Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
About half of these museums request a donation of a few pounds, but whether
you contribute or not is up to you. If I spend money for an audioguide, I feel fine
about not otherwise donating. If you can afford it, donate.
Free Churches:
Smaller churches let worshippers (and tourists) in free, al-
though they may ask for a donation. The big sightseeing churches—Westminster
Abbey and St. Paul's—charge higher admission fees, but offer free evensong ser-
vices nearly daily (though you can't stick around afterward to sightsee). Westmin-
ster Abbey also offers free organ recitals most Sundays.
Other Freebies:
London has plenty of free performances, such as lunch con-
www.whatsfreeinlondon.co.uk
.
There's no charge to enjoy the pageantry of the
Changing of the Guard, rants at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park (on Sun afternoon),
displays at Harrods, the people-watching scene at Covent Garden, and the colorful
streets of the East End. It's free to view the legal action at the Old Bailey and the
legislature at work in the Houses of Parliament. And you can get into a bit of the
Tower of London and Windsor Castle by attending Sunday services in each place's
chapel (chapel access only).
Greenwich makes for an inexpensive outing. Many of its sights are free, and
the journey there is covered by a cheap Zones 1-2 Tube ticket or pass.
Sightseeing Deals:
If you buy a paper One-Day Travelcard at a National Rail
station (such as Paddington or Victoria), you may be eligible for two-for-one dis-
counts at many popular sights, such as the Churchill War Rooms, London Eye,
Tower of London, and Madame Tussauds. (This also works with paper train tickets
bought in person at the station—if you'll be riding into London and visiting one of
these sights later in the day.) See
here
for details.
Good-Value Tours:
The city walking tours with professional guides (£9) are
one of the best deals going. (Note that the guides for the “free” walking tours are
unpaid by their companies, and they expect tips—I'd pay up front for an expertly
guided tour instead.) Hop-on, hop-off big-bus tours, while expensive (£25-30),
provide a great overview and include free boat tours as well as city walks. (Or, for
the price of a transit ticket, you could get similar views from the top of a double-
decker public bus.) A one-hour Thames ride to Greenwich costs £12 one-way, but
most boats come with entertaining commentary. A three-hour bicycle tour is about
£20.
