London can be expensive – especially if it’s one of your first times in the city and you’re travelling from one end to the other without careful planning. The thing with London is that there is just so much to see! The tube can be affordable if you play it right, but if you’re not familiar with the city, it can be a nightmare to navigate at first. But with so many attractions to see across the city, it’s easy to want to see and do as much as possible. Staying within walking distance of your favourite attractions is never a bad idea, and with so many luxurious holiday rentals in London, it’s easy to find the perfect place.
No matter if you’re in London for 24 hours, a long weekend, a romantic break, or a five day trip, I’m here to share how you can squeeze the most out of your visit to the big city. And on top of that, I’m throwing in some top tips on how to save money in London whilst you there, too! Here’s some affordable options to consider in London which are way more fun than some of their pricey alternatives…
1. Consider a Visitor Oyster card
One of the cheapest ways to travel around London is to look at Oyster cards and Visitor Oyster cards. A lot of people don’t know about these unless they know someone in London who gives them a heads up. Basically, by using a Visitor Oyster Card you are likely to making some big savings on travelling, especially if you’re in London for a dew days. They can be more than 50% cheaper than if you were to buy a one-day paper travel card or any single tickets.
2. Walk or bike it
If you’re planning on travelling to the other side of the city, then it’s a given you will need your travel cards, like the Oyster, to be saving money via the underground. However, did you know that if you walk along the River Thames, you can walk through places such as Tower Bridge to London Bridge, straight through to places like Southwark and Bermondsey? You can reach various attractions like The Shard, Borough Market and The London Eye by walking along the Thames and coming off at various points.
Along the way, you’ll possibly come across some second hand book markets, coffee shops, bars and entertainers too, so planning a good long walk in London can actually be it’s own activity. If you want to save money but travel a little further, central London is ideal for cycling using the city’s Santander Cycles scheme. This way you can save your tired feet, see more sights, get some mood boosting exercise and do some sightseeing along the way!
During busy underground times, you’ll find it’s actually faster to walk between some tube stations, for example Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
3. Seek discount attractions
Across London, you’ll find an array of discount, cheap or even free attractions and landmarks that you can visit. The ones you can see without spending a penny include some of the cities fabulous art galleries and museums, such as including the Tate Modern, National Gallery and British Museum, the Southbank Centre art complex, and then of course some fantastic outdoor spaces such as Hampstead Heath and Hyde Park. You can also check out the Changing of Guards, which attracts crowds especially on the weekend!
If you haven’t been to London before, there are a few standard attractions that are a must! Oxford Street for shopping, River Thames Cruises which give a commentary on the history and hotspots of London, a trip up The Shard, a stroll to The Gherkin and a ride on The London Eye. The London Eye allows for some of the most fantastic views of the city, plus it makes sightseeing a little different! Of course, you can also do open bus tours, in which you can find deals which give you affordable tickets for these types of London eye attractions. When it comes to grabbing the best discounts for a London Eye trip, make sure you get your discounted tickets before you arrive when planning your visit, so you can get as much in as possible.
4. Look into small shows
If you’re staying overnight in London and want to combine some entertainment, London has a thriving scene of live music, comedies and cabaret scenes. Yes sure, you have the West End and some of the best theatres, but the fabulous thing about these smaller productions is they’re usually soooo much more affordable than the traditional theatre shows. Big name theatres and productions can have hefty price tags, yet the small, independent theatres can put on shows equally as entertaining.
There will also be an array of bars and halls putting on amateur comedians or musicians, which are worth checking out to support local talent while hardly spending a penny too.
5. Be A Local
London has fantastic tourist options that are obligatory. However, there are so many non touristy things to do in London that will make you feel more like a local and less like spot the tourist! For example, you can admire the best views of the beautiful city in the Garden at 120 or take a street art walking tour. In addition, there are many opportunities to see the magnificent London that doesn’t need to break the bank, such as a walkthrough Leake Street tunnel or Columbia Road flower market. Finally, chat to locals and ask their favourite thing in this fantastic city.
6. Bargain shopping in the city
Forget the designer side of London. Sure, Mayfair has some beautiful boutiques and the Harrods makes an impressive day out, but there are so many bargains and thrify buys across the city when you know how to do it right!
London is a shoppers’ paradise and it certainly caters for those watching the pennies, too. Camden market features a line-up of discount stores which offer so many bargain options. Brick Lane is another option for the more vintage and retro shoppers out there.
Those who do want to visit Oxford Street can rest assured they can bargain hunt there, too. You’ll find a HUGE Primark store situated on Oxford Street, along with many hidden gem charity shops nestled down the side streets which come off the main road.
7. Sleep for cheap
Again, London is home to some of the countries most beautiful five star hotels, but it equally has it’s share of budget accommodation too. All you have to do is search for friendly hostels, B&B’s and budget hotels. Air B&B also has some brilliant apartments to rent for cheap for the night in central locations, which are usually above shops or businesses.
Another idea is to look for University Halls of Residences when the students have broken up for summer holidays. You can get single rooms for very good prices if you are travelling alone!
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