Cheap London attractions are easier to find than you might think. The capital has a reputation for draining wallets at speed — a coffee here, a Zone 1 fare there — but it is also packed with days out that cost less than a tenner, and plenty that cost nothing at all.
We have rounded up nine of the best cheap London attractions, all costing £10 or under, from a sky-high garden in the Square Mile to a Roman temple buried beneath the City. Here is what they cost, when to go and how to make the most of each one.
The Monument — £7
Few experiences beat the bragging rights of climbing all 311 steps of Sir Christopher Wren and Dr Robert Hooke’s 202ft column, built to commemorate the Great Fire of London. The reward at the top is a sweeping panorama across the Square Mile from the viewing platform — pick a clear morning for the sharpest views. Standard entry is £7 for adults, £3.50 for children aged 5 to 15 and £5.30 for students and over-60s with valid ID; under-5s go free, and current prices hold until 31 March 2027. One warning: the staircase is narrow with no lift, so wear comfortable shoes and give it a miss if tight spiral stairs are not your thing. The nearest station is Monument.
Sky Garden — free
Perched on top of 20 Fenchurch Street, better known as the Walkie Talkie, this is the capital’s highest public garden — and it does not cost a penny. Free tickets are released every Monday morning, except on bank holidays, for dates up to three weeks ahead, and the most popular slots go quickly, so it pays to set a reminder. A small number of walk-ins are sometimes admitted, but it is far from guaranteed. If you can, time your visit for golden hour, when the sunset over the Thames is at its most spectacular — just remember that sunsets slip below the horizon before 5pm once the clocks go back.
London Mithraeum | Bloomberg SPACE — free
Beneath Bloomberg’s European headquarters at 12 Walbrook lies one of the city’s most atmospheric sights: the remains of a Roman Temple of Mithras, reconstructed where it was discovered alongside artefacts unearthed during the excavation. Entry is free, but advance booking is strongly recommended as timed slots fill up fast. It pairs naturally with the Bank of England Museum below for a full morning in the Square Mile, all on foot.
Bank of England Museum — free
Also in the City, this museum tells the story of the Bank, money and the UK financial system — heavier on gold bars and historic banknotes than you might expect, and genuinely engaging for older children. There is no need to book. It opens Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4.30pm, and stays open until 8pm on the third Thursday of every month — a handy option for an after-work visit.
London Museum Docklands — free
Over at West India Quay, nine free galleries trace the story of the capital’s river, port and people from the 1600s to the present day. It is one of London’s most underrated museums: immersive, family-friendly and rarely as crowded as the big South Kensington names. Open daily from 10am to 5pm, it is an easy hop from Canary Wharf on the DLR.
Horniman Museum and Gardens — free
Worth the journey to Forest Hill in south London, the Horniman pairs anthropology and musical-instrument collections with 16 acres of gardens. The main museum and the gardens are free to enter; you only pay extra for the aquarium, butterfly house and temporary exhibitions. One current special, “Voyage to the Deep – Underwater Adventures”, costs £9.80 for adults and runs until 1 November 2026. Note that the Natural History Gallery is closed for refurbishment. The gardens make a lovely picnic spot in the warmer months — and in autumn they are a fine place to catch the autumn colour sweeping across London’s parks.
Grant Museum of Zoology — free
Tucked into UCL in Bloomsbury, this is one of the quirkiest free museums in the city: around 100,000 zoological specimens, from skeletons to creatures in jars, packed into a single atmospheric gallery. It is small enough to see in under an hour, which makes it a perfect add-on to a British Museum day. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 1pm to 5pm.
Queen’s House — free
Greenwich’s elegant 17th-century Queen’s House, part of Royal Museums Greenwich, holds a renowned art collection — including the famous Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I. Entry is free but you will need a ticket, and booking online in advance is recommended. Open daily, 10am to 5pm.
National Maritime Museum — free
Right next door in Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum’s permanent galleries are free and span everything from seafaring history to polar exploration. Some temporary exhibitions carry a charge. Booking a free ticket in advance is recommended, particularly at weekends and in school holidays. The two Greenwich attractions pair naturally into a single day out: arrive mid-morning, do one before lunch and one after.
Making the most of it
A few practical notes before you set off. Book the free timed tickets — for the Sky Garden, the Mithraeum and the Greenwich museums — as early as you can, especially for weekends. Weekday mornings are the quietest almost everywhere. Pack food where you can: several of these venues sit near green space, and you can find inspiration in our pick of beautiful London parks for a perfect day out. And always check opening days before travelling — the Bank of England Museum is weekdays only, while the Grant Museum opens afternoons from Tuesday to Saturday.
Proof, then, that you do not need deep pockets to enjoy the capital: nine memorable days out, and not one of them costs more than a tenner.
