The Best Free Days Out in London: World-Class Experiences Without Spending a Penny

During your time in the city, you can spend the morning admiring masterpieces by Van Gogh and Monet at the National Gallery, watch the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace, discover centuries of history at one of London’s family-friendly museums, and photograph the city skyline from Primrose Hill. All of this and more can be enjoyed without spending a penny.

In this guide, we’re going to show you how to experience the very best of London for free, helping you to make more memories while spending less money during your time in the capital.

Free museums in London

London has officially been ranked the number one city in the world for art and culture, beating both Paris and New York to the top spot. And the best bit? Its most famous museums are completely free to visit.

Thanks to government funding, it’s free to enter London’s national museums, allowing visitors to see some of the city’s greatest cultural treasures for free.

Natural History Museum

Address: Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD

Website: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/

Contained within a beautiful Victorian building famously described as a “cathedral to nature”, the Natural History Museum is one of London’s most popular family-friendly attractions – and for good reason.

Home to over 80 million specimens, it holds an abundance of natural wonders, taking visitors on a journey through the natural world, from prehistoric dinosaurs and ancient fossils to volcanoes, earthquakes and the mysteries of outer space. Highlights include ‘Hope’, the 25-metre blue whale skeleton, the Dinosaur Gallery, and one of the world’s only preserved Dodo heads. We guarantee you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for our planet.

Nearest tube station: South Kensington (District, Circle, and Piccadilly lines)

From Paddington: Take the Circle line to South Kensington (15 minutes)