There’s so much to do that’s free in the capital, and here’s some suggestions
A cinematic journey
BFI Southbank’s Mediatheque (Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT; 020 7815 1346; bfi.org.uk; open 12.30-8pm daily) is a place to make new film discoveries and get reacquainted with old favourites. Simply log on at a viewing station and choose from over 2,500 highlights from the BFI National Archive, the world’s greatest and most diverse collection of film and television. There’s everything from home movies to feature films, documentaries to kids’ TV, old cult favourites, strange and unclassifiable films and art-house masterpieces. Many titles have rarely been seen since their original release or broadcast – if at all. There’s pioneering documentaries, cult kids’ tv, hard-to-find sitcoms, film from the Victorian and Edwardian era,film around Britain through the decades, recent tv to browse and much, much more. There’s more than 1,000 hours of film available to watch and the viewing booths have space for more than one, so take a friend. At busy periods, time slots are restricted to two hours to avoid overcrowding.
Traffic-free (almost) walk from Whitehall to Notting Hill
London is awash with green. You can stroll the whole way from Whitehall to Notting Hill via interconnecting – and very different – St James’s Park, Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The latter features the Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, with a huge pirate ship, sand pits, water play areas and teepees.
Animal encounters
Seven-acre Bloomsbury recreational area Coram’s Fields (93 Guildford Street, WC1; 020 7837 6138; coramsfields.org; open 9am-dusk) has a few farm animals in residence including goats, rabbits, ducks and chickens. There’s also a children’s playground with a zip wire, climbing frames, paddling pool and slides. Adults are only admitted if accompanied by a child.
Walk the Roman walls
There are still some traces of Roman Londinium, founded 2,000 years ago. Begin your exploration by the Tower of London: a statue of emperor Trajan guards the tallest section. From here if you head north along Cooper’s Row and enter the plaza of the Grange City Hotel you’ll find the most impressive section of wall, including an arch that can be walked through. From here, an anti-clockwise stroll around the Square Mile will reveal further remnants of Roman London along the aptly named thoroughfare London Wall, especially near the Museum of London.
A charming museum
Sir John Soane’s Museum (13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2; 020 405 2107; soane.org; open Tues-Sat 10am-5pm) is rather eccentric and unpredictable. Built 1812 and recently restored with new spaces unveiled in September, this beautiful, unusual museum was architect Soane’s house and displays his eccentric collection of plasterwork, paintings, models of buildings – and chillingly, of tombs complete with skeletons – as well as drawings, antiquities, sculptures and books from around the world that took nearly half a century to assemble and that more than 50,000 people visit annually. The items displayed are staggering in volume and variety and even hold the attention of very young children, especially since a surprise is around every corner, or a new alcove crammed with more treasures invariably appears. Soane bequeathed his collection to the nation on the understanding that nothing was removed or changed.
Classical music concerts
On weekdays some of the City’s most beautiful churches put on free lunchtime classical music recitals. A monthly guide can be downloaded at cityevents.org.uk. Some music colleges, including the Royal Academy of Music (ram.ac.uk/events) and the Royal College of Music (rcm.ac.uk/events) also organise regular free classical concerts and other events.