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Finally, London has been blessed with a heavy dose of vitamin D. The sun’s out, the trees are blossoming, payday has given our bank accounts a boost, life is good.
But don’t let London’s first taste of spring sunshine tempt you into splashing all your cash at once. There are still months of sitting in beer gardens, dancing in fields and taking trips to the seaside ahead of us that you’ll want to save your pennies for.
We’re here to make that easy for you. This weekend, the city is brimming with excellent budget-friendly things to do. National Lottery Open Week is offering free entry to a bunch of London landmarks, people of all faiths are invited to join Iftars in some of the city’s most famous venues and there’s a bunch of events happening in honour of International Women’s Day 2026.
Like the sound of those? Read on for the full lowdown on all the best things you can do in London without spending a thing this weekend.
RECOMMENDED: All the best things to do in London this weekend.
The best free things on in London this weekend, March 6-8 2026
1. Get free entry to some of London’s top attractions for National Lottery Open Week
Every year, National Lottery Open Week gives National Lottery-funded venues across a chance to say thank you to participants for their part in raising £32 million each week to support charitable causes. This weekend, simply buying a lottery ticket will get you into loads of top London attractions for free. You can explore the totally gorgeous Tudor hall and art-deco abode at Etham Palace and Gardens, discover the genuinely fascinating history of the Thames Tunnel at the Brunel Museum, wander one of the city’s last surviving country estates, Osterley Park and House or step inside a film set at Ham House in Richmond, which has featured in the likes of Anna Karenina, Never Let Me Go and The Young Victoria. Like we said, to claim the free entry, you’ll need to buy a lottery ticket then flash it at the door of your chosen venue. Who knows? You may even end up a few million quid richer. See the full details here.
Various venues. Until March 15. Free.
2. Hunt for Quentin Blake characters at the Southbank Centre
It’s been 75 years since the Festival of Britain, an era-defining cultural event designed to boost national morale post-WW2, took place on London’s Southbank. There’s a whole host of events lined up throughout 2026 to commemorate the anniversary, from the You Are Here festival in May to a a celebration of the life and work of Benjamin Zephaniah in June. And to honour to the thousands of pioneers in dance, music, literature and art that have graced the Southbank Centre’s hallowed halls since 1951, legendary illustrator Quentin Blake has created thirty life-size characters who will be dotted around around the venue between now and November. Look out for dancers, skaters, parkour athletes, opera singers, a violinist and more.
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Until Nov 8. Free.
3. Step into an indoor jungle at the Barbican
The Barbican Conservatory is one of those places in London that everyone has to visit to at least once. But doing so can be surprisingly tricky, as you can rarely just stroll in. The sprawling tropical garden opens to the public pretty sporadically and normally requires visitors to pre-book a slot. So, act fast, because the conservatory is open to explore for free this weekend and there are only a limited number of slots left. If you miss out on tickets, you can join the Barbican’s waiting list to be one of the first to get your hands on the next batch of tickets.
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS. Until April 5. Free.
4. Break fast with folk of all faiths at Open Iftar
Are you marking Ramadan? Or are you curious to find out more about this ancient tradition, celebrated by millions of people all over the world? Cultural and sporting institutions all over the UK are marking Ramadan this year as part of Open Iftar, a project that's designed to bring people of all faiths together and to raise understanding of Islam's biggest festival. Iftar is the communal meal that's shared by Muslims during the Ramadan fast, after the sun's gone down. Open Iftar extends the invite a bit wider, helping non-Muslims understand what it's like to mark this annual spiritual tradition, and provoking inter-faith conversation and connection.This weekend the National Gallery and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be hosting Iftar gatherings on Friday night and Guildhall is hosting one on Saturday night. You can find tickets for each of the events here.
Various venues. Fri March 6 and Sat March 7. Free.
5. F*ck the patriarchy at an International Womens’ Day event
There are all sorts of gatherings going on for International Womens’ Day on March 8. Many are raising money for charity with priced tickets, but there are a few that are free. At Mile End Library there’s a series of talks and workshops looking at the history (and future) of women’s liberation in east London. Relevant historical documents and objects will be out for guests to explore before archivists take to the floor to offer more insight into their importance to womens’ fight for justice. After the presentations, guests can join a nakshi kantha workshop (traditional Bengali embroidery) led by OITIJ-JO Collective. People of all genders are welcome. Over in Holborn, the Hunterian Museum is celebrating women in medicine. Specifically, it’s shining a light on the fact that there were more female doctors than male doctors in the UK for the first time ever last year with a free exhibition of portraits of women who work in surgery.
Various venues. March 8. Free.
6. Stop by the Photographers’ Gallery for its latest exhibitions
Here’s a hot tip for you: every exhibition at the Photographers’ Gallery is free to visit on Friday evenings. And this Friday just so happens to be the first day several new shows at the venue. We Others: Donna Gottschalk and Hélène Giannecchini is a display of portraits by Donna Gottschalk taken while homosexuality was still illegal. They capture ‘brave and defiant warriors’ who dared to live openly as themselves, and take part in the emerging lesbian, trans and gay rights movements. Gottschalk’s images will be on display in conversation with texts by by writer Hélène Giannecchini, creating an intergenerational dialogue charting changing times. There’s also the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize featuring work from artists in the USA, Poland, Iran and the UK, and Connection Established, a show spotlighting a new generation of artists reclaiming the internet through DIY web craft and zine-making.
16-18 Ramillies St, W1F 7LW. Fri March 6 from 5pm. Free.
Curate your calendar with our guide to all of London’s best things to do in March.
And plan for the rest of the year with Time Out’s roundup of the 26 best things to do in 2026.
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