24 Hours In London – Top 21 Cheap Things To Do In The UK Capital
Spending just 24 hours in London? Read on for the top things to do!
24 hours in London is obviously not enough time to fully explore the UK capital, but it is surprising just how much you can see and do if you find yourself here for just one day.
As a UK native I’ve visited London regularly for over twenty years now, mostly on day trips. So I know exactly what are the top spots to visit – from awesome food markets to the best beautiful parks and more.
So I’ve put together a list of some of the best (and cheap) things to do in London which for sure will be useful the next time you find yourself in this extraordinary city with just 24 hours to spare.
24 Hours In London – Top 21 Cheap Things To Do
So let’s take a look at what are some of the best and cheap things to do in London, in no particular order:
1. Visit A Free Museum 🏛️
London is renowned for having some of the best museums in the world, and what’s better is that a lot of the top museums are totally free to visit. Whether you’re interested in history, science or art, London has got you covered!
Here are 3 of the best museums in London that have free entry:
The National History Museum – With over 80 million items on display, featuring an amazing Blue Whale skeleton, this is a world class museum where you can spend an entire day exploring.
The National Portrait Museum – For art lovers this is a must when visiting London! Featuring portraits of important British people throughout history.
The British Museum – Dedicated to human history with artefacts from all around the world, including its most treasured item; the famous Rosetta Stone.
2. Take a stroll through a London Park 🌲
What I love about London is that it’s a surprisingly green city, with over 3,000 parks in total! I always try to visit a park when in the big city; it’s a perfect way to relax and unwind.
There are several big, popular parks in London – let’s take a look at them and their nearest underground stations:
- Hyde Park – London’s most popular and largest park, easily reachable from Hyde Park Corner underground station.
- St James’s Park – my favourite park in all of London. Close to Buckingham Palace and just a 5-10 minute walk from Victoria station.
- Greenwich Park – fantastic views of London from this park, reachable from Blackheath underground station or Cutty Sark on the DLR line.
- Victoria Park – Opened in 1845, this is London’s oldest public park and the nearest tube stations to it are Bethnal Green and Mile End.
- Regent’s Park – one of London’s Royal parks, which you can get to from Regent’s Park underground station.
- Kensington Gardens – close to Hyde Park and considered one of the most areas of London, its nearest station is High Street Kensington or Queensway on the red line.
- Richmond Park – full of beautiful wildlife and ponds, you can reach this park from North Sheen and Richmond or Norbiton underground station.
- Hampstead Heath – this is north London’s very popular ancient heath, which you can get to from Hampstead, Tufnell Park or Belsize Park underground station.
3. See some live comedy 🤣
There are so many live shows to see in London, from West End musicals, theatre shows and live music that it can be hard to know what to choose.
But one of the cheapest shows you can see is a live stand up comedy show, which are numerous throughout London every night of the week. And who doesn’t love a good laugh while on your travels?
Some of the best and cheapest stand up comedy shows in London include the Soho Comedy Factory, the Oddity Comedy club which takes place every Wednesday and the Bill Murray Comedy Club, which is open 7 days a week.
4. Visit the BFI’s Film Library for FREE 🎬
If you’re a movie buff like me, then you should most definitely visit the BFI (British Film Institute) on the South Bank when visiting London.
BFI Southbank is the UK’s number one repertory cinema and always has a great line up of world cinema and independent films to watch.
There is also a fascinating film library at the BFI which it claims to be the world’s largest collection of books, journals, and digital material all related to the wonderful world of cinema.
This is a really interesting place to visit if you love cinema. I’ve spent time at the BFI over the years and love it there, especially the cafe/bar and restaurant area which is a cool place to grab some food and a drink.
5. Watch a Shakespeare Play for Cheap 🎭
One of London’s best attractions is to see a Shakespeare play at the Globe Theatre, where many of his plays were written and performed back in the 1500’s.
What’s amazing about watching a play at the Globe is that you can buy a ticket for just an incredibly cheap £5 – that is an unbelievable bargain, especially for London!
These aren’t seated tickets however, you’ll be standing up right near the front of the stage, in what is called ‘The Yard’ section of the theatre, but is still worth doing all the same.
6. Try some snacks at a London Food Market 🍕
Another thing I really love about London are the exceptional food markets that can be found throughout the city. I always try to visit one when in the capital, and you can find some really cheap, top quality meals and snacks.
Here are my three favourite food markets that I recommend visiting:
- Camden Market – probably the most touristy food market in London, but the atmosphere is great and there are so many tasty food stalls featuring all sorts of international cuisine.
- Borough Market – arguably the best London market, Borough market is one of the largest and oldest in London, dating back to the 12th century.
- Old Spitalfields Market – this is a massive indoor market in Shoreditch, East London that features so many stalls with really tasty food options from all over the world.
👉 Pro Tip: These food markets attract huge crowds, especially on weekends. So my advice would be to visit them during a quiet weekday, either early morning or late afternoon if possible to enjoy a better, quieter experience.
7. Take a Ride down the River Thames ⛴️
Seeing London by taking a boat ride on the famous River Thames is a unique experience and is perhaps surprisingly not very expensive at all.
With tickets starting at just a very affordable £5.40, you can catch a ‘Thames Clipper’ Uber boat, which is intended for commuters. The boats travel east all the way from Putney to Barking and are a fantastic way to see the city.
8. Go on a Cable Car above London 🚡
Another really cool way to see some awesome views of London is to take a cable car and it is a very unique, fun thing to do in the city.
You can catch a cable car from Greenwich Peninsula to Royal Victoria Docks, crossing 90 metres high above the River Thames for just £12 for a return ticket.
You can pay online or with an oyster card or a contactless credit/debit card.
9. Visit Greenwich’s Painted Hall
Greenwich is one of my favourite parts of all of London, and it features what is often referred to ‘the UK’s Sistine Chapel’, the Painted Hall which is based in the Old Royal Naval College.
Completed in 1726, the amazing interior of this building features some of the most stunning Baroque interiors you’ll find anywhere, with very beautiful ceiling and wall decorations.
With tickets to the Painted Hall starting at just £15, this is an affordable tourist attraction in one of the best areas of London.
10. Spend a Sunday at a Flower Market 🌷
As well as food markets, London is also famous for its many flower markets. Strolling through a flower market on a weekend is a joyful experience, here are the three most popular to visit:
- Columbia Road Flower Market – based in Bethnal Green, this is London’s most well known flower market, taking place every Sunday from 8am to 3pm.
- New Covent Garden Market – this indoor market (also known as ‘Nine Elms market‘ is the largest fruit, veg, plant and flower market in the whole of the UK.
- Chiswick Flower Market – open on the first Sunday of each month, Chiswick flower market features 40 stalls featuring flowers, plants and more and has a brilliant atmosphere.
11. See the best views of London from Primrose Hill
Finding the best views of London is not easy as a lot of the prime viewing locations can be pricey, such as the London Eye or the top of the Shard for example.
But one of the best and totally free places to see amazing views of London is from Primrose Hill, with its hilltop park offering stunning panoramic views.
It’s a lovely place to go for a stroll and especially amazing to catch a sunset during the summer months.
12. Visit the Tate Modern for Free 🎨
The Tate Modern is another one of my favourite places to visit when in London. Based on the South Bank next to the Thames River, it’s also totally free to enter its huge interior and explore.
There are free permanent exhibitions featuring some of the most interesting modern art you’ll see in the city.
There are some exhibitions that you have to pay for however, but if you don’t fancy that then you can easily spend an hour or two enjoying the free art on show.
13. Have a pint of beer at a Soho Pub 🍻
Soho, located in the West End area of London just up the road from Leicester Square is one of the livelier neighbourhoods to visit in central London. It’s full of traditional pubs, restaurants and lots more.
Visiting one of the many pubs in Soho is a great way to relax for a few hours over a beer (or more) to enjoy a bit of people watching and to soak up the atmosphere of us Brits’ favourite pastime – drinking!
Yes, beers in London are extortionate compared to the rest of the country (around £6 or higher), but it’s a fun insight into British culture.
14. Try some Chinese food at China Town 🍜
Just a few minutes walk from Soho is China Town, which is a must visit if you’re a fan of Asian cuisine! Full of Chinese lanterns and mostly Chinese restaurants, there are several buffet restaurants there which are a good option.
The buffet restaurants in China Town range from £6 to £15 which is a pretty decent price considering you can eat as much as you like for as long as you like as well.
Sometimes there are street food stalls in China Town too – I’ve bought some excellent bao buns from these stalls for just a few pounds which is a unique delicacy and very, very cheap!
15. Visit the Sky Garden – Free on Weekends
What has become one of London’s most popular tourist attractions to visit in recent times is the amazing Sky Garden, based near London Bridge (the nearest tube station is Monument).
This is London’s highest public garden and has a very unique design with spectacular 360 degree views of the cityscape. With observation decks, an open air terrace and a top rated restaurant, it is a very cool place indeed.
And what’s better is that it’s totally free entry to the Sky Garden 7 days a week (except for the first Monday of every month)!
Of course if you want to relax and enjoy a drink or some food then expect high prices, but it’s an amazing place to visit regardless of cost.
👉 Pro Tip: If you want to visit the Sky Garden then my advice is to make sure to book your free ticket several weeks in advance, as it is a very popular place indeed and there will be no tickets available on the official website if you leave it to the last minute.
16. Discover London’s Iconic Tower Bridge
One of the most iconic landmarks in all of London is of course Tower Bridge, and what most tourists don’t know is that you can actually visit Tower Bridge as well. It’s also surprisingly cheap, with tickets starting at just £12.30 for adults.
Visiting Tower Bridge offers the best views of the city, you can stand on a glass floor looking directly below which is a great photo opportunity and you can learn all about how the bridge was built back in Victorian times. Perfect for families!
17. Go window shopping on Carnaby Street 🛍️
London is of course a fashion capital, with several famous high streets such as Oxford Street and more. Arguably the most famous high street is Carnaby street, situated in Soho.
It’s a perfect place to browse for a while and to enjoy a bit of window shopping without breaking the bank, unless you see an outfit you can’t resist buying!
18. See some famous gravestones at Highgate Cemetery
Okay, this may sound like a really strange tourist activity when visiting London, but going to Highgate Cemetery is a fascinating experience!
This is one of the most famous cemeteries in the world and certainly one of the more unique things to do in the UK capital.
There are several famous gravestones and burial sites here, including the likes of Karl Marx, Douglas Adams, George Michael, Michael Faraday and plenty more.
19. Watch a movie at the famous Prince Charles Cinema 🍿
Probably the most popular independent cinema in London as well as the rest of the UK is the Prince Charles cinema located on a side street in Leicester Square in the West End of London.
Having opened in 1962, the cinema has earned a reputation for being an eclectic cinema, showing all sorts of world cinema, independent films and cult classics from the 80’s, 90’s and more.
They often show movie marathons at the Prince Charles cinema which are loads of fun and tickets for individual movie screenings are very well priced for London, costing around the £10 mark.
I’ve visited the Prince Charles Cinema on countless occasions and in my opinion it’s probably the best independent cinema in the world, never mind just the UK!
20. Visit the British Library – the largest in the world 📚
If you’re a book lover then you simply cannot visit London without seeing the largest library in the world; the British Library.
Located on the Euston Road in St. Pancras, this is an absolutely huge, fascinating place and it’s totally free to enter. Some of the library’s most unique treasures you can see include the Magna Carta and handwritten song lyrics of the Beatles.
21. Take a stroll along the Thames on the Southbank
And last but definitely not least on my list of best things to do in London during a 24 hour period is to take a pleasant stroll along the River Thames on the Southbank.
The Southbank is hands down my favourite place to visit in all of London. I’ve taken a walk along the river countless times, starting not too far away from Big Ben and the houses of Parliament all the way to London Bridge.
There are many great places to stop off along the way, such as the BFI, the National Theatre, the Southbank Centre, Tate Modern and more. There are loads of top quality restaurants and pop up street food stalls as well.
The Southbank for me is the very best of London; lovely views of the Thames and lots of lively places to visit during your walk.
How To Get Around London
Knowing exactly how to get around London is far from easy too, so let’s go through the best travel options in London:
🚇 London Underground – easily the most used and popular choice of public transport in London. It can be confusing to find the right coloured line (there are 11 in total), but download a tube map app before visiting and you’ll be fine.
🚌 London Buses – The bus network in London is the most comprehensive in the world! It’s widely used, though expect plenty of traffic and longer times to reach your destination compared to using the tube.
🚕 London Taxis – I would only recommend using taxis in London if you’re really desperate or if it’s an emergency. Fares can get extremely high and of course London traffic can be a nightmare!
24 Hours In London FAQs
Still not sure about visiting London in 24 hours or more? Let’s take a look at some commonly asked questions about the UK capital:
When is the best time to visit London?
❄️ Winter: The only time I would advise you not to visit London would be during the winter months, as British weather of course can be notoriously bad during this season.
Having said that, I would make an exception for the Christmas period, which is a really beautiful time to visit London, although busy with tourists.
🌷 Spring: Anytime in Spring is a good option to visit London, with temperatures being somewhat mild although still temperamental as usual.
☀️ Summer: Visiting London in the summertime can be a lovely occasion, the only downside is that using the Underground can get extremely hot and humid!
🍁 Autumn: The autumn months can be a really beautiful season in London (especially with the autumn colours on show in the London parks), with less tourists and cheaper accommodation and flights to the city.
Is London safe to visit?
Yes, London is absolutely safe to visit! In all the years I’ve been visiting London I have never witnessed or experienced any crime incidents.
There are some areas that have bad reputations for crime such as Camden or East London, but you shouldn’t let that deter you from visiting.
Of course, petty crimes and theft happens in London every day, so definitely be cautious and vigilant when visiting and avoid some of the less touristy neighbourhoods as well.
What are the best London neighbourhoods to visit?
There are so many different parts of London that it’s not easy to plan which neighbourhoods to visit and which ones to avoid. Here are my three favourite areas of London:
- Shoreditch – Probably the trendiest neighbourhood in London, visit for the street art and stay for a curry on Brick Lane, and of course don’t miss Old Spitalfields food market.
- Greenwich – A lovely part of London that feels totally different from the rest of the city. Visit the Royal Observatory, the Cutty Sark ship and take a stroll in Greenwich Park.
- Soho – As mentioned previously, Soho is a great trendy neighbourhood full of lively bars, clubs and restaurants.
Conclusion: 24 Hours In London
So that concludes my guides on the best things to do when in London for just 24 hours or more. Some people claim that London is overrated, but that honestly couldn’t be further from the truth.
As you can tell in this list I’ve created, there are so many uniquely different things to do in England’s capital, whether you fancy visiting museums, parks or typical tourist attractions – you’re never short on options in London!
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading through all the top things to do in London in just 24 hours and are now clued up on how to spend your time in one of the best capital cities in the world.
➡️ Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources:
🏨 Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com
🚙 Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices
❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
✈️ Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights
