Some of the best London days out are cheap or free. Amazingly, London offers world-class museums, galleries, and more that you can enjoy without spending a penny, as well as some great things to do for less than a fiver. So if you’re looking for top activities for your London break, then look no further. Here’s our guide to cheap days out in London, so you can see the best of the city for less.
Museums
London is home to some of the best museums in Europe, and you can enjoy them for free, or for a voluntary donation. Here are three you should explore on your next London break.
National History Museum
Cost: Free/donation
The famous National History Museum is a gem, and it’s open to the public to enjoy for free. With exhibits covering oceans, human evolution, space, dinosaurs, British wildlife, and more, the museum is fascinating and absorbing.
Discover amazing dinosaur skeletons, and learn about wildlife and nature all around the world. With artefacts dating back millions of years, the 330-million-year-old fossil tree is amongst one of many exhibits that are well worth seeing. An unforgettable day out for young and old alike, and definitely one of our favourite cheap days out in London!
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cost: Free/donation
The Victoria and Albert Museum, or the V&A as it’s affectionately known, is a world-class museum of design. Explore fashion and furniture from the past, and a wide selection of sculptures and art from across the centuries.
Peruse at your leisure on your own or with your partner, or bring the kids along - the exhibitions are put together so that anyone can enjoy them. Treat yourself to some tea and cake in the café, and explore the gift shop which, as you would expect, offers some truly tasteful trinkets!
Horniman Museum
Cost: Mostly free - some activities require a ticket
Located in Forest Hill, the Horniman Museum and Gardens are bursting with things to do. The museum features exhibitions on world history, natural history, and music. Explore the aquarium and the butterfly house, play a round of crazy golf in the gardens, and pick up some delicious treats from the farmers’ market every Saturday morning.
Admission to the museum and gardens is free, but some parts require a ticket. Tickets are £4.50 for adults, and £2.50 for children. Recommended for a fun family day out!
Outdoor swimming and boating
From late spring, through the summer, and into early autumn, nothing beats having a splash or float around in one of London’s many outdoor ponds, lakes, and lidos. Cool off and get some gentle exercise in one of these fantastic swimming and boating spots.
Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds
Cost: £2 for adults; £1 for concessions
Hampstead Heath is a great place for walking and taking in views of the city, and it’s also a great spot to go for a dip in the summer months. Enjoy a stroll around the relaxed and rugged heath, and for a very reasonable £2, why not take a refreshing swim in the so-called ponds?
Combine your dip in the swimming ponds with a quick tour of the local area, where you can enjoy some great cafés, to make for a lovely and relaxed day out on the cheap.
London Fields Lido
Cost: £5.10 for adults; £3 for juniors (cheaper for members)
Located in the up-and-coming London Fields area, the London Fields Lido is a firm favourite of the locals. The impressive lido is a 50m Olympic-sized pool, and it’s heated all year round, so you can enjoy it in the winter too, if you’re feeling brave.
Why not pair up a swim in the lido with a trip to the nearby Broadway Market? The lido is a stone’s throw from the historic market street, which is especially buzzing on a Saturday morning when traders set up shop all down the road. Go on a Sunday to complete your day out with a trip to the stunning flower market on Columbia Road.
Serpentine Lido
Cost: £4.80 for adults; £3.80 for concessions; £1.80 for children
Open in the summer months only, the Serpentine Lido is located in London’s iconic Hyde Park. The lido is a 100-metre stretch of the Serpentine lake - a 40-acre lake created for Queen Caroline in 1730. There’s an accompanying paddling pool for younger children, and a nearby kiosk so you can warm up again with a tea or coffee.
Pair up a dip in the Serpentine with a stroll around the historic park, and even a walk up to Buckingham Palace. If you time it right, you might even catch the Changing of the Guard (see below!).
Greenwich Park Boating Lake
Cost: £4 for adults; £2 for children
If you want to enjoy the water without getting wet, then Greenwich Park Boating Lake could be the one for you. With reasonably priced pedalo hire, you can gently pedal your way around this little lake to the amusement of onlookers.
While you’re there, take the opportunity to wander up to the Royal Observatory and stand on the Prime Meridian - the point from which Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is referenced around the world. There are also beautiful gardens and great snacks available at the Pavilion Café.
Sightseeing
Whether you’re a resident, a regular visitor, or an international traveller, London is a great place for sightseeing. And the good news is that there’s plenty you can do for free or cheap. Here are some of our top picks.
Changing of the Guard
Cost: Free
If you need an excuse to visit Buckingham Palace, then let the Changing of the Guard be it. Taking place at 10:45am every day, and lasting around 45 minutes, the ceremony gives you the opportunity to see the distinctively dressed guards march around as they change shifts.
The Changing of the Guard is free to watch, but make sure you arrive in good time as it can get busy. Why not pair up the experience with a stroll around Hyde Park for a royally memorable and completely free day out in London.
Brick Lane Street Art
Cost: Free
Brick Lane is known around the world as a top spot for street art, with artwork from Banksy D*Face, Phlegm, and many others decorating the neighbourhood’s walls. With surprises around every corner, a trip to Brick Lane is never disappointing.
The area is especially vibrant on a Sunday when Brick Lane market is in full effect with buskers and traders lining the cobbled streets. Browse the stalls and take in the sights, sounds, and smells for one the most atmospheric multi-sensory experiences London has to offer - all for the cost of absolutely nothing!
Diana Memorial Fountain and Playground
Cost: Free
Located in Hyde Park, the Diana Memorial Fountain is a beautiful spot. Formed of Cornish granite, the fountain was opened by the Queen in 2004 and is designed to represent Diana’s personality and openness.
If you’ve got the kids with you, then stroll across the park to the Diana Memorial Playground on the east side. With a sensory trail, teepees, a beach, pirate ship, toys and play sculptures, this magical space is enjoyed by over a million visitors each year, and is inspired by Diana’s love of children.
Southbank
Cost: Free
The Southbank is an incredible place to take in the sights of central London and soak up the atmosphere of the city. Start from Waterloo station and stroll towards the Southbank Centre, which is home to regular free music and cultural events. As you continue along the river you’ll encounter vibrant street art at the Southbank Skate Park, a fantastic open-air book market, and street food vendors and buskers galore. As you walk along the river, you’ll catch views of many of London’s most iconic sights, including St Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin, the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben.
Pair up your Southbank stroll with a trip to the Tate Modern - one of London’s most exciting free art galleries - or the Globe Theatre, where you can catch Shakespeare plays for as little as £5.
Sky Garden
Cost: Free
Located in a large glass dome at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street - also known as The Walkie Talkie - the Sky Garden includes three storeys of landscaped gardens and incredible 360-degree views over the city.
Entrance is free, but advance booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. Your stay is limited to an hour, so why not pair your Sky Garden experience with a stroll to St Paul’s Cathedral, where you can relax in the gardens or take in the sights and smells of the historic Cathedral.
Covent Garden
Cost: Free
Covent Garden buzzes day and night with shoppers, theatre-goers, and a host of buskers and street performers. It’s a popular spot with tourists, and with good reason. Its boutiques are great for shopping (or window shopping), it’s just a stone’s throw from the West End, and the atmosphere of the place is electric all the time.
Book on to a London theatre break, and round the experience off with a stroll around Covent Garden to soak up some street performances, and the incredible atmosphere of the area. Make a real day of it, and stop by at the nearby National Gallery to get your complete fill of arts and culture!
Art galleries
London is home to some of the world’s great art galleries. Astonishingly, many of them can be visited for free. It would almost be rude not to - so why not enjoy a free day out at one of these world-class London art galleries?
Tate Modern
Cost: Free/donation
Overlooking the Thames, the Tate Modern is a modern art gallery that never fails to surprise and delight. With several floors of expertly curated exhibitions, there is always something to make you think, make you laugh, and get you talking. The building itself is also something of a marvel - you can enjoy just walking around the light and expansive space.
It’s a fantastic day out for all the family. If your legs can take it, then take the opportunity to pair your trip to the Tate with a stroll along the Southbank to enjoy views across the Thames. Without a doubt, it's one of the best cheap days out in London, and you can enjoy it again and again.
National Gallery
Cost: Free/donation
Located on Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery is one of Europe’s most remarkable art galleries, and it’s yours to enjoy without spending a penny. If you’re into classical art, then the National Gallery won’t disappoint, with an abundance of renaissance and impressionist art from across Europe.
Explore exquisite works from the likes of Botticelli, da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Turner, Renoir and Van Gogh. You can also take part in free guided tours with audio guides, and there are free family activities if you need to keep the kids occupied. It’s a world-class day out in London for free!
Royal Academy of Arts
Cost: Free - some paid exhibits
Founded in 1768, The Royal Academy of Arts is the oldest fine arts institution in the UK. At its Piccadilly location, the gallery hosts exhibitions from the likes of Antony Gormley, Lucian Freud, and Pablo Picasso, and a host of excellent free exhibitions on art, sculpture, and architecture.
Tickets for some of the paid exhibitions aren’t cheap, but you can still enjoy a great variety for free. There’s also a great café to pick up a bite to eat, and a beautiful gift shop to pick up some arty cards, books, or prints.
Parks and wildlife
London may be a huge metropolis, but there’s still some great opportunities to get back to nature in the nation’s capital. London boasts several beautiful parks, and a selection of hidden, tranquil spots where you can enjoy wildlife and nature.
Hackney City Farm
Cost: Free
Hackney City Farm is a great family day out for animal lovers. The inner-city farm is nestled next to Haggerston Park, a short walk from Broadway Market and London Fields. Meet pigs, donkeys, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and more. Extend your trip with a stroll around Haggerston Park, or lunch in the farm’s fantastic café.
The farm is open all year round on Tuesdays to Sunday. They close on Mondays (except for bank holidays).
Centre for Wildlife Gardening
Cost: Free
Located in Peckham, the Centre for Wildlife Gardening is one of our favourite cheap family days out in London. Popular with locals and wildlife lovers, this urban nature reserve is home to a wonderful selection of wildlife. Animals you can hope to spot include frogs, toads, newts, hoverflies, stag beetles, and birds. You can also experience beautiful wildflowers and other plantlife.
Pop into the visitor centre for fun family activities, and bring a picnic to enjoy in the picnic area. A fantastic, free way to get in touch with nature, away from the noise of London’s busy streets!
Walthamstow Wetlands
Cost: Free
Walthamstow Wetlands is London’s biggest nature reserve, and it’s perfect for a family day out. The reserve offers a fantastic range of free events so you can encounter bats, mini beasts, and migratory birds. If you want to take things at your own pace, there are great areas to stroll in, and birdwatching outposts over the reservoir. Look out for Gadwalls, Tufted Ducks, Shovelers, Cormorants, Grey Herons, and Little Egrets, as well as other rare birds. The nature reserve is also home to red foxes, wood mice, bank voles, and insects.
This incredible spot is just 15 minutes out from the centre of London. A fantastic day out for free!
Crystal Palace Dinosaurs
Cost: Free
This quirky spot is home to the world’s first dinosaur sculptures. Opened in 1852, the sculptures were designed to be realistic representations of dinosaurs and other extinct prehistoric species. As science moved on, it turned out that the proportions of some of the statues weren’t quite accurate - which only adds to the charm of this unusual place!
As well as the dinosaur statues, the geological design of the park is designed to represent the prehistoric era. There is also ongoing work to make the fauna accurately represent the era, transporting you back in time. A fun and educational outing by anyone’s standards, and definitely one of the quirkiest cheap days out in London you'll find!
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