| London doesn’t have to be expensive; with over 70 free museums and galleries and the tips below you can easily do London on a budget.
Accommodation - hostels such as St Christopher’s Inn, Globetrotters, Wake up and YHA offer value-for-money accommodation in the heart of the city. If you are coming during the summer university halls of residence such as Queen Mary and UCL offer another value-for-money accommodation option that’s not just for students!
Day 1
Morning Head to TKTS in Leicester Square after the walk to see what shows have half-price tickets for that evening.
Go on an Original London Walk to discover more about the city. For only £5.50 you get a 2-hour guided walk around an area of your choice. Alternatively, go to Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony which happens every other day at 11.30am.
Lunch
If you’ve not brought a packed lunch with you then Exotika, on Villiers Street by Embankment has a choice of great value food on the go. St Martin-in-the-Fields church on Trafalgar Square has free lunchtime concerts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
Afternoon
Visit the National Gallery - home to one of the greatest collections of European paintings in the world. The permanent collection spans the period from 1250 to 1900 and admission is free of charge, so won’t cost you a penny!
Go next door to see Britain’s greatest movers and shakers from the last 400 years at the National Portrait Gallery. Admission is also free.
Evening
Get in a few cocktails while taking advantage of Happy Hour - usually between 5-7pm - B@1 (Exeter Street) in Covent Garden have an extensive and delicious cocktail list and offer 2 for 1 Monday-Thursday 6-8pm and Friday 6-7pm.
Take your half-price tickets for the show and enjoy your night at the theatre!
The Japanese noodle restaurant Wagamamas (branches across town including Covent Garden, Soho, Wigmore Street) is great place to go if you are on budget. Ingredients are fresh and the kitchens are open. The long, bench style tables give the place a buzzy atmosphere.
Day 2
Morning
For shopping that won’t break the bank head to Old Spitalfields Market where you’ll find vintage clothes, jewellery, arts and crafts and trendy cafes. Just soak up the atmosphere. Grab your lunch in the market – there’s a wide range of foods from around the world, from Thai to Turkish.
Afternoon
For the afternoon go to the British Museum, London’s single most visited museum, featuring exhibits such as the 2,000 year old Lindow Man, Egyptian pharaohs and treasures from all over the world. Entrance is free so it doesn’t matter how many times you need to go before you see it all!
Evening
For dinner make your way to Shoreditch where you’ll find authentic and cheap Vietnamese food, centred around Kingsland Road. Try Viet Hoa - popular with the areas trendy types or Loong Kee which has a large Vietnamese following.
After dinner wander along the road to Rivington Street where you’ll find Cargo - a great bar and live music venue featuring up-and-coming bands. Arrive before 9 on weekdays (8pm at weekends) and you’ll get cheaper entry.
Day 3
Morning
Take the Docklands Light Railway east to Greenwich, where you can explore Britain’s seafaring history at the National Maritime Museum (admission free).
The Old Royal Naval College, designed by Sir Christopher Wren was the site of the Greenwich hospital for seaman and later became a college for naval officers - highlights of the college include the chapel and the beautiful Painted Hall. (Admission free, tours £4)
If you’re visiting between Thursday and Sunday don’t miss Greenwich Market, selling unique arts and crafts.
Lunch
Take your fish and chips up to Greenwich Park, admire the view over Canary Wharf and all of London. If the weather isn’t up to outside lunch, go to the Trafalgar, one of London’s oldest pubs, right next to the banks of the Thames.
Afternoon
Stand on the Greenwich Meridian Line, Longitude Zero, dividing East from West and explore the history of time and astronomy at The Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park. Admission is free.
Finish the trip to Greenwich off with a visit to Queen’s House (admission free) built by Inigo Jones for the Stuart queens Anne of Denmark and Henrietta Maria.
Evening
For a taste of Latin America and some generously poured cocktails then go to Cubana in Waterloo. This popular bar and restaurant has a daily Happy Hour between 1700 and 1830 and a late Happy Hour on Monday and Tuesday until 2200, making it the ideal place to go to for some post-sightseeing entertainment. To salsa into the night go to Salsa! (Charing Cross Road) or Bar Madrid (Winsley Street) – arrive before 7pm at weekends to avoid the door charge, or before 9pm Monday-Thursday.
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