London's national museums are free, which is unusual anywhere at this scale and changes what a visit is for. It also raises the bar sharply for anything that charges.
Free, and among the best in the world
The British Museum — the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, the Sutton Hoo hoard. Enormous; pick three galleries rather than attempting it.
The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square — western European painting to 1900 in one walkable building.
The V&A — design and decorative arts, in the most beautiful museum building in the city.
Natural History and Science, adjacent, both excellent with children.
Tate Britain for the Turner collection and Tate Modern in the converted power station.
The Wallace Collection — a mansion of art and armour, free and almost empty.
Sir John Soane's Museum — an architect's house left exactly as he arranged it, crammed with antiquities. One of the strangest places in London.
Free viewpoints
The Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street — free with an advance booking, and it includes the Shard in the view.
One New Change's roof terrace, facing St Paul's dome directly.
Greenwich Park and Primrose Hill for the skyline.
These make the London Eye and the Shard viewing platform hard to justify.
Worth paying for
The Tower of London — the Crown Jewels, the Norman keep, and the Yeoman Warder tours included in the ticket, which are genuinely excellent. Go at opening.
Westminster Abbey — the coronation church, with an audio guide included and the graves of monarchs, Newton, Darwin and Hawking.
St Paul's dome climb — the Whispering Gallery, then outside at the top.
The Churchill War Rooms — a bunker sealed in 1945 and largely left as it was.
The markets
Borough for food, busiest at lunchtime on weekdays.
Columbia Road for flowers on Sunday mornings.
Maltby Street, smaller and better than Borough for eating.
Spitalfields, Portobello, Broadway Market.
Outdoors
Hampstead Heath — genuinely wild in parts, with swimming ponds open year round and the best view of the city from Parliament Hill.
Richmond Park, with deer, and the largest of the royal parks.
The Thames Path, walkable for miles.
Regent's Canal, from Little Venice to Camden.
Practical
Tap in and out with contactless — daily and weekly caps apply automatically, and buying an Oyster card is unnecessary.
Buses are cheaper than the Underground and show you the city; the 11, 15 and 24 pass most of the centre.
Theatre day seats and the TKTS booth sell genuine same-day discounts, and matinees cost less.
Book the free things — the Sky Garden and some exhibitions need a free timed reservation.