London is a global center for knowledge and home to several of the top-ranked universities in the world, Nobel prize winners, philosophers, and world-class museums. However, much like everything else in London, learning here can be prohibitively expensive.
Putting aside the fact that a bachelor’s degree in the Big Smoke will set you back around £50,000, even some of the more modest learning opportunities can come with exorbitant fees attached. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to become a pro at just about anything in London without having to spend a penny.
Here are some of the best ways to learn for free in London.
Free Lectures
If you’re not willing to stump up the costs for a master’s degree at LSE, you can still learn something from the best minds the institution have to offer. Every member of the University of London (LSE, King’s, UCL, SOAS, etc.) frequently gives out free lectures to the public on just about every topic imaginable, from Artificial Intelligence to the history of the Panama Canal.
Free Museums
London’s museums are unparalleled in the world, and the best part is that many of them are completely free. To name just a few, the British Museum, The National Gallery, The Huntington Museum, The Tate, The National History Museum, and The V&A are all completely free of charge. Visit them to absorb the entirety of human history, expertise, and culture without opening the wallet.
Free Coding
Free learning in London is not just limited to history; you can also learn essential real-world skills without breaking the bank. There are a number of programming and coding academies in London that allow you to learn for free, both online and in a physical school. Skills Matter, CodeBar, and Women Who Code are just a few examples of places you can up your Python, C++ and Javascript skills for free.
Free Online Learning
This one might seem like a cop-out since you can do online learning anywhere. However, with London having one of the highest densities of free WiFi hotspots in Europe, online learning in London is free in every sense of the word. There is no limit to what you can learn in London as long as you have interent access. Say you want to learn the ropes of blackjack to become a pro, as many people are doing. You can simply sit down in Hyde Park, log into the free WiFi, and open up an extensive blackjack learning guide complete with statistical probabilities, such as the one offered by Mr Green, all without having to pay a teacher.
Free English Lessons
If you’re one of many thousands who come to London from abroad every year and English isn’t your first language, you can improve your skills across the city without having to break the bank. British Study Centres (BSCs) offer free lessons to anyone regardless of age, occupation, or origin, as long as you book a spot in advance. There are also countless Meetup events aimed at bringing people from all backgrounds together to work on those tenses and pronouns together, no payment required.
They say the best things in life are free, and nowhere is this truer than in the realm of knowledge. Follow these tips to become a genius in any field imaginable in London.