London is my favorite city on this planet. I first went there after graduating high school and
for the past 20 years I try and visit at least every couple of years. Unfortunately, the exchange rate between the
US dollar and the British pound has made visiting nowadays quite a bit more expensive than it used to be, but there
are still plenty of free things to do in London. Here's a list of some of my favorites.
London Museum Hopping
Most of the big museums in London are free to visit. So on each of my trips to London, I usually visit a couple and
spend a few hours wandering the galleries and exhibits. Some of my favorites are the National Portrait Gallery just
on the edge of Trafalgar Square; the Victoria & Albert (V&A) in South Kensington; and the Tate Modern on
Bankside near the London Bridge.
Window Shopping and the Street Markets
There are so many cool shops in London, that I like to stay away from the chain stores. It's more fun to putter
around shops that aren't just like the ones back home. My favorite location for window shopping is Covent Garden
and the streets that run off of it. I usually duck into Neal's Yard on Neal St, just a few blocks from Covent
Garden, to treat myslf to some nice cheese at the Neals Yard Dairy. Sorry, the cheese isn't free!
Other favorite puttering spots are Kings Road (starting near Sloane Square), and Carnaby Street. Some of the side
streets in Soho also have some interesting shops and if you like books, Charing Cross Road and the streets that run
off of it are fun to wander around.
Also, be sure to check out some of London's most popular street markets. My favorite is the one at Portobello Road
in Notting Hill for lots of cool second hand goods and flea market finds. There's a market here six days a week!
Sunday is the only day there is no market.
If it's Sunday though, you can always head over to Camden Market. That's the best day to go there anyway. As you
exit Camden Tube station, just head north, but you won't have any problem with getting lost because the place will
be mobbed with people.
People Watching
No matter what time of year you visit, London is always bustling with people. There are some great locations in the
city to just spend a couple of hours soaking in the flavor of the place. Piccadilly Square and Trafalgar Square are
the more obvious spots, but I also like Covent Garden because it tends to be a bit quieter and they usually have
street performers too.
If you find yourself wandering around on a Sunday and you aren't in the mood for Camden Market, why not head over
to Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park and see who's decided to give a speech. Watching the audience that gathers is as
fun as watching some of the more entertaining speakers.
Hopefully, I've helped you out with a few ideas of some of the different free things you can do in London. The city
is such a vibrant and ever-changing place to be that I find just wandering in whichever direction I feel like
turning leads to some exciting new place to be discovered. All you really need is a comfortable pair of shoes and
maybe a pass for the Underground.
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