How To Do London On a Budget

London is on pretty much everyone's travel bucket list. The charming streets, lively pubs, adorable hoteleries, and plethora of things to do make London a must visit city for any traveler. The only problem with London is how expensive it is to visit - but it's totally possible to do London on a budget. In this article I will tell all of my secrets to travel to London for cheap, while also being comfortable. Read on to discover how to do London on a budget!

This post is all about London on a budget.

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How Long To Stay In London

You could stay in London and still be entertained for weeks. But if you are on a budget - stay for a shorter amount of time, 2 or 3 days.

Book a flight with a stopover in London if you are crossing seas. Stopovers are longer than normal layovers. So you could be in London for two days instead of a typical 3 hour layover before moving on to your final destination. Virgin Atlantic offers free stopovers in London.

When To Go To London

If you have read any of my other budget posts you will know that I am a huge fan of shoulder seasons (traveling to your destination a little before or a little after peak season). For example, instead of going to London in the summer - go to London in May or September. You will most likely save a ton of money!

What To Expect In London

Language: English

Currency: Pounds

Plugs: type G

Safety: London is considered a safe city. My sister and I went by ourselves and we felt safe the entire trip. Take normal precautions (Avoid walking alone at night, keep belongings on your person, etc.)

How To Get Around London For Cheap

London is huge so getting around can get expensive. I usually hate to use any sort of train or subway when traveling (I prefer to walk) but I forced myself to use the tube and it was so easy. You will save so much money with the tube, it just takes a few minutes to figure it out. The tube is also so clean, compared to the United States subway systems.

Use the Tube to get to the centre of London from your flight, taxis from the airport in London are insanely expensive. (I paid 100 pounds!)

Budget London Hotels

I am all about budgeting, but I never want to be uncomfortable. I would never recommend somewhere that is not centrally located or safe.

These are lovely budget friendly hotels in London

London House Hotel - Just outside the beautiful Hyde Park the London House Hotel is a lovely place to stay while in London. Offering comfortable rooms, attentive staff, and stunning views you will not be disappointed with the London House Hotel.
Princess Square - Also near Hyde Park, The Princess Square Hotel is a perfect place to stay while explore the charming city of London. You will find everything you need at The Princess Square Hotel - twenty four hour front desk, friendly staff, comfortable rooms, and more.
Eurotraveller - Located by the famous Tower of London is the Eurotraveller Hotel. At the Eurotraveller Hotel you will find comfy beds, full sized bathrooms, a bar, access to some of the best food in the city, and more.

What To Do In London On a Budget

There is so much to do in London! Surprisingly, most of it is budget friendly.

Borough Market

We stayed right next to Borough Market and it was absolutely amazing. I would start your day here and grab a pastry from one of the amazing bakeries. Seriously the best croissant I’ve ever had was at Borough Market.

Borough Market is a melting pot of culture. You will find food from all over the world. French, Italian, you name it. Even if you are not a fellow foodie there are some cute shops in Borough Market and it is totally worth the experience.

Borough Market is all over instagram. It is famous for the chocolate strawberries and the mushroom risotto, so if you can, try them.

Borough Market is also free to explore, but you will end up buying something.

Buckingham Palace

Take the tube over to Buckingham Palace. While in London you have to see the famous Buckingham Palace, home to the royals.

You do not need to cut out too much time in your itinerary for Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace is somewhere you can just look at and leave.

Grab an english tea, or coffee in my case, and admire the palace and the guards - yes they are real.

St. James Park

Right across the street from Buckingham palace is the wonderful Saint James Park. We stumbled across it by accident and it ended up being a highlight of the trip.

St. James Park is a great place to unwind and take a break in you busy day of travel. I got a coffee and watched the wildlife. It was super relaxing and refreshing for the second half of my busy day in London.

You can escape the city and enjoy the English landscape at St. James Park.

Big Ben

Once we wandered outside the park we came out to Big Ben. Big Ben is a famous clock in London which you have probably seen before. It is even better in person. Don’t miss it!

Just like Buckingham palace, Big Ben is something that you can admire and then leave. It doesn't take up too much time.

Visit a Pub

You have to visit a pub while in London. I actually heard a woman ask for “A bloody pint.” I ordered fish and chips and it was delicious.

There are so many pubs in the West End. I never thought that pubs were really the way they are in the movies. It seriously so cool.

West End Show

Broadway in London is in the West End. I honestly had one of the best nights of my life in the West End. My sister and I really wanted to see a show, and we ended up getting last minute tickets to Hamilton! The tickets were only $75 for the 6th row! And the show was absolutely amazing.

Also the shows are in a perfect location you can just hop in a pub before or after the shows because there are a ton of pubs in the West End

Wander Around London

I could wander around London forever. It is so beautiful and the culture is so rich. You can find some pretty interesting things if you just start walking around. While walking along the river we met an older couple with 3 dachshund dressed in royal garb. They seemed straight out of a movie. The couple was so friendly, and they definitely had the famous English humor.

Where To Eat In London On a Budget

Borough Market - Borough Market is located right next to the London Bridge and offers insanely good grab and go food. You can find everything at Borough Market - full english breakfasts, coffee, pasta, dessert, fruit stands, and so much more!

Feya - Feya is a magical restaurant the serves pretty much everything. However, Feya is known for it afternoon tea.

Sketch - Sketch is a unique tea room and cocktail bar located in the soho area. At Sketch you will be met with food, drinks, music, and art. Reservations are required at Sketch.

Volcano Coffee - Volcano Coffee is a top notch coffee shop located in Brixton. Volcano Coffee is a lovely place to go for your morning coffee.

Cheap London Tours

If you have some extra time in London checkout this tour of Bath from London.
If you are trying to cram London into one day it might be best to do a tour of the city so it is more straightforward and easier to get around. This tour got great reviews and hits all the best parts of the city.

London On a Budget FAQs:

How much should I budget for a trip to London?

Well it all depends (how long you are staying, where you are flying from, and your travel style). But for a three day trip excluding airfare you need around $1000.

Can you go to London on a budget?

Yes!! Especially if you follow all of our tips in this article, you can definitely save loads of money in London.

What is the cheapest time of year to visit London?

London is always busy, but for the cheapest airfare and hotels early winter is the cheapest (January and February).

London On a Budget Wrap Up

You really can visit London on a budget! Just remember to go during the shoulder seasons and do activities that are free. I hope you can plan an affordable trip to London with my tips. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

If you liked this post all about London on a budget I think you would love my posts all about The Best Hotels In South Kensington and The Ultimate Guide To Dublin, Ireland.

Happy Travels,

Daisy