If you are planning a trip to London, there are plenty of free things to do in the city. You can check out the Tate Modern, the Museum of London, or the Battersea Park Children’s Zoo. Or you can check out the West End theater district. If you haven’t visited the city before, you may be a little confused as to where to start. Here’s a guide for you.
Museum of London
The Museum of Science and Industry is a world-class science museum with an IMAX theatre and interactive exhibits covering a wide range of topics, including space, medicine, fuel, and technology. The museum also features an unusual postal history. Visitors can explore the Mail Rail Tunnels, which haven’t been opened for over a hundred years. The museum also features a 150-year-old postcard exhibit and an extensive stamp collection.
The massive naval guns that guard the entrance greet visitors. With a range of fifteen miles, these guns protected British naval ships during battle. The museum also has a First World War gallery and displays first-hand accounts from survivors of the war. For children, the museum also houses a collection of Russian T34 tanks. The museum is located on Lambeth road and is open on Sundays and Wednesdays. The museum is also open for late hours.
Tate Modern
Unlike the sister Tate Britain museum, Tate Modern has an impressive modern art collection that dates back to the early 1900s. The collection is split across three buildings: Boiler House, Turbine Hall, and the new Blavatnik Building. The Turbine Hall is a massive five-storey installation space that houses a changing selection of works. Visitors can spend hours looking at these works before making a choice.
If you’re interested in a particular exhibition, the Tate Modern offers discounts for groups, while private tours can be arranged. You can join one of the free guided tours between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., or you can choose a tailor-made tour that lasts 60 minutes for PS10 to PS14 per person. While you’re at the museum, you can enjoy the view over the River Thames from the viewing platform.
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo
If you’re planning a day out with your children, you can’t go wrong with the Battersea Park Children’s Zoo. There are several animal experiences to choose from, including feeding the giraffes, seeing otters, and even trying out capuchins and chinchillas. The Zoo is also known for its interactive play areas for younger visitors. Its smaller animals are well-represented, too.
The Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is one of London’s oldest and most popular zoos. This London zoo is small, located in Battersea Park. The closest tube station is Sloane Square. Tickets are very reasonably priced, with discounts and annual passes available. Children can enjoy a number of activities, including arts and crafts, and even feed the animals!
West End theater district
A visit to London’s West End theater district is a must-do experience for any traveler. The theatres are a sight to behold, and you can learn all about the performers, composers, and producers of some of the most famous plays and musicals in history. This section is also home to some of the city’s most famous theatres, including the London Coliseum, the Royal Opera House, the Savoy Theatre, and the West End’s own regal Palace Theater.
In the early seventeenth century, the Royal Opera House and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane opened in the West End. These theatres were a favorite of King Charles II, and audiences were the first to hear the National Anthem and Rule Britannia. Over the next few decades, more theaters popped up in the area, including the Theatre Royal in Shaftesbury Avenue, which opened on 7 May 1663. The following year, the Theatres Act relaxed the government’s laws and more theatres were built in the area.
Houses of Parliament
There are many ways to see the Houses of Parliament in London, but perhaps the most popular option is to take a guided tour. While the Houses of Parliament are free to visit, tickets are required if you plan to spend more than two hours in the building. For more information, visit the website. You can even print out a free map to follow throughout your visit. A tour guide will give you the scoop on all things Houses of Parliament.
The original building was a large royal palace. Several centuries later, it was damaged or completely destroyed by fire. However, it managed to survive a fire in 1834. During that fire, the Westminster Hall, Cloisters, Undercroft Chapel, and Chapter House of St. Stephen’s were destroyed. Although the Houses of Parliament were rebuilt from scratch, the buildings’ medieval appearance was retained. The Cloisters of St Stephen’s and Chapel of St Mary Undercroft still stand today.