London On A Budget: 10 Costly Mistakes To Avoid

Last updated September 2020.

Important Notice – London is now welcoming visitors!
Attractions are starting to open.
The London Pass is valid for 24 months from the date of purchase.

Visiting London for the first time? It’s no secret that London is an expensive city. Some travelers think a visit to London is out of their price range. However, a trip to the city can be successful even on a tight budget.

There are plenty of ways to have a family trip to London on a budget. One of my favorite ways to save money on accommodations is to book through Airbnb. I have used Airbnb throughout Europe and North America and have always had a good experience. It’s great for groups, friends, or couples since prices are often cheaper than hotels.

You can click here to get a coupon for your next Airbnb booking!

There’s no shortage of fun things to do in London on a budget, including exploring its museums, attractions, and going on self-guided walks. But before you open your wallet, there are several things that you should know which can help get the most bang for your buck.

If you’re visiting London for the first time, here are 10 common tourist mistakes to avoid making.

Related Posts:

• 5-Day London Itinerary For First-Time Visitors
• The London Pass review: Is it worth it?
• 10 reasons to visit London in the winter

1. Riding public transit without an Oyster Card

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.

If you want to visit Lond on a budget, then you’ll want to consider getting an Oyster Card. 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.

For London Pass holders, you can use the unlimited Oyster Travelcard to get around the city with ease. It comes pre-loaded with a credit / value to match your London Pass duration. Learn more here about how you can save money with the London Pass.

2. Sightseeing without using 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.

Getting the most bang for your buck is my #1 factor when planning a vacation and the London Pass was rated the #1 London tourism pass by TripAdvisor.

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 TripAdvisor 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.

Here’s what’s included in the London Pass:

✓ Pick from over 80 London attractions
✓ Valid for up to 10 days
✓ Save up to £430 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 the city’s top tourist attractions, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour.

The view from the Shard

Standard Entry Price
Adult £32.00
FREE with the London Pass

 

Tower of London

Standard Entry Price
Adult £27.50
FREE with the London Pass

 

Hop on Hop off Bus Tour

Standard Entry Price
Adult £34.00
FREE with the London Pass

 

Plus, you can use the London Pass to get free entry to 80+ other attractions, museums and tours in the city, including an optional Oyster travelcard to cover all your transportation needs. I rode the London tube everyday during my trip. It was easy to use and the best way to get to each attraction.

Important Notice – London is now welcoming visitors!
Attractions are starting to open.
The London Pass is valid for 24 months from the date of purchase.

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. When you buy the pass online, you can take advantage of online discounts.

Step 2: Download your mobile pass instantly using the London Pass App. If you prefer a physical pass, simply opt for delivery (they deliver worldwide) or collect on arrival in London.

Step 3: You now have FREE access to any of the 80+ top London attractions included for the duration of your pass. You can activate your pass anytime within 12 months from the date of purchase.

Step 4: Download the free guide book, which is included with your purchase. Use this book to help you easily plan your itinerary.

PRO TIP: I used the 3 Day London Pass for my trip. It worked well with this 5-day London itinerary. Using the London Pass was great because it let me visit more attractions than I would have otherwise.

3. Booking 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 Airbnb. From my experience, Airbnb is often cheaper than London’s hotel rates and it lets you to experience the city like a local.

Plus, you can save even more money with this free Airbnb coupon.

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.

4. Riding 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.

For London Pass holders, remember you can use an unlimited Oyster Travelcard to match the duration of your pass. This provides the best value and saves time when sightseeing in the city.

5. Not taking advantage of 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 an easy way to save money when visiting 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 flat.

6. Tipping 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.

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.

7. Not researching restaurants ahead of time

London restaurants can be quite expensive, so it’s worth your while to do some research before arriving. I like using review websites such as Trip Advisor or Yelp to find the top-rated restaurants in my price range. This can help prevent you from eating at overpriced tourist restaurants, which serve mediocre food at best.

To help you save even more money, I recommend choosing one meal per day as a sit-down meal. 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. Not buying 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 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.

9. Skipping 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.

Some of London’s most popular museums are free, so whether you prefer to spend the afternoon admiring beautiful art at the National Gallery or hanging out with the Egyptian mummies at the British Museum, there is a never a dull moment at London’s free attractions.

Do you only want to visit a few 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.

10. Trying 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.

My must-have London accessories:
Click the product to shop