So, you’re in London and you’ve done a bit of mental maths. It’s a lotta money to spend - we know.
A day out (or longer stay trip) in the capital can become expensive rather quickly, which is why we’ve collected our favourite free (yes, FREE) and super cheap days out in London town.
Located in Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery is the perfect day out for art lovers. Pieces from some of the world’s most renowned artists, including Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh.
There are daily free tours, and the gallery holds special tours for extra art collections. If you’re willing to spend a bit of cash, there are also paid classes available – showcase those secret art skills.
London is jam-packed with free museums, but after exploring the big ones, make sure you check out the Imperial War Museum. Located near Elephant and Castle, kids will love getting up-close and personal with a Spitfire and Harrier fighter jet.
The experience is super educational, with info about everything from the First World War to the Holocaust. Young ones will love exploring the museum and the kids’ guidebook full of fun activities – that'll keep them mighty quiet.
Based in the heart of London, Covent Garden Market is a great place to wander around. There’s plenty sounds, smells and sights on offer. And whilst you may end up parting with a few pennies (it’s easily done when everything looks so irresistible), you can simply enjoy the atmosphere for a whopping zero pounds and zero pence.
Whether you love chocolate, Mexican food or ice cream (the list goes on), Covent Garden Market has something you’re bound to enjoy, we pinkie promise.
You wouldn’t believe that Little Venice is based in London’s bustling city centre. With the beautiful and serene canals just a few minutes away from Paddington station, Little Venice is the perfect place to walk off your lunch (or grab some lunch at a quirky café).
If you fancy making your visit more of an event, watch one of the local puppet shows – it's basically a Little Venice rite of passage.
If your kids are aspiring Sir David Attenborough's, make sure you head to the City Farm. It’s a great place for the little ones to meet some furry friends. All the farm asks for is a donation on entry so you can spend as little or as much as you’d like.
The farm has a wide selection of animals, from horses and alpacas to rabbits, goats, pigs and more – I bet that’ll keep the kids entertained for a while.
Now this isn’t a last-minute day out option, BUT if you book in advance, the Sky Garden is well worth a visit. This place arguably has the best view of London about AND you can see it completely free of charge – what kind of sorcery is this?
If you fancy milking the experience for what it’s worth, there are bars and restaurants located up top too. If not, you can head up for a quick visit with the kids, then move onto your next bargain attraction.
If your kids (or yourself) are dinosaur fanatics, there’s no better place in London to stop off than Crystal Palace Park. Perfect for picnics or games of football, the park is home to some giant dinosaur sculptures.
And if it didn’t sound cool enough as it stands, they’re also the oldest ones in the world too (save that for the pub quiz).
Read our ultimate guide to the best days out in London or discover everything you need to know about planning a family staycation to London.
Sick of the city air? Discover the best day trips from London (By Train or Car)
At Days Out, you can book the UK’s best attractions (y’know the proper FOMO inducing ones?) -- we know where’s perfect for you. Find your next adventure.
