Alright, here’s the problem.
Most “things to do in London” lists on the internet are terrible.
Have you seen them? The ones always recommending afternoon tea at the Wolseley and that you queue up with all the tourists to take a little spin on the London Eye?
Guys. Come on.
We’re in this beautiful, weird, stupid, expensive, ugly, graffitied, Victorian-terraced, high rise, opulent, ornate, Georgian, glass-fronted, gilded, domed, Roman-walled city. There’s a lot more to do here that doesn’t involve the going to the bloody London Dungeons.
Here are some completely normal, average, achievable, nothing special and mostly free things that are worth doing in your spare time.
1. Park yourself and your mates in Granary Square
A little trot from Kings Cross Station is Granary Square, where there’s lot of seating (and shade if it’s summer and hot). The whole area is pretty decent – Coal Drops Yard has good shops, Granary Square has food, kids and dogs can faff about in the fountains. And if it starts raining, you can go see something immersive at Lightroom or get a negroni and eat a burrata to yourself at Caravan.
2. Make your way along Camden Passage up to the Camden Head
Come out of Angel Station, walk straight. Keep right instead of walking along Upper Street. Here be local independent shops, antique stalls, cafes, a slightly hidden pub (with a lively lil beer garden and a comedy club).
3. See cool science stuff in the Wellcome Collection
This place is cool in a niche, slightly off beat, vaguely human-body-ish way. And by that I mean one time I saw an exhibition featuring Victorian sex toys and another time I saw actual real life brains. It’s always free, sometimes there’s a queue on Saturdays for the main exhibit, but in the week it’s usually quiet. Also, great cafe.
4. Look at whales and dinosaur bones in the Natural History Museum
Yeah, I’m recommending the NHM even though it’s touristy because it’s actually very cool and they’ve got whales. Follow this advice, and go to the Queens Gate entrance. Be there when it opens and not a moment later. The dinosaurs move now! The paid exhibitions are quieter, the National Geographic Photographer of the Year is always an excellent shout. Good for a day off work.
5. Go find the dead people in the British Museum
Literally: enter in the British Museum. Bring a buggy because they’ll let you skip the queue. Locate the Egyptian mummies. Photograph the main hall. Leave the British Museum (via the gift shop).
6. Walk, drive, bike or horse ride around Richmond Park
If you want to gallop around on horses, I recommend Stag Lodge stables. Otherwise just bring your adult scooter. Or feet. Or bike. Whatever. It’s like going to Wales or some other part of the country with lots of grass. If you’re driving or need a place to meet mates, head to the Roehampton Gate, there’s a big car park, a cafe, and toilets. Cross the road, chuck down a blanket. Keep an eye out for deer.
7. Watch an extremely good documentary
The tiny Bertha Dochouse screening room at the Curzon in Bloomsbury only shows documentaries, and there are only 55 seats. Which in practice means great, interesting, often niche and award winning films and fewer people to loudly eat popcorn and accidentally forget to mute their phones.
8. Play darts and board games in a pub near Farringdon
Alright Farringdon isn’t short on pubs, but the Old China Hand is a great, independent, lesser known little spot where they have board games, a chess club on Wednesdays (7pm), and you can order pizza in if you need something to eat. It’s open Wednesday to Sunday, and closing times are, I hear, negotiable depending on how much fun everyone’s having that night.
9. Hire a bike and take it for a ride
Old favourite Santander bikes are still going strong, and dockless Lime bikes are pretty much everywhere at the moment. TFL’s got a fun little random route generator to get you started.
10. Find the terrapins in the Barbican Conservatory
This is one of those places I like to surprise people with every so often because what no one expects to find right in the middle of this big concrete monstrosity that is the Barbican is a very cool tropical garden full of massive plants, occasional fish, and the odd turtle. It’s open, well, when it’s open, and you’ll need to book (free) tickets in advance.
11. Play tennis indoors at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
Indoor courts are gold dust around this city, so hiring one costs about £32.50 for an hour at Lee Valley. But if it’s not raining, they have outdoor courts too (£13). They’ll supply the racket and balls. All you need is one (or three) friends.
12. Walk from Victoria Park to Camden along the Regent’s Canal
Or any stretch of the Regent’s Canal, really. There are gazillions of places to just stop and eat along there, or you can hop off for food and coffee at Broadway Market. The canal towpath runs all the way from east to west, with a bit of a gap around street level near Kings Cross / Angel.
13. Have a nice long boozy lunch or daytime dinner at Dishoom
Oh god, Dishoom. Probably some of the most well known Indian restaurants in London (other than Tayaabs?) – but for good reason. The best time to avoid the queues is in the middle of the day, or breakfast time, or turn up bang on 6pm.
14. Wander along the Barbican High Walk and see Roman ruins
Hi, this is your daily reminder that this city is OLD and most of it isn’t in a museum yet. It’s just there, in Barbican, on the street, waiting for you and your little modern 21st century feet. Here’s a handy route and map.
15. Harass dogs on Hampstead Heath
…then once you’ve done that, get a cuppa tea and eat cake at in the cafe at Kenwood House.
16. See the dinosaurs in Crystal Palace park
Yeah, you heard. Dinosaurs.
17. Have a chilled pint right on the Thames in Limehouse
The Grapes in Limehouse is probably one of my favourite pubs, this ^ is the view from the little wooden terrace. It’s mega old, proper local, and they do a good fish and chips. Go at sunset, photograph the shit out of the Antony Gormley Sculpture.
18. Find yourself a good travel book in Daunt
Straight to the Marylebone High Street branch, folks. It’s this Edwardian wooden book cave that specialises in travel books. The staff are very good. Plus, if you don’t have a Daunt book bag yet, are you really a Londoner? And while you’re there…
19. Cafe-hop along Marylebone High Street
Shop ‘n’ walk along the quieter, posher alternative to Oxford Street. Then go find The Gunmakers and have a pint.
20. Watch a film (with wine) in the Garden Cinema
This is a beautiful little independent cinema near Covent Garden with a reasonable membership, mega varied programme of new and old films, a good bar, and lots of member events.
21. Befriend pigs and donkeys at a city farm
Lower your expectations because, you know, this ain’t Yorkshire. But there’s city farms in Mudchute, Stepney, Spitalfields, Hackney Road, Surrey Docks, and Kentish Town. Contrary to popular belief, kids are not a pre-requisite for entry.
22. Do some stuff at the Barbican Centre
Coming in strong with another entry for the Barbican Centre – which is just generally a good spot if you’re at a loose end: there’s free wifi, cafes, free exhibitions, obvs loads of classical music and stuff, a library, and a cinema which you can bring your baby to and even does screenings just for kids on the weekends.
23. Have a quick peek and a drink in Wilton’s Music Hall
God, this is just an insanely beautiful restored building that puts on good theatre, and has the added bonus of a cocktail bar. Double check opening times before you go.
24. Demolish a steaming hot bowl of ramen in Soho
There are loads of ramen places in London now, but the original Bone Daddies in Peter Street has always been my go-to. The food comes quickly, you won’t queue long if it’s outside of main dinner or lunch times, and communal tables and window seats are extra good if you’re rolling solo. They’ll supply the bibs.
25. Spend an hour looking at excellent photography
The Photographer’s Gallery was London’s first – and it’s got exhibitions across three floors. You’ll find it just off Oxford Street which is good if you were like “hey let’s go shopping” and instantly regretted it. It’s open late on Thursdays, and is free on Fridays after 5pm.
26. Read the slightly depressing plaques in Postman’s Park
Has anyone not been to this pretty well known but quiet and contemplative little corner of the City, where there’s a wall documenting people who died saving others? Probably not, but you could always go back.
27. Go bowling in Queensway or Finsbury Park
Sod All Star Lanes, it’s bloody extortionate. The cheap, original, far mire fun bowling alleys are this one in Queensway, and Rowan’s in Finsbury Park. Although if you’re central, Bloomsbury Lanes is good if you’re a group of 6 or fancy ending the night with some karaoke and an 80s night.
28. Get an excellent view of London from Ally Pally
That’s Alexandra Palace, for the non-believers. While we’re on the subject, the views from Primrose Hill, Greenwich Royal Observatory, and Parliament Hill are also worth getting slightly out of breath for.
29. See a beautiful Japanese garden in Holland Park
Like going to Kyoto, but without the bullet train.
30. Go find something to do in the Olympic Park
When the Olympics finished, it left behind its massive swimming pool, a mountain bike course, loads of walking tracks, tennis courts, white water rafting, and a velodrome where you can just go and sit and watch the cycling and have a coffee. Just FYI.
31. Look around the free exhibitions at the British Library
The BL always has some pretty interesting free exhibitions downstairs, there’s also space just to sit quietly and have a cuppa in the foyer. You can also become a member for free, and go into the reading rooms which are probably the only mobile phone free space left in London.
32. Say hi to the giraffes without actually going into London Zoo
Walk around to the north end of Regent’s Park by the canal, and as well as many dogs, ye shall also be rewarded with a few long necked horses aka giraffes, often seen peeking over the fence.
33. Saunter down Roupell Street in Waterloo
…aka the most London-looking street in London. It’s a beaut. Don’t even think about not sauntering. This road was made to saunter along, like a Victorian gent.
34. Drink in a maze-like pub in Finsbury Park
The garden at the Faltering Fullback has many levels. Literally.
35. Walk through the City when it’s completely dead
You know where’s really nice on a Sunday? Moorgate, Farringdon, Smithfield, Barbican, Bank, St Pauls, Fleet Street, Cannon Street, all round there. It’s quiet. Everything’s closed. There are no suits. Just the odd lost, slightly bewildered looking tourist, the occasional branch of Pret, and a fair few pigeons. Bring your camera. Chuck on a good podcast. Stop in one of the little hidden city parks for a snack.
36. Get on a bus to anywhere
Yeah I know – buses, shut up about the buses. But seriously: get on one, pay £1.75, sit on the top deck, preferably at the front. Now get on a few more: for the next hour, it’s free! Some of them literally follow the same route as the big sightseeing companies. Plus, spend enough time on buses and you’ll develop a superhuman (/cab driver-like) ability to find your way around London without looking at CityMapper once.
37. Sit on Southbank and people watch
Next time you’re up early, grab a cuppa and plant yourself down on one of the big stone blocks outside the Southbank Centre. Or, if it’s raining, go inside the Southbank Centre (or Royal Festival Hall). You’ll find a load of spare tables and seats in one of London’s best free public spaces. Sit there. Drink your tea. Eat a croissant. Watch all manner of people walk past. They also do a lot of free events, especially for kids. Have a lovely day.
38. Take the tube to Greenwich, and get the Thames Clipper back.
Why does getting a boat home from anywhere somehow make you feel like you earn £100k more than you actually do? Even if that place is along the Thames and the boat is sponsored by Uber? Idk. Anyway, go to Greenwich, because it’s far enough away to warrant the journey home (unless you live in Greenwich, in which case, go somewhere else) and in the right light has this kind of film set quality about it, and then feel the warm, wealthy glow of casually announcing to anyone who can hear you: sorry, I must dash, I’ve got to catch my boat.
39. Shop in a quiet place
Oxford Street’s a bit frenetic for me on a Saturday. But One New Change (again, in the city) tends to be completely dead at the weekend. There’s not a huge amount of shops, and it’s no Westfield, but there is a Zara, H&M, and also an Aesop. And did I mention the lack of people?
40. Stay in bed
It’s a big city, we live busy lives, you work hard. Have a nap. You deserve it.
Got some other normal suggestions? Chuck them in the comments below.
Updated Feb 2026
After that, it was about half past four and, bloody hell, my feet were starting to ache.
