What can you do for free in London?

[laura032004]

My aupair is visiting London for the first time this weekend. I'm looking for any ideas for cheap or free things that she (and her friend) can do. Museums, exhibitions, anything really!

TIA

[fishie]

most museums are free. anything you have to pay for (terracotta warriors) is a bit crap anyway. what does she like, art, shopping or touristy?

[SparklyGothKat]

science museum is free, and the Tate.

[theyoungvisiter]

almost all the museums and art galleries are free, apart from special exhibits.

I would really recommend The Tate Modern, The British Museum, The National Portrait Gallery (much more interesting imho than the National Gallery but then I am a people watcher!) and the V&A.

All the parks of course are free. St James' is lovely - you can gawp at Buck Palace and then walk across St James' to the Houses of Parliament.

Window shopping at Harrods (tacky but fun!), Fortnum and Mason, Selfridges.

Finally for a not-free-but-cheap option, TFL (transport for London) run river boats from various stops - check out their website. You can travel up towards Kew or down towards Greenwich - both are lovely journeys and the riverboatmen give free and often very funny commentaries to the passengers. Strictly speaking they are for commuters not tourists, but you get more of the latter and they are certainly fun. I think they are about £4-£7 depending on route but check the website.

[slim22]

Lots of museums (visit the london tourism board website for favorite)

Depends on their tastes.

Weather permitting, walking is fab to discover London.
Start at Buckingham and walk down the mall/through St james to the houses of parliament/westminster and walk by the river and visit the tate modern.

A stroll through regent's park all the way up to camden market for cheap and quirky shopping.

Hyde park of course. Start in Kensington and walk to hyde park corner or marble arch before going into oxford street/picadilly/soho.

[laura032004]

Thanks for all those ideas. I'm thinking touristy ideally, not serious shopping, although everyone should go window shopping at Harrods and the like . Sure arty things would go down well, mainly because the galleries are sooo impressive in themselves.

I've suggested the walk round - and have said I'll download a tube map and mark it up for her with good stops to get on/off at. Luckily her friend is aupairing in Wembley, so they won't be completely out of their depth (I hope) and her English is v.good, so they should be OK [worried kind of mother figure emoticon!]

[laura032004]

Thanks for all those ideas. I'm thinking touristy ideally, not serious shopping, although everyone should go window shopping at Harrods and the like . Sure arty things would go down well, mainly because the galleries are sooo impressive in themselves.

I've suggested the walk round - and have said I'll download a tube map and mark it up for her with good stops to get on/off at. Luckily her friend is aupairing in Wembley, so they won't be completely out of their depth (I hope) and her English is v.good, so they should be OK [worried kind of mother figure emoticon!]

[laura032004]

Sorry for double post. Is it just me or is MN really slooooow tonight?