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Independent, London 465 guides to London Nobody pays to appear Every price checked at the source We take no bookings Est. 2026

Journal

Every guide we publish, newest first. London restaurants, bars, pubs, hotels, afternoon tea, spas and nightlife, each one checked against the venue's own published information rather than against other guides.

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We take no bookings, sell nothing, and accept no payment for inclusion. Where a price or a rule appears here, it came from the venue.

Flowers in the foreground with the Gherkin tower and City of London skyline behind
Things to Do

The Garden at 120: Free, No Booking, and It Shuts at Five on a Saturday

London's walk in rooftop garden, fifteen floors up and free. The weekend closing time nobody prints, and the live footfall counter.

6 min read
A small waterfall among rocks and trees in a Japanese style garden
Things to Do

The Kyoto Garden in Holland Park: Free, Open From 7.30am, and No Dogs

The Japanese garden inside Holland Park has no ticket and one rule that catches people out. Opening hours, gate closures and a play area closure.

4 min read
The glass roofed Great Court inside the British Museum
Things to Do

British Museum Tickets: Entry Is Free, and It Stays Open Until 8.30pm on Fridays

The ticket you are asked to book is free. What does cost money, and the Friday late opening that runs three hours past every other day.

4 min read
Two royal guards in traditional uniform marching at the entrance to Buckingham Palace
Things to Do

Buckingham Palace: Changing the Guard Is Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Inside Costs 100 Pounds

The State Rooms open in summer only, and out of season the one way in is a 100 pound tour. The free ceremony outside runs on three days.

6 min read
The brutalist concrete exterior of the National Theatre on London's South Bank
Things to Do

National Theatre Tickets: A Quarter Cost 30 Pounds or Less, and Friday Rush Is Ten

25 per cent of seats are 30 pounds or under, Friday Rush is ten pounds at 1pm, and 16 to 25s pay five. What it costs and when it opens.

6 min read
The brutalist concrete entrance of the Barbican Centre in the City of London
Things to Do

The Barbican Centre: The Conservatory Is Closed, and Everything Else Is Free Until 11pm

The Barbican says the Conservatory has no public dates. The foyers are free every day until eleven, and here are the hours of everything inside.

5 min read
Illuminated lotus shaped light installations in the dark at a Christmas light trail
Things to Do

Christmas at Kew 2026: Two Evenings Are Adults Only, and It Is Not Included in a Garden Ticket

The light trail runs 13 November to 3 January from 25.50 pounds, with adult only evenings on 3 and 9 December. Last entry is by gate.

4 min read
A whale skeleton suspended in the main hall of the Natural History Museum
Things to Do

Natural History Museum Tickets: The Galleries Are Free, Two Exhibitions Are Not

Entry is free. What is sold is a 15 pound dinosaur show, a 17 pound photography one, and the Friday the museum closes for a gala.

6 min read
The Tower of London lit up at night
Things to Do

Tower of London Tickets: The Price on Screen Is Not the Price, and Go After Midday

38 pounds, or 41.80 with a donation switched on by default. The one pound routes, the membership sum, and why after midday is the plan.

6 min read
Two giraffes standing in front of the Giraffe House at London Zoo in Regent's Park
Things to Do

London Zoo Tickets: The Gate Is the Dearest Way In, and the Day Shortens on 24 October

An adult ticket runs from 27.70 to 40 pounds for the same visit. The zoo's own prices, and the winter change that moves last entry to three o'clock.

12 min read

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Questions we get asked

How often is the guide updated?

Continuously, and each page records the month it was last checked rather than only the date it was first written. Opening hours and prices in London change often enough that an unchecked guide is worse than none.

How do you decide what goes in?

Every entry is verified against the venue's own published information, not against other guides. Nothing is included in exchange for payment, and nothing is excluded for refusing it.