Taking a short break to London on the cheap
London has a reputation as being a tad expensive and it’s somewhere you would need quite a bit of spending money to enjoy yourself. A short break to London over one or two days could burn a serious hole in your pocket. However, there are countless freebies and great money saving deals to be had; you just need to know where to look. We’ve compiled a short list the top things to do in London whilst leaving your savings account untouched!
The London Pass
The initial outlay for a London Pass may seem a little steep but you need to think long term over the duration of your visit you could save a fortune. The London Pass gives you free access to over 55 of the capital city’s attractions, including Hampton Court Palace, the Royal Albert Hall, Kew Gardens, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Westminster Abbey. Paying to visit these attractions individually would incur hefty entry fees so it’s well worth investing in the London Pass.
Also start your London sightseeing early as the passes are valid per calendar day not in 24 hour periods. So don’t lie in until noon, ensure you get a hearty breakfast and plan ahead what you’d like to see before making the most of England’s vibrant capital. The London Pass also comes with a free 120 page guidebook including maps to help you navigate London! On the topic of getting around there is an added travel pass option (saving you a lot of time and hassle figuring out which tickets to buy for underground tube trains or bus routes). Here’s a quick rundown of prices for adults and children, with and without travel passes too:
Ticket - Price
1 Day Adult Pass £43.00
1 Day Child Pass £28.00
2 Day Adult Pass £58.00
2 Day Child Pass £43.00
3 Day Adult Pass £71.00
3 Day Child Pass £48.00
6 Day Adult Pass £94.00
6 Day Child Pass £67.00
Ticket - Price
1 Day Adult Pass with Travel £51.00
1 Day Child Pass with Travel £31.00
2 Day Adult Pass with Travel £74.00
2 Day Child Pass with Travel £48.00
3 Day Adult Pass with Travel £94.00
3 Day Child Pass with Travel £57.00
6 Day Adult Pass with Travel £144.00
6 Day Child Pass with Travel £91.00
The Art of Saving Money
Home to countless museums and interesting galleries, including Tate Modern, the V&A and the British Museum, London doesn’t charge a premium for viewing collections of art and culture. For people interested in seeing some rare Picasso pieces, then head to the lesser known Gagosian Gallery in Kings Cross. All these venues are very impressive but the best thing is that all of them offer free entry.
A picnic in London
Naturally, restaurants in London city centre are going to be on the expensive side so why not pop into a supermarket and grab some tasty ingredients for a picnic. Despite the built up architecture of the city, there are still plenty of places to sit down and eat an alfresco lunch whilst taking in the surroundings. Possible locations include the famous Hyde Park to more tranquil Kyoto ‘Zen’ Gardens in Holland Park.
Alexandra Park is perfect for those visiting north London, with stunning views of the London’s skyline and within walking distance of the award winning Alexandra Palace Farmers’ market; ideal for buying picnicking ingredients!
Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard on the forecourts of Buckingham Palace is a ceremonial event that takes place daily from May to July and every other day for the rest of the year. Check closer to your visit for exact times; though it’s usually 11.30am. Featuring the Scots Guards with their distinctive tall black ‘furry’ Bearskin helmets, it’s an amazing spectacle that children (and adults) will love!
Street entertainment
You’ve probably walked through many cities and found people displaying their talents for your entertainment. The same can be said for London, however the West Piazza of the Covent Garden Market is London’s home to the street performer, here you’ll find many licensed performers looking to entertain you every afternoon.
Watching buskers is great fun and London has a wide variety. Technically they’re free to watch but they rely on guilt to make you part with your cash – if you think they deserve it! Buskers and street entertainers perform in cities across the globe but the West Piazza of Covent Garden (on the Picadilly Line Zone 1) is the unofficial home of London’s best street performers. Head there for a spot of juggling, mime acts and musical performers and don’t forget to have some loose change handy.
The crowds at Covent Garden get really big and the acts are of a high quality. Each act has passed an audition to perform, and again, they are free for you to enjoy.
The Mayor’s Thames Festival
Arguable the top free event in London is the Mayor’s Thames Festival. In 2011, the Mayor’s Thames Festival will run over the 11-12th of September, and includes a multitude of performances, an informative architectural walk along the foreshore with a huge fireworks display ending the festival. Combining environmental awareness with a mixture of music, river races and food stalls it gives Londoners a chance to celebrate their eclectic city and revel in a weekend full of that community fuelled feel good factor.
This article is provided by travelsupermarket.com - one search to compare cheap flights, hotel prices, holiday car hire and package holidays. Everything you need for that perfect trip!
