Budget London

For those looking to enjoy London on a budget, there are plenty of ways to keep the costs down on a day out or a short break. Follow our guide packed with tips & tricks to help you enjoy London without spending a fortune. From FREE views of London through to cheap or discounted entry at top visitor attractions, there are savings to be made.

The Sky Garden; FREE Entry

For those searching for views over London, there are now a number of attractions that offer FREE entry for those that can book in advance including The Sky Garden.  Situated on the 35th, 36th & 37th floor of 20 Fenchurch Street, the Sky Garden comprises of 9000 square feet of green space complete with some of the best views over London. This is a very popular attraction where tickets are released weeks in advance so there’s an element of pre-booking involved for those interested in visiting.  Find out more details within our Guide To The Sky Garden.

London Eye; Cheap Tickets & Promotions

This iconic attraction remains a popular destination for those visiting London but there are ways & means to keep the costs down if you plan ahead.  We’ve put together a round-up of cheap tickets options including promotional vouchers, online savings and even a chance of pick up free tickets. More information available at The London Eye; Cheap Tickets & Vouchers.

TO BOOK TICKETS GO TO London Eye Tickets from £29pp – guarantee entry & save up to £13pp!

The River Thames; The Thames Clipper

Running at a fraction of the price of more costly river cruises, the Thames Clipper offers you both a mode of transport and a sightseeing tour all rolled into one. Take in the sights along the River Thames including the Tower of London, the London Eye, Houses of Parliament & Tower Bridge with this hop-on-hop-off service. Whilst there is no commentary during your trip, for those that know their sights of London, it remains a cost effective option for those on a budget. Running from Putney to Barking Riverside, there are 24 stops along the route with more information available within our Guide To The Thames Clipper.

St Paul’s Cathedral Sightseeing Tickets from £1pp

Synonymous with the London skyline, the dome at St Paul’s Cathedral remains one of the most famous landmarks within London. Low income UK households can pick up £1 sightseeing tickets that are available for for one adult and up to 4 children, (age 6-17 years).  These tickets are available to those in receipt of selected benefits where tickets can be purchased online or at the door.  More information available over at £1 Sightseeing Tickets for St Paul’s Cathedral.

Straddle The Meridian Line For Free

Greenwich remains a popular destination for those visiting London where you can straddle the Meridian Line & stand with a foot in both the eastern & western hemispheres. It draws hundreds of thousands of tourists each year where the vast majority of visitors purchase tickets to the Royal Observatory to undertake this activity.  However there is a way to straddle the Meridian Line for FREE for those in the know.  More information available over at FREE Access To The Meridian Line.

TO BOOK GO TO SEA LIFE London Aquarium Tickets from £28pp – save up to £11pp off standard price entry!

St Paul’s Cathedral, (photo; Phil Loach)

Ceremony of Keys at the Tower of London

The Tower of London remains one of the top visitor attractions in London where entrance charges can mount up.  However, there is a way to enjoy the Tower of London after it closes to the public at a fraction of the price. The Ceremony of the Keys traditional locking up of the Tower of London that has been taken place every day for 700 years and you can be part of this historic event. You need to apply for tickets in advance to be part of this tradition but offers you a great chance to see the Tower of London away from the crowds. More information available within our Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London.

Tower Bridge For Free

Tower bridge remains one of the symbolic images of London and has been a working suspension bridge over the River Thames since construction was completed back in 1894. Watching the lifting of the bridge arms to allow the passing of tall ships & cargo remains one of those must-do sights for any visit to London.  Entrance charges offers you the opportunity to walk across the high level walkways and gain a unique perspective over London.  Alternatively, you can simply watch the lifting of Tower Bridge from the banks of the River Thames for FREE. Simply take account of lifting times within our Guide to Tower Bridge.

Horizon 22; FREE Views of London

Billed as the highest viewing platform in London, Horizon 22 now hosts a spectacular vantage point overlooking many of the top sights of London including the London Eye, Houses of Parliament & the Tower of London.  Located on the 58th floor, you can gain FREE entry to this popular visitor attraction if you book in advance.  Tickets are released weeks in advance and go quickly so find out more within our Guide To Horizon 22 Viewing Platform.

To BOOK GO TO The London Dungeon Any Time Ticket from £35pp – fastrack entry & save up to £8pp.

Ceremony of the Keys, (photo ©Martin Usborne)

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

The Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place regularly throughout the year, (weather permitting), and offers a FREE look at the royal guards in actions accompanied by a Royal Guards band.  Children & adults alike will enjoy this experience although this does get busy during peak times of the year.  You can also take see similar ceremonies at Windsor Castle & Horse Guards Parade that run throughout the year.

London Cable Cars

Running from Greenwich to the London Docks, the IFS Cloud Cable Cars offers a bird’s eye view over the River Thames. Reaching a height of 90 metres above the Thames, take in views of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf, Canary Wharf, City Hall & the O2 Arena.  This 1.1km journey across the river in a cable car takes around 10 minutes each way with tickets reasonably priced.  There are some FREE access options too for active visitors that are worth taking note of with more information available within our Guide To IFS Cloud Cable Cars.

Westminster Abbey Tickets for £1; Low Income Families

Steeped in over a thousand years of history, Westminster Abbey has played host to 16 Royal Marriages & every Coronation since 1066 including King Charles III. Did you know that low income UK families in receipt of selected benefits, including Universal Credit, can pick up admission to Westminster Abbey for just £1?. Tickets cannot be booked in advance, simply show valid documentation at the entrance on the day to gain cheap entry. More information available over at £1 Entry to Westminster Abbey For Low Income Families.

Photo; Phil Loach

Free Entertainment in London; Covent Garden

There is a never ending stream of entertainers at Covent Garden so there is bound to be something for everyone at this venue.  Acts tend to last around 20/30 minutes and often involves audience participation!  Whilst we like suggest things to do on a budget, do remember to tip the entertainers as this is how they make their living.

Budget London; Santander Cycles

The Santander Cycle hire scheme is open to tourists & residents alike and offers you a great way to explore London on a budget. There are two charges running on these bikes;  a set daily access fee & a usage fee that is dependent upon how long you have the bike in your possession.  Simply sign up, pay your access fee & then it’s down to you how much the bike ride is going to cost. This scheme is particularly useful for short journeys so it’s best to return your bike to a docking station as soon as you have completed your journey & pick up another one later.

Greenwich Foot Tunnel; Walk Under the River Thames For Free

Make use of the Greenwich foot tunnel that offers you the chance to walk under the River Thames for FREE. Running from the Cutty Sark to the Isle of Dogs, this foot tunnel runs under the River Thames & originally provided workers with a passageway through to the London Docks. Dating back to 1902, this pedestrian foot tunnel runs over 15m deep where you can take the refurbished lifts down to the entrance.  More information within our Guide To The Greenwich Foot Tunnel.

The Post Building; FREE Roof Terrace

This free roof terrace offers views over London spanning from the Houses of Parliament to the city of London to Wembley Stadium.  Based within the recently converted Post Building, here’s a chance to take in the sights for free but remember your photographic ID for this attraction.  Situated close to the British Museum and Covent Garden, this is a great way to plan in a stop gap to enjoy the view. More details available within our Guide to The Post Building Roof Terrace.

Santander Cycles, (photo; Phil Loach)

The London Dungeon; FREE Ticket Newspaper Promotion

Set on the banks of the River Thames, the London Dungeon attracts large number of visitors looking to experience the darker side of history. Each year they team up with The Sun to offer readers a chance to pick up 2 complimentary tickets to this popular London attraction.  Whilst free ticket availability is now limited to selected off-peak dates, this promotion now works best for those with flexibility on when they visit. More details on this & other cheap ticket options within our Guide To The London Dungeon.

Views Of London; The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate

Situated on the 50th floor, The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate offers stunning views of London including iconic attractions such as the Tower of London, Tower Bridge & St Paul’s Cathedral. The great news with this attraction is that you can enjoy FREE entry but you will need apply for a complimentary ticket.  Whilst online tickets do sell out there are walk-in’s available but are subject to availability. More details available within our Guide to The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate.

Visit The Tardis For FREE

If you are looking for Quirky Ideas for London then how about a chance to check out the Tardis for Free in London! Well of course, it’s actually an old 1960’s style police box but a great photo opportunity for Dr Who fans. This police box can be found directly outside Earl’s Court tube station, (next to the newspaper stand) and is in pretty good nick considering all that time travelling.

National Maritime Museum; FREE Entry

Not many people are aware that you can gain FREE entrance to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.  Here’s a chance to see Nelson’s Trafalgar Coat plus plenty of interactive areas for children throughout the museum.  Additional charges are in place for exhibitions but worth checking out combined ticket offers with the Cutty Sark & the Royal Observatory for those planning a visit.

The London Dungeon

Street Entertainment; South Bank

The South Bank transformation began with The London Eye but has developed over the years into a vibrant area full of street entertainers, bars & cafes.  Put into the mix a great playground at Jubilee Gardens & skate-park that lies on the under croft of the Southbank Centre and you’ve entertainment galore for all the family. Do remember to tip the entertainers if you are going to watch their show.

London Markets

The London markets offer an opportunity to explore a different side to the capital city experience and a chance to pick up a bargain to boot!  Our favourite has to be Camden Market to check out the world of alternative fashion. There are plenty of other markets to choose from including Portobello Road renowned for their antique & flea market, Borough Market is synonymous with food or the Columbia Road Sunday flower market.