Culture

If you can plan ahead, check out the BBC and apply for free tickets to tapings of radio (Hear and Now, BBC Symphony Orchestra) and television (Coming of Age, Strictly Come Dancing) shows.

Non-coulrophobias will take pleasure in the Clowns Museum, opened by Clowns International in the 1960s. The small, free, private museum has costumes, props, and a host of clown-related paraphernalia, including a large collection of eggs painted with the make-up design of famous clowns. Only open on the first Friday of every month.

See over 7,000 musical instruments and 250,000 natural history specimens at the free Horniman Museum. Visit the museum's aquarium, one of the oldest surviving aquariums in London, and on sunny days take a walk in the museum's 16 acres of gardens.

Pool of London and London Bridge have heaps of free events throughout the year (especially in the summer). Check the extensive Local Events page listings before arriving in London.

Sample London life at one of the city's 70 markets, all of which can be browsed at no cost. Petticoat Lane market has been in operation since the 1750s, and is one of London's most famous markets. Don't miss the antiques market at Portobello Road on Saturdays, or the Piccadilly Crafts Market in front of St. James Church.

Learn about Tudor life at Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge in Epping Forest, built for Henry VIII in 1543. The three floors exhibit Tudor cookware, carpentry, and costumes (kids can even play dress-up with Tudor clothing). Free to the public. Call (+44 20 8529 6681) for special events like historical re-enactments and themed-craft afternoons on the first Saturday of the month. The lodge is a five-minute walk from the Underground's Chingford Station.

Overseas visitors can catch a debate and question time in both houses of the U.K. Parliament. Free tickets are given to U.K. residents to see the House of Commons, but overseas visitors can wait in line (up to two hours outside the St. Stephen's entrance) to be admitted for free if there is space available during the "summer opening." The Commons has a very lively Prime Minister's Question Time that is well worth the wait (especially to political enthusiasts and to those wanting to hear some of the best British profanities).

Wandsworth High Street has been a main London thoroughfare for over 500 years. At no cost, visitors can learn about Wandsworth Town on two 30-minute cultural heritage walks. The town center walk includes a stop at a 1908 cinema (the oldest in London) and the oldest brewery in Britain: Young's Brewery opened in the 16th century and continued brewing beer until 2006.