Tips for Enjoying London on a Budget

 

This post was contributed by travel blogger, Jess Signut.

 

Traveling can be expensive, but there are definitely loopholes when traveling that you can use to your advantage. Want to save some extra cash on your next vacation to London? Check out these curated tips on navigating this iconic city without burning a hole in your wallet.

 

Cheap Room and Board

If you don’t think you’ll be staying in your actual hotel much, you may want to look into staying in a hostel or university housing. Some hostels are as cheap as £10 a night and on a 3 star level rating index; that’s better than some motels that are £50 and up. If you’re visiting in the summer, some dorm rooms in the central universities open up for tourists. But if you’re looking to go during fall or winter seasons, you’ll find that hostel prices are much cheaper.

 

While you’re there, you may want to take out your laptop and watch a movie when hitting the hostel sheets. Going out to a movie can be pricey when you’re doing London on a budget but thanks to Netflix, you have an array of free movies to choose from. Learn how to unblock Netflix when you’re not in the US.

Oyster Cards and The Tube

Public transportation doesn’t seem like a luxurious vacation but some people find thrill in acting like a resident on their trips. But we’re all sure that saving money is always fun. You can easily take public transportation by buying and using an Oyster card, which you scan before you take the tube. Depending on the time of day, your rides can be different prices but if you’re hopping around London, your trip shouldn’t be anymore than £15 to £20. You can see a lot of sights by taking the tube!

Free Walking Tours

Bus tours are another added expense that could be used somewhere else. The Sandemans New London offers free walking tours for 3 hours at a time that shows you historic neighborhoods, entertainment and even a spontaneous and enthusiastic tour guide. If you’re backpacking, this is a great trip tip for you. They work for tips instead of an hourly paycheck, so you may want to give them a little something at the end!

 

Drinking Cheap

London and the surrounding regions are known for their pubs but drinking cheap actually requires you to research and plan a bit. If you’re looking for a 4-star rating near a hotel, you’re going to be paying a lot. If you’re going to a normal pub or hole-in-the-wall in London, you’ll be paying around £3-£4 for a pint of beer. Coach & Horses is an almost 4 star pub that offers inexpensive drinks in a beautiful 18^th century historic building that is just like the movies.

 

Vacation doesn’t have to be expensive just because it’s not something you do every day. You can save money while having fun and put more money aside for your next trip. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet someone new, fall in love or decide that you want to move to London. Either way, you’ll be enjoying a new experience at a low price.

 

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