50 budget-friendly summer adventures in London

1. Cool down in a fountain 
While Trafalgar Square’s fountains may be off-limits, there are loads of other spots where kids can splash. Brave a watery maze at Granary Square, race though Southbank Centre’s Appearing Rooms or dance with 55 choreographed jets in Somerset House’s Fountain Court. 

2. Expand your grey matter 
Don’t miss the Great Exhibition Road Festival, South Kensington’s playful celebration of science and the arts. Its free events and workshops are aimed at all ages: party at a quantum disco, try insect-inspired yoga or snack at the non-stop popcorn-making machine. 7-8 June. 

3. Smell the roses
The city’s rose gardens are at their loveliest in the first two weeks of June. Claim a bench amid the blooms at Queen Mary’s Gardens in Regent’s Park, or wander the flower-twined walkways at Hyde Park’s romantic Rose Garden.  

4. Take Pride  
Rainbow flags fly high for Pride on 5 July. The city’s celebration of all things LGBTQ+ sees marching bands, drag queens and disco-fuelled floats parade through central London, while fringe events run from themed walks to club nights of every persuasion. A month later, on 10 August, it’s UK Black Pride in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

5. Appreciate opera for free 
Can’t quite stretch to tickets for Opera Holland Park? Then tune into Songs on the Steps: free, 40-minute performances held on selected Friday lunchtimes in May, June and July. Roll up with a picnic, as arias drift over an appreciative crowd of locals, opera-lovers and dog walkers.  

6. Take a walk on the wild side in Deptford 
Spend a memorable morning immersed in Deptford Creek, with a two-hour low tide walk along the riverbed. Armed with ‘mud sticks’ and wearing thigh-high waders, you’ll explore the creek’s secret stories and wealth of wildlife (over-sevens only; £10-£15). Check the website for dates.

7. Experience Meltdown
Meltdown is a must – an artist-curated series of gigs, staged at Southbank Centre. This year, rapper Little Simz is in charge, with a line-up that includes all sorts of free events, from a dance battle to a DJ takeover. 12-22 June.

8. Devour a legendary dessert 
If lunch at the Michelin-starred River Café is beyond your means, head to its café offshoot next door, with its no-bookings towpath terrace. We’d suggest dropping by for dessert: a tenner will buy you a sublime ice-cream coupe or a sumptuous slice of Chocolate Nemesis. 

9. Live it up at the Lambeth Country Show  
Entry is free at Brockwell Park’s take on a ‘country show’ – a cider-fuelled fixture for South Londoners. Join the queue for jerk, watch the jousting and sheep shearing, or hop between the stages, where the line-up runs from samba to steel bands, dub to community choirs. 7-8 June.

10. Plunge into a lido
London Fields Lido is an excellent place to start, given that it’s heated to a manageable 24°. It’s even warmer at Hampton Pool, on the edge of Bushy Park – though if you don’t mind something more bracing, the unheated Brockwell Lido is delightful on a summer’s day.

11. Celebrate an English fête
Every June, Kew gets its trestle tables out for a fundraising summer fête. Held on the Green, it’s all delightfully English, from the tombolas and tug-of-war to the dog show and tea tents – with the welcome addition of a Pimm’s bar, which does a roaring trade. 21 June.

12. Get your coffee on ice
With temperatures rising, it’s time to tweak your caffeine hit. Sample Bar Termini’s shakerato, shaken over ice, or Omotesando Koffee’s iced cappuccino, brimming with bubble foam. Coffee purists, meanwhile, prefer Granger & Co.,where the classic cold-drip is made with single-origin Allpress beans. 

13. Tune into Summer Sounds… 
Now in its tenth year, Summer Sounds returns to King’s Cross, with a free line-up of music and dance in Coal Drops Yard. Think flamenco guitar, indie rock and a brass band that plays drum’n’bass, along with a bhangra-fuelled ceilidh (as riotous as it sounds). 7-17 August.

14. … Or attend a big-name festival for free
With behemoth music festivals popping up in London’s parks, don’t miss the free community events that are often staged midweek. Check out In the NBHD at All Points East or Open House at American Express presents BST, whose programme runs from carnival drummers and cricket-coaching sessions to alfresco movie screenings. 

15. Bask in a sunny beer garden
In Hackney, retreat to the People’s Park Tavern, with its barbecues and craft beers, or hide out in The Albion in Barnsbury, for a glass of something crisp and white in the lovely, wisteria-framed courtyard.

16. See West End showstoppers for free
Love a show tune? Then get yourself to West End Live. It sees the stars of some of the biggest shows perform in Trafalgar Square: an impassioned Phantom of the Opera, perhaps, or all-dancing Mamma Mia! chorus. It’s free and extremely popular, so turn up early. 21-22 June.

17. Call by a cabmen’s shelter
Those small, green-painted wooden huts you’ll sometimes spot in London? Victorian cabmen’s shelters, where weary cabbies could find respite. Now, Chelsea Embankment’s shelter has re-opened as Café Pier, a tiny eatery with glorious views, bagels and brunches.

18. Go behind the scenes at the V&A
Entry’s free at the vast new V&A East Storehouse, whose collections run from Samurai swords to Elton John’s outré costumes. Its central hall houses the biggest pieces (including a colonnade from Agra’s Red Fort), while booking the ‘Order an Object’ service lets you summon specific treasures.

19. Dive into Hampstead’s Ponds  
The three bathing ponds on Hampstead Heath are a quintessential part of summer. There’s a men’s pond, a mixed pond and the tranquil, tree-framed ladies’ pond, with daily temperatures posted online, and admission for less than £5.

20. Join the Carnival crowd  
Technicolour floats, maxed-out sound systems and the tang of jerk chicken in the air? It can only mean one thing: the Notting Hill Carnival is in town. Wear your dancing shoes – with steel bands, rare groove, soca and more, it’s impossible to stay still for long. 24-25 August.

21. Catch some cricket at the Oval 
Watch teams battle it out for The Hundred, a turbo-charged cricket championship that’s now in its fifth year. Tickets are affordable (£5 for kids) and it’s faster-paced than standard cricket, as teams try to score the maximum runs from 100 balls. 5-31 August.

22. Play on a pirate ship 
Any quest to find the city’s greatest playgrounds has to start at Kensington Gardens, where the Diana Memorial Playground centres on a giant pirate ship. Afterwards, stroll to the nearby Italian Gardens, for a peaceful ice-cream amid the fountains and waterlilies.  

23. See an alfresco screening
For complimentary screenings of feelgood films head to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, whose Summer Screen runs every Tuesday in July. Take your pick from the programme (Mean Girls, Aladdin and more), and consider investing in a deckchair, which costs a fiver to hire.

24. Play pétanque in Cleaver Square 
Spend a sunny afternoon perfecting your pétanque in Kennington’s Cleaver Square, edged by Georgian townhouses and film-set pretty. Head to the pub on the corner – the Prince of Wales – to pick up drinks and borrow some boules (£10 hire, plus a £20 deposit).  

25. Venture beyond vanilla…
If you’re craving an ice-cream, there’s no better place than Gelupo, the Soho gelateria set up by chef Jacob Kenedy. What to expect in summer? Fragrant fig leaf, perhaps, ricotta and sour cherry, or moreish Hong Kong milk tea.  

26. …Or order a fancy soft serve 
This summer, the coolest scoops are soft serve. Get yours at Soft Serve Society (try the super-silky charcoal coconut), or head to Hackney’s Bake Street for sumptuous small-batch flavours – think cherry sorbet and toasted rice, or a fig and coffee caramel swirl. 

27. Be a groundling at The Globe  
No theatre is as atmospheric as The Globe, especially if you’re a groundling, standing in front of the stage. It cost a penny in Shakespeare’s day, though these days you can get a ticket for £5 – a fraction of the price for seats and a smart way to catch sold-out shows. 

28. Sip a slushy  
Childhood slushies have made a comeback – only this time, they’re for grown-ups, like the yuzu frozen margarita at Tayēr + Elementary (number four on the World’s 50 Best Bars list). Soho pasta joint Pastaio, meanwhile, has sophisticated, monthly-changing slushies: pomegranate molasses-stewed cherries with arak, say, or apricot, tonka bean and vodka.  

29. Retreat to an arboretum 
Find some welcome shade in Richmond Park at the Isabella Plantation – the perfect spot for a picnic. Dating from the 1830s, it spans 40 fairy-tale acres, with rustling glades of beeches and sweet chestnuts flanked by meandering streams.

30. Go promming
The BBC Proms brings eight weeks of top-tier classical concerts. In time-honoured tradition, you can book ‘promming’ tickets on the day, in person at the Royal Albert Hall or online at 9:30am. Your reward? An £8 standing spot or even a seat in the choir. 18 July–13 September.

31. Mind your manners  
Hungry Londoners have gone loco for Bad Manners, a cult burrito kiosk that started life in Hackney. Its new location is just by Shoreditch Church – join the regulars queuing for its all-conquering breakfast burrito, or drop by at lunchtime for tacos, tamales and more.

32. Stroll past world-class street art 
Spend an afternoon admiring Shoreditch’s art-scrawled walls; this whole postcode is a canvas, so you won’t need a map. Wander past its backstreets and railway bridges and see what you stumble across, from Banksy’s guard poodle to Fanakapan’s buoyant balloons.   

33. Wake up early for Wimbledon…
No ballot tickets for the tennis? Then you’ll need to join the famous Queue. Arrive by 5am for a shot at Show Court tickets or settle for a cheaper Grounds Pass for the chance to catch the action on courts 3 to 19 or join the fans on The Hill. 30 June–13 July.

34. …Or see it on the big screen  
If you’re averse to dawn wake-ups and snaking queues, head for one of the big screens that pop up around the city, from Canary Wharf to Covent Garden. The floating pontoon at St Katharine Docks is another prime spot: arrive early to score a deckchair. 

35. Row your boat 
Take a turn in a pedal boat in Crystal Palace Park, looking out for dinosaurs, or hire a classic rowing boat on the Serpentine. Alternatively, head to Alexandra Palace to race around the tree-fringed lake on dragon, flamingo and swan pedalos.

36. Take the train to Kew 
Kew Gardens is a botanical wonderland, in full bloom come summer. Stroll among the roses, take to the treetop walkway, or picnic in the woodland gardens. The strategic way to reach it is by rail: there’s two-for-one admission if you book ahead and show your train tickets at the gate.

37. Feast on oysters for less  
Fancy quaffing a few oysters? Then take advantage of Wright Brothers’ generous happy hours, which see oysters priced at £1 a pop. Days and timings differ at its three London outposts, so check the website for details.

38. Pay your respects to London’s dead    
London is home to some gloriously grand Victorian cemeteries – most famously, perhaps, the ivy-draped example at Highgate (£10 entry), whose residents include Karl Marx and Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker fans will appreciate the pot of ballpoints by his grave).  

39. Catch a clipper down the Thames 
Instead of an expensive river cruise, hop on board a Clipper – a fleet of boats that navigate the Thames, mostly carrying commuters. That means more affordable tickets (free for four and unders) and a pier-hopping route that takes you to Greenwich, Battersea and beyond.

40. Meet a portly walrus 
South London’s Horniman museum is a terrific all-rounder, especially with kids in tow. On sunny days, explore its animal walk and gardens, with skyline views of London. If it’s rainy, retreat to the aquarium, butterfly house or museum, famed for its overstuffed walrus. 

41. Check out London’s leafiest stage   
Framed by rustling trees and open to the elements, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is gloriously atmospheric. If you miss out on the cheaper seats, try to score on-the-day Grass Banks tickets, which are £15 for a spot on the ground (bring a blanket to sit on).

42. Sip a negroni with a view  
In-the-know locals flock to Frank’s Cafe, a summertime hangout in Peckham, perched atop a former car park. Part of the Bold Tendencies arts space, it’s joyous on summer evenings with its seasonal snacks, sunset views and modestly priced cocktails (most are around £10). Until 20 September.

43. Buy a bunch at Columbia Road 
There’s nowhere quite like this East End Sunday-morning market, which fills its namesake street with flowers. For the best deals, arrive around 2pm, when traders start winding down, and go for seasonal blooms such as dahlias and pastel-hued sweet peas.

44. Invest in an Art Pass 
Always coveted a National Art Pass? Then test-drive one for the summer, with a special three-month trial pass (£20). It’ll get you free entry at all sorts of museums and galleries, from Eltham Palace to the Golden Hinde, and half-price exhibition tickets at the Barbican, Design Museum and more.

45. Complete the Parkland Walk  
Welcome to the city’s longest linear nature reserve, following the railway line that once connected Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace. It’s a flat, 4km amble with plenty to see along the way, from wildflowers and woodpeckers to a mischievous Spriggan (a mythical creature from Cornish folklore).

46. Pause for a Thameside pint  
When the sun’s shining, a beer by the Thames is one of London’s timeless pleasures. Try the Prospect of Whitby, the city’s oldest riverside pub, or – for cask ales and Wind in the Willows vibes – the White Swan in Twickenham.  

47. Tee off in Canary Wharf   
Take a detour to Montgomery Square for some colourful crazy golf, dreamed up by artists Craig Redman and Karl Maier. The acid-bright nine-hole course is free to play, and open daily from noon to 6pm with balls and clubs provided. Until 5 October.

48. Attend an art car boot sale 
Held in King’s Cross, the Art Car Boot Fair is a blast, as art-world stars roll up with cut-price wares (in previous years, Pure Evil’s prints and Tracey Emin’s iPad sketches). This year has a comedy theme, and £10 early-bird tickets; it’s £5 entry after 3pm, or free for the final hour. 20 September.

49. Escape to a farm 
Who needs the countryside? London is full of city farms, most of which are free to visit. Feed the goats and alpacas at Vauxhall, meet the llamas at Mudchute, or eat crumpets at Spitalfields City Farm’s tea hut, then call on Hamish the goat.  

50. Doze off in a deckchair  
Made it to the end? You deserve a rest. Come summer, green-and-white-striped deckchairs appear in London’s Royal Parks, for hire from £4 an hour. Claim a lakeside spot in Regent’s Park or settle in for a post-picnic nap on Hyde Park’s sun-dappled lawns.

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