the museum quarter, no ticket
Free things to do in South Kensington
Three of the world's great museums sit on one South Kensington street and every one is free. Dinosaurs, design, hands-on science, then a wander into the royal park next door. A full free day without leaving SW7.
FREE
Free things to do in South Kensington
LONDON FREE GUIDEThe list
1
Natural History Museum
South Kensington · South Kensington
The blue whale, the dinosaurs and a cathedral of a building, free in South Kensington. The most visited museum in the country.
Daily 10am–5:50pmFull details →
2
Science Museum
South Kensington · South Kensington
Seven floors of science and engineering, free in South Kensington. Apollo capsules, steam engines and hands-on halls.
Daily 10am–6pmFull details →
3
The V&A
South Kensington · South Kensington
The world's greatest museum of art and design, free in South Kensington, with one of the prettiest courtyards in London.
Daily 10am–5:45pm · Fri to 10pmFull details →
4
Kensington Gardens
Kensington · Lancaster Gate
The quieter, prettier half of Hyde Park, free, with the Italian Gardens, the Albert Memorial, the Peter Pan statue and Kensington Palace gardens all in one royal sweep.
Daily · 6am to duskFull details →
5
Holland Park
Kensington · Holland Park
The most romantic park in west London, free, with woodland walks, roaming peacocks, formal gardens and the serene Kyoto Garden hidden at its heart.
Daily · 7:30am to duskFull details →
6
Kyoto Garden
Kensington · Holland Park
A genuine Japanese garden in the middle of Holland Park, with a tiered waterfall, a koi pond and peacocks wandering the paths. Free, and almost absurdly serene.
Daily · roughly 7:30am to dusk with the parkFull details →
7
Brompton Oratory
South Kensington · South Kensington
A vast, theatrical Italian Baroque Catholic church in South Kensington, free to enter, filled with imported marble saints.
Daily · respect servicesFull details →
8
Peter Pan Statue
Kensington Gardens · Lancaster Gate
The 1912 bronze of the boy who never grew up, hidden in Kensington Gardens on the exact spot from the story.
Daily, daylight hoursFull details →
More guides
Guide
Free
The stories hiding above Clerkenwell's pubs
A free ~45-minute walk from Angel to Farringdon past six Clerkenwell pub signs, each hiding a story you'd never guess from the street: a prince replaced by a Tamil king, a freed slave in chains, a mystery mural, the man who funded England's first atlas, and a 400-year-old typo. Every stop is free to look at, this is about the signs, not drinking.
Guide
FreeEvery weekend
Go East Vintage Flea: a free vintage market in Bermondsey
Go East Vintage runs a free vintage flea market most weekends at Maltby Street in Bermondsey, plus an indoor edition inside the railway arches on selected weekends. Free entry, no ticket, dog-friendly, just turn up. Expect 40 plus vintage sellers with furniture, vinyl, cameras, fashion, jewellery and odd little treasures, right by Maltby Street Market's food stalls. Dates move around a little, so check Go East Vintage's Instagram for the exact weekend before you go.
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