Living in or visiting London can feel like it’s the best city in the world. It’s constantly buzzing with the latest West End theatre show, exhibition or sold out stadium concerts but it can also be an expensive city, especially as the cost of living crisis continues to affect so many of us. But not everything in London needs an abundance of cash. There are a range of festivals, markets and events that are free to visit and attend but still represent the very best of London – especially in the summer.

Here are some of our favourite free things to do in London over the next couple of months.

Columbia Road Flower Market

In what has become a firm staple of London’s weekly calendar, the Columbia Road Flower Market takes place every Sunday from 8am until around 3pm. The East London street is transformed into a bustle of greenery and flowers with lots of great deals on your summer florals. But it’s also a great way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, especially when the sun is shining.

Portobello Road Market

Portobello Road Market, the largest antiques market in the world, is the place to go for all things retro, vintage and a good old bargain. Saturday tends to be the day when all the markets are in full swing and you can experience a mile of hustle, haggle, colour and energy.

Summer By The River Festival

Running until 1 September, this year’s Summer By The River festival is bringing urban oasis vibes to the banks of the Thames over three locations: The Scoop, Hay’s Galleria and The Pier. Across the locations, you’ll find a mix of music, film in the form of a film screening every Tuesday evening and sporting screenings such as Wimbledon and the Olympics. Oh, and lots and lots of food.

The Last Caravaggio

There are few paintings that are better placed to tell the story of Caravaggio’s final years than his last-known work, “The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula” (1610, Gallerie d’Italia, Naples). The painting is coming to London for the first time in 20 years, which you’ll be able to see at the National Gallery for free.

Hockney and Piero: A Longer Look

In a very personal show kicking off in August, two of David Hockney’s paintings are brought together: “My Parents” and “Looking at Pictures on a Screen”. The two paintings will be displayed with the thread that ties them together, Piero della Francesca’s “The Baptism of Christ”. This exhibition is a great way to enjoy some of Hockney’s iconic artwork but without breaking the bank.

Yinka Shonibare CBE: Suspended States

Yinka Shonibare has been renowned for his artistic explorations of Western art and British colonisation in Africa. In his first solo exhibit in 20 years and hosted at the Serpentine Gallery, Shonibare offers up a provocative, confronting look at Britain’s thorny colonial past.

Epping Forest

For a breath of fresh air and a dose of nature, London’s largest open space Epping Forest has a range of walks you can do at the weekend – ranging from easy circular walks to more challenging walks that get the heart pumping.

Angel Comedy Club

Angel Comedy Club has become one of London’s most popular comedy clubs and with a couple of venues in Islington, they host funny shows every night – either for relatively cheap or free admission. The club supports both new talent and big name acts and is all about making comedy a lot more accessible for both audiences and comedians.

BFI’s Mediatheque

The Mediatheque at BFI Southbank is a national archive of over 95,000 titles from the BFI and is one of the world’s most significant and diverse collections of film and television. It’s also open to the public so whether you’re studying, researching or just want to be entertained, you can settle in and watch one of the many films available.

Images: The National Gallery; Serpentine Gallery; Getty