Budget-friendly things to do in London this week for £5 or less.
Looking for more free things to do in London? Here are 102 of em! We've also compiled this epic map of free stuff in London.
Watch Wimbledon on one of London's large screens
Monday sees the start of Wimbledon tennis tournament, but if you've not got tickets for SW19, there are still many places to keep up with the action in London — several of them free.
Large, open-air screens pop-up in Canary Wharf, Paddington, Covent Garden, King's Cross, Belgravia and other London neighbourhoods, inviting anyone to sit down for free and watch the latest serves.
Free, 1-14 July.
Visit the Hampton Court Palace Gardens for free
The gardens at Hampton Court Palace have regular open days throughout the year, when the public can visit without paying the usual admission charges. This time round, the garden open days last all week, giving you seven days to explore the Privy Garden, Kitchen Garden, Pond Garden and other areas without paying admission. Note that there's still a charge to visit the palace itself, the Maze, or the Magic Garden Playground.
Free, 1-7 July.
Take a free tour of the Great Escapes exhibition
The National Archives in Kew offers a free tour of its current exhibition, Great Escapes: Remarkable Second World War Captives.
Join a volunteer for a 30-minute overview of the display, which tells various stories of how captives sought escape during the second world war, followed by a chance to ask questions.
Free, 2 July (repeated on 16 July)
Enjoy the free entertainment at BST Open House
Still ongoing is BST Open House, the free programme of weekday entertainment between the big weekend shows at BST Hyde Park.
Wimbledon screenings, outdoor cinema, live music, a tea dance, kids' theatre, community cricket sessions, and live DJs are all on the impressive programme this week (Monday 1-Wednesday 3 July) — all free, and open to everyone, whether you have a ticket for the weekend shows or not.
Free, selected dates until 11 July.
See stunning photos of the South West
Platforms 8 and 9 of Paddington National Rail host a free exhibition of selected photos from the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year competition.
All the images were taking by members of the public along the 630-mile walking trail, which spans four counties, and the shots cover nature, wildlife and heritage through the seasons along the coastline.
Free, 3-30 July.
Cast your vote in the general election
4 July is general election day. If you're registered to vote, remember to visit your local polling station today (open 7am-10pm). Undecided who to vote for? We scanned the manifestos of the five main parties (Conservatives, Green, Labour, Lib Dems, Reform) looking for London-specific policies and pledges, from HS2 to ULEZ to the Met Police to airport expansion plans.
Free, 4 July.
Stay late at the Royal College of Physicians
On Thursday night, the Royal College of Physicians stays open late, offering you a last chance to view the current Fortitude exhibition, which shares some of the experiences of healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to viewing the exhibition, you can explore the rest of the museum, which houses fine art and a Treasures Room of medical implements. Plus, there's a craft cafe where you can have a go a crochet or origami — no experience necessary.
Free, 4 July.
See the artworks which didn't make it to the Royal Academy Summer Show
The Royal Academy is a prestigious — and expensive — annual exhibition, but a cheaper sort-of equivalent opens in Stoke Newington this week.
REJECTS displays some of the 14,000 artworks which were entered into selection for this year's exhibition, but didn't make the cut into the final 2,000. A painting of a woman punching Cupid and a prize-winning loaf of bread are among the pieces on show — all of which are for sale, if you do fancy dipping into your wallet.
Free, 4-14 July.
Be at the first weekend of this year's River Stage
Every weekend in July, the River Stage pops up outside the National Theatre on South Bank, offering free performances spanning music, theatre, dance, family workshops and club nights. The team behind now-closed Hackney LGBTQ+ bar The Glory curate the first weekend, with drag queens and kings, cabaret artists and DJs scheduled to take to the stage.
Free, 5-7 July (and weekends until 28 July).
Visit a private island on the Thames
The second of this summer's open weekends at Eel Pie Island falls this weekend. It's a chance to set foot on the mysterious and private island in the Thames and visit the artists who live and work there in their studios — and of course, buy artworks straight from the source.
Free, 6-7 July.
Watch a flotilla of hot air balloons in the sky above London
Three Sundays in July have been put aside for the Lord Mayor's Hot Air Balloon Regatta to take place this year, starting with this Sunday. If weather conditions are rights, dozens of balloons in various designs will float across the capital from Battersea Park first thing in the morning — from about 5am in fact, so set your alarm early and look up to the skies to see them.
Keep an eye on the website from midweek for updates on whether the flotilla is going ahead this weekend.
Free, 7 July (or 21/28 July if it doesn't happen this week).
Take your family along to the Cally Festival
Islington's Caledonian Road — affectionately known as 'The Cally' — closes to traffic and puts on its party gear for The Cally Festival on Sunday. The free-entry celebration of local culture has previously included live music, storytelling, workshops, kids' activities and more — full 2024 details TBC at time of writing.
Free entry, 7 July. Also on the same day, Heath Street in Hampstead goes traffic-free for the Hampstead Big Fair.
Brush up on chess in Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square hosts a free chess festival, open to all, whether you're a seasoned player or want to learn the game. This year's Chess Fest has a theme of Alice Through The Looking Glass, and once again includes a living chess set with 32 actors taking on the role of the pieces.
Free, 7 July.
