Thread: Things to do in London when you're dead (broke)

Apologies for the play on a movie title:spinny:
If you're heading off back to London for a holiday, then you'll probably be aware that the restaurants and hotels can be a tad on the pricey side! However, once you've got over those costs, then it's possible to see the sights with very little outlay. Virtually no other city in the world far more free things to do, from world class museums, markets, parks, canal walks and much more.
So here is part 1 - The first 5 of 20 free things to do in London

1) British Museum The British Museum is one of London's top attractions, housing a vast collection of world art and artefacts and best of al, its absolutely free. You could hop in for 20 minutes, peek at the world famous Rosetta Stone, and move on, or alternatively stay the whole day, taking in Aztec mosaic masks and the head-smashed "Lindow Man" (a 1st-century unfortunate found in a peat bog in 1984) amongst many other things. Watch for worthwhile 20- and 50-minute eye-opener tours, also free.

2) Houses of Parliament The Houses of Parliament / Palace of Westminster, home of "Big Ben", is a neo-Gothic wonder from the mid 19th Century, although royal palaces have been built on the site since the eleventh century. The palace is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 'Big Ben' is the largest 4-faced chiming clock in the world and the 3rd largest free standing clock tower in the world and was completed in 1858. The Palace is Home to the House of Commons and the House of Lords, Reserve ahead to watch the antics (democracy in full flow) during Parliament sessions: parliament.uk

3) National Gallery The National Gallery houses the national collection of Western European painting from the 13th to the 19th and showcases 2,000 classics by the likes of Van Gogh, Renoir, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. The gallery is open 361 days a year, free of charge and more than five million people pop into the Trafalgar Square building each year. Bypass the hordes by visiting on weekday mornings or Wednesday evenings (after 6 pm).

4) Science Museum Da Vinci Code fans make Temple Church - with origins dating to the 12th Century - a must-see in London, for its role in a key scene. It is a distinctive place, built by crusading monks, with a traffic-free oasis of green spaces amidst the buildings in the city.

5) Temple Church Da Vinci Code fans make Temple Church - with origins dating to the 12th Century - a must-see in London, for its role in a key scene. It is a distinctive place, built by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. It is famous for its effigy tombs and for being a round church. It was heavily damaged during the Second World War but has been largely restored.

I would also suggest Greenwich. Steeped in history with so much to see all within walking distance. The maritime museum, Queens house, naval college the best park in England IMO with is herds of deer, rowing lakes and views. You also have the artisans market, the cutty sark and some great pubs and eateries. The place has a real bohemian feel to it and if by any chance you do get bored just get on the river boat and after a tour of some great places along the Thames you can get off at the embankment and 2 mins walk and your in the heart of the WESst End.

What a Town!!!

It's what makes London one of the truly great cities of the world.

Adding on the Temple Church one, Lincolns Inn fields are a great place to chill out and relax. I used to work in Kingsway accross the road and would often get over there for lunch time, in the summer it would be full of office girls and students from the LSE sunbathing. Its a very interesting area with the Royal Courts and the chambers. A must for Dan Brown Fans

I always go to Southbank when i am back home, there is always sooo much going on there!

Another 5 free things to do in London: Part 2 (6-10)

6) Tate Britain The older half of the Tate duo (the modern bits moved upriver in 2000), the gallery is situated on Millbank on the site of Millbank Prison and opened in 1897. The gallery suffered bomb damage during WWII and signs of the damage are still visible on the Atterbury Street wall. Tate Britain's works focus on British masterpieces from the 16th to late 20th Centuries. Look for one-hour thematic tours and 15-minute talks on painters and paintings, all part of the admission price: nothing.

7) St Paul's Church Not to be confused with St Paul's Cathedral (a big attraction that comes with a ticket price), this church on the western flank of Covent Garden Piazza is known as the "actor's church". The first Punch and Judy show took place in 1662, and there are memorials for Charlie Chaplin and Vivien Leigh, the most famous faux British Confederate of all time. The church was completed in 1633 at a cost of £4,400. The very first victim of the Great Plague was buried in the churchyard at St Paul's on the 12th April, 1665.

8) Museum of London Off the radar to most visitors, yet one of the city's great attractions, housing the world's largest urban history museum with 1.1 million objects. This museum offers a walk through London's various incarnations - Discover prehistoric, Roman and medieval London, stroll in recreated 18th century pleasure gardens, marvel at the Lord Mayor's Coach and explore the issues of 21st century Londoners.. Plus there is a nice cafe in its garden.

9) National Maritime Museum The leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Greenwich's best attraction, this neoclassical building museum gets more interesting and fun the deeper you go in. The focus is on Britain's seafaring past, including the bullet that felled Horatio Nelson, a replica of Ernest Shackleton's life boat and plenty of kid-friendly interactive exhibits.

10) Borough Market Since the 13th Century, Borough Market has been stuffed with food-lovers and is the perfect place for a memorable grab-and-go breakfast or lunch. Open Thursday to Saturday, it is one of the top attractions south of the river. Go on Saturday to catch the market at its bustling best.

Good info Rob!

Speakers corner in Hyde park is a larf, and zany politics