With London the fourth most expensive city in the world, you might think that the city caters only for those with deep pockets. But London absolutely lends itself to a very affordable visit. In fact, the city offers an incredible range of activities and destinations at zero cost. We’ll tell you how to arrive, stay, eat and sightsee, all within a reasonable budget.
London is in fact far from being a city only for the rich – for locals and tourists alike. Many of the city’s world-class museums and galleries are free to enter – you simply choose whether you want to make a donation. The architecture of centuries past is on permanent, glorious display – and walking the streets is always the best way to see the city. And the green “lungs” of the city – the expansive royal parks – are there for all to enjoy, all year round.
The cheapest way to get there
To get you off to a flying start, you can easily fly to London from cities across the world. Wherever you happen to be, you can book cheap flights to London easily by heading head to Omio. Plan well in advance and you’ll get the cheapest tickets by booking a few months ahead of time. Travelling during quieter periods (November to March) will also save you money.
Book in advance and you can travel fairly cheaply by getting the train to London, too. The Eurostar connects Great Britain to Continental Europe. Simply plan your train journey to London by making the Eurostar connection in Paris from cities across Europe. Scheduled coaches are probably your cheapest travel option if you’re off to London on a budget. London’s European terminus for both Eurolines and National Express is at Victoria Station.
Low-cost travel from the airport
The beauty of London on a budget is that you have multiple low-cost travel options. When you’re staying in London on a budget, it’s vital to max out the public transport system – there’s absolutely no need to hail an expensive taxi. Buy a Visitor Oyster card online before arriving and you can jump on and off buses, overground trains and the underground services, plus the wonderfully fast river buses (Thames Clippers), saving money every time.
Once you’ve touched down at London Heathrow Airport, the cheapest way to reach the city center (or your hotel) is via London’s subway, the London Underground (aka “the Tube”). The Piccadilly Line runs through central London with multiple stops to choose from, so this is definitely the easiest and most affordable way to go. If you’re in a hurry, take the non-stop, reasonably priced Heathrow Express train, which reaches Paddington Station in 15 minutes.
The London Pass is your other low-budget London must-have. Buying this handy, pay-as-you-go smartcard online in advance of your trip, will save you money by giving you discounts on many of London attractions. To squeeze the most value out of your stay, purchase the combined London Pass + Visitor Oyster card online beforehand.
Once you’ve settled in, a relatively new addition to the low-cost London staples are the very affordable electric bikes, or the so-called “Boris bike” after the tousle-haired former Prime Minister who introduced them. These handy contraptions open up the city, bringing total freedom and flexibility for a small fee paid at the docking station with your credit card.
London accommodation on a budget
If you’re looking for hotels in London on budget, you won’t be short of choice. In London, budget hotels are part of the landscape and there’s a huge range of cheap accommodations. Choose from no-nonsense budget hotels, affordable B&Bs, hip hostels and even boats. Stay a little further out from the center, and you’ll save even more.
Budget chain hotels are the obvious choice with Ibis, Premier Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, Comfort Inn and Travelodge topping the league with solid value for money. Perhaps cool budget hotels in London are your vibe, in which case the hipster East London neighborhoods will be more your style. For quirky British style on a budget, CitizenM delivers cool and eclectic in roomfuls at its trendy Shoreditch location, plus two other hotels at Bankside (near Tate Modern) and the Tower of London.
Alternately, why not sleep among the glitzy skyscrapers in ultra-modern Canary Wharf, London’s financial district further east? Point A Canary Wharf is simple and stylish and has other locations throughout the capital. You could grab a G&T on the Thames Clipper and get there by boat – it’s an inspired way to watch the city flash by as you ride the waves from Embankment Pier to Canary Wharf Pier in just 30 minutes.
Independent B&Bs are a brilliant solution if you’re staying in London on a budget. They’re often family run with friendly hosts who can give you insider tips on their beloved city and cook you a fresh breakfast to start your day. For example, Temple Lodge Club in Hammersmith offers restful, beautifully decorated bedrooms in a Victorian house with a garden.
Further south, surrender to the charms of the River Thames and stay on Flicka, a spacious and warmly decorated old Dutch barge on Plantation Wharf, between Battersea and Wandsworth Bridges. From here, you can catch the bus or ferry to Greenwich and beyond. Flicka has just one gorgeous double room, so book well in advance!
If you want relaxed, no-frills accommodation that fits perfectly with London on a budget, a hostel might suit. Safestay offers two rather funky specimens, located in Elephant & Castle, south of the river, and near verdant Holland Park in super-smart Kensington. Sharing a dorm is probably your cheapest option, but you can choose rooms here, too.
London’s top free museums
London’s museums are portals to the past, immersive treasure troves within awe-inspiring historic buildings that are stunning in their own right. And if you’re on a budget in London, no problem – here we set out London’s premier museums, the permanent collections of which are absolutely free.
First up, the British Museum, exhibiting countless objects and artworks from prehistoric to modern times. Don’t worry if there’s a queue around the block, you’ll move through quickly. Plan ahead and make a beeline for the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and the best collection of ancient mummies this side of Egypt.
The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square holds over 2,000 paintings from the Middle Ages onwards. Go here to see glorious works by masters including Botticelli, Titian, Leonardo Da Vinci, Caravaggio and Van Gogh.
The well-to-do district of Kensington is home to three quintessential London museums, all of which are free to enter and in close proximity. Make a day of it and tick these gems off your to-marvel-at list. The Science Museum on Exhibition Road holds centuries of scientific and technical evolution, from the first steam engines to Amy Johnson’s Gypsy Moth and the 1969 Apollo 10 command module. It’s highly interactive and very much geared to engaging kids of all ages, too.
Around the corner on Cromwell Road, The Natural History Museum unquestionably takes the cake for best animatronic dinosaur attraction in London. In these spectacular Victorian halls, you’ll glimpse the evolution of life itself. Across the way, the Victoria & Albert museum offers countless art and design treasures from across the globe. Take a mesmerizing walk through fashion and clothing from the centuries.
An absolute must while you’re walking London on a budget – and a personal favorite here at Window Seat – is Sir John Soane’s Museum. This elegant house holds a beautifully eccentric and unswervingly romantic collection of paintings, antiquities and drawings collected by one man on his travels around the world – Victorian architect John Soane.
Back on the river, Tate Modern’s vast Turbine Hall was once a power station – head inside to see the transformation and witness powerful contemporary paintings, photographs and performance art. Outside, catch the Thames Clipper Tate to Tate boat service, speeding straight from Bankside Pier to Millbank Pier and Tate Britain in 19 minutes. Pay with your Visitor Oyster card – boats leave every 20 minutes or so. Inside Tate Britain – also free – you can follow the fabulous Walk Through British Art to see masterpieces by Turner, Gainsborough and Bacon.
There are many other wonderfully accessible museums across London. Be prepared and plan your own free-of-charge itinerary in advance of your trip.
Choral evensong
Every afternoon, London’s iconic churches offer up a very special – and completely free – experience that blends historic architecture with exquisite music. This is choral evensong, sung in the capital’s churches, cathedrals and chapels, and featuring the city’s most exclusive choirs and choral groups. Expect 45 minutes of tranquil music, open to all, from St. Martin-in-the-Fields to Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Trooping the Colour – and changing the guard
Every year, the Sovereign’s birthday is officially celebrated by the ceremony Trooping the Colour. This regal display of British pageantry takes place on a Saturday in June with the King’s personal troops, the Household Division. The King himself takes the salute. Over 1,400 officers and men are on parade, along with hundreds of horses and musicians. The parade route leads from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall, and back again. If you’re keen to watch for free, simply stand on The Mall or on the edge of St. James’s Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade and watch the events begin at 10:00 a.m.
For a more accessible dose of royal formality, you can catch the half-hour Changing of the Guard every day, on the hour, at the entrance to Horse Guard’s Parade on Whitehall.
London’s free festivals
Why not plan your visit around one of London’s amazing free street festivals? These are our absolute top picks for when you’re in London on a budget. First up, start the year with a bang at London’s spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks. Just head over to the river and join the party before the big show at midnight.
London’s colorful Chinese New Year celebrations kick off in February with dynamic parades, performances and displays in and around Chinatown and the West End. March (or April) brings the long-established London Marathon, where over 50,000 runners race past London landmarks including Tower Bridge, The London Eye and Buckingham Palace. This is your chance to see the city in a different light with all roads cleared to make way for the greatest race in the world.
April also sees the eclectic riverside streets and pubs of west London thronging with springtime excitement, as fans, friends and family gather to cheer on the annual Oxford vs Cambridge university boat race along the Thames. The race goes by in an instant – but it’s the heady, celebratory atmosphere you’ll remember.
As the weather warms up in July, come and celebrate with the LGBTQ+ community at Pride – the annual parade through central London. Join in the free events and festivities in Trafalgar Square and citywide. West London comes come alive on August bank holiday weekend with a loud, life-enhancing Caribbean party. Welcome to Europe’s biggest street festival: Notting Hill Carnival.
The parks
London’s parks are among the best in the world – and an absolute must if you’re in London on a budget. Take your own refreshments and you could wander for an entire day among these landscaped beauties without touching your wallet. Almost all of them feature tranquil lakes, delivering some R&R away from crowded streets.
To the west, Holland Park boasts peacocks and a Japanese garden. Further south, go boating or take the kids to the zoo in Battersea Park. Kensington Gardens offers a royal palace, a statue of Peter Pan commissioned by the author himself and the pirate-themed Diana Memorial Playground. Magnificent Hyde Park is the largest, while Green Park brings soothing deckchairs and gentle slopes. A little further north, you’ll discover Regents Park. Originally part of Henry VIII’s hunting forest, it even has its own outdoor theater! And if you’re staying in fashionable East London, don’t miss Victoria Park, Britain’s oldest public park.
London cheap eats
London offers a wealth of budget food options, from local farmers’ markets to upmarket restaurants with set menus. Lots of very good restaurants do excellent value pre- and post-theater menus too (no theater trip required!).
Popular chain restaurants offer proven (and delicious) value for money with names like Franco Manca, Honest Burgers, Pizza Express, Pix, Wahaca, Padella, Dishooom, BiBimBap and Pho all topping the menu. Mildred’s is a veggie London institution, now with several outposts across the city. For gorgeous pop-ups, look to Camden Market, South Bank Centre Food Market, or Borough Market next to London Bridge, a cornucopia of international, artisan produce. Just check the opening times online.
If you’re doing budget London, afternoon tea in a hotel isn’t off-limits. The Wolseley hotel, for example, offers a traditional cream tea for a reasonable price. And for dreamy, Parisian splendor, book a table at Brasserie Zedel, a Piccadilly favorite. Their sumptuous set menus are highly affordable, bringing art deco glamour with none of the expense.
Thinking of a picnic? Stock up at the local supermarket or head to a healthy farmers’ market, where you’ll find wonderful breads, cheeses and fresh fruit. Check the listings for locations across the city.
For romantic extravagance that’s absolutely free, you can’t beat the Sky Garden, at 20 Fenchurch Street, known as the “Walkie Talkie” building. With full-panel glass windows, this indoor garden offers an incredible panorama at every turn. Head outside onto the open-air terrace at sunset.
Back down on earth, why not start your evening by witnessing the Illuminated River. This unmissable nocturnal art installation lights up the Thames with nine joyfully glowing bridges (starting at London Bridge), using eco-friendly LED technology.
Cheap theater tickets
Even if you’re saving the pennies, you can still experience the buzz of London’s theater land. For a spontaneous night out at a fraction of the price, check for returns, buy last-minute on the TodayTix app, or head to the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for on-the-day discounts. One of the very best bargains – and a fantastically immersive experience – can be found at the iconic Shakespeare’s Globe. If you’re happy to stand and brave the elements, buy one of the 400 budget-priced “Groundling” tickets available for every performance. You can get these for the smaller Sam Wanamaker Playhouse next door, too. Book online, over the phone or at their box office.