Free things to do in London: 1264 events this week (18 Jul to 18 Jul)

London has more free culture than most cities. The big nationals (Tate Modern, the British Museum, the V&A, the National Gallery) charge nothing for their permanent collections. Parks, markets, and riverside walks cost nothing. The page above lists free events updated daily, so it's worth checking before you head out.

Your best bets on any given day are gallery drop-ins, free lunchtime concerts (the City and South Bank both programme these regularly), and outdoor markets. Weekday mornings are quieter at most venues. The listing above pulls in free events happening today across the city, filtered and updated as they come in.

Most of London's major museums and galleries are free to enter year-round. Beyond that: street food markets in Borough and Maltby Street, open green spaces from Hampstead Heath to Burgess Park, free comedy nights at pub venues, and community events in neighbourhood halls. The range is wider than most visitors expect.

Weekends tend to bring out street markets, park events, and open studios in places like Peckham and Hackney. South Bank gets busy but earns it. East London carries a lot of the free cultural programming from Friday evening onward. Check what's on before you commit to an area, since clusters of free things in one neighbourhood make for a better day.

Yes, reliably. Even outside peak seasons, free talks, screenings, exhibitions, and live music happen across the city on most days. Mid-week can actually be better for this: smaller crowds and more offbeat programming. Libraries, arts centres, and pub back rooms run things that rarely get much publicity but are worth knowing about.

There are 1264 events listed on this page right now. It updates daily.