London. The city is known around the world and famous for its landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London to name but a few. Along with the landmarks you’ll find plenty of British culture there too from red telephone boxes to the royal guards. I can think of hundreds of things to do in London, but visiting can come with a hefty price tag. I’m going to share with you my top tips and tricks for visiting the UK capital on a budget, including some things to do for FREE in London!
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Cheap travel around London: How to get around London on on a Budget
London is a big city, so getting around on foot usually isn’t practical. To cover more ground and get from place to place, I recommend using the great public transport links that are available. London has an impressive public transport network comprised of underground, overground, buses and bike rentals.
Avoid driving, as taking your car around the capital is costly. Not only does the congestion charge cost you a fortune but the price to park is very high too. Additionally, the roads can become very congested at peak times which means you’ll just spend all your time sat in traffic, and there are plenty of better ways to spend your time in the capital!
London’s famous underground isn’t just a ‘must try’ while you are in London it’s a great way of getting across the city that locals use every day. Most lines have a train every few minutes and although there are sometimes delays and disruptions, on the whole getting around on the tube is pretty straightforward.
You can always check for service updates and disruptions for all lines on the Transport for London (TFL) website here.
Tips for travelling on the London Underground
Whilst the Tube isn’t one of the free things to do in London, it’s the best way to get to them on a budget. The best way to pay for your journeys on the underground is to use either an Oyster card or a contactless credit/debit card to swipe in and out of the tube stations. This will always give you the cheapest fare for your journey(s), and usually works out cheaper than buying a day ticket!
If you find the tube maps and connections confusing there are lots of apps available to help you plan your journey and they usually work offline too.If you prefer to travel above ground you can use your Oyster card on the famous red London buses too!
The best free things to do in London
The British Museum
As well as stunning architecture both inside and out, the British museum is home to some of the most famous historical artifacts in the world. Some of my favourite exhibits include the Rosetta Stone and wonders from Ancient Egypt. History fans can easily spend a few hours here engrossed in wondrous relics of ancient civilizations, and the best part is that there is no entrance fee to see the permanent collection!
Other Free Museums and Galleries in London
Along with the British Museum there is a whole host of other cultural wonders to be seen for free. Some of my favourite free attractions to visit in London include the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. My favourite galleries to wonder around and get immersed in include the Tate Britain, the Tate Modern, the National Portrait Gallery and the Saatchi Gallery.
London on a budget: Find bargains at Camden Market
One of the undeniable capitals of cool within London, Camden has a lot to shout about. From eclectic clothing to delicious street food it’s no wonder so many of you said you love this place when I posted the picture on Instagram!
I’ve included Camden on my ‘London on a Budget’ list for a few reasons. Firstly as far as shopping goes you can always find a bargain of some sort in Camden Market. Whether you’re looking for something handmade and individual for a souvenir or a trendy new outfit, for the most part the stalls are reasonably priced. Also look out for the second hand book stores where you can find some absolute bargains such as this little gem I stumbled across:
pretty cool right?
Psst, you can pick up a copy for yourself here if you’d like to read it.
Cheap places to eat in London: Camden street food market
Secondly, the street food in Camden Lock is beyond belief and I found the choice to be amazing. If the smell doesn’t pull you in the sight of all the hot fresh food will! The great news is that this type of food is much cheaper that going to a restaurant in London. Most dishes are under £10 and I think it’s a great opportunity to try something new. Pull up a deckchair too to fully enjoy the cool Camden surroundings! Are you only looking for free things to do in London? You can still wonder around here for a few hours and have a great time taking everything in and not spending a penny.
So, that was my mini guide to the free things to do in London and other budget friendly attractions. I hope you found it useful and if you have any questions or suggestions of your own please leave a comment below!
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