When music is live and life
This is the second article in a series that shows you how to have fun in London without a budget. We know that it might sound like a dream, but it is in fact a beautiful reality. We have seen all those free of charge places and events that you can witness in this amazing capital city of the United Kingdom. Now it is the time to present concerts, shows and other interesting and free things that will be like honey to your ears.
Let us start with a famous political symbol. You can participate for free at the debates that are being held in the Public Galleries in the Houses of Parliament (Parliament Square, St Margaret’s Street, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA). For Londoners there is also the possibility to attend to another important event entitled Prime Minister’s Question Time. Besides listening and participating at discussions that influence your way of living, you can also enjoy a free tour with a specialized guide that will turn your visit to the Houses of Parliament into a successful and educational adventure.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden
Royal Opera House Covent Garden (Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD) brings joy and music to Londoners and foreign travellers since the year 1858. If you are passionate about chamber music, you can take advantage of the number of free concerts that are being held every Monday, around noon. You simply have to book your tickets in advance, online. Other genres that you can listen to for free in the Royal Opera House Covent Garden are jazz and also special opera recitals. Moreover, you cannot ignore the beautiful architecture that will surround your every move.
For free discussions and speeches regarding art, you can go to the Barbican Centre (Silk Street, City, London, EC2Y 8DS). Although there is a fee at the entrance for most shows, there are also a number of free of charge concerts and talks, not to mention the beautiful exhibitions. We would kindly advise you to always keep an eye on the schedule of the events, because you might also enjoy the appearance of a celebrity from time to time that will be more than happy to share his/her art inspiration, models, future plans, fears and maybe answer to some of your questions.
If you spend your summer holiday in London and you have the chance to enjoy some sunny, warm days, you can take your friends, your loved one or your family in Covent Garden Piazza (17, The Marketplace, London, WC2E 8RB). This is the perfect place to listen to great shows, all out in the open. An amazing thing is that you can also watch some of the relays from the Royal Opera House, free of charge, on big-screens. Besides scheduled shows, there are several spontaneous artists that will enchant you with their street theatre plays, live music, miming shows and many other interesting events.
One of the reasons why London is so appreciated is due to its love for arts and the possibility that it offers to various artists. When it comes to new bands or singers, you usually have the opportunity to watch them perform in free gigs. Some of the bars and pubs that support new comers are: Ain’t Nothing But Blues Bar (20 Kingly St, London, W1B 5PZ), The Lock Tavern (35 Chalk Farm Rd, Camden, London, NW1 8AJ), Ray’s Jazz Café (known as Rays Jazz At Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Rd, London, WC2H 0EB) and Notting Hill Arts Club (21 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3JQ). The only “catch” is that you have to pay attention to the rules. Some of them offer you a free of charge entrance only if you arrive until 22 o’clock.
Of course, there are many more locations where you can enjoy free music in London. Festivals like Notting Hill and events that take place in Clapham Common should also be on your fun activities list. We hope that this article will turn out to be useful, especially on the weekends when we want to forget about work and simply enjoy ourselves by listening to good music, watching bands perform live concerts and dancing on great songs.
