London on a Budget

If you are visiting London on a budget there is so much for you to see and do that is either free of charge or at very low cost, we have put together a selection for you.

Architecture/Churches:

St Pauls Cathedral
FREE visits daily from 4.15 evensong 5pm
The present building dates from the 17th century and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. visit: http://www.stpauls.co.uk/

Westminster Abbey (The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster)
FREE to visit the Closters and the college garden. 
A beautiful Gothic church, in Westminster located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English/British monarchs.

The Choristers of the Choir are educated at Westminster Abbey Choir School and are all extremely talented. Evensong is at 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays.  visit: http://www.westminster-abbey.org

The Arts:

National gallery
Entrance FREE also daily FREE 10 min Art Talks.
The National Gallery has priceless pieces of art including Leonardo da Vinci’s “ ‘The Virgin of the Rocks”. and “The Sunflowers” by Vincent van Gogh.
Visit: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Notting Hill Arts Club - Rough Trade’s
Free showcase Saturday afternoons
http://www.nottinghillartsclub.com

Royal Opera House
FREE Monday lunchtime recitals visit: http://www.roh.org.uk

Shakespeare’s Globe
Yard standing tickets only £5
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com

St.Martin in the fields
Regular FREE luchtime concerts
www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/

Cemeteries
Highgate Cemetry
As well as being one of London’s greatest treasures, Highgate Cemetery is a haven of beauty and tranquillity. Famous internments include Karl Marx & George Elliot.
Visit: http://www.highgate-cemetery.org/
Highgate Woods is a beautiful 70 acres of oak hornbeam and holly wood that is next to the cemetary – and well worth a visit.

City Farm
FREE of Charge
Spitalfields City Farm brings the countryside to the city, providing education and environmental opportunities to local communities in a relaxed and enjoyable way. The farm is less than a mile from the financial heart of the City offering a relaxed green space to get away from the busy streets of Tower Hamlets. Visitors are actively encouraged to get involved in the farms many activities such as volunteering, educational workshops and children’s activities. The farm hosts many exciting workshops throughout the year. Visit: http://www.spitalfieldscityfarm.org/

Engineering
The Greenwich Foot Tunnel
FREE of Charge
The Greenwich foot tunnel is a pedestrian tunnel crossing beneath the River Thames in East London, linking Greenwich in south London with the Isle of Dogs East London.  The tunnel was designed by civil engineer Sir Alexander Binnie[and the tunnel was opened on 4 August 1902.  Whilst in Greenwich you can visit The Royal Observatory and stand on the Prime Meridian.  A metal strip where if you stand over the line you can be in the the eastern and western hemispheres at the same time.

Olympic Park View Tube - At Pudding Mill Lane DLR Station (one stop from stratford) FREE of charge
If you want to see the London 2012 Olympic Park site without any planning, there is a viewing platform called View Tube right next to the Olympic Stadium. It’s on a raised walkway called The Greenway and there is also a cafe and education facilities.

Museums

Natural History Museum
FREE with FREE daily activities
The Museum offers visitors lots of free daily activities including films, tours, talks and shows, as well as its many gallery experiences and world-renowned specimen collections.

Science Museum
FREE entry
The Science Museum was founded in 1857 as part of the South Kensington Museum, and gained independence in 1909. Today the Museum is world renowned for its historic collections, awe-inspiring galleries and inspirational exhibitions Free Daily Tours

V&A Victoria and Albert Museum
FREE Entry – FREE Guided tours daily
The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world’s greatest museum of art and design.
Housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects.  There is also a beautiful garden Ideal for a picnic. Visit: http://www.vam.ac.uk/

Traditions
Buckingham Palace Changing The Guard
FREE
Daily during the summer, every other day at other times during the year.