Staying in London without breaking the bank? Yes it’s possible. Even if London is considered one of the most expensive cities in the world, in terms of housing, transportation or the cost of living, there are still ways to do many things, without having a big budget.
We have selected for you some good tips to enjoy your stay in London, cheap prices.
Visit the sights of London
London is full of museums and tourist attractions, as are all major European capitals. Of the 170 or so London museums, there are a good many of these museums that open free of charge to the public. Only temporary exhibitions are paying. You can find all information about these free museums in our London guide with addresses, opening hours, map, metro ….
The Free London Museums: Tate Modern, Tate Britain, The British Museum, The National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Science Museum, The Natural History Museum, The London Museum, The Wallace Collection, The London Imperial War Museum, The National Maritime Museum, The Geffrye Museum, The Grant Museum of Zoology, The Royal Academy of Arts, The Sir Soane’s Museum, The Islington Museum, The Royal London Museum, The Wiener Library.
Visit the parks of London
London is a vast city stretching over nearly 1579 square kilometers. Its vast surface is not made of streets and buildings, fortunately there are many parks and green spaces, including the famous Hyde Park, which acts as a real lung in the heart of the city.
Among these parks, there are 8 royal parks, belonging to the British Crown, which extend over 2000 hectares in London. Visiting the parks is free and open to everyone. You can have a picnic or simply enjoy their green spaces, lakes and greenery.
Find all the practical information about parks and green spaces in London in our London guide, with addresses, opening hours, metro …
The eight main Royal Parks of London are Hyde Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, Green Park, Kensington Gardens, Regent’s Park, St James’ Park and Bushy Park.
Cheap travel to London
To get around London cheaply, you have to use the Transport for London network, which includes the metro, the tramway, the overground and the bus. For that, it is enough to bring a transport card, which is called, Oyster Card.
The metro rates have increased again in 2013, a metro roundtrip now costs £ 4.40 (zone 1 & 2), it can be expensive, if you want to visit the city and multiply your trips to London.
We advise you to take a means of transport, certainly less fast, but especially less expensive: the bus. Hop on one of London’s many imperial buses, and discover the city as it rises! A bus ticket costs only £ 1.40!
The central bus lines that pass through the tourist centers of London are:
- Bus number 11 from Fulham Broadway to Liverpool street station. This bus goes through Sloane Square, Westminter, Traflagar Square, Fleet Street, St Paul’s Cathedral and Bank and City.
- Bus number 19 from Finsbury Park to Parkgate Road (Battersea). This bus passes through Islington, Angel, Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, Sloane Square, Chelsea to finish at Battersea.