Things to Do in London for Free

Museums

• London is home to a wide variety of history, science and art museums, many of which are free to visit. The British Museum offers free admission to all parts of the museum except special exhibitions. Among the museum's exhibits is the Rosetta Stone, an Egyptian artifact that helped in the understanding and translation of hieroglyphics. The museum also has artwork and artifacts from the Romans and Babylonians. The Victoria and Albert Museum is an art museum that features ceramics, jewelry, paintings, drawings, sculptures, glass pieces and furniture from artists from different parts of the world. Admission to the museum is free, but there are charges for some exhibits and events. The Imperial War Museum is a history museum that houses artifacts from British wars and conflicts since World War I, including weapons used during different battles. The museum is free to people 15 years old and under.

Parks

• There are a number of parks in London, many associated with royalty. Many of these parks feature lakes and nature areas where it is possible to watch birds and other wildlife.

  St. James' Park is a 58-acre park near St. James' Palace. It originally was built by Henry VIII and functioned as a deer park. The park later was reworked to be a royal park for Charles III. Today one of the main attractions at the park is its pelicans, which are fed every day in a spot near Duck Island Cottage.

  Located in the center of London, Hyde Park is a 350-acre park that was first used as a hunting ground for Henry VIII. The park features the Diana Fountain, built in 2004 to honor Diana, Princess of Wales. It also has 52 pillars that were erected in commemoration of the people who died during the 2005 bombings in London.

Landmarks

• There are a number of places in London that are well-known because of their architecture and/or connection to people or events. It is possible for people to take a walking and/or driving tour through the city of London and observe many of these historic buildings and structures. The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, is the seat of the House of the Lords and the House of Commons. It is located near the Thames River, in the center of London. The first Palace of Westminster was used by the House of the Lords in 1265, but it was destroyed by a fire in 1834. The new building, which has a neo-gothic style, features Westminster Hall, which was used as early as 1097. At the northwest corner of the Palace of Westminster is Parliament Square, an area that was built in 1868. At the corner of the square, one will find a statue of Sir Winston Churchill, the prime minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. To the left of the square, on St. Margaret Street, is the Jewel Tower, one of the buildings left from the original Palace of Westminster. The Jewel Tower is a tower that was built in 1365 for Edward III's valuable possessions.

  Along James Street also sits a number of historic buildings. St. James' Palace was built from 1532 to 1536 on the site of a former hospital for lepers. Henry VIII was the first resident of the palace and for 300 years, British royalty lived in St. James' Palace. The street also is home to Brooks' Club, a gentleman's club that was started in 1778. The club was frequented by members such as Lord Crewe, Lord Robert Spencer and Charles Fox, who went to the club to gamble and gossip. Another historic area in London is Trafalgar Square, which was built in 1805 in commemoration of England's naval victory over France during the Battle of Trafalgar. In the center of the square sits Nelson's Column, a 170-foot-tall column honoring naval commander Admiral Horatio Nelson.