Top 20 Free Attractions in London
We tell you the top 20 places where you can go with a class in London and for free. Choose what your students will like.
The Photographers Gallery
The first open to the public and completely independent photo gallery in the British capital is the perfect place for art lovers. The gallery was originally located in a popular tea shop, but in 2008 it was moved to the site of a former textile factory in Soho. It hosts exhibitions of renowned photographers such as Danny Tracy, André Kertes, Taryn Simon, Ori Gersht and David King. The entrance to the gallery is free if you arrive before 12:00. It is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, except Thursday, when the working day is extended to 20:00, and Sunday, when the working day starts at 11:00.
Borough market
One of the oldest markets in London. A few years ago, the market celebrated its 1000th anniversary. The building is located in Southwark, an area of central London. Today, vendors are involved in the retail and wholesale of food. Recently it has been a rather popular place among Londoners. Although not surprising, considering that the Borough market appears quite often in films and TV shows. Attention is drawn to the architecture of the building, in particular the central part of the mid-nineteenth century. Retailers can be found here every Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 17:00, Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Saturday from 8:00 to 17:00.
Hyde Park
One of the largest and most beautiful parks in London, which has been visited for 1638 years. As a result, Hyde Park is home to many cultural and artistic events. 37 hectares of greenery is cut only by Lake Serpentine. Hyde Park has hosted many filming of films and television programs. Part of the park, known as Speakers' Corner, serves as a public forum where you can voice your opinion. The famous Marble Arch is located in the northeastern part. Also, the park often hosts celebrity concerts and sporting events. The park is open to visitors all year round from 05:00 to 00:00.
Royal Museums Greenwich
This complex includes the National Maritime Museum, the Queen's House, the Royal Observatory and the sailing ship Cutty Sark. Acquaintance with all the sights, except for the ship, is completely free. At the National Maritime Museum, you can admire a collection of paintings, documents and memorabilia related to British maritime history. The Queen's House is the former residence of the Queen and today houses the Marine Gallery of Paintings and Portraits. The Royal Observatory is located on the prime meridian and is one of the most famous observatories in the world. Today we can admire ancient navigational and astrological instruments. The museums are open to visitors every day from 10:00 to 17:00, except during Christmas.
British Film Institute's Mediatheque
Under Waterloo Bridge is the British Film Institute, where the media library is located. Movie fans will be here "at home." The Institute is equipped with four cinemas, where you can view the collections of the media library. The works of Alfred Hitchcock (including the only musical in his career) deserve special attention. The Institute is closed on Monday. Every Tuesday is open from 13:00 to 20:00, and from Wednesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 16:00 and on Sunday from 12:30 to 16:00.
Temple Church
Between Fleet Street and the Thames, there is a 12th century church built by the Templars. For many years it served as a secret meeting place. The temple consists of two parts - the Round Church (in a circle) and the altar (rectangular part). After the liquidation of the order, the church passed into the hands of the king and became the treasury. It is one of the few buildings that survived the great fire in London in 1666. During World War II, he was out of luck. German bombers destroyed the temple, but then they managed to restore it. The church is now performing its normal functions. You will have to pay for the tour, but for those who come to pray, the entrance to the church is always free.
Camden Town
This area is located in North London. It was created as part of an industrial city, but became a center for an alternative culture. Charming buildings along the canal, food stalls, concerts, street art can all be found in Camden Town. In addition to the various subcultures, famous Banksy graffiti can be seen on these streets. There are also many cultural institutions in Camden Town.
St Pauls Church
Church of St. Paul or "Church of the Actors". It should not be confused with St. Paul's Cathedral, which is paid for. The temple is located at the western end of Covent Garden. For hundreds of years, the history of the church has been associated with the theater. Inside you can see plaques honoring famous actors such as Charlie Chaplin, Boris Karloff and Vivien Leigh. Until now, the church is involved in numerous cultural events. The temple is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament)
Located on the left bank of the River Thames, Palace of Westminster is the showcase for London and the headquarters of the British Parliament. The oldest part of the palace is Westminster Hall, which was created in 1097. The form of the complex comes from the 19th century and is an example of the neo-Gothic style. Volunteers can go inside and see deliberative MPs in public galleries. The most famous part of the Palace of Westminster is Elizabeth Tower, better known as Big Ben. At the top, there is a chiming clock that sounds every hour on the streets of London.
Harrods
The most expensive store, you can go to see it like a museum. This popular luxury department store was built in 1849. However, the 7-storey building that we see now was built in 1905. Trade and service areas occupy 5 hectares of area. Inside there are 330 shops that offer haberdashery for women, men and children, jewelry, toys, electronics, cosmetics, furniture, household items. In addition to shopping, you can find many cafes, restaurants and hairdressers. Harrods is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00 and Sunday from 11:30 to 18:00.
Tate Britain
It is here that you can admire the collection of British art. The collections represent painting and sculpture from the UK from 1500 to the present. The gallery was founded in 1897. At first it was the site of Henry Tate's art collections. And today we can see here the works of prominent British artists such as William Blake, John Constable, William Hogarth, Gainsborough, William Turner, Francis Bacon and John Everett Millais. The gallery is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
Tate Modern
Since 2000, the Tate Center has been one of the largest contemporary art galleries in the world. The large space is ideal for presenting various works of art. The collection presents the achievements of artists from 1900 to the present day. Separate parts of the gallery are divided thematically. It features works by artists such as Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Robert Delaunay, Juan Gris, Paul Klee, Salvador Dali and Roy Lichtenstein. Tate Modern is open from Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 to 18:00, and on Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00.
The British Museum
This is one of the most popular museums in London and at the same time one of the most famous in the world. The institution has existed already in 1754, but the collection was moved to the current building in the second half of the 19th century. The amazing glazed courtyard is the largest in Europe. The collection contains artifacts from different parts of the world and different historical periods. The most famous exhibits are sculptures from the Athenian Parthenon, the Rosetta stone, Egyptian mummies, the Suton Hoo treasure. The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:30, except for Christmas, New Years and Easter.
Natural History Museum
It is located on Museum Street, next to the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The opening of the institution took place in 1881. More than 70 million exhibits are presented for viewing. All exhibits are divided into 5 areas: botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology. Visitors are greeted by a dinosaur skeleton in the main hall. Many of the exhibits are interactive (for example, an earthquake simulator) so that people can gain knowledge through play and experience. The Natural History Museum is open daily, except for Christmas, from 10:00 to 17: 50.
Science Museum
After the World's Fair, which was held in London in 1851, one of the largest museums in Europe in the field of science and technology was created. The large collection of exhibits brings together the various fields of science, technology, industry and shipping of the British. The samples are arranged in chronological order. Of particular note are James Watt's steam engines, the George Stephenson locomotive, or John Byrd's television prototypes. Children will be bored here. The children's gallery, where children get acquainted with scientific theories through the game, will definitely appeal to kids. The museum can be visited daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
Greenwich Park
Climb to the top of the hill in the center of Granwich Park and receive the reward for a fascinating view of the city. The Canary Wharf skyscrapers loom behind the 17th-century Queen's House, and beyond the Thames snakes its way into central London. It is an ideal place to relax in the capital on a summer day.
Kensington Gardens
The wonderful Kensington Gardens are home to numerous treasures. Here is the Prince Albert Memorial, the Peter Pan statue, the Serpentine Gallery, and the Princess Diana Playground. All this is free for visitors. And when you're done exploring the monuments, you can wander along the trees that fill the entire park. And to the east are all the famous royal parks: Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James Park.
Sky Garden
Probably the best free observation deck in central London. A wonderful place to spend your time. All you need is to book your visit in advance.
Portobello Road Market
Located in the heart of attractive Notting Hill. This market sells everything from vintage clothing and a variety of street food to antiques. It is busiest on Saturday, but there is always something going on there, regardless of the day of the week.
British Library
The Orange British Library is not only open to researchers and scholars. Everyone can visit it for free. Among the many treasures there is Magna Carta and the original Beatles songs. Literary exhibitions are also held in two small galleries near the main foyer. A quirky bookstore and a great café with free Wi-Fi can be added to the attractions too.
Of course, you can expand the list by purchasing the London Pass. This card will give you the opportunity to save on entry to paid museums and galleries. You should buy it in advance, and also clarify where it will operate (the list sometimes changes).
Have a great trip!