London is said to be one of the most expensive travel destinations. Expensive food, hotels and attractions. What many people do not know is that London also offers lots of free activities, museums and events.

I recently spend 6 Days in London and only paid 350€, including flights, accommodation and food.

Here’s how you can do it too:

Accommodation

London offers lots of great hostels. I personally love hostels because you get to meet people from all over the world. Sure, they are not as classy as a five star hotel but you are mainly there to overnight. When you book a hostel you should pay attention to it’s location. Although Londons tube system is pretty well connected, it is really convenient to reach the city center within a couple of minutes.

I highly recommend to check out the Rest Up Hostel London. They offer double bed rooms and dormitories. The staff is really friendly, the rooms are clean and you can fill up your stomach at the breakfast buffet for only 3.50£. The Rest Up Hostel is located south of the Thames River and only 5 walking minutes away from the Elephant and Castle tube station. From there it takes only 5-10 minutes to reach the center of London and most of the attractions.

Transportation

There are many ways to get around in London: Underground, Overground, busses, taxis, walking… Although it’s nice to explore the city by foot, you have to be in pretty good shape since London is one of the biggest cities in the world.

If you are planning on using public transportation a lot, I highly recommend getting an oyster card. What exactly is an oyster card? The oyster card works like a prepaid card. You charge it with either 20£, 30£ or 50£, depending on how long you stay. Each time you enter and exit the tube or bus, they charge you the price of a one way ticket for that distance. However, with the oyster card you never pay more than you would for a one day ticket. That means once you have reached that price, you basically can use the tube free of charge. I found that a 50£ card was perfect for six days in London.

Food

The money that you spend on eating out can quickly add up. If you are a broke student like me, I recommend buying food at a local grocery store. You can store a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, bananas and other foods in your hotel room or hostel and simply make your own sandwiches. I often ate ready to eat rice with some canned beans and vegetables like bell peppers. Quick, cheap, satisfying and vegan. Tesco and Sainsbury’s (store chain in the UK) offer a 3£ meal deal, which includes a main meal (salad, wraps, sandwich, pasta salad, sushi…), a snack (chips, fruit, nuts, vegetables…) and a drink. They also have plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans. With this method I was able to spend less than 10£ pounds on food and drinks a day. My daily Starbucks soy latte is already included in the calculation.

If you have a little bit more money in your pockets you could eat at one of the chain restaurants. Some of them offer vegan options as well.

And of course if you feel extra fancy, treat yourself and have a meal at a nice, more expensive restaurant. Spending a little more money on one evening will not hurt you when you have saved so much during the rest of your stay.

Attractions

1. Take a bus tour with your oyster card

I have to admit: hop on hop off bus tours are pretty cool but also very expensive. If you have an oyster card you can simply go around in one of the public double decker busses.

2. Visit one of Londons many museums or art exhibitions

Hungry for education or don’t know how to spend a rainy afternoon? Museums like the Science Museum, Tate Modern (art museum) and the British Museum are all free and offer lots of interesting things to discover.

3. ‎Get a free comedy show

Free entertainment? Go and watch a comedy show at Angel’s Comedy Club. They have shows from Monday – Sunday.

4. ‎Have a cocktail at the 35th floor of Sky Garden

Sky Garden is on the top of one of the highest buildings in London. Enjoy a cocktail on the 35th floor of the building, where you can enjoy a fantastic view over London. Going up to the observatory platform is completely free but you should book your visit online ahead of time.

5. ‎Explore the Notting Hill area

Notting Hill is a rather wealthy district of London. However, you can spend plenty of time in this area without spending any money. Take a stroll through Portabella Road and watch the colorful houses, where people sell crafts, art and delicious street food.

6. ‎Visit some of the most famous attractions for free

Walking across the Tower Bridge, watching the changing of the guards, taking a glance at the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and walking through Hyde Park are all free of charge. And if you are in the right place at the right time, you might even get to see the queen. Wouldn’t that be priceless?

7. ‎Watch street artists and musicians

As long as the weather is on your side, you might be able to spot some live music on London’s Streets. Covent Garden and the road leading up to Piccadilly Circus are the places to be at.

8. ‎Have a lunch break at Borough Market

Hungry and broke? Under a green roof you can buy bread, Indian food, pastries, burgers, flowers, etc. at one of the countless market stands. They also offer vegan food.

9. ‎Strall along Thames River



In my opinion nothing beats walks along beautiful rivers paired with modern and traditional architecture. Enough said, I let the pictures speak.

10. ‎Go for a walk or jog through Hyde Park

No matter what time of the year it is, a walk through Hyde Park is always a good idea. If the weather allows, having a picnic is the perfect way to finish the day in a relaxed atmosphere.

11. ‎Go on a boat tour through Little Venice

Little Venice is located at the Grand Union Canal. With its many bridges and boats, it really reminds you a little bit of Venice in Italy.

12. ‎Spend an evening in Soho

Soho is well known as the entertainment center of London. Pubs, markets, comedy shows, theater, musicals and clubs characterize the lively hustle and bustle of this multi-cultural quarter.

13. ‎Watch the lights at Picadilly Circus

Piccadilly circus connects Regent’s Street, Piccadilly and Soho. Let the bright lights of the billboards blind you while you watch street artists at the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain.

As you can see, visiting London on a budget is possible. And if you have some money left, you can go ahead and spend it all at Oxford Street. What are your budget tips for London?