How to Get the Best Out of London on a Budget~
London is known for being one of the priciest cities in Europe. The best way to save money when visiting London is to plan ahead. It will save you grief and free up your wallet if you take the time to research the most affordable options on hotels, transportation, food, and things to do. Before our trip in 2019, we scoured the internet for reliable & helpful videos before our visit. Some of our favorite Youtube Channels that we encourage you to follow include Love and London, Suitcase Monkey, Vaga Brothers, Topjaw, and Attache. You will see some links below in this article. Also, be sure. to click on the links above for their Youtube channel. To start things out, we suggest clicking HERE to learn from the Vaga Brothers about the top 10 free things to do in London.
The UK uses the British pound. You may want to exchange money before arriving in London to save those extra fees at exchange machines. Jess from Love and London gives a great overview of the currency exchange in London. Follow her on Youtube and Click HERE for a helpful video on the currency exchange.
1. Come to London in the Off Season~
London is a very popular international city and like others in Europe, becomes very crowded in the summer. The best time to visit London is early fall. If you decide to visit in spring, keep in mind it may rain a bit more. Londoners are used to rain, and travelers should expect to see some precipitation, but if you pack a light jacket, it is easy to manage. And of course, if you get caught in a bit of rain, just dart into the nearest pub! Hotel prices will be much more affordable in the off-season as well. We visited in May and it was perfect weather. We were even able to catch the football finals at Wembley Stadium, which was an incredible experience.
Buckingham Palace
2. Find Low-Cost Flights to London and Transportation into the City~
London is actually one of the more affordable long-haul flights from the US along with Paris. And more recently, Norse Atlantic, a new low-cost carrier is offering flights from various locations in the US to London with absolutely incredibly lower fares. You MUST check out this new airline! A flight in September from NYC to London is about $180 each way. Norse Atlantic is a long time in the making as they took over for Norwegian’s International Flight when the pandemic hit and took two years to reorganize and line up some fantastic destinations. It does take some arranging to get to some of the major airports but it may be truly worth considering. Click HERE to find some incredibly affordable flights. Other carriers like British Airways, United, American, and Delta offer fairly decent prices, depending on the time of year.
Alex Hunter with Attache on Youtube has one of the most thorough videos on how to get into, out of, and around London. This video is a must watch before you plan. Click HERE To check it out.
The Underground with a View of Big Ben
3. Find Low-Cost Accomodation~
It can be a little tricky to find low-cost accommodation in London. It is one of the most expensive European cities. With a little research ahead, you can find some affordable options. As for hotels, we always recommend checking Booking.com first. There are a few hotel chains that are worth looking into. You can also go right to their site. Motel One is. German-based modern, simple design hotel, with everything you need to have a great stay. You can stay for around $150-$180 per night US. Click HERE for the Booking.com link. Citizen M has four locations in London but our favorite is the Tower of London location with all rooms facing the incredible Tower of London. Click HERE for the Booking.com info. We also recommend pub stays in London. These are local pubs with a few adjacent rooms. It takes some time to find them but search for blog posts on Pub Hotels. One other option is to use points from hotel chains like Marriott and Hilton. There are many properties in the city and a way to cut costs. Finally, we suggest looking at Airbnb for apartments. This is a great way to find a stay for less money, especially when traveling with a larger group.
Motel One Tower Hill
4. Take advantage of Public Transportation with the Oyster Card~
The most efficient way to travel around the city is with the Oyster Card. It. is a prepaid card that offers lower fees for train and bus travel. Even when traveling from Heathrow, Gatwick, and other airports, you can use the card to save money. When used within a 6-mile radius of London, there is a cap that will save you even more. As many will advise, the black cabs in London are extremely expensive. Like a gondola in Venice, you may want to splurge for the experience but there are other great ways to travel. The subway (tube) is extremely efficient and with the Oyster card super affordable. Jess from Love and London Youtube site shares a helpful video on the Oyster Card. Take a look HERE to learn more.
Double Decker Bus
5. Walk the City~
London is a large city but very easy to navigate. A pedestrian bridge called the Millennium Bridge was opened in 2000 and offers incredible views from each bank of the Thames River. Vaga Brothers, one of our favorite Youtube Vloggers, put together a fantastic video that explains east vs. west London. It was so helpful to us as we were planning our trip a few years ago. Click HERE to view that video.
There are so many iconic sites in London that can be accessed by walking the city. If you have the time to map out your route ahead of time, you will save so much time and see so much! from Trafalgar Square and National Gallery, down Whitehall, and on to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster. There are also so many cool neighborhoods around London. Some of our favorites are SOHO (China Town), Covent Garden, and Brick Lane in East London. We found this hilarious and savvy Youtube Vlogers, TOPJAW, with the best recommendations on fantastic places to visit, all free. Click HERE to find some hidden gems in London. We only wish we would have caught this before coming to London!
There is so much to explore and the best part is that walking the city is completely free! If you would like one of the best in the business, Rick Steves to guide you around town, check out his Audio Tours. You can download his app or check out more information, including maps by clicking HERE. There are actually 5 audio tours, including historic London and The British Museum, that you can listen to from your mobile phone.
Iconic Phone Booths
6. Visit the Numerous Free Parks in London~
Some people say that London is one of the greenest cities in Europe, possibly the world. Whether that’s true or not, London’s eight Royal Parks cover a total of 5,000 acres. St. Jame’s and Reagent’s park are the most popular. You do not have to go anywhere else but to view this amazing and thorough video from Suitcase Monkey. He takes you to 13 incredible parks right around London with some of the best recommendations. It is really great to add in a few parks along your travels. With these parks integrated throughout London, it is easy to spend some time enjoying the greenery. Click HERE for that great video. You will also find more helpful videos on London so check out his Youtube Channel.
St. James Park
8. Find a Free or Low-Cost Walking Tour~
When we visit a city, especially for the first time, we like to look for a free or affordable walking tour. It gives great highlights and narrows down the best places to visit in the upcoming days. We always check out “With Locals” because they offer so many personalized and customized options that may work into your budget. Keep in mind that their tours are always private and customized so it is a real value if you enjoy more of a one-on-one experience Click HERE to check out the London experiences. Other places to find lower-cost walking tours is on Airbnb Experiences. And finally, Free Walking Tours are great when you are on a budget. The guides do depend on tips and are passionate about their hometown. You will make friends and get a great overview before you begin your time in London. Click HERE for Free Tour London.
Millennium Pedestrian Bridge to St. Paul Cathedral
8. Enjoy Free Views of the City~
In this incredibly expensive city are some great lookout places and rooftops free to the public. You just have to make plans/reservations ahead of time. One of the first things we did while planning our trip to London is make a reservation at Sky Garden. It is free but reservations are required. It is known as the Walkie-Talkie looking building but the views from the top are breathtaking. To learn more and book ahead, click HERE.
A modern glass and steel construction sitting next door to St. Paul’s Cathedral is the New Change building. There you will find offices, shops, restaurants, and a public rooftop garden. Another great way to see Saint Paul’s Cathedral and the Thames River is by visiting the Tate Modern Museum (free to the public). A little outside of the city sits Hampstead Heath, a nearly 800-acre park, overlooking parliament. Other sites that are nearly free are the Tower at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral Viewing Tower, The Monument to the Great Fire, and the Famous Tower Bridge (the one everyone mistakes for London Bridge). Jess from Love and London has a great video on these spectacular, free or low-cost views. Click HERE for that video.
Sky Garden Lookout
9. Visit Free or Low-Cost Museums and Landmarks~
National Museums are all free and definitely worth adding to any itinerary. The British Museum, Tate Modern, and Natural History Museum, with its iconic entrance, are the more obvious choices for first-time visitors, but it’s also worth visiting the Victoria and Albert Science Museum, Royal Observatory, National Gallery, National Maritime Museum, and the London Museum. For a helpful overview of which museum suits you best, you HAVE to view this video by Suitcase Monkey. We absolutely love Suitcase Monkey and follow all of his videos. Click HERE for that entertaining and informative video. It will really help you make the most of your time here in London.
The British Museum
10. Hang Out at a Pub~
Pub life in the UK is really different from the restaurant culture in the US. The food is comforting and the beer flows from a tap. Food options are very affordable and. it is a great way to experience the city’s history as many are hundreds of years old. Fish and Chips are a great dish to try, but if you are not familiar, they may be accompanied by mashed peas. The meat pies are really hearty and a great option as well. The beer is usually an ale with little carbonation but is worth a try.
11. Visit the Many Markets Around Town ~
Borough Market
12. Go Window Shopping
A fun and affordable way to spend time in London is to go window shopping. That is if you don’t break down and buy. But it is worth a look at Oxford Street, one of the main shopping streets in London. Two chains that are also worth looking at are Harrods and Selfridges. Both have an incredible history.
Selfridge Department Store on Oxford Street
13. Go Resale/Vintage Shopping~
London is known for its vintage shopping scene. And since it is an innovator in fashion, it is a great place to find a one-of-a-kind piece. It is worth looking up some resales shops and adding them to your travels. We like to do this when we go to a new town because there is nothing like coming home with an authentic piece.
Vintage Clothing Store
14. Walk the Streets Where Punk Music Was Made Popular~
Jool Guides on Youtube has a great video on a pub crawl in the area of Camden, made popular by Punk Music. It’s a place where Amy Winehouse, the Sex Pistols, David Bowie, and the Clash got their start. Aiden from Flipside Tours has a highly rated tour that showcases the history of Punk Rock in London. Click HERE for more information on this unforgettable tour. Of course, one of. the most famous landmarks related to music is not from the punk era, but at the beginning of Rock and Roll. Abbey Road is the iconic cross-walk that the Beatles used on their record album of the same name. We never made it to this site, as we were side tracked with a trip to Wembley Stadium for a championship football game (read about that below). We were not that disappointed as we heard it was really more of a site for a cool Instagram post. But if. you want to visit, just pull up google maps and take the nearest tube.
The Iconic Abbey Road
15. Check Out Local a Concert or Sporting Event~
Every time we visit a new town in Europe, we look up the music scene to see if one of our favorite bands is visiting. We also like to check out local bars where music is played. These are affordable ways to get an idea of the music in that area. One thing we actually stumbled on in London, was a visit to Wembley Stadium. We were on the tube (on our way to see Abbey Road) when some folks dressed up with flags and football garb sat near us and struck up a conversation. The next thing we knew they invited us to their championship game. We must have missed it with their Liverpool accent, but we actually ended up at Wembley Stadium. For not a lot of money, we witnessed our first UK football game and were astounded at the pride for their teams and the entire experience. We still talk about it as one of the favorite things we did in London. We had not even planned it at all. The moral of the story is to go with a loose plan but be flexible for what comes your way. Find out what the locals are doing and join in. It may make all the difference in the end.
Wembley Stadium Football Championship Game