Don't let people put you off with tales of how expensive London is. There's an incredible array of things to do throughout the city without spending a penny.
London doesn't split into neighborhoods as neatly as US cities do but I have tried to organize this list by area. Every free thing listed has a link for more information.
Westminster
TripSavvy / Gautier Houba
Westminster covers a huge area of central London and even though this is where you will find most of the high-priced attractions there is still plenty on offer at no cost at all. Do see: Free Things to Do in Westminster.
- Westminster Abbey (not always free)
- Changing of the Guard
- Four O'Clock Parade
- Supreme Court
- St James's Park
- Trafalgar Square
- National Gallery
- National Portrait Gallery
- World's Smallest Police Box (in Trafalgar Square)
- Giro the Nazi Dog (near Trafalgar Square)
- London Nose (near Trafalgar Square)
- Savoy Hotel Museum
- Inner Space Quiet Room
- Leicester Square Film Premieres
- New Year's Day Parade (1st January)
- Chinese New Year in London (January or February)
- Trooping the Colour (every June)
- London Gay Pride (every June or July)
Fitrovia & Bloomsbury
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Fitzrovia is the area north of Oxford Street and Bloombury is east of Tottenham Court Road.
- Wallace Collection
- L. Ron Hubbard's Fitzroy House
- Coram's Fields (Children's playground)
- British Museum
- Grant Museum of Zoology & Comparative Anatomy
- Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
- Peter Pan Statue at GOSH
- Wellcome Collection
- Jeremy Bentham Auto-Icon
- Treasure Trails offer some free smartphone trails, including one of Fitzrovia, Canary Wharf, and Shoreditch
Mayfair / St James's / Piccadilly
Areas north and south of Piccadilly.
- Speakers Corner
- The Vault
- Cigar Museum
- Royal Institution
- Smythson of Bond Street
- Auction House Viewings
- Brown Hart Gardens
- Sit Between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
- St James's Piccadilly Free Lunchtime Recitals
City of London
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The City of London is actually only a small area known as the Square Mile. Also see Free Things to Do in the City of London.
- Museum of London
- Ceremony of the Keys
- Bank of England Museum
- St Paul's Cathedral for Free
- Mudlarking
- Gresham College Free Lectures
- London Stone
- Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman London's Amphitheatre
- Whitefriar's Crypt
- St. Olave's Free Lunchtime Recitals
- Postman's Park
- The Soundmap Sweeney Todd Audiowalk
- One New Change Roof Terrace
- Barbican Centre Conservatory
- Lord Mayor's Show (every November)
City Borders
City Borders is not an official area but I've tried to group places near to the City of London.
- London Roman Baths
- Twinings Tea Museum
- Somerset House Free Guided Tour
- Courtauld Gallery (free on Monday mornings)
- Lincoln's Inn Fields
- Sir John Soane's Museum
- Library & Museum of Freemasonry
- Hunterian Museum
- HQS Wellington
East London
- Geffrye Museum
- Museum of London Docklands
- Museum of Childhood
- Whitechapel Bell Foundry Museum
- Charnel House Spitalfields
- Comedy Cafe (free Wednesdays)
- Clowns Church Service (every February)
South London (including South Bank)
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The South Bank itself is a magnificent free area in London. It's a wonderful place to walk next to the River Thames with iconic views. The summer brings the Watch This Space free entertainment outside the National Theatre and the Appearing Rooms Fountains outside the Southbank Centre.
- Tate Modern
- Tower Bridge Lifts
- Globe Theatre Park Street
- HMS Belfast (free for children)
- BFI Southbank Mediatheque
- Tate Britain
- Horniman Museum
- The Chocolate Museum
- Twelfth Night Festival (every January)
- See the Belmond British Pullman train at Victoria Station
- Cuming Museum
Greenwich
- Discover Greenwich Visitor Centre
- Stand on the Prime Meridian Line (fee for courtyard but line is outside too)
- National Maritime Museum & Queen's House
- Greenwich Foot Tunnel
- Be in a Pop Video at The O2
- Collect & Play Conkers
West London (including Kensington & Chelsea)
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- Kensington Gardens
- Peter Pan Statue
- Diana Memorial Playground
- Diana Memorial Fountain
- Kensington Roof Gardens
- 23/24 Leinster Gardens - Dummy House Facade
- Paddington Rolling Bridge
- National Army Museum & Kid's Zone at National Army Museum
- V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum)
- Natural History Museum
- Science Museum
- Heathrow Airport T5 Pods
- Saatchi Gallery
- Kew Gardens is Free For Children
- British Legion Poppy Factory Tours
- Notting Hill Film Locations - Self-Guided Walk
- Notting Hill Carnival (every August)
North London (including King's Cross)
TripSavvy / Gautier Houba
- King's Place
- British Library
- Platform 9 3/4, King's Cross Station
- Regent's Park
- See some animals at London Zoo
- RAF Museum
- Hampstead Heath
- Kenwood House
- Abbey Road Crossing
- Little Venice to Camden Canal Walk
Also see these free ideas lists:
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