Discover Free Fun Near The Shard

Find amazing free adventures by The Shard.

Published: March 26, 2025
the shard

The Shard is a stunning part of London’s skyline, but there’s more to discover nearby without spending a penny. From riverside walks and historic markets to cultural treasures and hidden gems, this vibrant area is brimming with exciting free activities. Let’s explore the best free things to do near The Shard, ensuring your adventure is entertaining and budget-friendly. 

Walk Along the Thames Path 

The Thames Path offers a scenic riverside walk that showcases the beauty and energy of the city. As you stroll, enjoy views of iconic landmarks and the gentle flow of the river. The path provides a serene escape from the urban rush, inviting leisurely exploration and reflection. Whether you're taking photos or simply embracing the fresh air, it’s a peaceful way to experience London’s charm. 

Discover Borough Market 

Borough Market is a food lover’s paradise, and while tasting requires spending, wandering through its vibrant stalls is free and delightful. Experience the lively atmosphere as vendors display fresh produce and artisanal delights. The market’s rich aromas and colourful sights create an inviting environment. It’s a bustling hub offering a feast for the senses and a glimpse into London’s culinary culture. 

Explore Hay’s Galleria 

Hay’s Galleria blends history with modern vitality, offering a space filled with shops and art installations. Enjoy the stunning architecture of this converted wharf, featuring a striking glass roof and creative sculptures. The lively ambiance and unique design make it a perfect spot for exploration and relaxation. Whether shopping is on your agenda or not, Hay’s Galleria offers a stimulating break. 

Visit Southwark Cathedral 

southwark cathedral

Southwark Cathedral welcomes visitors to explore its historic architecture and serene atmosphere. Discover its storied past and marvel at the intricate detailing of its design. Nestled just moments from the river, the cathedral offers a tranquil spot for contemplation and cultural appreciation. It’s a beautiful and peaceful escape in the bustling cityscape. 

Admire The Scoop at More London 

The Scoop at More London is an outdoor amphitheatre that hosts free events and performances throughout the year. Catch open-air movies, live music, and cultural showcases—all against the stunning backdrop of Tower Bridge. The venue’s dynamic programming and inviting atmosphere create a vibrant gathering space, perfect for enjoying the arts in the heart of the city. 

Stroll Through Potters Fields Park 

Potters Fields Park provides a relaxing green space with magnificent views of Tower Bridge and the Thames. Enjoy a picnic or simply unwind on the grass, appreciating the river’s proximity. The harmonious blend of natural beauty and urban surroundings invites rest and refreshment, making it a favourite spot for locals and visitors alike. 

Discover Leathermarket Gardens 

Leathermarket Gardens offers a peaceful retreat in the midst of the city bustle. With mature trees and meandering pathways, it invites leisurely exploration and quiet reflection. The verdant setting and calming atmosphere make it an ideal place to escape for a moment of calm. Enjoy a book or just revel in the simplicity of nature. 

Walk Across Tower Bridge 

Tower Bridge 

Tower Bridge offers an invigorating walk with views that capture the essence of London. As you cross, take in the stunning vistas of the river and city skyline. The historic charm and architectural brilliance provide a captivating journey across one of London’s most famous landmarks. It’s a walk filled with wonder and inspiration. 

Appreciate Street Art in Shoreditch 

Shoreditch is a cultural haven for street art enthusiasts, offering vibrant murals and creative expression around every corner. Wander the streets to discover incredible works that reflect the neighbourhood's edgy and artistic vibe. The constantly changing canvas ensures there’s always something new to see. It’s a living gallery that invites appreciation and exploration. 

Explore Maltby Street Market 

Maltby Street Market brims with culinary delights, and while tasting requires spending, wandering through its lively stalls provides an entertaining outing. Enjoy the creative energy and local flavours as you meander through this compact and colourful space. It’s a vibrant spot that reflects the neighbourhood's innovative spirit. 

Wander Through Red Cross Garden 

Red Cross Garden offers a charming oasis with vibrant blooms and peaceful paths. Tucked away, it provides a welcome retreat for those seeking a touch of nature. The community garden’s beauty and sense of history create a picturesque setting, perfect for relaxation and contemplation. It’s a hidden gem in the heart of Southwark. 

Discover Jubilee Walkway 

Jubilee Walkway

The Jubilee Walkway is a self-guided trail that takes you through some of London’s most iconic sites. Follow the silver discs embedded in the path as you explore diverse neighbourhoods, historic landmarks, and stunning vistas. The route offers an engaging journey that captures the city’s essence, inviting curiosity and adventure. 

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Visit the Brunel Museum’s Gardens 

The Brunel Museum’s rooftop garden offers a peaceful spot for enjoying the surroundings. While museum entry requires a ticket, the garden itself is an enchanting place to spend a moment in thought or to admire the view over the Thames. The garden’s welcoming atmosphere adds to the museum’s historical narrative and creative charm. 

Appreciate the View of The Shard 

Admiring The Shard’s impressive silhouette from ground level is completely free. Take a leisurely walk around the building, capturing its striking architecture from various angles. The tallest building in the UK, The Shard stands as a testament to modern design and ambition. Its soaring presence invites awe and admiration from all who pass. 

These fantastic free experiences near The Shard ensure your visit is filled with culture, history, and natural beauty. From scenic walks and vibrant art spaces to tranquil gardens and lively markets, this captivating area offers delightful discoveries without spending a penny.  

For more London goodness, check out the city’s best hidden gems, and stretch your legs on the capital’s top walking tours! 

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For more London goodness, check out the city’s best hidden gems, and stretch your legs on the capital’s top walking tours! 

Step up your sightseeing with The London Pass®.   

We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems, and local tours, all for one low price. Plus, you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.  

See more, do more, and experience more with The London Pass® - just choose a pass to get started! 

 

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This article was generated with the help of AI to provide accurate and up-to-date information. The Go City team has reviewed and curated the content to ensure it meets our quality standards for accuracy and relevance.

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Pub Crawl London
Blog

The Best Pub Crawls in London

These are the best London pub crawls and bar crawls London has to offer, whether you’re on a historical hunt or looking for something louder. The pub scene is bustling with excitement and creativity, giving rise to some innovative ideas and pub crawl themes that will make your night unforgettable. Visiting your local pub is a rite of passage for many Brits. And that’s certainly the case for Londoners. But once in a while, when the weather is fine (or not fine), you’re feeling in the mood (or really not in the mood), you’ve got money in your pocket (or barely any money in your pocket) and you’re in good company (or completely alone), you want to go out for a pub crawl. We reckon this is particularly true for day-trippers and other holidaymakers, just in London for a bit. Because why see one pub on your visit to London when you could see 30? So here’s our guide to some of the most popular pub crawls in London and ideas to inspire your adventure. Featured in this guide: Monopoly Pub Crawl The Historical Crawl London Literary Pub Crawl The Shoreditch Pub Crawl And more... Monopoly pub crawl Named after the beloved board game, the goal of the Monopoly Pub Crawl is to make it to 26 different pubs located close to 26 different London tube stations. It’s so popular that it’s garnered its own website and internet following, with a monopoly board detailing every single location from the Lord Nelson on Old Kent Road through to the Spread Eagle on Oxford Street. Remember kids: drinking, unlike Monopoly, is not a game. But both the game and the crawl can take up an entire day. And ruin the next one. Pubs on the crawl include: Ye Grapes in Mayfair, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street, and 24 other pubs that may or may not have Ye in their name Attractions along the way: Trafalgar Square, Eros Statue, King’s Cross Station, London Transport Museum The Historical pub crawl Hailed by The Telegraph as a crawl taking in ‘London’s most fascinating historical nuggets,' this route starts off in Blackfriars and takes you through to Holborn. It’s a much more manageable trek with just six spots on the list, but each one is steeped in British history from the Grade II listed Blackfriar with its stained glass details, through to the rich timber wood of the Cittie of Yorke, tucked away in a cellar. If you’re on the lookout for more historic watering holes, check out our guide to the Oldest Pubs in London. Pubs on the crawl include: Cittie of Yorke in Holborn, Blackfriar in Blackfriars Attractions along the way: London Transport Museum The Circle Line pub crawl No surprises here: this pub crawl is a relatively straightforward one that follows the Circle Line around the heart of London. It one-ups the Monopoly Pub Crawl, both literally and metaphorically, as you’ll have to hit 27 bars to fully complete the crawl. Starting and ending in Embankment (with a suggested celebratory tipple in Leicester Square, because you’ll probably need a drink after you’ve completed it), it follows the Circle Line – which, funnily enough, doesn’t resemble a circle, but a beer bottle. They suggest you do it in 12 hours, having half pints in each pub. Pubs on the crawl include: The crawl website gives you multiple options for each station, so take your pick. Or choose a pub local to a station to suit your tastes. Attractions along the way: Tower Bridge, King’s Cross Station, Barbican Theatre, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben Wimbledon Eight pub crawl Along with the tennis whites and Wombles, Wimbledon’s also home to a pretty amazing pub crawl route. The crawl was popularised by actor Oliver Reed, who allegedly took Steve McQueen on a night out to his favourite Wimbledon pubs.  After a 15 minute pint in each, they started the crawl again, though now the common route goes around the board just once. It starts in the Hand in Hand and finishes at the Swan (a replacement for the now-closed Finch’s).  Pubs on the crawl include: The Fox and Grapes, The Fire Stables  Attractions along the way: Wimbledon Tennis Stadium 💰 >> See how you can save up to 50% with a London attraction pass! Shoreditch pub crawl  Shoreditch: home of the hipsters, craft beer hangouts and street art. The neighbourhood has plenty of bars which put a twist on the usual melon man and there's a dedicated Shoreditch Pub Crawl company that'll take you to the quirkiest spots in the area. The kind of places that give Shoreditch its reputation for being...very Shoreditch.  It starts off at Sink Pong Bar, a bar filled with ping pong tables. Better bring your A-Game and gym shorts: this is one for shots and dancing and playing around, rather than quiet pubbing.  Attractions along the way: Brick Lane, Old Spitalfield Market  Because sometimes it’s good to have some culture with your crawl. This special guided crawl lasts 3 hours, involves about a mile of walking. You don’t stop in every pub...so you can still take in all the info. This pub crawl takes you to the favourite boozy haunts of London’s writers and creatives, from Shakespeare to Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf.  You’ll be accompanied by actors playing some of the deceased literary figures and reading famous extracts from their works. It’s a lot of fun and you might find you have something in common with one of the country’s most popular writers...you both like drinking.  Pubs on the crawl include: Shhh...it’s a secret  Attractions along the way: Pollock's Toy Museum The Sam Smiths pub crawl  Okay, so this is officially more of a challenge than a crawl. It’d be impossible to do all of these on one crawl. So please don’t try. Samuel Smith’s Brewery is located in Yorkshire, but they’ve got a number of very popular (and cheap) pubs across London, mainly in the very centre.  These guys came up with the Sam Smiths Challenge, where they looked to visit every Sam Smiths pub across the capital. But you can make your own route between these charming, welcoming, and affordable pubs using their map of London Sam Smiths pubs, located on their website.  Pubs on the crawl include: every Sam Smiths pub in London  London pub crawl themes and ideas Pub crawl themes can add an extra layer of fun to the experience. Some themes could include a costume theme, like dressing up as characters from British history or a favorite movie, or a foodie pub crawl where each stop includes a small bite to mix perfectly your pint experience.  Looking for more unique pub crawl ideas? Why not create your own crawl based on your interests? Perhaps a crawl that only stops at pubs with live music, or one that explores London's haunted pub scene? Join the Historic Pub Tour of London with The London Pass® Discover London’s legendary pub culture on this guided tour of four historic ale houses in the heart of the city. Follow in the footsteps of great stalwarts of London’s pubs from centuries gone by: Cromwell, Dickens, Conan Doyle, and more! Planning your London trip? With The London Pass®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50% on loads of London attractions, compared to buying individual attraction tickets. ✈️ Buy The London Pass® ✈️
Megan Hills
Tower of London
Blog

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London’s palaces stand as living testament to centuries of British royal history and culture, all fairytale facades, opulent interiors, meticulously landscaped gardens and more priceless art and silver than you can shake a jewel-encrusted sceptre at. Discover the Tower of London, Eltham Palace, Windsor Castle and more in our guide to the very best palaces in London.
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Stuart Bak
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Tower of London

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