W

ITH respect to old Samuel Johnson, I’m not tired of London. But I am pretty tired of paying a fortune for just about everything on those days I find myself in the city with time on my hands.

And time was something I had plenty of last month, when a change of plans left me with 24 hours in the British capital. I set off from Heathrow with a simple goal: have a great day, spending only the 20 quid (about R380) in my pocket.

London is perhaps the finest city in the world when it comes to museums, and I’m always amazed by how many of its finest are free. The likes of the Science Museum, Geffrye Museum and Natural History Museum are all worth a visit.

It was just days away from the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, so I was tempted to revisit the excellent Imperial War Museum in south London, but instead headed north for an attraction too few visitors seek out.

Set on the historic site of the London Aerodrome at Hendon, the Royal Air Force Museum [rafmuseum.org.uk] is a must for anyone with an aeronautical bent. Across a half-dozen hangars the history of flight, and the role of the RAF, is told in interactive displays and historic collections.

After gawking at the dozens of planes on display, I headed back into the city, stopping at King’s Cross Station for a peek at another free attraction. While Harry Potter and the Cursed Child may be setting the West End alight, the cheapest tickets are £15. Instead, seek out the quirky monument to the boy wizard at King’s Cross platform 9¾. Here — between platforms 9 and 10 — you’ll find a replica of the luggage trolley Harry pushed through the wall to catch his train to Hogwarts. For the princely sum of £0, join the queue and have your moment of magic.

On my way back to the Northern Line a glimmer of silver caught my eye. Beneath the vaulted iron ceilings of St Pancras station, suspended above the rumbling Eurostar engines, is an 18m rotating blade of twisted aluminium. The artwork by Tel Aviv-born artist Ron Arad is dubbed Thought of Train of Thought and is meant to inspire both calm and reflection in the 48 million travellers who pass through each year. I certainly stopped to stare quietly in wonder for a while.

Then I turned around to admire The Meeting Place by sculptor Paul Day. This dramatic 9m bronze depicts lovers greeting on the platform, but look closely at the base where dozens of smaller dramas are played out in intricate metal friezes.

For lunch, I hopped on the Northern Line to Leicester Square where, just south on Charing Cross Road, is a Soho landmark well worth a visit. Gaby’s has been going for just over 50 years, serving harried tourists and hungry thespians. Line up at the take-away counter for a vegetarian pita: a meal for £5.

I ate mine meandering the jostling streets of Leicester Square. Ogle at the cinemas, avoid the coin-seeking mimes and discover the colourful