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
Table of Contents
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
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.
Thanks for the advice! 🙂
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…
Yes, making your own food can be a great way to save money. Even if it’s just one meal per day. Thanks for reading!
My hubby and I stayed at Ashburn Court apartments in Kensington and loved the place! It was near to a tube station and restaurants. However, iIt came with a full kitchen (dishes, glasses, silverware, oven, refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher, toaster) that you really could cook in. Even if it is only breakfast, you can save money if you just buy bagels and cream cheese or cereal and milk. We knew that we would have the kitchen before we left the U.S. so we brought some boxed suppers (think Hamburger Helper, etc.) and you could get the ground beef at Waitrose which was quite close to the apartment. If you did eat out and couldn’t finish the meal, you could take it back and put it in the fridge and save money using the leftovers for another meal.
I live in London and your tips are spot on. I would also say, if you want great views of London for free (and not having to queue for the London Eye), check out Switch House at the Tate Modern. Also, lots of cafes such as Itsu offer discounted food after 5pm. Check out OpenTable for restaurant deals and offers if you want to eat out. Lots of tube stations are within walking distance of each other so either download the CityMapper app or print off the London Tube Walking map – http://content.tfl.gov.uk/walking-tube-map.pdf
Those are excellent suggestions, thanks for sharing Kirsty!
I couldn’t agree more. London is one beautiful place to travel, but the question is, do you have enough budget to survive there. So I guess you’re right about researching first, not only on restaurants but as well as the cheap or free attractions there.
Yes, it’s wonderful how many free attractions London offers! Thanks for reading 🙂
We are Americans living in England. The way we save money when seeing England is by picking up food in grocery stores. M & S is upscale, with LOTS of prepared ready to go options. Indian, Oriental, British, American. Salads. Finger foods, Sandwiches galore. Tesco will never let you down. I also like Pret A Manger. You can eat in or take out (costs slightly less to take out). They have healthy options and they are everywhere. We only splash out on pubs or restaurants once in awhile. The food here is nothing to rave about, so not worth the high cost or eating out.
The 2 for 1 booklets are in every train station. Just look around and grab one before you get on the train.
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.
I agree on the Oyster card use. In travelled many many times to London, especially after the ten years living there. Since then I learned to love the city and appreciate many things it offers. Many changes happened there during the years and the city gained in quality on many aspects. It’s not only a touristy destination, it has lots of attractions to offer off the “beaten ” routes.
I usually fly on Heathrow airport and definitely recommend the use of the Oyster card if you use the tube as the journey into London will cost you half the price as if you buy a single ticket.
I made this mistake several times, first because I didn’t realise of the difference of price, when I stayed away from London for a while, then a couple of times I forgot my oyster. Now I make sure I pack it first… and refill it as soon as arrive at the tube station, in case it run out of money. It’s easy to recharge even from the machine with your credit card.
If your not accustomed with the London tube ask at the station office staff, they help you anyhow, ( in English of course)