Free Activities and Attractions in London

1. Brick Lane Market

Brick Lane Market is open to the public for free each Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, located in the heart of London's thriving Bangladeshi community along the city's Brick Lane and Cheshire Street. The market dates back to the 17th century, when it was operated as a farmer's market by the city's Jewish community. Throughout the 20th century, it was transformed by the region's new influx of Bangladeshi immigrants, who also opened many of the area's famed curry houses. Five markets are operated within the city's historic 11-acre Old Truman Brewery facility, selling a diverse range of vintage, antique, retro, and eclectic goods. More than 200 stalls operate at the Sunday UpMarket, ranging from handmade clothing sellers to organic food producers. Notable vendors include Vault Vinyl, known for its hard-to-find albuns, and Art of Revolution, which sells authentic prints of Soviet and Cuban-era revolutionary art. Clever food stalls are offered at the Boiler House Food Hall, while extensive selections of teas, coffees, and traditional baked goods are sold at the Tea Rooms.

Brick Ln, Spitalfields, London E1 6QR, United Kingdom, Phone: +44-20-77-70-60-28

2. The British Museum

The British Museum is the oldest national public museum in the world, opened to the public in 1759. It has become one of the United Kingdom's most popular tourist attractions today, drawing more than six million annual visitors to view its beautiful collections of art, literature, and archaeological artifacts. Museum exhibits are split into time period sections, showcasing wings that document the human history of Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, along with areas in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Visitors can explore the museum's three floors of exhibits for free throughout the year and view amazing artifacts such as the world-renowned Rosetta Stone, which was carved in 196 BC and was used as a major translating tool for ancient hieroglyphics. Other major artifacts include Easter Island moai, Egyptian mummies, and the Great Shrine of Amaravati, one of India's oldest Buddhist shrines.

Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom, Phone: +44-20-73-23-82-99

3. Broadway Market

Broadway Market is one of London's liveliest public markets, stretching between London Fields and the Regent's Canal and dividing Cambridge Heath from Haggerston. The market was historically the site of one of London's most active fruit and vegetable markets and was reestablished in 2004 after a period of decline in the late 20th century. Today, it hosts a thriving market each Saturday morning and afternoon, selling a fabulous array of produce, flowers, coffee, books, and clothing at more than 100 weekly market stalls. Hackney-area hipsters and creative frequent the market each week in search of unique vintage and retro finds. Even on off-market days, the district offers much to do for visitors, home to more than 70 specialty shops, cafes, and restaurants, including Fin and Founder's, Deeney's, and Floris Bakery.

4. Camden Market

Camden Market is one of London's most popular visitor attractions, drawing more than 250,000 visitors each week throughout the year to its vibrant food, craft, and clothing stalls. The market, which is also referred to as Camden Lock, is located within the city's historic former Pickfords Stables in Camden Town, just north of the Regent's Canal's Hampstead Road Lock. It has operated each week since the beginning of the 20th century, developing in its current incarnation since the founding of a weekly craft market in 1974. Today, the market is operated on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year, showcasing both fixed and temporary stalls. Two market areas are operated, including Camden Lock Market, which focuses on fast food stalls, craft items, secondhand clothing, books, and jewelry. The Stables Market is home to furniture sellers, household goods and decorative item stalls, and a variety of subculture and ethnic item sellers.

5. Chinatown

Chinatown is the central hub of London's East Asian community, originally formed in the 1950s following the opening of several of the city's first Chinese restaurants. The lively, bustling neighborhood has evolved today as the central gathering place for the city's annual East Asian activities and festivities, including its Chinese New Year celebrations in January. Visitors can peruse unique Chinese food shops, bakeries, and gift stores such as New Moon Loon and SeeWoo, enjoying authentic delicacies like taiyaki fish-shaped waffles and pineapple buns and browsing for traditional Chinese lanterns and clothing. Delicious restaurants serve up a variety of East Asian fare, ranging from regional Chinese cuisine to Korean, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, and Malaysian favorites. Architectural highlights include the lovely Wardour Street gate, the largest Chinese-style gate in the United Kingdom, constructed in 2016.

10 Wardour St, London W1D 6BZ, United Kingdom

6. Columbia Road Flower Market

Columbia Road Flower Market has been a tradition since the early 20th century, originally founded as a Saturday trading market in London's Bethnal Green, just off Hackney Road within the borough of Tower Hamlets. The market has been operated on Sundays for decades following an Act of Parliament meant to accommodate city's Jewish traders, enjoying a resurgence of popularity since the 1960s. Today, it operates each week from 8:00am to 2:00pm, known for its artisan flower, food, and accessory stalls operated by second and third-generation traders. Plants, shrubs, bulbs, and fresh-cut flowers are sold at competitive prices, making it a popular stop for flower buyers and photographers. Alongside flower stalls, other vendors sell everything from Buddhist artifacts and international pantry goods to handmade soaps, candlesticks, and perfumes.

Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG, United Kingdom

7. The Design Museum

The Design Museum is a lovely graphic, fashion, and architectural design museum in London's Kensington district, founded and opened to the public by Sir Terence Conran in 1989. The museum, which received the European Museum of the Year Award in 2018, is housed within a gorgeous landmark building that formerly housed the Commonwealth Institute. Unique exhibits showcase permanent and temporary exhibitions highlighting items from the museum's permanent collections, which include furniture, product, and industrial design items. A reference library contains materials related to architecture and design, while a restaurant and residency studio are located on the museum's top floor. Other facilities include the Swarovski Foundation Centre for Learning, which features a design studio, seminar rooms, and a creative workshop.

224-238 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 6AG, United Kingdom

8. The Horniman Museum and Gardens

The Horniman Museum and Gardens are a free-admission museum in South London's Forest Hill district, showcasing extensive anthropology and natural history exhibits, including exhibits focusing on the history of musical instruments. The museum was the vision of Frederick John Horniman, the heir to the Horniman's Tea business, the largest tea trading company in the world at the turn of the 20th century. It is home to more than 13,000 historical musical instruments from around the world, along with significant natural history, taxidermy, and anthropology artifact collections. A wide variety of nature-focused exhibits are on display throughout the museum's grounds, ranging from an acclaimed aquarium facility to a butterfly house and 16-acre botanical garden.

100 London Rd, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ, United Kingdom, Phone: +44-20-86-99-18-72

9. The Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament , also referred to as the Palace of Westminster, are the seat of the United Kingdom's House of Commons and House of Lords, which constitute one of the world's oldest representative assemblies. The lovely government complex is located at the site of an 11th-century palace on the beautiful River Thames, which is most noted as the home of London's iconic Big Ben clock tower. Original buildings still standing at the site today including Westminster Hall, one of the world's most iconic public buildings, which is primarily used for ceremonial events. Visitors can tour the Houses on Saturdays throughout the year or six days a week when Parliament is in recess throughout August and September. Tours last approximately 75 minutes and showcase both houses of government, along with the complex's Royal Gallery, St. Stephen's Hall, and Queen's Robing Room. Visitors can also attend committee hearings and debates throughout the year at select event times that are open to the public.

10. Imperial War Museum London

Imperial War Museum London is the world's leading military museum, originally founded during the First World War as a repository for military artifacts, oral history recordings, documents, and photographic and video material. Today, the museum showcases an immense collection of artifacts spanning from World War I through the present day, highlighted within its award-winning galleries. Six floors of permanent exhibits can be viewed for free throughout the year, though some special rotating exhibits charge an additional admission fee. Collections strive to tell the story of the ordinary people behind each conflict, highlighting military uniforms, vehicles, and weapons alongside works of art, film retrospectives, and oral history projects. Free events hosted at the museum throughout the year include lectures and interactive family-friendly events.

Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ, United Kingdom, Phone: +44-20-74-16-50-00