£5 THE NEIGHBOURHOOD EDITIONS
Roman remains. Quiet interiors. A little history.
Everything below is £5 or less.
The Square Mile has enough free history and culture for several visits. Choose a part of the City first, rather than treating Smithfield, Temple and the eastern rooftops as a single short walk. For a Fiver includes free admission, £5 Temple Church sightseeing and the clearly timed Friday offer at Dr Johnson’s House.
General admission
A change of atmosphere beneath the modern City: Roman remains presented with sound and light. A good choice when you want history to feel like an experience rather than a long reading exercise.
General admission
Art upstairs and surviving Roman London below make an unusually varied single visit. Choose a little of each rather than racing through the entire collection.
Closed all day on 21 October and 16 November 2026. On 13 November, the Main Gallery closes at noon and the Undercroft, Heritage Gallery and Amphitheatre at 3.30pm. On 14 November, the gallery opens at 11am. Check the official calendar before travelling.
Adult admission
A distinctive stop for anyone who likes medieval architecture and the quieter lanes around the Inns of Court. Combine a short visit with a little time outside in the Temple area.
General admission
A useful way to turn abstract ideas about money into objects and stories. It is compact enough for a purposeful lunchtime visit, with plenty to discuss afterwards.
Friday 27 November 2026: the museum closes at 3pm. Check the official visitor information for additional special closures.
General admission
A substantial piece of older London in Smithfield. Give the interior time: it is a rewarding contrast to the offices and traffic that surround this part of the City.
General admission
A rooftop garden that makes the City’s buildings feel close enough to examine. A strong choice for a walk-and-talk outing when you want a view without another attraction ticket.
Friday 2–5pm; last entry 4.30pm
An intimate literary visit in the lanes off Fleet Street. The house gives the making of a dictionary a physical setting, and suits people who prefer a smaller museum with one clear subject.
For a short break in the City, look closely at the street you are already on rather than heading across the Square Mile. Cobble’s nearby finder can help you choose an audio scene about a place nearby. Start with three free scenes and listen in the app, allowing time to reach the scene and return.
Find stories near you on Cobble ↗Find nearby stories on the website. Listen in the Cobble app.
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For a Roman-history visit, start with a booked Mithraeum slot or Guildhall’s amphitheatre. For a literary Friday, use Dr Johnson’s £5 afternoon window. A spare 90 minutes near St Paul’s can also suit the separate £5.99 Cobble audio Walk, which belongs in our £10 guide, not the £5 list.
Read the related guide: Things to do near St Paul’s for £10 or less
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.
We choose worthwhile experiences in the neighbourhood and clearly labelled nearby areas. The limit is £5 per adult or listener for the activity. An offer with a restricted time qualifies only on that basis. Every activity links to practical details, accessibility information and official sources. Cobble experiences are identified when featured.
Individual check dates: 7 September 2026–16 September 2026. Tell us about a correction or another worthwhile idea.
A fiver is £5. Spend an afternoon exploring one part of London. These neighbourhood guides bring together places costing £5 or less, including plenty for free.