As London and other tourist destinations gradually reopen, you may have noticed the rise in the prices. From the accommodation to the attractions themselves, the costs seemed to have jumped dramatically.
If you think visiting London is expensive, it doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. We agree it is not the cheapest city and hotels can be expensive. However, many of the best attractions are free or very reasonably priced. Saving money does not mean you have to miss out.
We learnt many of these London money-saving tips when we actually lived there. Often, these options can be better than the more expensive ‘touristy’ options. Even today, when we have the money, we still follow our own advice to get the most from our weekend break in London.
So let us share some of our favourite money-saving things to do in the city.
Museums And Galleries
From the Natural History Museum and the neighbouring Victoria and Albert Museum to the National Gallery, there are some fantastic museums and galleries with free admission.
As well as the famous museums, there are several lesser-known ‘quirkier’ museums and galleries around London that are also free. One of our favourites is the Grant Museum of Zoology in Bloomsbury which contains over 67,000 strange specimens dating back to 1828. These even include a jar of moles!
Walk The City
One of the best ways to really see and get to know London is on foot. Around every corner, there’s a historic building to see or a location of a famous (or infamous) event.
Whether it’s the grand buildings and palaces of Westminster or the narrow streets of the old City of London, the capital just oozes with history.
There are plenty of free self-guided walking tours available that you can either print or download to your phone. Such as these from the City of London that includes art, historic pubs and ghoulish ghost stories.
Public Transport
Walking is one of the best ways to see the city but what if the distances are too far or the weather is typically British? Then public transport may be the best option. Although black cabs are great they are definitely not the cheapest.
The most cost-effective way to get around the city is to get an Oyster Card. This is the contactless payment card that can be used on the tube, buses, DLR, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and most overground rails services. However, the main advantage of the Oyster Card is that it’s more than 50% cheaper than buying a paper travel card or a single ticket with cash.
Attractions And Entertainment
These tips don’t mean you have to miss out on West End shows or other popular attractions. If you don’t mind what particular show you want to see, check what’s available from the official London Theatre TKTS booth in Leicester Square. You can also buy tickets online.
If you’re looking for offers for the London Eye or other popular attractions don’t forget to shop around. There are often offers available especially if you book well in advance.
Getting The Best Views
The London Eye gives you fantastic views over Westminster and even as far as Wembley Stadium but you can great views from several other buildings. Our favourite is 20 Fenchurch Street, better known as the “Walkie Talkie” building. You get great views of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London from the Sky Garden, the oasis at the top of the building. Access to the Sky Garden is free during the day and up to 9 pm on weekends, although you need to book tickets.
These are just a few of our suggestions to help you have a great time in London without breaking the bank. From our experience, some of these are even better than the expensive paid options. However many times you visit London you’ll always find something new to enjoy. Finally, like most capital cities around the world accommodation can be expensive. We tend to stay to the west of the city somewhere like the Park Grand Kensington London in the Kensington / Hyde Park area where you can still get a 4-star hotel at a reasonable price.
