Best Free Things to do in London on your own
Best Things to do in London on your own
London is a pretty big place with so much to do. A lot of people will say that London is expensive. To some extent this is true, the cost of housing is extortionate however you can in fact do London on the cheap. There are many free/budget things to do in London on your own. Whether you prefer to do some sightseeing or learn something new London has many activities to suit your needs. All of these activities I have personally done by myself. Let’s check out the best free things to do in London on your own.
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Places to visit in London on your own
Visit a Museum
The following London Museums are absolutely free of charge to enter. (There may be additional charges for some exhibitions once inside the museum).
Do note that some museums have kiosks at the entrance where they ask you for a donation. If you are generally broke you can refuse – even though they may make you feel bad doing so.
The Science Museum, National History Museum and The V & A Museum are located within walking distance of each other. Due to covid, museums have had to allow staggered times with a certain capacity – to avoid disappointment book in advance, especially during the holidays.
For Science Museum tickets click here
Check out National History Museum tickets here
and V & A tickets here
Closest tube: South Kensington – follow directions to the museums.
Oxford Street
Fancy a spot of shopping? Look no further than Oxford Street. The whole length of the street will have every shop imaginable, whatever you are looking for Oxford Street will cater for you. For budget shopping is there two Primarks on Oxford street one on either end. There is also Regent Street which is very popular with shopaholics, if you head down there it will then lead you to Piccadilly Circus.
Top Tip: If you do fancy a spot of retail therapy but it is raining (well it is London) then check out Westfields. There is one in Shephards bush and one in Stratford – great as the mall is indoors.
Places to see in London for free – sightseeing
London is incredibly accessible and a lot of these sightseeing locations are within walking distance from each other. The following places may have an entrance fee however in most cases (unless you are really want to see it) you may just want to take a picture and move on. In my opinion, the ticket prices are overpriced and not worth it.
Sky Garden
A great place to start is Sky Garden. It is completely free to enter however do you need to book a ticket in advance. Word of warning these tickets sell out very quickly but have different times which you can enter. I went first thing in the morning at 10 am (as that was the only time they had available). I found it to be quieter which was great for pictures. Click here to get your tickets.
Buckingham Palace – changing of the guard
This is a ceremony where the Queen’s guards literally change over to protect Buckingham Palace. Be sure to check out the dates and times here to make your journey worthwhile. It lasts approximately 45 mins and starts at 11 am.
Trafalgar Square
Named after the Battle of Trafalgar, this is a great place to chill and relax. Make sure you check out the four lions and the fountain in the middle.
Piccadilly Circus & Shaftsbury Avenue
The famous screens of Piccadilly. Honestly, after you have taken your photos at Piccadilly Circus there isn’t a lot to do here. If you love theatre be sure to check out Shaftsbury Avenue where the majority of the theatres are located. You can catch some last-minute deals and watch a show. (I have done this by myself many times. I have found it cheaper to go solo and you also get the best seats). For tickets check out today tix.
St Pauls Cathedral
St Pauls’s Cathedral is very impressive to see however there is a charge to enter to view the dome and galleries. It is however free to enter on a Sunday for worship only if you did want to go inside for free. When you are at St Paul’s head down Millennium bridge (if you are a Harry Potter fan this is the bridge featured in the 7th movie) and take a photo from there.
London Eye, Houses of Parliment and Big Ben
I’ve put all of these together as you can see all of these landmarks from each other. Be aware that Big Ben is currently under construction until 2022. Did you know that Big Ben is the name of the bell, not the tower? I personally wouldn’t bother to go on the London Eye. It only lasts 30 minutes and costs around £30.
Covent Garden
For one of London’s hidden gems head to Neals Yard. This quirky place is insta-worthy, beware that this place can get very busy. After, head to the square where you can find places to eat or just have a relaxing time.
Tower Bridge
If you time this correctly you can see the bridge lift – there are times that you can check so that you are there on time. You can also pay to go up and walk across the glass floor however this experience will cost you £10.
Shard
The shard stands at 1016ft and is the tallest building in the UK and seventh-tallest in Europe. If you wish to go all the way to the top and take in “the view from the shard” there is a cost. I ended up having some afternoon tea which gave me the views for free. Also if you need the toilet the views up there are insane – the best toilet views I have ever come across if I am honest. Don’t fancy eating or drinking anything, the shard is a pretty big building which you can spot anyway. Although the outside isn’t as fancy it is still worth a shot.
Dining alone in London on your own
My top place to eat in London is Borough Market close to London Bridge. Having lunch here is affordable and there is a dedicated seating area so if you are going by yourself it isn’t awkward at all. If you arent that close to Borough Market, I would look at Spitalfields or any other market if you are looking for affordable lunch choices.
If a market is not your scene I’d check out a bench-style restaurant like Wagamamas. I personally love eating here by myself and the food is decently priced and delicious.
