutty Sark sailing ship which was built in 1869.
3

Manor Farm

Dating back to medieval times, this is Hillingdons main heritage site.
4

London Wall

A section of the Roman London Wall built around AD200 adjoining the Tower of London.
2

Buck Street Market

An open market of around 200 stalls selling clothing, footwear and accessories.
3

Imperial War Museum

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

Regents Park

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

Mountsfield Park

Home to the biennial Peoples Day festival and one time home of Charlton F.C.
3

Londons First Drinking Fountain

No longer a working water fountain this dates from 1859.
4

Diana Memorial Playground

Playground based around a huge wooden pirate ship. Opened in the year 2000 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
2

Big Ben

Big Ben is the popular name of the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Great Bell which has the nickname of Big Ben.
3

Bethlem Museum of the Mind

Dedicated to the history of Bethlem Hospital and psychiatry.
4

Valentines Mansion Gardens

Eighteenth century formal gardens surrounding the Mansion.
2

Golborne Road Market

Located near Portobello Road market off Ladbroke Grove.
3

Hainault Forest Country Park

Over 300 acres of open spaces and forest, with picnic areas, a large lake, play areas and a rare breeds farm.
4

London Stone

The London Stone is a fragment of a much larger structure from the Medieval period, having been a tourist attraction during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2

Waterloo Bridge

Opened in 1942 but not fully finished until 1945.
3

Wandsworth Common

Common with natural and planted areas, ponds, a lake, trim trail and childrens playground.
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.

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