A free for all day out

So you've overspent at Christmas, hit the sales, and will be paying back your overdraft for the rest of 2005. In fact, the thought of going out again in London fill you (and your bank manager) with dread.

Well, fear not. It is still possible to spend a day out in London absolutely free... legally!

A bit of walking never hurt anyone (unless you’re wearing stilettos) so dust off your trainers, which you’ll need for your 'start exercising' resolution anyway, dig out the A-Z and start pounding the streets of the capital.

Start off with a touch of culture - you could spend a fortnight in any one of London's public galleries and museums, which all have free admission.

Museums & galleries

The National Gallery holds one of the world's finest collections of Western European paintings, or you can play 'guess who' at the National Portrait Gallery, if you're in Trafalgar Square.

Feel patriotic with a visit to Tate Britain on the Thames, or if you have more contemporary tastes Tate Modern has one of the best collections of modern art in the world.

For a bit of a history lesson you could then visit the oldest public museum in the world, The British Museum in Bloomsbury, and see exhibits including the Elgin Marbles and Egyptian mummies.

The Natural History Museum in South Kensington is also well worth spending a whole day at — if you have the energy to walk there!

Court report

If culture's not your thing, why not spend the morning in court — no not for being a freeloader — but because you can gain access to the Old Bailey and the Royal Courts of Justice as a day visitor. You never know who might be making an appearance...

Fresh air

If you're lying low for some reason or another, hang out in Hyde Park or Hampstead Heath instead in the afternoon. Take a football and a few friends and you can use jumpers for goalposts like the good old days.

St James's Park and Regent's Park are perfect for a picnic — even in this weather — and taking a home-made lunch with you will also save cash! Let's face it, aside from stealing stale bread from the pigeons outside St Paul's Cathedral, there's no such thing as a free meal.