5 ways to experience London on a Budget and still have a great time

Being the capital city of England, London is the place so many of us want to explore. With world-class musicals and plays, amazing shopping experiences, and so many museums and experiences that you want to explore. The downside is that London can be expensive. Just travelling there from the North of England can break the bank. However, over the years, I’ve found some hacks and good ways to do London on a budget.

When travelling on a budget, there are some things I’m happy to save on, but other areas where I’m happy to do a little splurge. I like to find ways to experience the place without breaking the bank, and I want to share my favourite ways to save money when you’re travelling to London on a budget.

From places to stay, to finding free things to do, to saving money when you’re eating out – here’s a breakdown of saving money in London.

How to get to London on a Budget

Travelling to London when you live in the north of England and Scotland can be crazy stupid expensive. Hundreds of pounds for a train ticket, or contemplating a 6+ hour drive (and then navigating clean air zones, congestion charges and driving in London!)

If you’re looking to travel to London on a budget, why not use the National Express bus instead. From as low as £9, you can get to London. Yes, it takes a bit longer. But can literally save you £100’s! Why not get the night bus so you can have extra time in London as well. I’ve done that and whilst it wasn’t the most fun, it was so worth it to have two full days in the city?

Cheap places to stay in London

I never want to compromise on feeling safe when choosing accommodation, especially if I’m travelling solo.

My go-to place to stay is Premier Inn. You can find good locations, good prices, and feel safe whilst you’re there. Plus, you always know what you’re going to get when you stay here. If you’re wanting a bit more luxury, why not splurge on a Premier Plus room!

As well as choosing a more budget-friendly hotel, you can save money on Location as well.

The great thing about London is how good public transport is. You don’t need to stay right in the center of London to experience the magic of the city!

Instead, why not stay in Zone 2 or 3. You still have access to the city center with the tube and buses, but you can also explore some of the gorgeous boroughs of London like Chiswick and Greenwich.

How to travel around London on a budget

If you ask my dad how to travel around London, he will say just get a taxi. But that can get expensive pretty quickly!

One thing that always amazes me is how close a lot of things are in London. You can walk between a lot of places quite easily! Walking around the city lets you get to sightsee and really experience the city, and the magical nooks and cranny’s that you can find.

The tube is such a great way to get around the city. 48 hours in the London, and I spent £10 and used it a lot. There’s no need to feel overwhelmed about which tube to get either. Apple and Google maps are both great at giving you times, directions and prices!

Buses are another great way to get around the city, where you can get a real London vibe. Again, maps can be your friend to help you work out which ones to get.

If you’re feeling confident, you could also have a go on the ‘Boris Bikes’. However traffic in London is crazy so I would only recommend this if you truly feel confident and safe doing so!

Free things to do in London

You’ve got to London, you’ve found somewhere to stay. Now, how are you going to actually experience London on a budget? How are you going to spend your time in this amazing city. Here are just some of the completely free ways to spend a day in London…

Natural History Museum

It amazes me that places like the Natural History Museum is completely FREE to go and explore. It’s a day just there – see the iconic dinosaur exhibitions, experience earthquakes and learn more about the natural history of our planet

Tate Modern

Another place I can’t believe is free admission is the Tate Modern. Here you can explore modern and contemporary art from all around the world and be truly inspired. Fully immerse yourself in the art (one of my favourites is when you’re in a room with a tower of radios and tv’s and it is fascinating)

TV audience tickets

A great way to spend an afternoon or evening is by getting audience tickets for your favourite TV shows. I’ve done this twice in London – The Last Leg and Strictly Come Dancing – and not only is it a lot of fun, and you have the chance to meet some of your favourite celebrities, but it’s also fascinating to see how TV shows are actually made!

The two places I use to apply for tickets are on the BBC audiences website and SROaudiences.

London on a budget DIY walking tour

I find just walking around London to be a magical thing. From the tower of London and Buckingham Palace to Covent Garden and Carnaby Street, to Camden Market.

Wandering the city is a perfect way to spend your day, so why not create your own walking tour and see the sights.

How to save money when eating in London

There are so many amazing places to eat in London. Whatever food you’re wanting, you’ll be able to find it in the city.

I also find that food is the one area I’m more likely to splurge on – but I’ll go for a veggie option or a smaller plate so I can still experience good food.

To get a real taste for places, the markets are a great place to get flavoursome food and experience the atmosphere of the city as well. Look around, look for deals and if there’s two or more of you, don’t be afraid to share things so you can still have some yummy food.

So there are 5 top tips for travelling to London on a budget. You can find more of my guides to London here, or if you’re wanting to explore more of the UK, why not check out my UK travel guides. I’d love to hear about your favourite places to explore in London in the comments.