However, this article will guide you through how to spend a highly pocket-friendly holiday in the capital, whether it’s for a day trip or a full-length holiday, allowing you to see all that London has to offer. From how to dodge common costly mistakes to how to hack your holiday, we’ll share some insider tips, deals, freebies and easy ways to save money while you travel around this epic city.
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How to travel in London on a budget
While travel in London is unarguably pricey, at least it tends to be quick and efficient. The huge network of transport links mean much of the city is within easy walking distance of a tube or bus station (meaning you can save on cheaper hotels based outside the centre zone 1).
But some travel hacks can start saving you pounds from the moment you land in London. If you’re arriving by plane, skip the expensive Heathrow and Gatwick Express trains. These trains will set you back £25 (or £16.50 if booked 90 days in advance online) and £22 respectively, for a single trip. Instead, from Heathrow, while admittedly not quite as fast, you can take the Piccadilly line from the airport to central London which will cost from £5.80. From Gatwick, a Southern or Thameslink train to the centre will cost around £13.50 (if booked in advance online).
Once you’re in London, think about walking! Like many cities in Europe, most places – in the centre especially – are well within walking distance, and sometimes it’s more hassle to get the Tube than walk. Don’t fall for the (costly) tourist mistake of getting the tube from Leicester Square to Covent Garden – it’s just a four-minute walk overground; or Charing Cross to Embankment, which is only a three-minute walk. Download CityMapper to use for strolling around the city and navigating the different modes of transport, including buses and trams.
A full day’s travel card costs from £16.60 for Zones 1 to 4, or you can buy an Oyster card to top up on for individual journeys. Always make sure to use the same card to tap in and out on – card clash might mean you’re charged twice, but the fares are capped daily at £10.50. If you like a leisurely morning, try to travel after 9.30am when the off-peak ticket prices drop down.
There’s also boats which can speed you along the river Thames, from Barking, East London down to Putney in South West London, but they do tend to be a bit pricier than other transport modes – and can cost up to £15.40 for a single trip. However, save up to 30 percent by either pre-booking online, or using your Oyster card where it can drop down to £5.90 for a short trip. You can also book via Uber.
If you can pick up a cheap bike helmet (from around £10) you might want to brave the bikes, if you’re in a quieter part of the city, or taking a trip through one of London’s many parks. Download apps for Santander Bikes which are pedal bikes and cost £3.50 for a day pass, for unlimited rides less than 60 minutes long. Lime bikes are e-bikes – helpful if you’re travelling in hilly south London – and the trick on this app is to choose a bundle of minutes: 60 minutes, for example, which you have three days to use is currently £6.99.
What to do in London on a budget
Museums and galleries
For a city so stuffed with art, sport, history and culture, Londoners are in the lucky position of not only having it on their doorstep, but being able to enjoy much of it for free.
A major part of this is the decision to make most of the city’s museums and galleries free entry (though many will often have paid-for ticketed exhibitions inside too). Your starting point is museum mile in South Kensington, west London, where there’s the triple-header of the Natural History Museum (for dinosaur and animal-lovers), the Science Museum (for those with a love of inventions, vehicles and technology), while opposite, the V&A always has great historical artefacts on show (and usually a good pop-culture exhibition on, too).
The Natural History museum generally is the busiest of the three, so during holidays especially, head there first thing in the morning, or an hour before closing time, when it won’t be so busy. For the Science Museum, if you have young kids, make sure to head to the basement for the ever-popular water play and soft play area. Make sure to book ahead with a chosen time slot for both these museums.
If the three big-hitters are too busy, head out east to Bethnal Green for the Young V&A, which is a charming and fun way for kids (and big kids) to learn about toys throughout history, and get hands on with some fun specimens. Just opened even further out east in the former London Olympics site, dubbed London’s new cultural hub, is the V&A East Storehouse – where their non-exhibited artworks are stored – and where you can join Object Encounters, a free group session highlighting some of the exciting different objects in the Storehouse.
Elsewhere – and also for free – the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square has recently had a big facelift, and is still the best place to be awed by the Old Masters paintings, while the next door National Portrait Gallery portrays famous faces from everyone from King Henry VIII to the Spice Girls.
Affordable sightseeing
A picturesque walk from the National Gallery, through Trafalgar Square and to Embankment and the bridge over the river Thames (posing for selfies, of course) will bring you to another great outdoor cultural hub of South Bank. While the film-buffs favourite BFI, Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery usually charge for entry, if you have small children, head to level 5 of the Royal Festival Hall where there’s a cute little poetry reading area that’s free to hang out in. In the summer – and when it’s hot – a temporary splash park opens up outside the Hall (it’s actually an artwork called Appearing Rooms), so bring swimmers and get stuck in for some free, cool-down fun.
A little further along South Bank, there’s a playground just in front of the London Eye, but it’s also the best place to see Westminster and Big Ben – and an even better spot for photos. After you’ve snapped it, you can walk back over to Westminster Bridge to explore further and take a closer look at the Houses of Parliament, where the UK Government sits. Walk back across the river, and a 20-minute walk along South Bank to the east will take you to the Tate Modern – free to enter – and the foodie paradise of Borough Market.
The Shard is one of London’s tallest buildings, but it is pricey to visit the top. However, there are other places to get a birds eye view of London, like Sky Garden, in the City of London, near Liverpool Street. Housed in the building known as the “walkie-talkie”, tickets are free to head up to the top, but you must book online beforehand (and don’t forget to bring photo ID as well). It’s the same for Horizon 22, which is also free to visit, but must be booked online first. Or, for the price of a coffee (£4.75 for a latte), head up to the nearby Duck and Waffle restaurant on the 40th floor which has an absolutely stellar view of the city. Pro tip – in the autumn/winter, time your visit for sunrise (they open from 6am) for an even more spectacular, core-memory experience.
As for the classic sightseeing trips, you can’t visit London without going to say a “how do you do” to the King. Walk through St James Park or Pall Mall to view the huge palace from the gilded gates outside (if the Union Jack flag is flying on top, it means he’s at home). The Changing Of The Guard is an atmospheric look at the historic ceremonies of the Royal family – every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11am, visitors can watch King Charles’ guards change over. On Sundays, the band accompanies the parade, playing music and marching from the Wellington Barracks to Buckingham Palace around 10.45am.
Budget London activities with kids
As well as the above-mentioned museums and galleries, London is a place where a great deal of planning has gone into public parks, green open spaces and playgrounds for kids. While you’re at Buckingham Palace, check out St James’ playground just three minutes walk away for children to run off some energy in the city centre. Over in Bloomsbury, the 90-year-old playground Coram’s Field has playgrounds, splash parks and picnic areas, with the unique rule: all adults must be accompanied by a child to enter.
A short bus-ride away from museum mile in Knightsbridge is the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, boasting a giant pirate ship to loll about on, while to the south-west of the city – near the iconic Battersea Power Station building, which often has free, family fun events in holidays across the year – Battersea Park has one of the best playgrounds in London. With three zones (one for babies, toddlers; another for older kids, then climbing frames and zip-wires for even bigger kids) you can happily spend hours here, especially if you bring a picnic and explore the rest of the stunning park, which includes a tropical garden, a peace pagoda and lake with pedalos. When you’re back at Battersea Power Station, ignore the pricey cafes in the main building. Instead, visit a little cafe off a side street for one of London’s best gelato shops, Two Little Giraffes, which has home-made flavours from just £3 a scoop. They also have colouring pens and books to keep children entertained if you decide to stay for a plate of their also excellent lasagne.
Greenwich, in south-east London is a perfect, cheap day out for families. Jump on a boat from central – use your Travelcard or book online for the discount, remember – and wander round the impressive Cutty Sark ship at the historic borough’s centre. Take a stroll through Greenwich Market, trying a few free tasters of the food, then wander over to the National Maritime Museum. For anyone who loves to play Pirates, or around the world sailors, this museum is the one for you. Their Greenwich park children’s play area. A giant sandpit, many climbing frames, water area, swings: it’s really got the lot (and a handy coffee kiosk at its centre).
Regents Park is lovely for a great big walk – if you visit in autumn, there’s usually a free sculpture trail set up by Frieze Art Fair to enjoy – and the view from Primrose Hill is worth the climb. Inside Regent’s Park, London Zoo is very pricey, from £35 for an adult ticket. Instead, not too far away in Hampstead Heath, there’s the cute Golders Hill Park Zoo, which is completely free to enter. Or there’s several city farms worth a visit too, to see more animals that come from British climes – check out Hackney City Farm (at the bottom of the much-loved Broadway Market at weekends), Mudchute Farm or Surrey Docks Farm to spend the day feeding some chickens, pigs or goats.
Where to eat in London on a budget
London is an incredible, multi-diverse city and nowhere is that reflected more than in its food. Pick pretty much any country or cuisine from around the world, and chances are there’ll be a neighbourhood, street or selection of restaurants that offer a taste of some of the great eats to be found in the city.
Of course, there’s a fair share of fine-dining, Michelin-starred restaurants, but there’s also lots of incredible budget eats if you know where to look. Starting in central London, there’s often lots of good lunchtime deals to be had. If it’s the finer end of dining you’d like to experience, a set, three-course lunch is a popular choice, with a range of restaurants offering this during the day. For modern British restaurants Noble Rot is always our go-to for this, with three restaurants in the city and just £28 for three courses. The Devonshire is one of the hottest restaurants in the city at the moment, but if you can bag a table, it’s a fantastic £29 for a trio of courses. Just opposite, there’s always classic French fare available at the classy Brasserie Zedel – think steak frites and red wine for the grown ups; steak hache and chips for the kids (basically hamburger and fries). The Prix Fixe menu is a wallet-busting £19.95.
Look out for workers cafes for lunch in whatever neighbourhood you’re staying in – here you’ll find cheap and hearty dishes at low prices, like sandwiches, jacket potatoes and various toppings, or the Full English breakfast, a plate stuffed with bacon, sausages, eggs, baked beans and tomatoes. Try the famous E.Pellicci in East London (pick up a bacon roll for just £3); the Regency Cafe in Westminster (near Big Ben, for sightseeing, too) or Kennington Lane in Vauxhall. For a lighter lunch or snacks (and great cheesecakes) head east to one of the two famous Brick Lane bagel shops, where you can get a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel for less than a fiver – and they’re open 24/7 for late night munchies.
Indian cuisine is very popular in the UK – so much so, chicken tikka is one of our national dishes. Some of the best and best-value Indian restaurants in the city can be found in Whitechapel and Brick Lane (our favourites that we make repeat visits to are Tayyabs, Lahore Kebab House and Needoo), but there are several cheap spots in central worth a trip, too. The vegetarian South Indian cafe Sagar – which has a couple of branches in London – is great for their set lunch of masala dosa, curries and chutney, with dessert of the day, for just £6.95.
In the middle of Soho is Chinatown, where tasty dumplings and noodle-based cheap eats can be found – Wong Kei is a long-standing favourite, as is Cafe TPT (a six-dish meal is just £11). An excellent selection of regional Chinese dumplings can be found at the aptly titled Dumplings Legend, with little steamed and fried pockets of joy from £4.50 a plate. Just off Leicester Square towards Covent Garden is Lanzhou Lamian Noodle Bar, a small, cheap and cheerful spot where they make the noodles by hand just a metre away from the sharing tables. The fiery, nutty Dan-Dan noodles are the best dish here at just £12 for a big bowl.
For snacks, head to the Japan Centre, which is hands-down one of the cheapest and tastiest places for Japanese-snacks and food. An onigiri on the go costs as little as £1.99, while a full platter of sushi, made on site, starts from just £8.95 – and they reduce the food just before they shut at 9.30/10pm most nights if you’re out late. Don’t forget to pick up some sweet treats here like iced mochi balls, mochi doughnuts or matcha cookies, too.
Oysters still do big business in London. They’re a food steeped deep in the city’s history, as they were transported from the Kent and Sussex coast in their millions in the Victorian times – apparently there was an oyster shucker slinging the shuckers on practically every street corner in London in this era. Now, they are seen as a more expensive seafood treat, but you can still find some great little places doing an oyster happy hour – try Nessa (weekdays, 5-6pm, £1 each), or the classic Soho restaurant Manzi’s (Tues-Fridays, 5.30pm-6.30pm, £2).
You can’t visit London without trying traditional fish ‘n’ chips, and the quality of this dish (expect to pay around £12) will vary widely across the city, with the best, smaller “chippies” as they’re known, generally to be found out of the centre, and with the food eaten as a take-out. Brockley’s Rock in south east London has been bestowed with many accolades, but honourable mentions also go to the long-standing Fryer’s Delight in Holborn (note: they’re cash only) and The Laughing Halibut in Westminster. Don’t forget to try the traditional mushy peas!
Where to grab a deal in London
Think of London and the chances are you’ll think of the theatre. London’s West End is known internationally for bringing the best actors and the best productions on stage; from classic, long-running musicals to more edgy modern productions. At any one time, there’s likely to be more than 30 plays running in Theatreland, and while tickets can be expensive, there are still deals to be found.
Think first of all about going to see a matinee performance in the afternoon – these often take place on Wednesday and Saturdays, for cheaper tickets. Check out discounted, last-minute tickets through sites like TKTS London (or their booth in Leicester Square) or TodayTix, with savings of up to 60% on seats.
If you have an early dinner, there’s plenty of good deals to be found on pre-theatre menus, designed to be eaten before a show. Check out chef Jason Atherton’s love-letter to exceptional seasonal British produce, Sael, in St James, where three courses – between 5pm and 6.30pm – will set you back just £28.50. Or get a taste of Italy at Bocca Di Lupo in Soho, where three courses (including one of their excellent pasta dishes as a main) is £25, served until 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.
For anyone who has their heart set on visiting some of the city’s most famous attractions, such as the London Eye, it’s worth checking out certain deals that package a few of these up together at a discounted rate. Try a 3-in-1 combination ticket at Tourist England (£55); a Go City Explorer Pass (£54) where you can choose two attractions from a list of 101 in London, or create your own deals at the London Pass.
If you’re desperate to visit somewhere like Legoland – be prepared to spend an eye-watering amount of money. However, if it’s a must-do while in the capital, look out for discounts for tickets, which run regularly on Kellogg’s cereal boxes. Most recently, it offered 25% off on two online tickets – more information can be found here.
Where to stay in London on a budget
The average price of a night in a hotel in London is around £158, but this obviously jumps up at peak times like summer holidays, Christmas and New Year. For no-frills, clean but basic rooms, the Premier Inn or Travelodge chains offer good value for money, with double rooms across London from £77 a night.
If it’s a more unique, budget stay you’re after, try the fun Mama Shelter in Hackney, East London, with rooms from £90, the stylish The Pilgrm in Paddington (from £117) or the Georgian townhouse-housed The Judd in Bloomsbury, with rooms from £97.
A serviced apartment or aparthotel is a good idea if you’re planning a slightly longer stay in the city – try the Bob W Holland Park in west London (from £103 a night) or Staycity London Dalston in east London for around £100 a night (sign up for free as a member to get 10% off).
If you’re on a really tight budget, there are several hostels in the city, with beds from £50 in places like Park Villa Boutique Hostel in the East End, or from £30 YHA Central London, by Tottenham Court Road; or you might even want to look into house or pet-sitting sites such as House Sitters UK or house swap sites like People Like Us to make your pounds go that extra mile for you on your trip to London.
Check out more London restaurant and travel guides:
Best rooftop bars in London
Best pizza in London
Best pasta restaurants in London
Best bakeries in London
Best food markets in London
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