Choose an activity near where you already are: a focused visit to the free Petrie Museum near UCL, one Wellcome exhibition near Euston, or the 31-minute Cobble Covent Garden Walk. With only a few minutes, consider a nearby scene from Cobble’s three-scene free introduction. Add setup, entry and travel time.
The ideas at a glance
| Idea | Adult / listener price | Activity time | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Backstreet Arsonist of Covent Garden — Cobble | £2.99One Walk per listener | 31 min | Covent Garden |
| Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology | FreeGeneral admission | 40–60 min | Bloomsbury |
| London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE | FreeGeneral admission | 45–60 min | City of London |
| A Closer Look at Buckingham Palace — Cobble | £4.99One Walk per listener | 44 min | Westminster |
| Wellcome Collection | FreeGeneral admission | 60–90 min | Euston |
| Bank of England Museum | FreeGeneral admission | 45–60 min | City of London |
| Haymarket’s High-Society Murderer — Cobble | £2.99One Walk per listener | 27 min | Trafalgar Square |
| Walk across Tower Bridge | FreeGeneral admission | 25–40 min | Tower Hill |
| Try three free London audio scenes with Cobble | FreeStart with three free scenes | 10–15 min | Across London |
Choose by starting area first, then by the experience. Do not interpret a 60-minute museum estimate as a guarantee that arrival, queue, visit and return will all fit into one hour. Where the deadline is fixed, use the shorter option.
The Backstreet Arsonist of Covent Garden — Cobble
Near Covent Garden or Leicester Square: the published route takes 31 min, leaving room for pauses in a spare hour. Allow time to find the start and set up the app.
Nearest station: Leicester Square
Meet near Leicester Square station. Open the Walk for the precise start of the route towards Cecil Court.
Know before you go: Buy in the Cobble app. One Walk per listener.
When: Self-guided; allow for street conditions and crossings.
Details checked 13 October 2026 · per listener
Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology
Near UCL: this compact museum suits a focused afternoon visit. It is closed in the morning, on Monday and on Sunday, so check the day before choosing it between classes.
Know before you go: No booking for small visits. General admission.
When: Tuesday–Saturday, 1–5pm. Closed Monday and Sunday.
Details checked 7 September 2026 · per adult
London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE
Near Bank or Cannon Street: reserve a free slot and use roughly an hour for the visit. It makes a clear destination if the time of entry is known.
Know before you go: Free booking recommended. General admission.
When: Tue–Sat 10am–6pm; Sun noon–5pm; term-time Wed from 12.30pm. Closed Mon; first Thu until 8pm.
Details checked 7 September 2026 · per adult
A Closer Look at Buckingham Palace — Cobble
Near the palace: a published 44 min route gives the outing a subject. Ceremonies and crowded approaches can still slow you down.
Nearest station: Green Park
The route explores the palace exterior. Open the Walk for its starting point; Green Park is the listed nearest station.
Know before you go: Buy in the Cobble app. One Walk per listener.
When: Self-guided; ceremonies and security restrictions can alter public access.
Details checked 13 October 2026 · per listener
Wellcome Collection
Near Euston: pick one exhibition instead of attempting everything. Leave a station buffer and check whether you are looking at gallery hours or library hours.
Know before you go: Check individual events. General admission.
When: Galleries and Reading Room: Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–6pm, including Thursday. Closed Monday.
Details checked 7 September 2026 · per adult
Bank of England Museum
In the City: a focused visit about money and the institution behind it. Check the last-entry time and dated closures; do not arrive close to closing.
Know before you go: No booking for ordinary small visits. General admission.
When: Mon–Fri 10am–5pm; last entry 4.30pm. Third Thursday until 8pm.
Friday 27 November 2026: the museum closes at 3pm. Check the official visitor information for additional special closures.
Details checked 7 September 2026 · per adult
Haymarket’s High-Society Murderer — Cobble
Near Piccadilly Circus: 27 min of published route time makes this a shorter choice. Allow extra time for crossings and reaching your theatre seat.
Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus
Meet near Piccadilly Circus, then open the Walk for its exact starting point.
Know before you go: Buy in the Cobble app. One Walk per listener.
When: Self-guided; allow for busy pavements and crossings.
Details checked 13 October 2026 · per listener
Walk across Tower Bridge
Near Tower Hill: a public-pavement crossing is flexible and easy to shorten. If you have a boat booking, confirm your pier and allow for a possible bridge lift.
Know before you go: No booking. General admission.
When: Public pavement route; temporary closures and bridge lifts can affect access.
Details checked 7 September 2026 · per adult
Try three free London audio scenes with Cobble
For a much shorter gap: start with three free scenes and select a nearby story in the Cobble app. A scene can be a few minutes of listening, so you can stop after one. Use the nearby finder before setting off and leave room for any setup and walking; three scenes are not a guaranteed 15-minute route.
Nearest station: Depends on the scene you choose
Search a street, station, landmark or neighbourhood on Cobble’s website, then choose a nearby scene. There is no fixed start.
Know before you go: Find nearby stories on Cobble’s website; listen in the Cobble app. Start with three free scenes.
When: Choose your own time and a nearby scene in a publicly accessible place. Local gates and venue hours still apply.
Details checked 16 September 2026 · introductory allowance per listener
Put a plan together
Use this rule: available time minus onward-travel buffer minus the walk to the entrance equals your actual activity time. For a 60-minute gap with a 15-minute onward buffer and a 10-minute approach, choose roughly 30 minutes of activity, not a 60-minute museum visit. These are planning allowances, not measured route promises.
A few useful answers
Can I use this before a train?
Yes, but choose a nearby activity and preserve a return buffer. Queue-dependent museums and rooftops are less reliable than a short public-route walk.
Do the time estimates include transport?
No. They describe the visit or published audio route. Walking to the start, setting up an app, security, queues and breaks can add time.
What can I do with only 5, 10 or 15 minutes?
With five minutes, stay close: notice a building detail or listen to one short Cobble scene if the app is ready and you are at its location. With ten minutes, choose a brief local wander or another scene. With fifteen, you can make a small story break, without committing to a complete Walk. These are suggested time budgets, not measured routes; new Cobble listeners start with three free scenes, and setup or walking may use part of the gap.
About the details
We check details against official sources, but hours, prices and availability can change before this guide is updated. Please check the official website before travelling or booking.
Prices are in GBP per adult or per listener, unless explained otherwise. Food, transport and optional extras cost more. Time estimates exclude travel and queues. Official source links appear with every idea; each activity page contains its full checking record.
London for a Tenner is published by Cobble Media, which also makes Cobble. Read about the publisher and how we choose recommendations.
Read our selection and price policy, or suggest a correction.