Although London is one of the most complete city destinations in the world, it unfortunately is one of the most expensive. The capital of Great Britain consistently ranks among the least affordable places in the world, let alone Europe, in which to live, work and travel. Bad news for backpackers, students and travelers on a budget. And in these tough economic times, that just about includes every visitor to London.
Thankfully, like in any big city, if you search hard enough, there are ways to enjoy London on the cheap. You don’t have to dine at Michelin star restaurants, shop on Oxford, shell out exorbitant sums at posh clubs or stay at trendy boutique hotels after all. In fact, the heart and soul of London lies in the sheer accessibility of the city’s best and most unique attractions.
Need proof? Just consult Part I of our handy list of 25 ways to enjoy London on the cheap.
25. Kings Place
For a taste of culture, head to Kings Place, a neat conference and events center that hosts visual arts, spoken word and other presentations. The “green” facility is quite impressive as well.
The Tower Hamlets borough of London is home to some great landmarks and the Old Truman Brewery is certainly one of them. The converted factory is a frenzy of creative activity, with musicians, graphic designers and artists in residence. A great place to see some wonderful art gratis.
23. The Foundling Museum
London has some big-name institutions but part of the city’s charm is in museums like The Foundling, which tells the story of the first home for abandoned children in Great Britain. The museum is state-of-the-art, with a low price of admission for adults, free for children under 16 and plenty of fun in store for the little ones.
22. Gresham College Lectures
Founded by Sir Thomas Gresham in 1597, Gresham College is an independently funded educational institution in the heart of London. The college offers free public lectures on a variety of topics, from physics to astronomy, law to divinity.
21. Free Test Drive
The NICE Car Company has garnered buzz and rave reviews in England for a fleet of green, electric vehicles. Head to trendy Westfield Shopping center in Shepherds Bush and take one for a test drive.
20. Theatre Royal Stratford East
The excellent Theatre Royal Bar offers free live music every weeknight and weekend afternoons.
19. Greenwich Park
A Royal Park of London and World Heritage Site, Greenwich Park features the National Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory, duck pond, cricket pitch, wild deer enclosure and myriad gardens.
18. Speakers’ Corner
For free entertainment in London, it’s hard to find a better spot than Hyde Park’s famed Speakers’ Corner. The park is worth a visit anyway, even if nobody’s on the pulpit, so to speak.
17. Go Antiquing
Grays Antiques Market, just across from Bond Street Station, has over 200 independent merchants, with knickknacks, kitsch and curio galore. It’s free to look and often cheap to buy.
16. Columbia Road Flower Market
A great place to stumble upon while on a leisurely Sunday stroll around London, the Columbia Road Flower Market has the most exotic selection of flowers in the city.
15. Harrods
Though Harrods is the polar opposite of affordable, it doesn’t cost a penny to look around the landmark department store with over one million square feet of commercial space.
London has many burial sites of interest but Highgate is special. On the English Heritage Register, the cemetery has been open since 1839 and features the graves of Karl Marx, George Eliot and Douglas Adams, among others.
As the national library of the United Kingdom, the British Library is one of the best in the world. The facility contains over 25 million books, manuscripts, documents and artifacts, some of which date back thousands of years. Highlights include original works by Bach, Mozart, two Gutenburg Bibles and the only manuscript copy of Beowulf left.
Discover the best deals on hotels in London before you plan your next trip to England.
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Excellent set … I preferred speakers corner it was hilarious. they believed every word they said?!
Being a Beatles fan, I think Abbey Road should be here. It doesn’t cost anything to walk on the zebra crossings, does it?