Things to do in London for free

Brixton is a classic Victorian suburb, transformed from open fields into bricks and mortar in a couple of decades following the arrival of the railways in the 1860s. The viaducts dominate central Brixton, with shops and arcades hidden under their arches, but it’s the West Indian community, who arrived here in the 1950s and 1960s, who define the character of the place. These days the area’s revived indoor markets attract increasing numbers of visitors to a plethora of small restaurants and bars, making this always busy, noisy neighbourhood even more frenetic. As you leave the tube, directly opposite, you’ll see the bright mural of David Bowie, who was born in Brixton in 1947. It became a shrine to Bowie on his death in January 2016. The main axis for the market is Electric Avenue, which runs behind the tube station, so called as it was one of the first London shopping streets to be lit by electricity in the 1880s. From here you can find the arcades of Market Row and Brixton Village, which create a maze of activity. A stroll around the area is one of the most exciting free things to do in London.

The wonderful Horniman Museum was purpose-built in 1901 by Frederick Horniman, a tea trader with a passion for collecting. In addition to the museum’s natural history collection of stuffed birds and animals - with a majestic, overstuffed walrus its centrepiece - there’s an eclectic ethnographic collection, and a music gallery with more than 1500 instruments from Chinese gongs to electric guitars. The gardens, with an animal trail, butterfly house, bandstand and glasshouse, and with views over South London, are charming, and there’s an aquarium in the basement.

The pretty East End street of Columbia Road spills over in a profusion of blooms and resounds with the bellows of Cockney barrow boys during its glorious market. Come late for the best bargains, or early to enjoy a coffee and brunch in one of the groovy local cafés. It’s an excellent shopping area, abounding in indie, arty and vintage stores.