London is perceived as perhaps the most expensive city in the world. In fact, it’s not like that. While in London, you can see many interesting places and spend nothing, or leave very little money. You just need to know where to go.
Cinema
In London you can go to the cinema for free. Some bars organize film screenings on certain days – for example, Roxy Bar and Screen. Sometimes there is free admission; specific free days can be found on the poster at the entrance.
Watching movies will be no less enjoyable at the Sands Cinema Club. It is organized in the open air near the River Thames. There is a projector with a screen on the lawn; people sit right on the grass. The films are mostly arthouse.
Museums
Interestingly, London’s public museums are free. You can visit famous museums and galleries completely freely, and not for 10-30 euros, as sometimes happens in other European cities. Victoria and Albert Museum, Guildhall Art Gallery, Natural History Museum, National Portrait Gallery, British Museum – these and other places do not charge admission.
The Natural History Museum of London houses exhibits related to paleontology and zoology. Including dinosaur skeletons. The Victoria and Albert Museum is dedicated to design and fashion: it houses a collection of sculptures, ceramics, and interior items. The British Museum is second only to the Louvre in popularity. Many items from different historical eras and countries are collected here.
St. James Park
In the center of London, next to the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, there is a royal park. This is a popular place for walking. The park is also famous for the pelicans that live in the local lake.
On weekends during the warm season, concerts are held in the park, which you can attend for free. You shouldn’t expect top stars, but since you don’t have to pay for tickets, why not go.
Borough Market
The market has existed in London since the 13th century and is well known to residents of the British capital. Here you can put together a complete breakfast from several components right on the go. It’s best to come on a weekend – then you can experience the real flavor of local street trading.
The choice of products is wide: for those watching their figure, and for lovers of a healthy diet without GMOs, and for those who do not bother with healthy food and just want to eat tasty food. Of course, the sellers do not give out food for free, but you can literally have a meal here for just £5. Moreover, for a couple of pounds you can negotiate with the seller and take small sandwiches “to try.” So it comes out quite cheap.
Theater
The Scoop open theater often hosts exhibitions, performances, concerts and film screenings. It can accommodate a thousand people, and there are more than enough people willing to come. We advise you to arrive early and take a seat, because there are always a lot of visitors.
The Scoop is part of the More London complex near Tower Bridge. Event organizers emphasize that theatrical performances will be of interest to a wide audience – perhaps even those who hate theater.
Speakers’ Corner
In Hyde Park there is a Speakers’ Corner with a small platform. It appeared at the end of the nineteenth century. The idea is that anyone can take the podium and express their thoughts about anything – from melting ice to geopolitics.
Strangely enough, the local riot police will not come for the speaker or the crowd gathered around him and will not disperse the picket unauthorized by the authorities, sending those who are especially active to cool off in a pre-trial detention center. Therefore, you can listen to speeches completely freely, and when the podium is free, take it and feel like a speaker.
Royal guard
The historical tradition has not changed for many years. The ceremonial changing of the royal guard is regularly held in several places in London. You can watch the beautiful performance for free.
At the Horse Guards building, the changing of the guard takes place from Monday to Saturday. It lasts half an hour and starts at 11:00. Near Buckingham Palace, the ceremony takes place every day in the summer, and every other day during the rest of the year. Here it starts at 11:30 and takes approximately 45 minutes.
Flea market
There are many large shopping centers in London, where world brands with expensive goods are represented. But all this can be bought in other countries. But what you can’t get anywhere else are items from the local flea market.
This is a unique treasure trove of antique and rare items that you don’t seem to need at all, but at the same time it’s absolutely impossible to resist buying. Merchants will easily talk you into buying something at exorbitant prices, and it is better to immediately ignore them. But there is no fee for walking through the rows, and the goods here are truly interesting. Perhaps the British Museum will be jealous of some of the finds.
Stand-up performances
London clubs are famous for their stand-up shows. The British have a specific humor, to put it mildly – sometimes it’s difficult to understand what exactly should make you smile.
Stand-up performances are sometimes organized free of charge. For example, Angel Comedy Club and The Comedy Bin host shows where guests with an empty wallet are welcome. But it’s better to find out the poster in advance so as not to come in vain – some of the performances are still paid.
East End
London’s street art scene is thriving in the East End. At every step you will meet street musicians, artists and actors. Once upon a time this was the industrial part of the city, where ordinary workers lived, and people with money lived at the opposite end – in the West End. Now there is no such division, the East End has become overgrown with high-rise business centers.
Festivals and street exhibitions are often held here. The East End is home to many small museums, galleries and establishments that attract tourists. Not all of them are free, but even a simple walk around the area will leave a lot of impressions.
After thoroughly exploring London, don’t rush to leave the UK, but go look at the gingerbread houses on the water meadows.
