If there’s one thing that people always complain about when they visit a capital city like London, it’s the prices. You can forever have some tight tourist talk your ear off about how much a meal was or the exorbitant rate that a taxi driver charged them. And yet, the capital holds a feast of tourist attractions available to the public for absolutely free.
- Visit LondonJon Bennett / Foter.com / CC BY
Once you’ve made your way from one of London’s six international airports, possibly leaving your car at the Gatwick or Stansted meet and greet for means of convenience, there’s a raft of tourist attractions open to you for not even a penny.
So, here are five of the finest and freest locations to entertain, stimulate and make for a great day out.
Goldsmith’s Hall, London
One of the most prestigious jewellery makers in the world, Goldsmith’s Hall is the home to an impressive collection of jewellery and silverware that is sure to provide a sparkling spectacle for any fan of such finery.
For anyone interested in parting with their cash, the company also hold numerous exhibitions throughout the year where all the jewellery on display is for sale. So, if you’re looking for a particularly impressive souvenir on your travels, this is the place to look.
London National Gallery
A truly fascinating place to wander around, the National Gallery is home to some of the finest paintings ever created.
- London National Gallery @Doug88888 / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
From Vincent Van Gogh’s strangely mesmerising Sunflowers to Johannes Vermeer’s A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal, which plays with lighting in ways that are simply stunning, The National Gallery is a must visit for anyone with even a passing interest in painting.
Abbey Road, London
Abbey Road will forever ring in the ears of any fan of The Beatles, with that now iconic album cover of the band crossing the road’s zebra crossing standing out as one of the most famous images of the 60s.
- London Abbey RoadFoter.com / CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Nowadays, visiting this site has become the musical equivalent of a trek to mecca, with Beatles enthusiasts flocking to the zebra crossing for the opportunity to ape their musical heroes.
While you’re there, why not visit Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles and many others have recorded some of the greatest music ever made? Although it isn’t free, a tour of these still active studios acts as a fantastic companion piece to that Abbey Road photo recreation.
British Film Institute’s Mediatheque
The British Film Institute’s Mediatheque is truly any cineaste’s paradise. Essentially a library of as many classic film and television programmes as the BFI have been able to collect, the Mediatheque is a great day out for any person looking to delve into the world of cinema and beyond.
All you have to do when you get to the Mediatheque, situated on the Southbank, is log onto one of the viewing stations available, and you’ll be treated to an entire archive of popular, rare and sometimes never-before-released films from the BFI’s archive.
