HOW TO ENJOY LONDON FOR FREE

HOW TO ENJOY LONDON FOR FREE

I have such a special relationship with London and actually with the whole of England. ♥ I always love coming back here. It’s the place I first went to alone without my parents at the age of 17 with a travel agency. At that time, I already had a decent collection of books (My Britain, Open at Buckingham, Garden Party at the Queen’s, They Don’t Have Manchester) by the legend of radio journalism and successful journalist Karel Kyncl, who emigrated to Great Britain with his wife after signing Charter 77. I loved his books about Great Britain, they were so kind and wise at the same time. After reading them, I really wanted to go there.

JAK SI UŽÍT LONDÝN ZDARMA

London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, there’s no doubt about it. But there are plenty of things to do here that won’t cost you a penny. Yes, it’s a city where a cup of tea can cost more than your dinner at home, and where a ticket to a sightseeing tour costs the price of a small family car.

You can still enjoy the British capital like a true queen (king).

How? But don’t worry! If you know where to look, you can enjoy the British capital to the fullest without having to sell a kidney on the black market. All you need is a little ingenuity, comfortable shoes and a willingness to pretend you’re not even craving an overpriced £6 latte.


1. MUSEUMS? YES, PLEASE, BUT WITHOUT PAYING!

Londoners love culture, and that’s why London is full of museums you can visit on a budget. The National Gallery? Free. The British Museum? Free. The Natural History Museum with its giant dinosaur skeleton? Free too!

  • British Museum – If you like ancient treasures, mummies and pieces of Egyptian pyramids (which London kind of “borrowed” from Egypt), this is the place for you.
  • National Gallery – Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Monet? You can see all these famous names with your own eyes – and it’s completely free. All you have to do is walk in and look cultured.
  • Natural History Museum – Do you love dinosaurs? Of course, who doesn’t! This museum has a giant Diplodocus skeleton right at the entrance and is one of the best places to go.
  • Tate Modern – If you’re the type of person who likes to wonder what the hell that black dot on a white canvas means, you’ll be in heaven here. Modern art at its best – and for free!

JAK SI UŽÍT LONDÝN ZDARMA

But don’t forget an important trick or an important London game: you may be stopped by a “voluntary contributions” box at the entrance. As soon as you see it, pretend that King Charles III is writing to you and walk briskly past.

JAK SI UŽÍT LONDÝN ZDARMA


2. THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

The Queen may not be there anymore, but the guards in bear hats still are! Didn’t you pay for your ticket to Buckingham Palace? Never mind! At least you can enjoy one of London’s greatest spectacles for free – the Changing of the Guard. The Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace is one of those rare moments when Londoners willingly work in the open air, and you can watch it for free.

Every day (usually around 11am, but you’d better check) there’s a spectacle outside the palace, with guards wearing giant black hats marching around with serious faces while tourists try to take the best selfies they can.

Tip Chilliandchocolate.cz

MY TIP:

Arrive at least 30 minutes early, or you’ll see nothing but other people’s backs. And please, DO NOT try to make the guards laugh. They are trained not to laugh, and they don’t take your jokes personally. They really don’t laugh.

LONDÝN


3. PARKS: A ROYAL GARDEN FOR EVERYONE

London has a lot of green spaces that most big cities can only dream of. And the best part is that they are completely free! And most importantly, they are really beautiful.

  • Hyde Park – London’s largest and most famous park. Here you can walk around the pond, watch the swans and pretend you’re rich and famous.
  • Regent’s Park – Home to beautiful gardens and a perfect picnic spot, if you are a nature lover, this place will get you.
  • Hampstead Heath – Wildlife in London? Yes! If you want to feel like you’re in a romantic British movie, head here.

In Greenwich Park, you can put your foot on the famous prime meridian and pretend you have one foot east and one west. It’s a great Instagram trick – and it costs zero pounds.

LONDÝN

If you’re hungry, bring your own sandwich, because coffee in the park costs so much that poor Dickens would write another novel for it.


4. BRIDGES AND VIEWS

Want a great view but don’t want to pay for the Shard or the London Eye? No problem! Cross Tower Bridge, climb Primrose Hill or take an evening stroll along the Thames – all free and romantic (even if you’re alone, which is not unusual in London).

And if someone tells you that you have to pay to enter the Sky Garden? Wrong! Just book your free entry in advance and you can enjoy the panorama of London without having to reach for your wallet.

  • Sky Garden – A luxurious panoramic garden at a height of 155 meters? Yes, and it’s free! You just have to book your entry online in advance.
  • Primrose Hill – If you want a romantic view of London at sunset, this is the place to be. Plus, there’s less chance of someone knocking your coffee out of your hand.
  • Greenwich Park – VClimb up to the Observatory and enjoy a view of the city that’s as good as any paid viewpoint. Plus, you can stand on the prime meridian, which will make you feel like a geographical genius.
  • Millennium Bridge – Not only does this bridge get you across the Thames for free, it also offers epic views of St. Paul’s Cathedral. And if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll recognize it from the movie!


5. STREET ARTISTS AND FESTIVALS

London is full of incredible artists performing on the streets. The best places to see them?

  • Covent Garden – Magicians, musicians, acrobats… you’ll find it all here. Just be careful, if you stand too close, you might get pulled into the performance.
  • South Bank – Along the Thames you will meet various artists, including those who paint themselves with gold paint and play at sculptures.
  • Camden Market – In addition to cheap souvenirs, you will hear great music from street artists who may sell out Wembley in a few years.

London is full of festivals, concerts and outdoor film screenings in the summer – many of them completely free – all you need to do is do a little Googling (or ask a local hipster for a tip).

LONDÝN


6. CITY TOUR (ALMOST) FREE

The London Underground is great, but it’s also super expensive. Luckily, there’s the number 24 bus that takes you past the best sights – Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey… And if you sit at the top, you have the best view of the city without having to pay for the tourist sightseeing buses.


Tip Chilliandchocolate.cz MY TIP:

If you’re really brave and don’t mind walking a few miles, London is surprisingly great for walking – you’ll save money and burn off all those fish & chips!


7. DISCOVER  STREET ART

If you don’t want to stand in long lines in front of galleries or even crowd with other art lovers in front of the object of your interest, I have a great solution for you – follow in the footsteps of street art. However, street art is not just graffiti, and it is not only spray cans that are used to express this art, but also stickers, posters, and sculptures.

MINI GUIDE TO STREET ART IN LONDON


8. TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE FAMOUS

PADDINGTON BEAR

When we talk about London, we can’t forget to mention the most famous English character, Paddington Bear, who is almost 60 years old. He is for British children what the Czech Krteček is for Czechs. I’m sure most of you know this cute bear from books or movies. But do you know his real story? Michael Bond was inspired by a teddy bear he saw on the shelf of a London shop near Paddington Station, and bought it as a gift for his wife for Christmas in 1956. He named it after the nearest train stop from where they lived.

Paddighton
Paddighton

When Michael Bond died, according to the British press, he reserved the right that no one else would be allowed to write about Paddington’s adventures after his death. Thus was born the legend of the teddy bear in a red hat, with a battered suitcase, a woolen coat and a great love for marmalade, who comes from the far reaches of Peru. He arrived in London by train to Paddington Station. The teddy bear was first seen sitting on his suitcase at London’s Paddington Station. And it is at this station that you can find a bronze statue. ♥♥ You can take a photo with him for free.


9. PLATFORM 9 ¾  KING CROSS STATION

So if you are a Harry Potter fan, you definitely cannot miss this, without a doubt, the most famous place from the book or film about this wizard. London’s St. Pancras Station was used to film the exteriors of King’s Cross Station, from which Harry leaves every year for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The real King’s Cross Station is right across the street, but believe me, it is not as pretty visually.

King´s  Cross

You can take a picture with the stroller here. There is always a long queue, though, so if you don’t have the nerve like me, go to the souvenir shop next door. You can find all sorts of props here, from scarves to T-shirts, hoodies, capes, and Harry’s glasses.


So yes, London can be expensive, but with a little bit of ingenuity you can explore it for free. Just wear good shoes, avoid overpriced cafes and act like a seasoned London traveler. And if you can spare a few quid, I recommend investing in fish & chips – because even cheap food in London tastes like a million quid!

I love London! What about you, do you love it too?


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