London Cheap and Free
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Money-saving London
Half-price tickets
The 'tkts' booth in Leicester Square, run by the theatres themselves, sells same-day tickets for West End shows at up to 50 percent off, plus a £2.50 service fee (10am- 7pm Mon-Sat, noon-3pm Sun). The National Theatre sells a limited number of full-price same-day tickets at 10am at its South Bank box office - useful when a show is sold out.
Advance tickets can be bought by telephone through agencies such as First Call (7420 0000; www.keithprowse.com/) at full price plus booking fee. To avoid the fee, you can usually buy directly from individual box offices.
Special passes
Although national museums and galleries are free, most others have entrance charges. Energetic visitors will benefit from the London Pass, which allows free entry to several dozen attractions, including many reviewed in this book. Free travel on the Tube and buses is also included.
At press time (Jan 2005), prices ranged from £27/approx. US$47 for a one-day pass to £60/$105 for a three-day pass (children £17/$30-£38/$66), all plus 17.5% tax. Details: tel: 01664 500 107 or visit www.londonpass.com
The Art Fund
Joining the Art Fund, the UK's leading art charity, costs from £23 to £35 a year and provides free admission to more than 200 museums, galleries and historic houses in the UK, plus discounts on special exhibitions. Details on 0870-848 2003 or visit www.artfund.org
Events listings
Supreme in this field is the long-established weekly Time Out, but the Evening Standard newspaper includes a free listings magazine on Thursdays, as does the free Metro newspaper, available (Mon-Fri) at all major rail stations and Tube stations.
Free London
Free museums and galleries in London
Most of the top collections, including the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert, the Science Museum, and the Museum of London, have no entry fee.
London's free art galleries
Masterpieces are on show for free at many venues, including National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, Wallace Collection, Tate Britain and Tate Modern.
Free music in London
Free lunchtime recitals at churches such as St John's Smith Square and St Martin-in-the-Fields (Trafalgar Square) and occasional early evening sessions in the National Theatre foyer.
Street entertainers
From jugglers to opera singers, performers draw the crowds in the Covent Garden area.
Free speech
Hear the opinionated rant at Hyde Park's Speakers' Corner on Sunday afternoons.
Legal drama
Watch a trial in one of the 18 courtrooms at the Old Bailey, Britain's Central Criminal Court.
Parliamentary drama
Listen to a political debate in the House of Commons.
For the birds
Watch the ducks, geese and black swans in the lake in St James's Park.
Free news in London
The Metro newspaper is handed out free on weekday mornings at main railway and Tube stations, with listings of what's on and where to go.
London's ancient churches
Such as Southwark Cathedral, dating partly from the 12th century, and Sir Christopher Wren's St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, within the sounds of whose bells you must be born to be considered a true “Cockney” Londoner.