Joanna James
London is expensive! From its high commute tolls and taxi fares to its attractions, touring London can leave a dent in your wallet! But here are some ways to enjoy one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world without leaving you too drained.
One of the best things about London, at least for the history and art buffs, is that it provides free entry to most museums and galleries. The British Museum alone can take you days to explore! Other notable visits should be to the Museum of London, the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, The National Gallery and Tate Modern.
Cut your commute costs by half by getting yourself an Oyster. You will be paying half price for every tube, bus and tram ride in London. If you plan on using the tube a lot, get this card! You can get a refund for the balance left on the card at the end of your trip.
The Sunday market scene is a great way to enjoy London life, without breaking your bank too much! Check out Camden Market, Portobello Market, Flower Market, Blackheath Farmers Market, and Brick Lane Market among plenty of others!
London is one of those beautiful and historical cities that you can explore on foot and never get bored or tired. The beautiful architecture, historic buildings, posh shops and squares, and the Thames are some of its highlights. Get yourself a free map from a tourist information centre and explore this massive city as far as your feet will allow you!
West End is one of the best experiences of visiting luxury travel destinations like London, but notoriously expensive. However, if luck is on your side, you may be able to snag last-minute ticket deals to even major productions from the counter in Leicester Square. There are also smaller, less expensive plays and comedy events at Leicester Square Theater, with prices ranging from 17 GBP. Look out for sites like The Luxury Travel Channel for inspiration on how to best experience London.
London cabs can wreck your budget. Time your outings well, so as not to miss the tube, trains etc. A simple cab ride to your hotel can cost you well over 30 pounds.
The tube in London generally closes at around 12:30 am, although the Central, Northern, Jubilee, Victoria and Piccadilly Circus run through the night on Fridays and Saturdays. Get yourself a map of the nightly bus schedules so you can plan to get to your accommodation safely without spending on cabs.
Like most European cities, you can find free walking tours run by local Londoners. To understand the history of London, there is New Europe. If you are looking for tours off the tourist trail, there is Free Tours by Foot.
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