Ten free things to do in London

London, the capital city of England is an extremely popular tourist destination but this vibrant and multi-cultural city also has the reputation of being prohibitively expensive even with the London hotel deals available. However thankfully several of London’s famous attractions offer free access to the public and the city also offers various avenues of  free entertainment which help to stretch any travel budget.

Visit the museums in London for free

If visiting museums is your passion then you will strike jackpot in London as most of the museums in London offer free public access though they do charge a fee for special exhibits.  Free public access London museums include the Tate Modern (which features contemporary art), The Tate Britain( which features British Art from the 16th century until today), The Imperial War Museum(which as its name suggests  has exhibits that date back to the two World Wars), The Victoria and Albert Museum(a great museum for art and design which has wonderful  cultural galleries and many interactive exhibits and events for children) and The National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square(which features nearly 16000 portraits of famous Brits from the 16th century to present day).
The National  History Museum, the Science Museum and the Transport Museum, which are also free access and are  especially popular with children though the Transport Museum does have a charge for adults while it offers free access to children under 16 who must be accompanied by an adult. Also included in the list of free museum is the British Museum, the National Gallery, The Museum of London which is located near the Barbican center and  chronicles the history of evolution of London and other smaller museums like the Horniman Museum, The National Maritime Museum, the Geffrye Musuem and  Sir John Sloane’s Museum.

Get swept up in British pomp and ceremony at the changing of the guard ceremony

The Changing of the guard ceremony is a well known tourist attraction in London which is always free. This display of military music and  regalia can be witnessed by standing outside Buckingham Palace at 11.30am on most days.  However you should  check the official website of the British Monarchy for the daily schedule before you plan your visit.

Attend a service at Westminster Abbey

This historic church is a favored spot for Royal ceremonies, both joyous and somber. Westminster Abbey contains the graves of  has more than 3000 famous  people though it also hosts 600 monuments. You can choose to tour the church by paying the appropriate admission fee or just attend a daily service for free though you should check the official website of  the abbey for timings of these daily services.

Visit the many animated markets of London

Britain has often been described as a ‘Nation of Shopkeepers’ and appropriately its capital city is home to several lively markets which always offer free public access.  Must-see markets in London include the foodie heaven of Borough Market, the antique filled Portobello Market and the fashion forward Spitalfields  and Camden Markets.  You could also include in your  must-see list the Asian flavored flea market at Brick Lane which is held only on Sundays and the Petticoat Lane Market which is also held on Sundays and which  features vendors of  all sorts of goods.

Witness the Ceremony of the Keys

Every night the world famous site of the Tower of London is locked up by the Chief Warder as he makes his way to the gates from the Bayard Tower at exactly 21.53pm. Once the gates are locked the Last Post is sounded by a trumpeter and this 700 year old tradition which doesn’t last for more than ten minutes comes to an end.
The Chief Warder represents ‘the Beefeaters’(guards) who have looked after the Tower since the fourteenth century. This ceremony offers free public access but to gain tickets you have to send in your request to attend the ceremony at least 6 or eight weeks in advance. Requests have to be mailed to The Ceremony of the Keys, Waterloo Block, HM Tower of London, London, England, EC3N  4AB and it is  only when you receive your tickets that you can attend the ceremony of the keys.

Stop for a break in London’s many Royal Parks

London is a city whose residents relish their parks and gardens. This stately city is actually home to several Royal Parks like the Kensington Gardens, Regents Park( home to the London Zoo), Green Park, Hyde Park( renowned for its speaker’s corner), St James Park and  Greenwich Park which provide an oasis of calm and block out the hustle and bustle of the city. These free public access parks are a hub of activity especially during the summer months when they offer many free concerts, fairs and events. During the  dreary London winters . many of these London parks are transformed into winter wonderlands as they host lively holiday markets and rides.

Take a peek at the Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed Memorial at the sumptuous Harrod’s Department Store.

Princess Diana who was referred to affectionately by the British people as the ‘People’s Princess’ was tragically killed with her companion Dodi Al Fayed in an auto accident nearly a decade ago. A sober memorial to the couple has been set in a quite escalator lobby on the lower ground floor of the imposing Harrods’s department store which is owned by Dodi’ Al Fayed’s  dad, the flamboyant , Egyptian businessman , Muhammad Al Fayed.

Explore the many landmarks at London’s famous Trafalgar square

Trafalgar Square which is located in the heart of London is one of its most famous attractions. This  square which is surrounded by imposing buildings like  the National Gallery, the Canada House and  St Martin-in-the Fields Church has within it several important landmarks like the towering Nelson’s column and many statues and fountains. Trafalgar square which commemorates Britain’s naval victory in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 is a popular area of congregation in London as it often hosts various political demonstrations and Christmas and New Year’s Eve revelries. In fact every year, the square is adorned with  a gaily decorated towering Christmas tree which is gifted every year to the city of London by the people of Norway to commemorate the help  rendered to them by the British people during the Second World War.

Grab a free Theater  performance if you happen to be  under the age of  26

This is London’ s ‘newest’ free attraction which was instituted by the English government’s theater initiative in February 2010. Free tickets for people under the age of 26 are available at more than 200 theaters all over England including famous London theaters like Donmar Warehouse, the Young Vic, the Barbican, Soho Theatre, the Royal Court, the Almeida, Hampstead Theatre and Battersea Arts Centre.
Tickets can be located and  booked at the website of the Art Council for the scheme-www.anightlessordinary.org.uk. However tickets cannot be mailed out under this scheme and can only be collected by the booker on the night of the performance. The booker has also to supply proof of age at the time of collection of  these tickets.