Europe England 10 Places to Find Free Music in London By Laura Porter Laura Porter Facebook Twitter Laura Porter is an experienced UK travel writer specializing in all things to do with London. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 06/26/19 Fact checked by Patrice Williams Fact checked by Patrice Williams Instagram LinkedIn Temple University Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book Looking Fly on a Dime. TripSavvy's fact-checking VisitBritain / Britain on View / Getty Images If you're keen to check out London's excellent music scene but you're traveling on a tight budget, don't fret. There are tons of great venues across the city that offer free gigs, recitals, and scheduled performances. 01 of 10 The Southbank Centre Gautier Houba / TripSavvy View Map Address Southbank Centre, London SE1, UK Get directions The Southbank Centre offers an incredible amount of free music and entertainment. The Clore Ballroom at the Royal Festival Hall is a great venue as it's viewable from the bar and shop so you can watch a bit of the action, grab a drink, come back and watch some more. It's all very relaxed here. There are free lunchtime music events at the Royal Festival Hall every Friday in the Central Bar. Expect to hear classical, jazz, folk, and world music sessions. 02 of 10 St. James's Piccadilly St James's Church Piccadilly View Map Address 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL, UK Get directions Phone +44 20 7734 4511 St. James's Piccadilly was designed by Sir Christopher Wren (the architect behind St. Paul's Cathedral) in 1684 and is often named as his favorite church. Free lunchtime recitals take place at 1:10 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and last 50 minutes. They're all free to attend but a donation is suggested. 03 of 10 Kings Place Kings Place View Map Address 90 York Way, London N1 9AG, UK Get directions Phone +44 20 3695 7895 Web Visit website Kings Place opened in October 2008 and sits under the offices of the Guardian newspaper. The ground floor features an art gallery dedicated to sculpture next to the main entrance plus cafes, restaurants, and a waterside terrace. It's not a view you expect in King's Cross—canal barges moored in Battlebridge Basin. And there are regular free events. 04 of 10 St. Olave's Gautier Houba / TripSavvy View Map Address 8 Hart Street, London EC3R 7NA, UK Get directions Phone +44 20 7488 4318 Web Visit website St. Olave's Church in the City of London is a small medieval church, where Samuel Pepys (London's 17th-century diarist) and his wife Elizabeth were buried. It was badly damaged during the Second World War and fully restored in the 1950s. St. Olave's is a peaceful place to listen to music, with a lively lunchtime recital series. Lunchtime recitals are held on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Continue to 5 of 10 below. 05 of 10 St. Martin-in-the-Fields Gautier Houba / TripSavvy View Map Address Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ, UK Get directions Phone +44 20 7766 1100 Web Visit website There are regular free lunchtime concerts at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. This historic church, designed by James Gibbs and built in 1726, has free lunchtime recitals. 06 of 10 The Royal Academy of Music Yang Liu/Getty Images View Map Address Bow Street, London WC2E 9DD, UK Get directions Phone +44 20 7304 4000 Web Visit website The Royal Academy of Music also has free concerts on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the Royal College of Music has free shows as well. 07 of 10 Union Chapel, Islington Amy T. Zielinski/Getty Images View Map Address 19b Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN, UK Get directions Phone +44 20 7226 1686 Web Visit website Union Chapel is one of the best places to see live music in London. Check out the venue's Daylight Music series to see pay-what-you-can 'mini gigs' throughout the year. 08 of 10 Rough Trade East Aurelien Guichard/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0 View Map Address Old Truman Brewery 91, Brick Lane, London E1 6QL, UK Get directions Phone +44 20 7392 7788 Web Visit website Rough Trade East near Spitalfields Market is a hipster music store and record label that hosts regular free live gigs by established and up and coming artists. Many bands and performers play here when promoting new work so you'll often find them signing records or taking part in Q&As. Keep an eye out online for upcoming gigs to apply for tickets. Continue to 9 of 10 below. 09 of 10 Trafalgar Square Jorg Greuel / Getty Images View Map Address Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DS, UK Get directions Phone +44 20 7983 4750 Web Visit website Trafalgar Square provides a stage for cultural, educational, artistic and sporting events, ceremonies, and festivals. Most events are open to everyone. 10 of 10 Covent Garden Market Gautier Houba / TripSavvy View Map Address Regal House, 14 James Street, London WC2E 8BU, UK Get directions Phone +44 20 7420 5856 Web Visit website You'll regularly hear free live music in Covent Garden Market. Go into the middle of the market and look down to the lower level to see who's on. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email