Something for Nothing: Fabulous London Freebies

I confess: I’m a frugal traveler. Some might unkindly call me a tightwad, or cheap. But I’ve discovered that I don’t have to spend a lot to get a lot because some of the best things in life really are free—even in top tourist destinations.

In England’s capital city, ogling the architecture, people-watching, and lounging in historic parks have no price tag attached—and that’s just the beginning. So put your wallet away: London’s calling!
 
1. Princes and paupers alike can sightsee for free now that the city has thrown open the doors to a whopping 238 museums and galleries. Considering that the British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, and Imperial War Museum are all counted in that number, you could spend your entire vacation trawling the halls of major museums—or taking in the free tours, talks, and workshops they offer. But try to leave time for lesser-known gems like the Bank of England Museum, where penny pinchers can drool over vintage banknotes and handle a gold ingot that weighs more than twenty-eight pounds.

2. Since London’s big-name museums are free, you’d think its best-loved churches would be too. Well, they aren’t. It costs almost $20 to get into St Paul’s or Westminster Abbey. Smaller sanctuaries, though, are another matter. For example, St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square not only waives admission: it runs free tours Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. that cover the crypt, vaults, and the Royal Box King George I used back when the US was still a collection of colonies. Thrice-weekly concerts are also complimentary. The downside is that events are on hold this summer while the church undergoes renovations.

3. Can’t wait until fall for your free music fix? No-cost “Foyer Concerts” in the South Bank district are always music to parsimonious ears. You’ll find them at the National Theatre (usually weekdays at 6 p.m., Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.) as well as other venues. Across the Thames, in Covent Garden, the Royal Opera House frequently serves up free hour-long jazz or chamber music at 1 p.m. on Mondays. Of course, the area around it also happens to be London’s preeminent busking pitch. So if you can’t make a concert, you can still catch an eclectic line-up of musicians (along with fire-eaters and acrobats) almost anytime.