Free London Attractions

While many of London's major attractions do charge, at times, quite substantial entrance fees there are still a number of real gems where visitors can wander around at their leisure free of charge. Some take a little bit of forward planning (like the Ceremony of the Keys ritual at the Tower of London for example) but for most it's just a case of turning up and getting stuck in. From cathedrals to historic houses there's something here to suit most tastes.

Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London

Tower Hill, EC3N 4AB

Unfortunately, it does cost to visit the famous and historic Tower of London, however visitors can attend the Ceremony of the Keys, which takes place every evening in the grounds of the palace, for free.

Every night the Tower of London is locked up by the Chief Warder who makes his way to the gates from the Byward Tower at exactly 9.53pm. Once all the Tower gates are locked, the Last Post is sounded by a trumpeter and the ceremony is concluded. This ceremony represents a 700-year-old tradition and lasts no more than 10 minutes. The Chief Warder represents the Yeoman Warders (more commonly known as 'Beefeaters') who have looked after the Tower since the 14th century. Today they perform the role of tour guide in addition to their ceremonial duties.

You can't just turn up, you need to plan this at least two (sometimes three) months in advance so this needs a bit of organisation to pull it off. To apply send two possible dates you can attend, in two or three months time, and a self-addressed envelope detailing names of attendees to: Ceremony of the Keys Office, Tower of London, London, EC3N 4AB. You can list up to six people from 1st April to 31st October, and up to fifteen from 1st November to 31st March.

Current events at Tower Of London

Diamond Jubilee Flotilla event Sunday 3rd June
TIMES Sunday 3rd June 2012
The ceremonial event of the Tudor Pull is this year being replaced with a flotilla to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Held on a Sunday in the ... More about this event

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Beacons event Monday 4th June
TIMES Monday 4th June 2012 PRICING Free
A network of over 4,000 beacons will be lit across the globe as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Beacons ... More about this event

Experience The Art Of Gilding: Workshop event Thursday 31st May
TIMES Thursday 31st May 2012 - 10am-4pm PRICING £65, mems £60, phone for availibility
Find out about the decorative art.... More about this event

Jubilee Family Fun event Sunday 3rd June until Saturday 9th June
TIMES 3rd Jun to 9th Jun 2012 - 11am-6pm PRICING Free, plus admission £20.90, child £10.45, concs £17.60, family £55
Create your own Jubilee souvenirs to take home.... More about this event

Crowning Glory: Workshop event Saturday 16th June
TIMES Saturday 16th June 2012 - 10.30am-4.30pm PRICING £65, mems £60, phone for availability
Make a headpiece with Ani Townsend... More about this event

All events at Tower Of London

Houses of Parliament

Parliament Square, Westminster, St Margaret Street, SW1A 0AA

Home to the two seats of Parliament – the Commons and the Lords – visitors are allowed free access to the Public Galleries in both Houses where they can watch debates when parliament is in session. You don’t need tickets in advance, but may have to queue (waiting times of one or two hours are usual). If you're a UK citizen and would like to attend the popular Prime Minister's Question Time (Weds 12 noon, when Parliament is sitting), you can apply for tickets from your MP or from a Lord. Overseas visitors and UK residents without tickets can queue, but ticket holders take priority.
The building began life as the Palace of Westminster in 1042 as a royal residence under Edward the Confessor. The major structure to survive various fires, Westminster Hall was built between 1087 and 1100 and is one of the largest medieval halls in Europe with an unsupported hammerbeam roof. As well as listening to debates you can enjoy a free guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. UK residents can tour both houses for free throughout the year, but will typically have to apply to their MP or a Lord six months in advance. Overseas visitors can tour Parliament on Saturdays and during the Summer Opening when paid-for tickets can be bought.

Current events at Houses of Parliament

Summer Opening of Parliament Tours event running until Monday 1st October 2012
TIMES 29th July 2011 to 1st October 2012 PRICING £15, £10 concs, £6 children (5-15)
The Houses of Parliament opens its doors to the public for the summer, offering Blue Badge guided tours durin... More about this event

All events at Houses of Parliament

Kenwood House (Iveagh Bequest)

Hampstead Lane, London, NW3 7JR

A rich collection of famous paintings are housed within the walls of this neoclassical villa perched by a lake on top of Hampstead Heath. Works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner, Reynolds and Gainsborough form the property's famous Iveagh Bequest. Handed down to the state by the house's owner, brewing magnate Edward Cecil Guinness, admission to the house and its collection of artworks is totally free to the public.

Remodelled between 1764 and 1779 by Robert Adam, Kenwood features a lavish library and elegant array of rooms which provide a fitting backdrop for this notable artistic collection. Spectacular views and woodland walks provide an equally becoming setting for the house itself. A series of outdoor music concerts take place in the grounds during the summer. While tickets to the concerts will set you back a pretty penny you can often hear strains of music and glimpse the sparks of fireworks if you find a spot nearby.

More info: Kenwood House (Iveagh Bequest) Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court)

City of London, EC4M 7EH

Universally known as the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England is probably the most famous criminal court in the world, and has been London's principal criminal court for centuries. Today's courthouses, opened in 1902, are built on the site of the famous Newgate Prison, home to some unsavoury characters and particularly public executions. Thankfully things are a little more civilised these days. While there is no public access to the precincts of the Central Criminal Court, public galleries are open for viewing of trials in session. There's no access to under 14s and big groups are advised to contact Head of Security in advance. Case listings can be found on the Court Services website.

More info: Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court) Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Oxo Tower and Gabriel's Wharf

Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, London, SE1 9PH

As you stare across the river at this bustling, stylish, multi-faceted venue, it's hard to believe that this riverside warehouse was once a reprocessing plant for the Oxo Company, ripe for demolition only a few decades ago. The Oxo Tower now stands out, loud and proud, flanked by two green open parks and the colourful Gabriel's Wharf, with a riverside walk guiding amblers up to its refurbished doors.

One of the main attractions is the free viewing platform on the 8th floor which provides spectacular panoramic views over the city. There's also free admission to the the.gallery@oxo exhibitions and the Coin Street Festival every summer. Visitors now come in their droves to explore the shops, restaurants, free galleries, cafes and studios that populate this once barren area.

The best way to experience the Oxo Tower and Gabriel's Wharf is as part of a leisurely riverside walk along the South Bank; taking in Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre and all the many pubs and sights that adorn the banks of the Thames.

More info: Oxo Tower and Gabriel's Wharf Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Bow Street, Covent Garden, Westminster, WC2E 9DE

Home of the Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, this impressive building in the heart of Covent Garden has been playing host to every major star of the classical music world since 1858.

If you're heavily into ballet and opera then this is the place to come for high-quality performances in grand surroundings. If you're not, and just want to explore the building itself (especially Floral Hall - the building's dramatic glass atrium) and get a small taster of what goes on here you can wander around the spectacular construction for free during the day. There's also free chamber music every Monday, along with free jazz, free lunchtime concerts and recitals. Concerts start at either 12noon or 1pm and tickets can be booked online.

In the summer, The Royal Opera House also broadcasts live opera and ballet to locations around London including Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden Piazza. The third theatre to be located on this site, most of the existing venue - with the exception of the auditorium, facade and foyer which are originals from 1858 - is the result of a detailed reconstruction in the 1990s.

Current events at Royal Opera House

SUM event running until Saturday 2nd June 2012
TIMES 23rd May 2012 to 2nd June 2012
German composer Max Richter debuts a new chamber opera at... More about this event

Ballo Della Regina / La Sylphide event running until Friday 15th June 2012
TIMES 21st May 2012 to 15th June 2012 PRICING See website
The operatic double bill of Balle Della Regina / La Sylphide is set to wow London crowds in the summer as two... More about this event

Salome event running until Saturday 16th June 2012
TIMES 31st May 2012 to 16th June 2012
Richard Strauss' classic More about this event

The Royal Ballet: Ballo Della Regina & La Sylphide event running until Friday 15th June 2012
TIMES 7th June, 12th June and 15th June 2012 - 7.30pm PRICING £4-£91
The performance of George Balanchine's Ballo Della Regina marks the company's homage to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and is performed along with th... More about this event

The Royal Opera: Salome event running until Saturday 16th June 2012
TIMES 31st May, 5th Jun, 8th Jun, 11th Jun, 14th Jun and 16th Jun 2012 - Various Times PRICING £5-£120
David McVicar's production of Richard Strauss's dramatic account of the life of King Herod's stepdaughter and her obsession with John the Baptist. ... More about this event

The Royal Opera: La Boheme event running until Saturday 23rd June 2012
TIMES Tuesday 19th June 2012 at 7.30pm & Saturday 23rd June 2012 at 7pm PRICING £9-£195
John Copley directs Puccini's infamous tale of love and anguish. Starring Carmen Giannattasio as Mimi and Joseph Calleja as Rodolfo. Conducted by Sem... More about this event

All events at Royal Opera House

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Hindu Temple)

105/115 Brentfield Road, Neasden, NW 10 8LD

Located in an unexpected and fairly barren area on the edge of north-west London, this amazingly spiritual and architectural gem is free to visit and well worth the trip out to the suburbs - in fact the bleak location makes the beauty and symbolism of the temple all the more spectacular.

The first traditional Hindu Mandir in Europe, every one of the 26,300 individually carved pieces that make up its entirety were carved in India and shipped over to London. All of these pieces were then fitted together in just three years, between 1992 and 1995.

Inside and out, this place is absolutely stunning. The stark white exterior, riddled with intricate detail and carvings, belies an opulent, colourful interior. Highly-fashioned pillars, domes, columns, carpets and ceilings provide the setting for some spectacular murtis rich with lavish thrones and royal attire. You don't need to book in advance but please note that this is a place of worship, so shoes should be removed and no shorts or skirts shorter than knee length should be worn.

More info: Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Hindu Temple) Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Sotheby's

34-35 New Bond Street, W1A 2AA

Founded in 1774, Sotheby's is the world's oldest art auction house. Sales today command record sums for items. Notable sales range from 'Danseuse au Repos' (Degas' pastel of a ballet dancer) which set the world record for an artist at auction with a price of £17,601,500 ($27,930,020), to John Lennon's Gallotone 'Champion' acoustic guitar which sold for £155,500 ($251,700) at a Rock'n'Roll memorabilia sale. Check the website for dates and details of individual auctions and then head over to witness some of them in action. It's free to attend and you can often catch a glimpse of some truly historic items going under the hammer.

More info: Sotheby's Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Westminster Cathedral

Victoria Street, SW1P 1QW

London's only example of neo-Byzantine architecture and principal Roman Catholic church, offers a magnificent campanile that emerges 274 feet into the sky. While 12 million burnished terracotta coloured bricks adorn the exterior, parts of the interior remain poignantly bare - a potent reminder of the lack of funding which plagued construction in 1895. Plain walls and simple candlelight form a stark contrast to the colourful mosaics and marbles, and Eric Gill's nave detailing the fourteen Stations of the Cross. Walk or take the lift up (the lift is now charged at £5) the campanile for some spectacular views of the capital. Visitors are reminded that this is an active place of worship.

Current events at Westminster Cathedral

Simon Preston event Wednesday 20th June
TIMES Wednesday 20th June 2012 - 7.30pm PRICING Free, donation welcome
Organ recital.... More about this event

All events at Westminster Cathedral