Is London expensive to visit? It’s no secret that London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. However it is still possible to visit on a budget.
My sister and I traveled to London while we were students and found there were plenty of ways to eat good food, stay in a central location, and check out the city’s top attractions without breaking the bank.
Today I’m sharing the dos’ and donts when it comes to visiting London on a budget, including:
- What are the best neighborhoods to stay in London on a budget
- The best cheap hotels in London
- The best way to get around London on a budget
- The best cheap eats in London
- How to save money on London’s top attractions and tours
- Free things to do in London
- General tips and tricks to help you plan your London itinerary
Related Posts:
- 5-Day London Itinerary For First-Time Visitors
- The London Pass review: Is it worth it?
- The best tips for visiting the Tower of London
- 10 reasons why winter is the best time to visit London
Where to stay in London on a budget?
When visiting London for the first time, I recommend staying in one of the following neighborhoods. This will provide a great base to see all of London’s main attractions.
- Covent Garden (central London location perfect for first-timers)
- Soho (great for nightlife, arts & culture)
- South Kensington (best for families, museum lovers and history buffs)
- Mayfair (best for luxury and romance)
- Camden (best for those on a budget)
- South Bank (across from the River Thames and great for tourists)
If you’re on a tight budget, below are some top-rated budget hotels in London:
- Point A Hotel London – Shoreditch
- Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – St Pancras
- The Corner London City – Close to the Tower of London
- Ridgemount Hotel – Close to Covent Garden and University College London
- Park Grand Paddington Court – Close to Paddington Station
If you have more room in your budget, below are the best mid-range hotels in London:
- Great Northern Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel – Near Kings Cross / St Pancras station
- The Barbican Rooms – Close to the city center
- Club Quarters Hotel St. Paul’s – Close to St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Locke at Broken Wharf – Close to Milennium Bridge and Tate Modern
- Cove – Cannon Street, The City – Close to St. Paul’s Cathedral
One of my favorite ways to save money on accommodations is to check for deals on sites like Booking.com.
Booking.comHow much should I budget for a trip to London?
If you’re visiting London on a budget, let’s take a look at how much it costs to visit London for the average traveler.
Hotels – For a couple, the average hotel in London costs £181 ($202 USD). For one person, the average hotel or hostel will cost £91.
Food and Meals – Most travelers spend around £29 ($32 USD) on meals for one day. You can save money by buying pre-made meals from local grocery stores or making food in your hotel room (if possible).
Attractions – While most museums in London are free, the entrance fee for most of its popular attractions is between £20-£30. The best way to save money on paid attractions is to buy the London Pass.
Below are some more helpful do’s and don’ts when visiting London on a budget!
1. DON’T take public transit without an Oyster Card
An Oyster Card is smart card (the size of a credit card) that you add money to, so you can pay as you go to travel on the London’s public transit.
Riding the tube without an Oyster Card can get expensive. It can cost TWICE the price for someone traveling without an Oyster Card when taking the exact same journey.
An Oyster card allows travelers to ride for cheaper than those buying individual tickets. It’s 50% cheaper thank buying single tickets.
If you want to get around London on a budget, then you’ll want to consider getting an Oyster Card, Visitor Oyster Card, or contactless payment cards. Many tourist don’t realize this and make the mistake of not getting an Oyster Card.
You can pick up an Oyster Card at the airport or any tube station when arriving in London. This is a great option if you plan on using the metro a lot.
Consider getting the London Pass + Oyster Card Bundle
If you’re planning to check out the popular attractions in London, consider getting the London Pass.
This is a digital sightseeing card that gives you access to 80+ attractions in the city.
The London Pass includes a 1-day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and you can also add a Visitor Oyster Card to your pass at checkout.
The Visitor Oyster Card is pre-loaded with enough credit to match the duration of your pass. This gives you access to the London Underground, buses, Overground, and the DLR at any time, any day of the week.
2. DO take advantage of the London Pass
Visiting London for the first time can be stressful. London is a big city and there’s lots of fun things to do and see.
It can be challenging to plan an itinerary and determine which attractions to spend your money on, especially when you want to visit London on a budget.
The best way to save money on London attractions:
Getting the most bang for your buck is my #1 priority when planning a vacation and the London Pass was rated the #1 London tourism pass by TripAdvisor.
HURRY! Buy now before prices increase in February. You can purchase the pass up to 24 months in advance.
They’re also recommended by Expedia and The London Pass currently has a TrustScore rating of 4.4/5 on Trust Pilot, which makes it one of the highest rated sightseeing passes.
Over 3 million travelers have used the pass and it’s the only all-inclusive pass rated 4+ on Google.
With the London Pass, you can save time, money, and enjoy stress-free sightseeing. But don’t just take my word for it. Check out these reviews.
PRO TIP: Buy the pass online to save extra money off the retail price. To buy the London Pass, click here to go to the official website.
How much money can you save with the London Pass? Just by using the 3-Day London Pass, you can save over 55% than if you had purchased tickets to each individual attraction.
What’s included in the London Pass?
✓ Pick from over 90 London attractions
✓ Valid for up to 10 days
✓ Save over 55% when you visit 3 attractions per day compared to purchasing individual tickets
✓ Mobile pass option
The London Pass is a pre-paid sightseeing card which gives you FREE fast-track entry to over 90+ attractions, museums, and tours in the city.
Below are some of my favorite attractions included in the London Pass:
Classic London Attractions:
- Tower of London (£29.90 value)
- Westminster Abbey (£25.00 value)
- St Paul’s Cathedral (£21.00 value)
Unique things to do in London:
- London Bridge Experience (£28.95 value)
- Uber Boat by Thames Clippers 1-day River Roamer (£21.00 value)
- London Zoo (£38.00 value)
Popular things to do in London:
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour (£34.00 value)
- The view from the Shard (£37.00 value)
- Kensington Palace (£20.00 value)
The London Pass also includes an optional Oyster travelcard to cover all your transportation needs.
Once you’ve bought the London Pass, you can visit as many attractions as you want. The more sights you visit, the more money you save!
Is the London Pass worth it? Check out my honest review of the London Pass here.
How to get your London Pass:
Step 1: Choose which pass duration you want to buy (1, 2, 3, 6, or 10 day). You can click here to purchase your London Pass from their official website.
HURRY! Buy now before prices increase in February. You can purchase the pass up to 24 months in advance.
Why you should consider buying the pass online:
- When you buy the pass online, you can take advantage of online discounts.
- They offer a 365-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund just in case your plans change.
- You can activate your pass anytime within two years from the date of purchase.
STEP 2: Download your mobile pass instantly using the London Pass app.
If you prefer a physical pass, simply print your pass and guidebook at home. Links and easy-to-follow instructions for both options will be in your confirmation email.
Step 3: You now have FREE access to any of the 90+ top London attractions included for the duration of your pass.
How to activate the pass: It will activate once you visit your first attraction and can then be used on consecutive calendar days for the number of days purchased.
You’ll also receive a free guidebook, which is included with your purchase. Use this book to help you easily plan your itinerary.
Which pass should you get for your trip?
1 day in London? Consider getting the 1-Day London Pass.
If you ride the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, visit Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and St Paul’s Cathedral, you’ll save nearly £30 vs. paying the regular admission price.
2 days in London? Consider getting the 1-Day or 2-Day London Pass. You can spend the first day visiting your “must-see” paid attractions, then visit London’s free attractions on the second day.
3 days in London? Consider getting the 2-Day or 3-Day London Pass. You can spend the first two days visiting your “must-see” paid attractions, then visit London’s free attractions on the third day.
4 days in London? Consider getting the 3-Day or 4-Day London Pass. You can spend the first three days visiting your “must-see” paid attractions, then visit London’s free attractions on the fourth day.
5 days in London? Consider getting the 4-Day or 5-Day London Pass. You can spend the first four days visiting your “must-see” paid attractions, then visit London’s free attractions on the fifth day.
I used the 3-Day London Pass pass for my 5-day London itinerary. This allowed me to visit more attractions than I would have otherwise!
6+ days in London? Consider getting the 6-Day, 7-Day, or 10-Day London Pass. You can spend the first several days visiting your “must-see” paid attractions, then visit London’s free attractions on the last couple of days.
3. DO book all your attractions in advance
If you have your heart set on visiting a certain attraction, seeing a particular show, or eating at a specific restaurant, you should book in advance.
Booking in advance is usually cheaper and saves you the hassle of having to wait in long line-ups when you’re in London. Just skip the line and head straight to the attraction.
PRO TIP:
If you’re using the London Pass, this already gives you an advantage since you can skip the line at most attractions.
Some tours and attractions require advance reservations, which you can do through their site after buying your pass.
Pre-booking attractions, such as The View from the Shard is essential. If you’re using the London Pass, you can find details about how to book your time slot on their website.
If you’re not using the London Pass and prefer to buy individual tickets, I like using GetYourGuide. They offer free cancellation so you can receive a full refund if you’re travel plans change.
Below are some of the popular attractions and tours that you may want to consider booking in advance.
- The view from the Shard
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter
- Buckingham Palace: The State Rooms
- The London Eye
- Tower of London
- Westminster Abbey
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- London Bridge Experience and Tombs
- London Dungeon
4. DO visit attractions that are close together
To make the most of your London vacation, try to plan your daily itinerary by visiting attractions that are close together.
This will save you A LOT of time and stress of trying to go across town to the next attraction. I recommend planning to visit 2-3 attractions per day that are close to eachother.
For my trip, we just focused on one main neighborhood per day. This helped us maximize our sightseeing time. Below are some suggestions to get inspired.
Things to do near Westminster:
Things to do near Kensington:
Things to do near Hyde Park:
Things to do near Trafalgar Square:
Things to do near the Thames River:
5. DON’T book a hotel outside of the city center
When visiting London on a budget, I know that it’s tempting to save money by booking accommodations outside of the city center.
But this is a common tourist mistake! Commuting into the city every day can get very expensive. Plus, it wastes precious sight-seeing time.
London is a big city with lots to see and do, which makes it worth your while to pay a little more to stay in the city.
Because hotels can be pricey in London, I recommend looking for affordable accommodations on Booking.com. This is my go-to site for finding cheap hotels rates.
Booking.comBest hotels on a budget in London:
- Point A Hotel London – Shoreditch
- Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – St Pancras
- The Corner London City – Close to the Tower of London
- Ridgemount Hotel – Close to Covent Garden and University College London
- Park Grand Paddington Court – Close to Paddington Station
When you stay in a central location, you’ll be able to walk or take a short bus ride to all the main attractions. For London Pass holders, you can take the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour or use the optional Oystercard to get around the city.
PRO TIP: Get a quality London guide book
Yes, I still use guide books. I find them incredibly helpful when planning my travel itinerary.
They often include neighborhood maps, sample itineraries, self-guided walking tours, and budget-friendly dining suggestions which come in handy.
My favorite London guide books are from Lonely Planet, Rick Steves, and Fodor’s.
6. DON’T ride the tube for every trip
Yes, using an Oyster card is a smart way to save money when riding the tube. However, the tube isn’t the only way to get around London.
Even though the city is large, it’s easy to get to most central attractions on foot. London is a very walkable city, just make sure to wear comfortable shoes!
One of the best ways to get to know a new city is on foot. If walking is not convenient for you, consider riding one of London’s buses, which are much cheaper than taking the tube.
Best ways to get around London:
- Walk
- Ride London’s public transit (included in the London Pass)
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour (included in the London Pass)
- Uber Boat by Thames Clippers 1-day River Roamer (included in the London Pass)
- Take an Uber – Black cabs are iconic in London, but they can be very expensive. Uber is usually cheaper.
If you do have some room in your budget, below are some popular walking tours to check out in London:
- Jack the Ripper Guided Walking Tour
- Magical London: Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour
- London: Ghastly Ghosts 2-Hour Walking Tour
7. DO enjoy the cheap eats at local supermarkets
It’s no secret dining out in London can be expensive. This is why I love grabbing food at local supermarkets. This is one of the best places to eat in London on a budget.
Local supermarkets offer a variety of pre-made food, such as sandwiches or salads, which are perfect for a quick lunch or snack on-the-go. Have a picnic in the park or enjoy your meal in the comfort of your hotel or Airbnb.
PRO TIP: Get the Taste Card
Consider getting the Taste Card to save money on food. With either 2 for 1 meals or 50% off, you can save at thousands of restaurants in London.
General tips for dining on a budget and finding cheap eats in London:
Look for international cuisine – Indian, Thai, Chinese, and Turkish all offer great value at a good price when dining out.
Eat your main meal at lunch time – I noticed that lots of restaurants in London offer lunch specials during the week. This is usually cheaper than eating in the evening.
Check out local food markets – Some popular spots to get street food include Portobello Road Market, Borough Market, the Real Food Market, Southbank Center Food Market, and Camden Market.
Try a tradtional English breakfast – This meals is quite filling and is usually more affordable than lunch and dinner menu prices.
Don’t order soda pop – The UK has introduced a sugar tax which makes Coca-Cola even more expensive.
Get take-away food – Takeaway food is taxed less than eat-in food. If the weather is nice, grab your meal to-go and have a picnic in the park.
Do your research in advance – The last thing anyone wants to do is pay for an expensive meal at a restaurant that has bad service and food. I like using review Google to find the top-rated restaurants in my price range.
Choose one meal per day as a sit-down meal – Sit-down restaurants tend to be more expensive than take-away or street food. Try to limit this to once per day.
For example, you can grab a quick breakfast at a cafe, enjoy a sit-down meal at a restaurant for lunch, and grab an inexpensive meal for dinner. Or you can have an inexpensive lunch and splurge on a nice dinner.
8. DON’T tip too much
Before visiting any new country, it’s always a good idea to do some research on tip etiquette. While tipping is appreciated, it’s not always appropriate in London. Here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind:
Tipping in London restaurants:
When eating out, it’s customary to leave 10-15% of the bill. Sometimes restaurants add on a service charge (usually 12.5%), so I recommend double checking your bill to prevent tipping twice. Tipping is not customary for fast food, take-away or self-service.
Tipping in bars:
Tipping is not common in bars or pubs. If you experience good service, you can round up your total to the nearest pound.
Tipping in taxi drivers:
While it is polite to tip 10-15% of the taxi fare, most people round up to the nearest pound.
Tipping in London hotels:
Many London hotel restaurants include a service charge, usually 10-12%. If a service charge is not included on your restaurant bill, it’s customary to leave a 10-15% tip. For cleaning staff and hotel porters, leaving a tip is at your own discretion, but always appreciated.
9. DON’T skip London’s free attractions
While London is known to be an expensive city, it has plenty of free attractions that are worth a visit. This can help cut down on vacation costs when you’re visiting London on a budget.
For my 5-day trip to London, my sister and I spent the first couple of days exploring all the free museums. Then for the remaining 3 days, we used the London Pass to save money on the city’s popular attractions.
Below are some popular things to do in London on a budget:
- National Gallery
- National Portrait Gallery
- British Museum
- Tate Modern
- Natural History Museum
- Victoria & Albert Museum
- Science Museum
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Do you only want to visit a few paid London attractions?
Consider purchasing the GO City London Explorer Pass. You can to visit 3, 5, or 7 top attractions and tours as you go.
Save over 40% off London’s top attractions. You can read my full review here.
Another fun thing to do in London is to take a free walking tour. These are usually led by local university students and they work on tips. So technically, they’re not “free”, but they are affordable.
I also recommend exploring one of London’s many parks. There are tons to choose from and this can be a great way to enjoy a picnic or take a break from sightseeing and relax.
Some of London’s popular parks include Hyde Park, St. James’s Park, Regent’s Park, Kensington Gardens, Hampstead Heath, Holland Park, Greenwich Park, and Primrose Hill.
Read Next: 8 spots to find the best view of London
10. DON’T try to see everything in London
There’s so much to see and do in London, it’s impossible to do everything in one trip. While it’s tempting to jump from one expensive attraction to the next, you’ll end up losing money by not making the most of your experience.
Plan ahead and devote enough time for your essential attractions. This can help you get better value and gain a deeper appreciation for these attractions.
If you’re looking to save the most money when sightseeing, I recommend to using the London Pass or the GO City London Explorer Pass.
It’s silly to pay full-price at London’s popular attractions when you can save money with these tourism passes. This can be a great way to visit London on a budget without sacrificing fun.
How many days do you need in London?
While you can see most of the main sights in London in two to three days, for first-time visitors, I recommend spending at least 4-5 days in London.
My sister and I spent 5 days in London and still found that we could’ve stayed longer.
This is why I recommend planning your London itinerary in advance. This can help you decide on your must-see attractions and if you’re interested in taking any daytrips from London, such as the Warner Bros. Studio Tour of The Making of Harry Potter.
Below are some more daytrip ideas from London you may want to consider:
Prep for your trip to London:
11. DO buy a return ticket for the Airport Express train
There are a few ways to travel from the airport into London. The quickest option is to take the airport express train.
This can help maximize your vacation time. If you want to visit London on a budget, remember that it’s cheaper to buy a return ticket than paying for two separate trips.
Both Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport offer an express train into London, however I prefer to fly into Gatwick for a couple of reasons:
- It’s less busy than Heathrow airport
- It’s usually cheaper to fly into Gatwick
You can purchase your Heathrow Express or Gatwick Express train tickets at the airport when you arrive. Make sure to purchase a return ticket at the same time because this saves you money.
PRO TIP: If you’re purchasing a roundtrip Gatwick Express ticket, you may qualify for Days Out Guide 2FOR1 offers. This can help you save money at London’s popular attractions.
London on a Budget FAQs
How can I enjoy London on a budget?
- Use an Oyster Card to ride London’s public transportation instead of paying cash.
- Use the London Pass if you’re planning to visit the city’s top attractions.
- Check out London’s supermarkets and local food markets for cheap eats.
- Check out London’s free museums and attractions.
- Find cheap hotel deals on Booking.com.
Is London expensive for travel?
London is not a cheap place to visit. But with the right planning, you can definitely visit London on a budget. Look for cheap accommodations, cook your own meals, visit free attractions, and walk or bike to get around the city.
How much money do you need per day in London?
The average daily cost (per person) is £145 ($203 USD). This is based on what past travellers have spent when visiting London.
Meals cost an average of £29 ($40 USD) per person, per day.
Transportation costs an average of £20 ($29 USD) per day. However, you can save money on transportation if planning to use the London Pass + Oyster Card. For example, the 3-day London Pass Oyster Card is £30, which is around £10 per day. for transportation.
The average hotel price per couple in London is £182 ($254 USD) per night.
How much should I budget for a trip to London?
| Average Daily Cost (Per Person) | One Week (Per Person) | One Week (Per Couple) |
| £115 | £803 | £1,606 |
How much money do you need per day in London? Plan to spend an average of £115 per day in London. A one-week trip to London for ONE person is around £1,017. For two people, the cost is around £2,034.
How can I eat cheap in London?
London restaurants can be expensive, but there are a few ways to eat cheap on your trip.
- Eat food from around the world. London has many ethnic restaurants that offer affordable meals, such as Indian, Chinese, Korean, and so on.
- Try street food. There are many food stalls and markets in London that sell affordable meals.
- Grab food from the supermarket. You can buy sandwiches and pre-made meals from the local supermarket for cheap.
- Make breakfast your biggest meal of the day. A traditional English breakfast is filling and cheap compared to lunch and dinner prices.
- Make lunch your main meal of the day. If you’re not a big breakfast person, consider checking out the lunch special offered at local restaurants. This is usually cheaper than their dinner menu.
When is the cheapest time to visit London?
The cheapest time to visit London is during the off-season. This is in the fall (November to mid-December) and winter (January to March).
The fall is my favorite time to visit London because you can enjoy the mild weather and holiday festivities before the Christmas rush.
What are the cheapest things to do in London?
Below are some of the best free (or cheap) things to do in London:
- Walk the glass floor at Tower Bridge
- Check out the Churchill War Rooms
- Visit the National Gallery
- Learn about history at the British Museum
- Visit the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A Museum)
- Marvel at St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Be a kid again at the Natural History Museum
- Explore the Borough Market
- Have a picnic in Hyde Park
- Shop a Covent Garden
Is 2 nights in London enough?
While you won’t be able to see everything London has to offer, 2 nights is still worth a trip to London. You’ll be able to see a few of the city’s main attractions and landmarks. Just enough to make you want to come back for a longer visit.
How long is a good trip to London?
Aim to spend at least 4-5 days in London. This should give you enough time to get a good idea of what London is like, explore the different neighborhoods, see the main attractions, and not feel rushed.
What should I know before traveling to London?
- They drive on the left, so make sure to look right before crossing the street.
- British pints of beer are larger than in the USA. In the UK, a pint is 20 fluid ounces and in the USA it’s 16 fluid ounces.
- In a restaurant, the bill usually comes with a service charge. If not, then you can choose to tip 10% if service was good. Tipping is less common in London.
- Use an Oyster Card when riding London’s public transportation. This is cheaper than paying for single tickets.
- If you’re planning to do a lot of sightseeing, consider getting the London Pass. This will save you up to 70% off the city’s most popular attractions vs. paying for individual entry tickets.
- If you’re only visiting a few attractions, consider getting the London Explorer Pass. This will save you money and allow you to skip the lines so you can maxmize your time.
- The UK uses £££. 100 pence = 1 £. The smallest paper note is 5 pounds. There are also £2 and £1 coins.
- Black cabs in London are iconic, but I recommend taking an Uber instead. They accept credit card payment and are usually cheaper than taking a cab.
What should I avoid in London?
- Avoid eating at restaurants in Leicester Square. They are expensive and catered to tourists. Check out SoHo instead.
- Oxford Street is great for shopping, but it’s one of the most crowded areas in London. For a more relaxing shopping experience, consider going to Carnaby Street or Brick Lane.
- City of London on holiday weekends. It tends to be extremely busy.
- Avoid traveling on the Tube during rush hour when it’s the busiest time.
- Avoid walking at night alone. London is safe, but walking in an unfamiliar city alone at night is usually not a good idea.
Is New York or London more expensive?
If you’re trying to figure out if you should travel to New York or London, a vacation to New York City is more expensive.
According to BudgetYourTrip, the average daily cost per person, per day in London is $189 USD. In New York City, the average daily cost per person, per day is $238 USD.
While the cost of food is similiar in both cities, accommodation, transportation, entertainment, and alcohol is much cheaper in London than in New York City.
May I just correct you on not tipping in bars and pubs in the UK. It is only not common practise if you are having one drink. If you buy a large round for a few people at once, it is customary to say “take one for yourself”. Or if you are staying at the same bar for a while and having many drinks. It is a good idea to tip the bar staff for your first drink, as you will get served faster the next time you return to the bar.
Hi, thank you for your tips on London’s visit on a budget.
I have been to London and back. Great help there. I think like you said if we have access to a kitchen we can saved more on food and once in a while eat out…
After traveling to London several times I would agree your suggestions are spot on. I especially love the 2for1 deals and have used those to save quite a bit of money over the years. And the Oyster Card is a must, if not for being more affordable but it’s also so easy to use.