What to visit in London for free
This is the third and last article in this series that is dedicated to filling your free time with various activities, without even paying a single pound. If in the first two articles we have shown you what to see and listen to for free, today we will recommend some cultural places that do not require any fees at the entrance, basically locations that you are free to visit, as the title puts it as well. Mainly, there are two types of such venues: museums and galleries, two of the most beautiful and important symbols that the capital city of the United Kingdom is known for across the globe.
Saatchi Gallery (Duke of York’s Square, King’s Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 4SQ) is a great start. It was relocated and reopened in the year 2008 and it is mostly dedicated to those new inspiring artists. It is a great place to see the birth of new and promising talents and anyone can participate with an exhibition in a special section of the gallery. For more information about this space you can access the Saatchi Online website. The National Gallery (Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London, WC2N 5DN) offers you the chance to visit for free the amazing masterpieces of important artists such as: Jan Van Eyck, Botticelli, Van Gogh, Monet and Rembrandt. If you want to enjoy these exhibitions properly, we recommend you to come here on the weekends, when free tours are included. Thus, you can start a wonderful journey through all kind of periods and of styles, turning your weekend memories into a beautiful work of art.
The National Portrait Gallery (St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE) is another important free location that you should take advantage of. It presents so many unique collections that it would be a shame to only dedicate a day to it. Among the most known exhibitions are the ones involving famous portraits, the history of the British Empire since the 15th century onward, caricatures and sculptures. So plan to go to the National Portrait Gallery and spend your weekend with personalities such as the Beatles, Sir Richard Branson, Edward VI, Henry VIII, Queen Victoria and JK Rowling. Quite a party, wouldn’t you say? Of course, there are many other interesting and free cultural galleries. You can also try Photographers’ Gallery (W1F 7LW), Serpentine Gallery (W2 3XA), Tate Britain (SW1P 4RG), Tate Modern (SE1 9TG), Wallace Collection (W1U 3BN), The Wapping Project (E1W 3ST), White Cube Hoxton Square (N1 6PB) and Whitechapel Gallery (E1 7QX).
We have arrived to the second category: museums. London has the pleasure to praise itself with a multitude of cultural symbols and the museums represent a great deal of them. Especially that a large part allows you to enter historical periods, wars, great change and many other domains, without asking for a fee at the entrance. The British Museum (Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1B 3DG) is an exceptional example. You may discover more than 7 million objects that range from the prehistoric period to contemporary times, involving all kinds of domains and activities. It is a great place for a weekend with a group of friends or your family, or even if you want to spend it by yourself, walking in the long halls of the British Museum and studying the beauty that is surrounding you.
Other similar joys that are for free and that can turn your weekend into a time travel experience are: Bank of England Museum (EC2R 8AH) – in case you are passionate about banknotes collections, The British Library (NW1 2DB) – with its mix of more than 100 million items and numerous public events, Imperial War Museum (SE1 6HZ) – an impressive collection of Imperial War related paintings, posters and cine film, Museum of London (EC2Y 5HN) – for an accurate and illustrative history of London, National Maritime Museum | Queen’s House | Royal Observatory (SE10 9NF), Natural History Museum (SW7 5BD) – free amazing exhibitions with all kinds of life and earth related items, Science Museum (SW7 2DD) – impressive collections regarding technological developments in all types of domains, Sir John Soane’s Museum (WC2A 3BP) – a splendid architectural wonder and Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum (SW7 2RL) – an example of a multicultural and art dedicated museum.
