Free things to do in Surrey & SW London

What can you do in London and Surrey for no cost?

Looking for something fun to do in your area that won't break the budget?

Check out this list of the best free things to do in Surrey & SW London to get some ideas for your next day out.

1. Enjoy a picturesque, historical walk around the Runnymede Nature Reserve

Photograph by Mark Wordy

📍 Egham Station, Egham TW20 9LB

Escape into nature with a stroll around the beautiful ancient landscapes of Runnymede and Egham. This short, circular, dog-friendly walk starts in the town of Egham and is perfect for all fitness levels.

The leisurely circular route takes you through bewitching woodlands, wildflower meadows and wetlands. There's also an opportunity to pause and have a picnic at the memorial dedicated to sealing the Magna Carta, one of the most important legal documents in history.

To see the route, click here.

2. Feel at one with nature at Frensham Little Pond

📍Frensham Little Pond, Farnham GU10 3BT

Frensham Pond is the perfect spot for bird-watching, with coots, moorhens, swans and the rare migrating tern on show.

Originally a 13th Century fishing pond created for the Bishop of Winchester, this National Trust site is home to a spectacular array of wildlife.

3. Unwind at Priory Park, Reigate

📍Priory Park, Bell St, Reigate RH2 7RL

This beautiful green space features woodlands, gardens, a pond, and a café where you can stop off for a drink and a snack.

With a wooden ship climbing frameset in a sand-filled playground and a fun splash area, there is plenty to keep any little ones entertained.

4. Visit the ruins of Waverley Abbey

📍Waverley Abbey, Waverley Ln, Farnham GU9 8EP

The first monastery founded in Britain, this 12th-century site was built by a group of French Cistercian monks who crossed the channel in 1128 to settle on the banks of the River Wey.

What remains of the original site is a collection of atmospheric ruins, providing a fun, historical day out for adults and children.

5. Visit The Lightbox

📍The Lightbox, Chobham Rd, Woking GU21 4AA

The Woking Lightbox Gallery and Museum features two free, permanent exhibitions for a fascinating day out.

Whilst the Art Fund Prize Gallery displays modern artwork, the 'Woking’s Story' exhibition covers the town's history. Historical highlights include a retrospective of Woking Palace and the changing treatment of mental health at Brookwood Hospital. 

6. Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton

📍Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5AQ

I can hear the far-off groans of disgruntled teenagers at the thought of an antiques market but, I can assure them, they’re nothing like Antiques Roadshow. These charming settings are full of history, heirlooms, artistic flare and, admittedly, some questionable options, but they’re well worth the time. Kempton Antiques Market, held twice a month 6:30am-2pm, is free to enter after 8am (including free parking!) and will not disappoint you. I went 2 years ago and adored the selection provided by friendly vendors- from old crockery, victorian hand-painted projection slides, a gorgeous selection of jewellery, vintage American signs and frankly a very strange amount of de-limbed and decapitated dolls turned into art pieces. The large venue and diverse selection will ensure something for everyone and even if you don’t fancy buying anything, it's well worth a stroll around anyway.

7. Take a stroll around Bushy Park

📍Bushy Park, Hampton Ct Rd, Hampton TW12 2EJ

This royal park is the home to herds of red and fallow deer, boasting restored baroque-style water gardens and the Woodland Waterhouse Garden.

Visitors can stroll along Chestnut Avenue to reach the Diana Fountain, a bronze statue mounted on a marble fountain, considered one of Britain's most important sculptures. Enjoy this leafy park with family and friends.

8. Educate yourself at Chertsey Museum

📍Chertsey Museum, The Cedars, 33 Windsor St, Chertsey KT16 8AT

The Chertsey Museum is free to enter and holds a permanent exhibition exploring the Runnymede borough's history. It's the perfect educational day out for families.

Some objects on display date back to the Bronze Age, including a 10th-century Viking sword found near Thorpe Park in the 1980s!

9. Arts and Crafts at The Kids' Table

📍Various locations

Free arts and crafts for the children, and freedom for the parents! (That's the dream, right?) The Kid’s Table runs exciting games and arts activities at family-friendly pubs and restaurants. This pop-up service is the fairy godmother to exhausted parents; their team keeps an eye on the children, occupying them with fun and stimulating activities, to relieve parents of their duties for a while and grant them time to themselves over a leisurely meal. The service is for 3-10-year-olds on a first-come-first-serve basis, and a list of venues can be found on their website.

10. Wander around Sunbury Park Walled Garden

Photograph by Maxwell Hamilton

📍Pantiles Court, 79 St The Walled Garden Thames, Thames St, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 6AB

This divine two-acre walled garden was created in the early 18th century. Surrounded by timeworn walls (as tall as 3 metres in places) covered by shrubs and climbers, it's truly a romantic spot. 

The highlight of the gardens is the Lendy Memorial - though a replica of the original destroyed in the Second World War, it is still a grand and imposing sight. Also nestled in the gardens is the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery, which hosts regular exhibitions and displays a curious piece of history - The Millennium Embroidery. 

11. Support Staines Market

📍The Courtyard, 80 High St, Staines TW18 4DR

Every Wednesday and Saturday, the street market in Staines features a range of stalls, including those selling local fresh fruit and vegetables and many other tasty treats. It's a great place to wander around and soak up the buzzing atmosphere, even if you're not looking to buy.

And after you've finished exploring the market, why not walk down to the Thames for a pleasant riverside stroll?

12. Enjoy lovely views on the Box Hill to Juniper Top circular walk

Photograph by Ian Capper

📍Box Hill, Tadworth KT20 7LF

This scenic country walk begins at the top of Box Hill and then heads towards Juniper Top along a route that offers gorgeous views of both South and North Downs. This outdoor family activity recommends walking boots and a sense of adventure.

To view the route, click here. 

13. Explore Guildford Farmers’ Market

📍High St, Bramley, Guildford GU5 0HB 

Guildford Farmers’ Market is held on the first Tuesday of every month on Guildford High Street. This National Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association (FARMA) accredited market hosts over 50 local producers who sell a range of fresh agricultural produce and operate within a 50-mile radius of the town. Come along and support your local farmers.

14. Walk through Hatchlands Park

📍Hatchlands Park, East Clandon, Guildford GU4 7RT

Hatchlands Park provides the perfect family day out for all, no matter the weather. When it is raining, put your wellies on and arm yourself with an umbrella before splashing around in the puddles of this 422 acres space.

In the summertime, the park is a wonderful spot to enjoy the great outdoors with friends, family and the dog while following one of the site's many walking trails. Plenty of excellent picnic spots exist, so throw a rug down on the lawn and relax!

15. Pilates and Yoga for mental wellbeing

📍The Village Centre, 68 Victoria Street, Enfglefield Green Egham TW20 0QX/Studio 2 Spelthorne Leisure Centre, Knowle Grn, Staines TW18 1AJ

Training and exercising the body are essential activities in uplifting mental health and releasing endorphins. Yoga and pilates for mental wellbeing are weekly events run by the mental health charity Sport In Mind. These drop-in sessions aimed at supporting the local community are suitable for all abilities, with equipment provided. The pilates sessions run 2:30-3:30 every Friday, and yoga is run 2-3 on Wednesdays. There is a form on the website for attendee sign-up.

16. Educate yourself at the Kingston Museum

📍Kingston Museum, Wheatfield Way, Kingston Upon Thames, KT12 PS

Have an educational day out and explore Kingston Museum’s Ancient Origins gallery displays which uncover the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames archaeological heritage. 

The exhibition displays items ranging from the Palaeolithic Period to the Pagan Saxon period. The Museum also consists of over 100 topographical paintings, decorative arts, The Town of Kings Gallery, the work of Eadweard Muybridge, and World War 1 commemorations.

17. Get closer to nature with the WWF UK The Living Planet Centre

📍WWF UK The Living Planet Centre, Rufford House, Brewery Road, Woking GU21 4LL

WWF Living Planet Centre in Woking is one of the greenest buildings in the UK and was opened by David Attenborough in 2013.

Once inside, you can discover the secrets of the natural world and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the wild through four interactive zones.

Following a wildlife theme, each zone explores a different aspect of nature with the help of engaging films. Admission to the Living Planet Centre is free, but charitable donations are welcome.

18. Have some fun at Alice Holt Forest

📍Alice Holt Forest, Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham GU10 4LS

Alice Holt Forest is the ideal day out for an outdoorsy family looking for an adventure. The site features wooden animal play structures, and visitors are encouraged to spot the adorable Gruffalo sculptures hidden amongst the trees.

The timberline play trail includes balancing beams, slides and climbing frames, satisfying even the most energetic child. You can also explore the forest on a bike or foot with various trails on offer before stopping for some refreshment at the café.

19. Volunteer at Sutton Ecology Centre

📍 4 Tyrell Ct, North St, Carshalton SM5 2HT

For all the aspiring David Attenboroughs out there, Sutton Ecology Centre is always welcoming the Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers (SNCV). The biodiverse environment is bursting with intriguing wildlife habitats and vegetation, and the team are deeply committed to understanding natural environments, promoting the human connection with nature and encouraging the protection of our green spaces in the community. If you’re fascinated by the cause and passionate about our natural world, signing up with the SNCV to volunteer at the Ecology Centre is a wholesome and rewarding way to spend your time.