7 places to go in London for free - Kaitlin's picks
7 May 2024 London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine https://lshtm.ac.uk/themes/custom/lshtm/images/lshtm-logo-black.pngThe British Museum
Located right near the School, this museum has over 8 million works. You can spend hours here, but like all the other museums, make sure to get your tickets early. My favorite exhibition was the one at the time on the Way of Tea (and it’s also free).
I recommend going as early as possible (ideally before 11 am), as it definitely gets more packed as the day goes on, and for a bonus I would get the ticket online on the museum website in advance of when you plan on arriving (a few days to a week is usually enough time to book) to not have to wait in line. Just take the tube lines to Tottenham Court Road or Goodge Street.
Victoria and Albert Museum
This museum houses an immense collection of items - over 2.27 million - and was founded in 1852! You can spend multiple days reading up on all the different intricate arts. You’ll find lots of students sketching the different exhibitions, which I really enjoyed watching. I personally found the South Asian, Islamic Middle East, and Buddhism halls to be the most fascinating - they each had such captivating pieces with incredibly interesting information.
Again, try to go around opening time here, which is 10 am, to really maximize your time. Though you’ll likely want to spend a few days here. You don’t need to book a ticket, and can do so on the museum website. To get here you will want to go to the South Kensington station, which is on the District, Piccadilly, and Circle Lines.
Little Venice
For a lovely stroll, check out some of the boats docked at this small walkway affectionately and locally dubbed the Little Venice. It is free to visit. My favorite part of the walk was watching the glow of the boat lights against the water at night, it was so peaceful! To reach here, arrive at Warwick Avenue station by the Bakerloo Line.
Hyde Park
It’s really important between all of the busy coursework and studying to ensure you’re taking time to enjoy the green spaces in London. Hyde Park is an incredible walk or a great spot to catch up with friends. It’s lovely to spend time in such large green spaces in between the bustling city, and in the warmer weather seasons it’s nice to enjoy the park for a picnic!
To get here take the Central Line to Marble Arch or the Piccadilly Line to Hyde Park Corner station.
Covent Garden
A bustling collection of shops and restaurants, this is a must-stop destination to catch the extremely talented performers who are always there. My favorite part is the market around the corner, as well as seeing the incredible skills of the local performers! By exploring all the nearby shops you can spend 2-3 hours here.
There are many ways to get here by different lines. On the Picadilly Line, Convent Garden or Leicester Square stations are the easiest. The Central Line’s Holborn station is only a few minutes walk away. Finally, for the Northern Line you may exit from Leicester Square station.
National History Museum
The entrance to this museum has been gaining internet attraction again, but the prehistoric fossils and earthquake simulator were my favorites! Say hi to Hope the Blue Whale fossil for me.
Get there early to ensure you maximize the experience, so come bright and early at 10 am. The tickets can be booked online at the museum website. Similarly to the Victoria and Albert Museum, to get here go to the South Kensington station.
The Science Museum
As a public health student, I know the medical history section of this museum will be a big hit. There were also sections on math and biology, so there’s something for everyone. My favorite exhibition was the health and medicine one (obviously, because it was so fascinating) but I also really enjoyed the space section, it had such great displays! Going through each exhibit thoroughly will take around a whole day, but enjoying the exhibits and reading what you’re interested in will take about 3-4 hours.
Tickets should be booked in advance, a few days to week ahead, and can be booked on the museum website. To get here, like the previous museums, it is a few minutes walk from the South Kensington station.
- Read: Top tips to save money as a student in London & Annalise's 4 must-go green spaces in London.
- Understand how public transport works in London.
- Why not explore London by foot? We put together some of the walk routes for you to enjoy the most out of London.
- Contact Kaitlin via our student ambassador pages.