4 Ways to Explore London on a Budget

October 24, 2018

A trip to London certainly doesn’t have to break the bank. If you do enough thorough research before you begin planning your trip and start to budget like a pro, you’ll be surprised at how well you will be able to make it work for cheap. London is, without question, an expensive city, but there are ways you can get around this. In this post, we’re detailing some of the best tips for visiting London on a budget so that you won’t be out of pocket.

Budget accommodation

One of the most expensive aspects of planning a trip to London is finding affordable accommodation. Hotel prices are constantly soaring, meaning it’s hard to plan a trip for more than a day. Thankfully, there are alternatives. Hostels provide some of the best budget accommodation, and you certainly don’t have to sacrifice luxury for the price. You’d be surprised at just how luxurious some hostels can be for a fraction of the price of a hotel room. Another option is AirBnB, which offers something different than a standard hotel room.

Free attractions

Sightseeing in London can cost a pretty penny and can make the city a little off-putting for those on a shoestring budget. However, there is a surprising number of attractions that are completely free. The National Gallery is one of the many free attractions that London has to offer. It includes work from some of the most talented artists in the world, including Michelangelo and Da Vinci. Another top attraction is the Houses of Parliament. You can simply reserve ahead to get in free of charge to watch a debate. Enjoying yourself in a city such as London certainly shouldn’t be contingent on the amount of money that you spend.

Get a travelcard

When in London, travelling is a hefty expense that you will be faced with. However, you can minimise your travel spending by simply purchasing a visitor Oyster Card. Having an Oyster visitor card means that you can get over 50% off your travel costs in London, and it works on all public transport. With this card, you will also receive discounts on a number of restaurants and activities, which will ensure that you stick to your budget and still have a great time.

Ship your luggage

Paying out for excess baggage fees on your airline for simply having oversized or overweight luggage can substantially increase the overall cost of your trip. Thankfully, you can save money by shipping your luggage to London with a reputable luggage shipping company. Your luggage can meet you right at your accommodation in London, which means you don’t have to worry about hauling heavy baggage through train and tube stations across the city.

Written by Stuart Cooke, blog writer at UniBaggage.com.