London on a Budget: The Ultimate Travel Guide

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London, well let’s be honest, Europe in general is not high on the list of places that spring to mind when you think of budget-friendly. But with a little knowledge of London’s hidden gems and a sprinkle of creativity, there is always a way you can stretch the pounds and visit London on a budget – even though the city is notorious for draining a bank account before you can blink. 

As a local and someone who’s had a lot of experience travelling in London, I’m happy to report that I’ve done all the hard work for you. I’ve compiled all my knowledge into this handy article, so you don’t make the expensive mistakes that I did!

Is London expensive to visit?

Long story short, yes, it is expensive. However, there are certainly ways that you can see incredible things, eat incredible food and experience the atmosphere of such a busy city all whilst staying within a budget that is comfortable to you.

Even if you don’t really know what to expect from London, you can spend a few minutes researching and usually find something cheap and quirky to do on any day of the week. There really are so many wonderful things to do in London on a budget! 

Where to stay in London on a budget 

Flight costs aside, accommodation always costs a pretty penny. Personally, as a budget queen, I much prefer to spend my money on experiences rather than a swanky hotel. There is a wide range of cheap accommodation in London. Some places are really lovely and offer great amenities, a social atmosphere and a perfect location. On the flip side, some should be avoided at all costs. 

Here are my top affordable accommodation suggestions if you’re visiting London on a budget:

• Oliver Plaza Hotel – This super affordable 4* hotel is located in the cosmopolitan area of Earl’s Court. It has good public transport links, modern furnishings, and a delicious continental breakfast served in the morning. You’ll also find shops and restaurants within a few minutes walk.
• Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – This 3* hotel is perfect for someone visiting London on a budget. It’s just a 5-minute walk from Kings Cross, so ideal for those travelling around London. It also features compact and comfortable rooms, a 24-hour reception, and contemporary lobby area. Continental breakfast is served every morning.
• YHA London Earl’s Court – Another great find on Earl’s Court, this budget hotel / hostel offers rooms for up to 6 people – perfect if you’re traveling in a group. You’ll find exceptionally friendly staff, private and shared rooms, a laundry and luggage service, and continental breakfast served in the morning.
• St Christopher’s Inn Village – I know I don’t typically recommend hostels, but if you’re visiting London on a budget, this is a great find. Offering the UK’s first capsule rooms, you can choose between private and shared rooms and bathrooms. Simply decorated, but comfortable, you’ll be a short walk from public transport, and have access to a range of facilities including a roof terrace, 24-hour reception, live music and karaoke nights. 

Other accommodation options: 

As well as this, you can always check Hotwire. This site allows you to essentially book a room based on your specific preferences before you see the name of the hotel. They offer a cheaper rate because there is no name bias. 

If you want to be in the city without being in the city or would love a whole house with comfy, cosy vibes an Airbnb or self-catering apartments will be your best bet. I would suggest looking in Hampstead or North London as they are a bit quieter but very luxe.

Where to eat in London on a budget

Being a bustling metropolis, London has no shortage of cuisines to tuck into. Craving a delicious Samosa or butter chicken? Sorted. Want a Taiwanese Taro ball that popped up on your Tiktok? Too easy. Fancy going on a croissant crawl through North London? Get your shoes on. Thankfully, there are price points to suit every budget as well. 

Let’s cover some things that are worth breaking the budget for. 

• A full English breakfast. Perfect after a heavy night out to soak up some of the pints. 
• Pie, mash and beer. Perfect to warm up on a rainy day or matched with a football game. 
• A roast with Yorkshire puds. A true Sunday ritual. The crispy potatoes drowning in thick gravy just hit different. I suggest pre-booking a table as most pubs get pretty rammed for Sunday lunch.
• Vegan dark chocolate cookie. You can find this at The Cinnamon Tree bakery in Borough Markets. It’s potentially the best cookie I have had in my life. 
• A salt beef bagel from Beigel bake. If you are there on a weekend expect to wait in line.  
• A proper afternoon tea. A glass of champagne is optional. 

Top tips for eating in London on a budget

For Breakfast – One of my favourite budget hacks that I still implement today is staying in accommodation that offers breakfast. Even if it’s continental and nothing fancy I find that there are still enough options to make up some snacks to get you through a morning of exploring. Don’t feel guilty about taking an extra apple or croissant as you are technically paying for it as part of the room price. 

For Lunch – Tesco express and Sainsbury, both supermarkets, do meal deals – sandwich, chips and drink for under £7. Pret and costa are also a great option for a grab-n-go lunch offering a good selection of wraps, salads and some plant based options. Some restaurants in the city centre will do lunch hour specials offering a smaller menu at a discounted rate. You can expect a more corporate crowd here.

Markets, food vendors down by Southbank and the area immediately surrounding tourist attractions will always be the most expensive options. At restaurants like Maddisons opposite St Pauls or Sky Garden you definitely pay for the view. Soho, Mayfair and Chelsea are also not for those looking to budget travel in London or have already spent all their £ on too many cocktails. 

For Dinner – Dinner is almost always the most expensive meal of the day. I personally suggest the pizza at Franco Manca, they have a large number of locations dotted around London. The tacos at Taco Padre are delicious and are close to London Bridge, right near popular attractions. Chinatown is always a good choice for affordable food in London and perfect for sharing with groups.

Making the most of happy hour

London does not play when it comes to liking pints. You can find rooftop bars with £30 cocktails, underground hidden jazz bars stowed behind a toilet door, sticky-floored pubs where the average age is 60+ and everything in between. 

Here are some of the better places to drink in London, perfect for a budget traveller:

• Simmons bars. £2.50 basics. Various locations 
• Barrio. £3.00 tequila shots. Various locations 
• Wetherspoons. £5.00 pint (don’t quote me). Various locations
• Tequila mockingbird. £20 prosecco. Various locations 
• Be at one. 2-for-1 cocktails. Various locations 
• Salsa!. £3 cider. Right by Tottenham Court Road station 

Top Tip: Bars that have an unexpectedly long daily happy hour, 12-8 or so, should probably be avoided. Most of the time, the drinks are weak AF and you just end up filling up on liquid without the buzz. These can usually be found downstairs from office buildings and are mostly empty (with valid reason). 

Getting around London on a budget

London is really lucky to have an easy-to-navigate, affordable (in comparison to taxis) and efficient public transport system. It looks terrifying at first glance but once you get the hang of it which only takes a couple of trips you will be zipping about the city like a local and saving big bucks.

The Tube

The underground has 11 lines, 272 stations and with a few changes, can take you on a 400 km journey if that is your idea of fun. There is no need to get a transport card (Oyster) because you can use contactless to pay for your journeys. 

The cap for a day from zone 1-3 is £9.60 which is where the majority of tourist attractions are located. Most lines run from 5am – 1am but some also run 24 hours, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Top Tip: When using an escalator, stand on the right and walk on the left, locals are quite…passionate about everyone following that rule.  

The Bus

The bus is another good option if you’re visiting London on a budget. It does have its quirks such as taking longer and being more of a jarring stop-start journey, but if you have the time to spare or need to watch your spending, the bus is the way to go. 

It displays all of the stops so you won’t accidentally miss yours but if you are unsure, check with the driver when you tap on. The price for a one-hour journey is £1.65! Make sure to download Citymapper for accurate information on what line/s to catch. 

Top Tip: TFL has a bus route that they label ‘Classic London’, route 139. The journey is very pretty and covers a lot of the hotspots, saving you a massive £37 instead of a regular hop-on hop-off tour bus.

On Foot

By far the preferred transport method for everyone in the city (especially if you’re visiting London on a budget) is by foot. Pack some high-quality, comfy shoes and be sure to check your step counter at the end of the day for an instant shot of dopamine

Top Tip: If you are following Google Maps, pop a headphone in and hide your phone away, to prevent pickpockets.  

Things to do in London on a budget

Thankfully, there are lots of things to do in London on a budget. You can spend years (literally) bopping around the city finding obscure and beautiful things to see – and quite a few of them are free! Plus, if you have more time in London, day trips are also super affordable. You could visit the stunning Seven Sisters, or cities like Cambridge, or Bath.

Before your trip, I would suggest you take a look at Eventbrite, Timeout and the Londonist to see what events/exhibits are on in case there is anything you want to get tickets to. Plus, one absolute life changer for me has been TodayTix. If you are a theatre buff, you need to download the app before your trip, it offers on-the-day discounts for productions to get butts on seats.

Anyhow, here are some of the top things to do in London on a budget.

Free!

• The British Museum – without a doubt one of the best museums in London
• National Portrait Gallery – a fantastic day out for art lovers
• Natural History Museum – great museum inside a beautiful building
• Tate Modern – beautiful art gallery near Millennium Bridge. One of the upper decks has a gorgeous viewpoint over the city
• St. Dunstan’s in the East – a gorgeous abandoned church turned photographer’s paradise
• Sky Garden – one of the best viewpoints in London and the highest city garden

Under £20 

• Royal Observatory, Greenwich Park – £18 per adult
• Ballie Ballerson – From £5 to £17.50 depending on the day of the week – a retro cocktail bar with a ball pit!
• Covent Garden Comedy Club – Between £18 – £20 per ticket, but great if you love a laugh!
• Postal Museum and Rail Mail – £17 per adult
• Tower of London – £17 per adult
• Westminster Abbey – £19 per adult

Less budget friendly 

• Buckingham Palace – While the tour inside costs a bit, you can watch the changing of the guard for free. Exclusive guided tours can be upwards of £90 per person!
• The London Eye – £25 and up, but offers spectacular views over the city.

To book tickets for attractions in London, click here.

Daily spend expectation

Okay, it’s the moment of truth. How much can you expect to spend if you’re visiting London on a budget? 

During the shoulder or slow season, you can expect to spend between £100 – £175 daily including accommodation. If you are visiting London in the peak season you can expect to spend between £150 – £250 daily including accommodation. 

Both of these options are, of course, dependent on activities, how many cheeky cocktails you have in an evening, and whether you eat at restaurants for every meal. 

So, can you visit London on a budget?

London is such a dream city for a lot of travellers, thanks to years of being used in major movies. It’s a shame that a lot of people avoid it out of fear of how expensive it appears. 

But, if you keep an eye out for happy hours, take snacks from the breakfast buffet and have dinner outside of the tourist hotspots, walk or take the bus, and stay in budget accommodation, you can experience the best that London has to offer for about £150 a day. 

So, if you thought there weren’t things to do in London on a budget, I hope you’re feeling very pleasantly surprised!

👉 Planning a trip to London? Check out my 3-day London itinerary which is perfect for first-timers!

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