Buckingham Palace. St. Paul's Cathedral. Westminster Abbey. The Tower of London. All these names conjure up images of the most famous city on the Thames, which also happens to be one of the most expensive cities in the world. Though London is indeed pricey, that shouldn't keep potential visitors from partaking of its sights and history. Doing enough preliminary footwork ensures a traveler can visit London without having to mortgage their home to pay for the trip.
When To Go, Where To Stay, and How to See the London Sites on a Shoestring
By skipping high season, staying in accommodations outside of the typical tourist havens, and doing research, visitors can pack a whole lot of sights into a few days on a relatively small budget. London is a very compact city, with a lot to see squeezed into a relatively small area. Tapping into the local tourist boards is a great way to carefully and intelligently plan a trip that incorporates the most into the least amount of time and money. London Tourist Board (visitlondon.com) and LondonTown (londontown.com) are packed with discounts on hotels, restaurants, exhibits and events.
Avoiding accommodations in the usual tourist traps (Leicester Square and Covent Garden, specifically) and high-end neighborhoods (Kensington, Knightsbridge, and Hyde Park) means more money for meals at top restaurants in town. Plus, staying at a hotel or bed and breakfast tucked a little more out of the way means seeing parts of the city the typical tourist would probably miss. If one doesn't mind crossing the river, hotels situated south of the Thames are typically less expensive than those north of it. Some hotels also include breakfast in their rates.
Traveling during shoulder or low season means rates drop significantly (although so does the temperature and likelihood of sunshine). Off-season means fewer crowds, which also equates to more access to lower rates at hotels, and discounts and availability at restaurants, shows and events. Plus, during the holiday season, there are plenty of free events, like concerts at St. Martin in the Field, and strolls through the make-shift stalls along the south bank of the Thames and through Hyde Park.
London Modes of Transportation
Traveling by foot is by far the most economical way to see London on a budget, followed by traveling by subway (or the Tube, as it is called in London). There is even a train from Heathrow that goes directly into London, so no need to hop a cab upon landing, as cabs are the most expensive mode of transport in the city. While there is a certain novelty in taking a ride in one of London's peculiar-looking cab cars, a budget traveler who wants to stretch his money as far as possible would do well to stay away.
Travelcards, passes, and Oyster cards are available for mass-transit, which includes the Tube. If planned ahead, travelers can order Visitor Oyster cards, a pay-as-you-go refillable card that can be used on buses, trams and subways around the city. Oyster card fares are typically cheaper than the usual Tube ticket, and make sense if a traveler is not traveling to London last-minute and plans to use public transport often during their stay. However, Travelcards, though more expensive, offer unlimited travel and total flexibility in terms of peak versus non-peak travel times. As a note, traveling in off-peak times also means cheaper tickets and fewer crowds, although it also means less frequent trains.
Free Attractions in London
The obvious way to see London on a budget is to visit the free attractions. Yes, there are free attractions in London, if you know where to look. Most of the art museums are free, with the exception of special exhibits. Any of the markets, the Changing of the Guard, the Ceremony of the Keys, the RAF (Royal Air Force) Museum, and Hogarth’s House are top tourist attractions that don’t cost a cent. Local newspapers and magazines also list free events around the city, and websites like Time Out London always tap into the best of the local scene at a fraction (or in some cases, none) of the cost.
London Shopping
If shopping is on the agenda, the most budget-conscious way to go is the markets. Travelers who haggle and aren’t afraid to walk away get the best deals. Avoid Covert Gardens for shopping, as well as the big department stores like Selfridge’s and Harrod’s, except to walk through (particularly their food courts, which are sights all to themselves). Instead, check out the markets of Portobello Road, Petticoat Lane, Ridley Road, Spitalfields/Columbia Road, Camden, and Brick Lane.
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