Credit crunch or no, there's no doubt London can be on the pricey side, but with a bit of imagination and our suggestions for capital things to do for next to nothing, you'll never be stumped if you're strapped
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On yer bike!
Addiscombe Cycling Club Join the Saturday morning ride for a fun-filled 25-mile circuit on quiet country lanes.
Coulsdon South station, Brighton Rd, Surrey (www.addiscombe.org). Coulsdon South rail.
Meet the folks
The Apple Tree This unashamedly folk-oriented Clerkenwell pub hosts a live folk night on the second and last Sunday of every month.
Apple Tree, 45 Mount Pleasant, WC1 (020 7837 2365/www.comedownandmeetthefolks.co.uk). Farringdon tube/rail.
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Take a hike
Hampstead Heath Take a bracing stroll – or a dip in the ponds for the brave/foolhardy – before a homemade picnic, or local pint.
Hampstead Heath, NW3 (www.cityoflondon.gov.uk). Hampstead tube.
Knit and chat
The I Knit knitting club Knit while supping a pint, in what has become an oddly perennial activity. The group meets on Thursdays at 6pm.
I Knit London, 106 Lower Marsh, SE1 (www.iknit.org.uk). Waterloo tube/rail.
Exercise your judgement
The Old Bailey Trials are open to the public unless the witness is protected or the public gallery is full.
Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, EC4 (www.oldbaileyonline.org). St Paul's tube.
Shimmy, baby
Pole-dancing session Burn 400 calories an hour and learn to undulate like Daryl Hannah in ‘Dancing at the Blue Iguana’ – well, we can all dream. Free tasters are on Wednesdays, 7.30pm.
LA Fitness gym, Waldorf Hilton Hotel, Aldwych, WC2 (www.laphq.co.uk). Temple tube.
Become a culture vulture
London’s museums Our capital leads the world when it comes to top museums with free entry. Among the finest: British Museum, Natural History Museum, Imperial War Museum, Museum of London, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery, V&A, Wallace Collection and Museum of Garden History.
See all listings for London museums
Shoot hoops
Basketball Hone your skills on the outdoor courts in Ruskin Park, free to occupy for an hour.
Ruskin Park, SE5 (0845 130 8998). Denmark Hill rail.
Make a furry friend
Hackney City Farm Get up close and personal with cute creatures in the East End.
Hackney City Farm, 1 Goldsmith’s Row, E2 (020 7729 6381/www.hackneycityfarm.co.uk). Cambridge Heath rail.
Impromptu performances
Covent Garden The Piazza attracts a whole range of street artists. Take your pick from the human statues, string quartets or magicians.
Piazza, Covent Garden, WC2 (www.coventgardenmarket.co.uk). Covent Garden tube.
Smash and grab
‘Tennis for Free’ This organisation campaigns for local authorities to open up
their courts. In March, the charity claimed support from 176 councils,
equating to 683 sites and a confirmed figure of almost 2,000 free
tennis courts in the UK. It also provides free coaching in nine local
authorities, designed to increase usage, raise skill levels and develop a vibrant local tennis community. Three are in London:
Belair Park Gallery Rd, SE21. Four hard courts, with coaching Sat 1.30-3.30pm.
Bruce Castle Park Lordship Lane, N17. Seven hard courts, with coaching Sat 10am-12noon.
Joseph Hood Recreation Ground Martin Way, SW20. Three hard courts, with coaching Sat, 10am-1pm.
0870 011 3733/www.tennisforfree.com.
Window shop
Harrods Marvel at the Egyptian Room, the shrine to Diana and Dodi, and the sumptuous Food Hall. But leave your credit card at home.
Harrods, Brompton Rd, SW1 (www.harrods.com). Knightsbridge tube.
Get studious
The British Library It’s free to join and access the coin, stamp, science, map and newspaper collections.
The British Library,96 Euston Rd, NW1 (www.bl.uk). Euston or St Pancras tube/rail.
Visit the Victorian dead
Nunhead Cemetery Creep through 52 acres of Victorian gothic watched over by 1,000 ivy-draped angels, rare butterflies, jays and woodpeckers.
Nunhead Cemetery, Linden Grove, SE15 (020 7525 2000). Nunhead rail.
Get into the groove
Record shop gigs Pure Groove records and Rough Trade East regularly invite bands to play in-store – for free. Some are even good. What are we saying? They're all good.
Pure Groove, 6-7 West Smithfield, EC1 (www.puregroove.co.uk). Barbican tube. Rough Trade East, Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 (020 7392 7788/www.roughtrade.com). Liverpool Street tube/rail.
Have a bloomin’ wander
Columbia Road Flower Market A gardener's paradise every Sunday morning. Even better, the flowers get cheaper towards 2pm (closing time).
Columbia Rd, E2 (www.columbia-flower-market.freewebspace.com). Old Street tube/rail.
Pose with pelicans
St James’s Park This patch of serene green adjacent to Green Park looks on to Buckingham Palace, where they won’t be counting tenners.
St James’s Park, SW1 (www.royalparks.org.uk). Green park tube.
Watch time go by
Greenwich Plenty of no-cost nautical fun, including the meridian line, National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House and Royal Observatory.
Greenwich Park, SE10 (www.nmm.ac.uk). Cutty Sark DLR or Greenwich DLR/rail
Catch a home-run ball
National League Baseball Watch the Croydon Pirates play baseball for free – check their website for upcoming fixtures.
Stafford Rd, Surrey (www.croydonpirates.co.uk). Waddon rail.
Listen to loonies
Speakers’ Corner, Hyde Park Crackpots talking nonsense – for nothing!
(020 7298 2110/www.royalparks.org.uk). Marble Arch tube.
Peek at the past
Grays Antiques Market More than 200 independent dealers, offering plenty of cheap stuff from dolls’ houses to samurai swords.
Grays Antiques Market, 58 Davies St & 1-7 Davies Mews, W1 (020 7629 7034/www.graysantiques.com). Bond Street tube.
Visit the Actors’ Church
St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden Haven of peace in the West End that puts on free events throughout the year.
St Paul’s, Bedford St, WC2 (020 7836 5221/www.actorschurch.org). Covent Garden tube.
Have a right old knees-up
Pearly Kings and Queens Meet them on the third weekend of every month when they collect for charity at Covent Garden Piazza.
(www.pearlysociety.co.uk).
Lovely luvvies
Theatre Royal Stratford East Free entertainment in the bar every day of the week.
Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 (020 8279 1160/www.theatreroyallondon.com). Stratford tube.
Switch to electric
Test drive Give an electric car a spin – they’re free to try out, and the vehicles are exempt from the congestion charge – even more savings!
(0845 642 3227/www.nicecarcompany.co.uk).
Pump iron
Marriott Hotel gym Trial this plush gym, gratis.
Westminster Bridge Rd, SE1 (www.marriott.com). Westminster tube.
Boost your brain cells
Gresham College lectures This independent educational establishment offers free lectures (first come, first served) often delivered by stars like Alain de Botton. Gresham College, Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn, EC1 (020 7831 0575/www.gresham.ac.uk/events.asp). Chancery Lane tube.
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12 comments
Pauline Ward and Leo, get a grip!
A swim followed by a picnic on Hampstead Heath? In November? Are you crazy?
ditto the out of date comment; has the "crunch" hit TO so bad it's rehashing stuff already:)
A lot of this stuff seems a bit out of date - i.e. aimed at the summer or happened in June. Why is this on the homepage? I wonder.
What about sampling high culture at Kings Place on York Way N1 which offers free entrance to two art galleries, spoken word and live music (classical, jazz, contemporary, experimental) all from £9.50 online www.kingsplace.co.uk
Excellent! You've given me loads of great ideas!!! Thanks time-out writer!!!
i love london!
british library membership available for all? are you sure? their site refers only to reader passes - and you need professional/academic reasons to apply.
So many great free things to do -- the National Portrait Gallery is one. Walking down the King's Road is another. Get a map and visit the art galleries in Fitzrovia. Or Shoreditch. Or Cork Street. All free. The Tate Modern. Walk the South Bank from Bridge to Bridge. Sit on a bench in Kensington Gardens and eavesdrop. Go to art shows at the Old Truman Brewery. Walk down Portobello Road on any day other than Saturday.
Scoop - modern Amphi next to Major's office.
Free outdoor cinema.
Exellent.
It's also free to walk around the Palace of Wetminster/Houses of Parliament when Parliament is in session You can even climb to the clocktower of Big Ben (only for UK citizens). You can arrange a visit through your local MP.
The rest of the year it is open to everyone for £12
For more info go to:
http://www.parliament.uk/about/visiting/tour.cfm
Check out the Foundling Museum, it's Time Out's number 1 unsung museum in London and children under 16 get in for FREE. There is also loads of events on at the Museum, many of which are FREE as well!