London

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-museums-amp-galleries">MUSEUMS &amp; GALLERIES </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/d818906_ret_media_networks_resized_2bCQuZG.width-2560-1024x683.jpg" alt="Tate Modern Media Networks " class="wp-image-3684" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/d818906_ret_media_networks_resized_2bCQuZG.width-2560-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/d818906_ret_media_networks_resized_2bCQuZG.width-2560-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/d818906_ret_media_networks_resized_2bCQuZG.width-2560-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/d818906_ret_media_networks_resized_2bCQuZG.width-2560.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tate Modern&#8217;s Media Networks © Lee Mawdsley</figcaption></figure>



Handily, many of London&#8217;s top museums and galleries are free to visit so if you&#8217;re looking for culture on a shoestring here&#8217;s where to head. 



Tate Modern on South Bank is the gift that keeps on giving. Muddy&#8217;s spent many an hour in the Turbine Hall browsing exhibitions for nada and its current must-sees include <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern/display/media-networks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Media Networks</a>. A deep dive into the ways artists over the last century have responded to the impact of mass media and ever-changing technologies, it includes Clido Meireles mind-blowing tower (reminiscent of the Tower of Babel) but formed from hundreds of radios tuned to multiple different stations. Also check out <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/tate-modern-lates" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tate Modern Lates</a> (the next one takes place 31 Aug), free nights with a unique mix of art, music, film, workshops, talks and more (Muddy recently saw singer Celeste play there for £0). 



Did you know the humble West African kola nut was used as an ingredient for Coca-Cola, chocolate, and Western medicines? Discover more about its uses and origins at free exhibition <a href="https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/ZmmnMhEAACAAF5Rm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Kola Nut Cannot Be Contained</a> (runs until 2 Feb, 2025) at The Wellcome Collection, a fascinating little under-the-radar library and museum based around health and human experience on Euston Road. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="760" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-13-1024x760.jpeg" alt="Horniman Museum " class="wp-image-3695" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-13-1024x760.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-13-300x223.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-13-768x570.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-13.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Horniman Museum </figcaption></figure>



Muddy award-winner the <a href="https://www.horniman.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Horniman Museum</a> in East London has plenty going on that won&#8217;t cost you a penny including Hear It Live!, with performances using some of the museum&#8217;s rare instruments, Horniman Museum Lates and Art in the Gardens, where you can view sculptures and paintings al fresco. 



A stroll along the South Bank, with its street performers, River Thames views and iconic sites like the Houses of Parliament and St Paul&#8217;s Cathedral, is one of the best free things you can do in the big smoke in Muddy&#8217;s opinion. Upgrade the freebie experience by popping into Southbank Centre while you&#8217;re there to see exhibition <a href="https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/art-exhibitions/you-belong-here-public-art">You Belong Here: Public Art</a> (runs until 8 Sept), a multi-artform summer programme celebrating &#8216;unsung stories and forgotten trailblazers&#8217;. 



There&#8217;s still time to catch the <a href="https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/future-observatory-display" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future Observatory</a> (runs until 1 Sept) at the&nbsp;Design Museum. This groundbreaking exhibition shines a spotlight on six research projects demonstrating how designers are adapting to the environmental crisis and working towards a greener future. Thought provoking stuff (for free!). 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="655" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-at-10.12.55-1024x655.png" alt="Continuum exhibition at The White Cube " class="wp-image-3685" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-at-10.12.55-1024x655.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-at-10.12.55-300x192.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-at-10.12.55-768x491.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-at-10.12.55.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<a href="https://www.whitecube.com/exhibitions/london" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">White Cube</a> galleries (Mason&#8217;s Yard and Bermondsey) are free to visit and rarely disappoint. Muddy&#8217;s currently crushing on Japanese artist Minoru Nomata&#8217;s dreamy <a href="https://www.whitecube.com/gallery-exhibitions/minoru-nomata-masons-yard-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Continuum</a> exhibition (runs until 24 Aug), filled with futuristic, other-worldly, architectural paintings. 



And finally, you&#8217;ve still got time to visit the&nbsp;British Library’s brilliant&nbsp;<a href="https://beyondthebassline.seetickets.com/timeslots/filter/beyond-the-bassline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beyond the Bassline</a> exhibit (ends&nbsp;26 Aug). A first-of-its-kind display, it journeys through 500 Years of Black British music from London to Lagos, delving into the influential clubs, carnivals and kerbside auditoriums.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-live-entertainment">LIVE ENTERTAINMENT </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-11-1024x1024.jpeg" alt="comedian Sacha Lo at The Angel Comedy Club " class="wp-image-3691" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-11-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-11-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-11-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-11-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-11-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-11-1100x1100.jpeg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-11.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sacha Lo at the Angel Comedy Club </figcaption></figure>



Have the last laugh at <a href="https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Angel Comedy Club</a>, where you can watch stand up comedy for free seven nights a week. Spread across two venues near Angel, pub/club The Bill Murray and The Camden Head pub, past performers have included Simon Amstell, Bridget Christie, Stewart Lee and Joe Lycett, while newcomers like Sacha Lo are ones to watch. 



More budget giggles to be had at <a href="https://thetopsecretcomedyclub.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top Secret Comedy Club</a> in Covent Garden, where many a great comedian has played for free (or £1) to try out their new material. Yes it can be hit and miss, but that&#8217;s part of the fun, right? Plus you might luck out and see the likes of Jack Whitehall or Jason Manford perform &#8211; either way, you&#8217;ve paid nothing, so it&#8217;s a win-win situation. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/FVEFx9IWIAYCRr5-2048x1366-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="a concert at St James' Piccadilly " class="wp-image-3692" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/FVEFx9IWIAYCRr5-2048x1366-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/FVEFx9IWIAYCRr5-2048x1366-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/FVEFx9IWIAYCRr5-2048x1366-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/FVEFx9IWIAYCRr5-2048x1366-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A concert at St James&#8217; Piccadilly </figcaption></figure>



Did you know there were free lunchtime music events (Weds, Fri &amp; Sat) at <a href="https://www.sjp.org.uk/whats-on/?_filter=music">St James&#8217; Church </a>on Piccadilly? Well you do now. Catch the likes of talented London-based pianist Maya Irgalina (16 Aug, 1.10pm) perform for free (though donations are welcome). 



More complimentary tunes can be found over at the Southbank Centre Riverside Terrace, where the <a href="https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/gigs/sister-midnights-terrace-takeover" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sister Midnight&#8217;s Terrace Takeover</a> (15 &amp; 22 Aug) sees South London&#8217;s best emerging DJs hit the decks. Also check out <a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/events/east-london" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rough Trade East</a>, an East London record store and venue hosting free (and paid) events to showcase new artists. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parks-amp-nature">PARKS &amp; NATURE </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-8-1024x683.jpeg" alt="Sky Garden London " class="wp-image-3686" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-8-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-8-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-8-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Unknown-8.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sky Garden </figcaption></figure>



Phone camera at the ready because it doesn&#8217;t cost a thing to visit <a href="https://skygarden.london/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sky Garden</a>, London&#8217;s highest public garden in a giant glass dome and terrace at the top of the Walkie Talkie. The views are incredible and there&#8217;s a bar up there too, though the cocktails aren&#8217;t complimentary (boo). 



Lots of London&#8217;s parks are free (hello Green Park, Regent&#8217;s Park and Hyde Park), but if you&#8217;re looking for somewhere a little more original to hang out, <a href="https://www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uk/whats-here/the-tide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Tide</a> on Greenwich Peninsula is worth a trip south. London&#8217;s first &#8216;riverside linear park&#8217; has winding walkways, new art work by Ian Davenport and Marwan Kaabour and enough trees and river views to make you feel calmer. Though if you really want to zone out, there are &#8216;audio wellness portals&#8217; where you can tap into guided meditations using an app. Ooommmm. While you&#8217;re down there, why not pop into the (free) <a href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/national-maritime-museum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Maritime Museum</a> in Greenwich? 



It&#8217;s an Instagram cliche, but who cares when <a href="https://columbiaroad.info/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia Road Flower Market</a> in Bethnal Green is still blooming marvellous no matter how many times you&#8217;ve trawled round it (for free) on a Sunday? Muddy recommends popping into bakery <a href="https://lilyvanilli.com/the-bakery/">Lilly Vanilli</a> just off Columbia Road for a decent coffee and slice of cake while you&#8217;re there (go on, you deserve it after all the money you&#8217;ve saved so far). 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="695" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-at-11.23.01-1024x695.png" alt="alpacas at Vauxhall City Farm " class="wp-image-3687" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-at-11.23.01-1024x695.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-at-11.23.01-300x204.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-at-11.23.01-768x521.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-13-at-11.23.01.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



If you&#8217;ve never petted an alpaca at <a href="https://www.vauxhallcityfarm.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vauxhall City Farm</a> can you even call yourself a Londoner? This free (though donations are welcomed) inner city farm has more animals than you can shake a squirrel at (though please don&#8217;t attempt this) and makes a great afternoon out year-round. 



<a href="https://www.crystalpalaceparktrust.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crystal Palace Park</a> might be a bit of a schlepp, but it&#8217;s worth the journey to see the dinosaurs. Say what? Yep, waaaay back in 1854 natural history artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins unveiled his huge dinosaur sculptures and you can still see the extraordinary beasts dotted around the park today. Loads more free things to see and do while you&#8217;re there, including flea markets and live music. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-amp-drink">FOOD &amp; DRINK </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Visit-us-larger-1024x576.jpg" alt="Borough Market " class="wp-image-3689" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Visit-us-larger-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Visit-us-larger-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Visit-us-larger-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/Visit-us-larger.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



There&#8217;s a free&nbsp;<a href="https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/event/national-prosecco-week-festival-chiswick-house-gardens/2024-08-17/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Prosecco Week Festival</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;Chiswick House Gardens&nbsp;this weekend (17-18 Aug, 12-5pm). Taking place in the Garden Pavilion, it includes tastings, cooking workshops and cocktail demos with a Prosecco twist, hic. Although it’s free, you’ll need to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-prosecco-weekend-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">book in advance</a>. Cheers!



Finally, Muddy does enjoy a trawl around foodie hot spot <a href="https://boroughmarket.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Borough Market</a>, not only because the food stalls look and smell so exciting, but also because so many of them give out free samples meaning we get to chomp our way through multiple chorizo and cheese bites. Yum.

25+ brilliant FREE things to do in London right now

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