Welcome to London! One of the greatest cities in the world with thousands of fun things to entertain your days. Whether you are living in London or coming to visit you are probably aware that London is the most expensive place on the planet. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration but it's definitely the most expensive city in the UK so to have fun you might end up paying a lot of money.
As part of my series about Living in London on a Budget, I'm bringing you a list of fun things to do in London when you want to spend as little money as possible. Whether it be Museums, food tours, and just days in the best London park, this post has something for everything both Londoners and tourists!
Get Cultured in the Many Museums
Hear me out... Museums are not my favourite thing on planet earth but I have found some gems that even I enjoy.
My absolute favourite is the Imperial War Museum but I also like strolling through the V&A, British Museum, and Natural History Museum. If you're more into art you've got Tate Modern and National Gallery to name a few.
The best thing about museums is that most of them are FREE, except for the temporary exhibits, so you'll defo be staying within your budget!
Spend a day in the Park
London is filled with beautiful green spaces spread across central and more in the outskirts of town. My favourite is St James' Park as it's filled with trees which make you forget about the bustling city around you. It's also got beautiful flowers, parakeets, and very people friendly squirrels.
Central London parks that are definitely worth a visit are Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Holland Park, and Battersea Park. If you want to go a little further afield you have Hampstead Heath, Greenwich Park, and of course the fantastic Richmond Park where you are guaranteed to spot deer.
Go to a Film Premiere
I love film premieres they're not only free but they're a lot of fun and if you are lucky you might get a selfie with your favourite actors! Top tip for film premieres is to wrap up warm, be prepared to wait a long time, and most importantly don't give up!
I've been to two premieres: the first was Mary Poppins Returns and while I didn't get to meet Colin Firth I did get a Mary Poppins umbrella AND a ticket to go in and watch the film! I met some cool people who were also fans and we all had a great chat. The second one I went to was The Crown and I got a selfie with the Queen (Olivia Colman) herself!
Keep an eye out on websites such as Premiere Scene for latest updates on when and where film premieres are in London.
St Dunstan in the East
Having been destroyed during the Second World War the ruins of St Dunstan has become a sanctuary garden perfect for sit-down, cool photoshoot spots, or eating your lunch. I love coming to St Dunstan and just hide from the bustling city.
Visit the Queen's House
Not only is it free, but it's also one of my favourite buildings in London. Located at the bottom of Greenwich Park the Queen's House is a gallery with an extended portrait collection as well as maritime paintings.
I love not only the building but it's surrounding areas. Stroll along the Thames and cut across the Old Naval College before entering the Queen's House. It's never filled with tourists so if you're looking for something non-touristy then this is a definite recommend!
Go to the Market
London is filled with beautiful markets, whether they're put up every day or have their fixed spot there's always one open for you to wonder about in! Whether you're in the hunt for some street food or to just mooch about and look at knick-knacks there's something for everyone.
Columbia Road Flower Market is often busy with people but don't let it stop you from taking in all the stunning flowers, Portobello Road Market has your traditional stalls with handmade soaps, printed t-shirts, and all the food you can dream of! You also have the likes of Camden Market and Spitalfields Market for the more unique purchases. And if you're looking to fuel up on delicious food then I 100% recommend Borough Market both for fresh produce and street food!
While London can be extremely expensive don't let it put you off having a wonderful day as there are so many things to do that are either free or well within any tight budget. I love living in London but sometimes it can feel like everything costs money and while I currently have to get by on an extremely tight budget I know I can still appreciate the greatness of the city.
Love this post! My other favourite free thing to do in London is work my way down the Thames with a picnic.
I wrote a post on my favourite parks in london on my blog too! https://backpackingscrubs.wordpress.com/2020/06/30/8-best-parks-and-green-spaces-in-london/