London is one of the most exciting and expensive cities in the world, but visiting on a budget does not mean missing out on the best the capital has to offer. Many of London’s greatest attractions are free, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The city’s parks, from the vast expanse of Hyde Park to the formal elegance of Kensington Gardens and the wildlife of Hampstead Heath, offer free spaces to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Walking the streets of London, from the historic lanes of the City of London to the vibrant markets of Camden and Borough, is one of the best ways to absorb the energy of the city without spending a penny.
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In This Article
Getting Around London on a Budget
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London’s public transport network is extensive and efficient, but it can be expensive if you do not plan ahead. The Oyster card and contactless payment system offer the cheapest fares on the Tube, buses, and trains, with daily and weekly price caps that limit how much you can be charged. Buses are significantly cheaper than the Tube and offer the bonus of seeing the city above ground as you travel. Walking is often the most enjoyable way to get around central London, with the distances between many of the major attractions being surprisingly walkable. Download a map of the city before you arrive and plan your days around clusters of nearby attractions to minimise transport costs. The Santander Cycles, commonly known as Boris Bikes, are a cheap and healthy way to cover longer distances, with rental prices starting at just 1.65 pounds for a 30-minute journey.
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Free and Cheap Sightseeing
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London is rich in free attractions that rival the city’s paid-for experiences. The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is a quintessentially London spectacle that costs nothing to watch. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben can be admired from the outside, and the public galleries of the House of Commons and the House of Lords are free to enter when Parliament is sitting. The Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, known as the Walkie Talkie building, offers one of the best free views of London, but tickets must be booked in advance. Borough Market, one of the oldest food markets in London, is free to wander and sample the goods, though the prices can be high for sit-down meals. The South Bank, from the London Eye to Tower Bridge, offers a continuous promenade of free street entertainment, public art, and spectacular views of the Thames.
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Cheap Eats and Accommodation Tips
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Eating in London on a budget is easier than you might think. The city’s street food markets, including Borough Market, Broadway Market, and Maltby Street Market, offer affordable and delicious food from around the world. The chain of Dishoom restaurants serves excellent Indian food in stunningly designed settings at reasonable prices. The traditional London pub offers some of the best value meal deals in the city, with many pubs offering lunchtime specials and early evening discounts. For accommodation, the best value is often found in the zones just outside central London, such as zone 2 and zone 3, which are well-connected by public transport. Premier Inn and Travelodge are reliable budget chains with good standards, but independent hostels such as the Generator and the YHA offer even cheaper options, including private rooms with en-suite facilities. Booking accommodation and attractions in advance can save significant amounts of money compared to last-minute purchases.
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Have you discovered the budget-friendly side of London and found that the best experiences in the capital are often free? What is your favourite free attraction in London?
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Today we’d like to take you around the city’s most interesting neighbourhoods and show you some of London’s must see hidden gems.
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We’ve kept everything cheap and cheerful within your budget and free things to do – both day and night, but first things first;
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\nLondon Eye and County Hall From Westminster Bridge by stephen boisvert
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Buy an Oyster Card!
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This is your key to getting around London by bus, tube, and even boat. Order online from the transport for London website or buy from a London station. To spot historical landmarks, hop on one of the red buses (the number 15). Not only is the authentic London double-decker, but it is also cheaper than the commercial site-seeing buses. Why not grab a bike from one of the many docking stations located all around the city center?
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The West End
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West End is London’s entertainment neighbourhood. Major films premier in Lester Square. Don’t pay full whack for cinema tickets here; instead, go around the corner to the Prince Charles Cinema for cheaper screenings. If you fancy seeing a top London show, your best bet is to try the coliseum; one of London’s largest theatres which offers cheap tickets for better performances. If you are after a quick bite before a show, dive into China Town for some cheap eats. Choose one with lots of Chinese customers because you are guaranteed an authentic meal. To watch the street artists, avoid the premier tables at the outdoor eateries, instead grab a snack and make yourself comfortable on the curb. Next, head to the neighbouring square.
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The National gallery offers free entry and cheap Saturday cinema sessions. The national portrait gallery is just next door. I recommend wandering over to Neal’s Street and Neal’s Yard for creative vegetarian dishes at the colourful world food café.
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There are plenty of great boutiques and vintage shops to distract you on route. Get out on the river tends and see London from a fresh perspective. Why not use your Oyster Card on the Tate-to-Tate boat? The Tate-to-Tate boat is a service that runs between two of London’s great art galleries. On the south side of the river tends, an area called Southbank will find you one of London’s major constitutions. Have a browse around the Southbank book fair. You will also find the Shakespeare globe, the national theatre, and the royal festival hall along this stretch. Nearby, the British Film Institute allows you to explore the film archive for free so it is truly a hub for the arts.
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Borough Market
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At Borough Market, there is fresh and top quality produce for example, premium Monmouth coffee, fresh pastries, stinky cheeses, and hog roasts. Fill up some free tasters or gather up some fresh ingredients to cook back at your hostel. A few stops on the underground and you are in Brixton, South London. Brixton village has plenty of cheapeners to offer. They say the best pizza in town is at the Franco Manca. By nightfall, catch of layback rangy, jazz, and other great like music venues. North of Kingcross station is Camden. You can easily wow-away an afternoon with people watching and shopping around the Camden region canal. This area is also a great place to pick up a cheap hotel in London. With so many hotels to choose from, there are hotels to suit all budgets.
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Camden
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Camden Stables Market is a labyrinth of crafts tools and outdoor eateries. Skip the first few path heists, and further on there is much more choice in cheap/tasty dishes from all over the world. A short walk from Camden is Primrose hill. A quick but steep climb to the top and you have earned yourself a spectacular view of London. It is an idealist spot for spending lazy summer days on the grass. Out of bed early on a Sunday? Head to Columbia Road flower market where there is a lively atmosphere of proud and loud store holders selling orchids, sunflowers, and sweet smelling herbs. By the afternoon, the place is heaving, but the prices are falling. Keep on walking, and once the air fills with spices, you know you’ve hit Brick Lane. On Sundays its bustling with vendors frogging furniture, second-hand items, and devious looking electricals.
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Listen out for free gigs at the brilliant Rough Trade record shop. Just down the road, you will find the covered Spitalfields market where there are some great places to eat. Don’t shy away from S&M serving sausage and mash. Around the corner, Regent’s Canal is bustling on weekends. Sit back for coffee on the Tall Parks Café and watch the long base glide by. Clubs like cargo often run free nights in live band and DJs. On other nights, arrive early and you may even get in for free. Hungry after a heavy night out? Tackle your munchies at one of the bakeries at nearby Brick Lane. No worries, in London there are always loads of buses to take you home at the end of the night.
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If you are staying in London, why not contact outlet4holidays.com for a last minute reservation. We also have limited spaces for the London 2012 Olympic Games too.\n
