Great 'cheap things to do in London' Hunt

Former_MSE_Lee
Former_MSE_Lee Posts: 343 Forumite
Great 'cheap things to do in London' Hunt

London's chock-full of entertainment, but it can cost you an arm and a leg, eg, theatre tickets. We want Londoner MoneySavers' and visitors' ideas on cheap/free things to do in the Big Smoke or how to get expensive stuff cheaper.



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  • Techno
    Techno Posts: 1,169
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    edited 7 June 2011 at 3:12PM
    Contact your MP to arrange a tour of the Clock Tower (Big Ben) and Westminster Palace (Houses of Parliament) for free plus write to the Tower of London to get on the Ceremony of the Keys tours when they are putting the Tower to bed for the night.
    ;) If you think you are too small to make a difference, try getting in bed with a mosquito!
  • If you're going to the pub in London, try and find one owned by the Samuel Smith's brewery. There's loads, in great locations including the Chandos opposite the National Portrait Gallery and the Fitzroy Tavern near Tottenham Court Road: check out the map at http://www.jamesgretton.co.uk/samuelsmiths/. They are very cheap compared to other pubs/bars in the capital. You can get two pints for under a fiver, and the food's cheap too, e.g. chips £1.50 and pizzas £5-£6.
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  • hcb42
    hcb42 Posts: 5,962 Forumite
    I am stopping in London for two nights at end of next week - need ideas for the Friday. We're coming in from Beckton. I am not overly worried on cost as long as sensible but any bright ideas on nice attractions would be good..(in 40s, no kids)
  • luxor4t
    luxor4t Posts: 11,125
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    edited 3 June 2011 at 12:04PM
    Walk back through time:
    start at London Bridge tube station, cross the road and explore Southwark Cathedral - no charge, but donations appreciated (associated with Chaucer & Shakespeare was a parishoner)
    then on look at the replica 'Golden Hinde' at Pickford's Wharf (free to walk past)
    next along is the excavation of a former medieval hall,
    then the Clink prison (now a museum)
    then follow the river path to the Globe Theatre (entry to the shop is free!)
    The now-stable bendy Millennium Bridge takes you across the river towards St Pauls.

    I've enjoyed this area without spending anything beyond a bottle of water, I've also lunched in the Cathedral and paid to tour the Globe - both equally satisfying!

    Map here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-Address&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7GWYH&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=golden+hind+southwark&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=golden+hind+southwark&hnear=golden+hind+southwark&cid=0,0,10275247394022159934&ei=91_lTaGPG8yu8QOty6nyBg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=2&ved=0CDUQnwIwAQ
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  • mynameisdave
    mynameisdave Posts: 1,284 Forumite
    RAF Museum at Hendon. Not sure how many stops but 9mins away from Euston by tube to the nearest station and free entry.
  • RichyRich
    RichyRich Posts: 2,090
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    Climb the monument to the great fire - it costs about £1.50 and you get fantastic views of the capital. Plus no-one else I've met has ever done it so that in itself is a talking point.

    Warning: no lift and it's a long way up!

    Nearest tube: Monument
    #145 Save £12k in 2016 Challenge: £12,062.62/£12,000.00 Beginning Balance: £5,027.78 CHALLENGE MET
    #060 Save £12k in 2017 Challenge: £11,03.70/£12,000.00 Beginning Balance: £12,976.79 Shortfall: £996.30:eek:
    This is the secret message.
  • RichyRich
    RichyRich Posts: 2,090
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    Any museum with "National" in its name is free as are the following:

    Science Museum
    Natural History Museum
    Muaeum of London
    British Museum
    British Library
    Museum of London Docklands
    Whitechapel Gallery
    Tate
    Tate Modern

    The Sam Smiths idea is a great one; my favourite us the Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street. Other good value pubs include the ones owned by Stonegate - https://www.greatvaluepubs.co.uk. but beware if you're out in the City that many are closed on weekends!
    #145 Save £12k in 2016 Challenge: £12,062.62/£12,000.00 Beginning Balance: £5,027.78 CHALLENGE MET
    #060 Save £12k in 2017 Challenge: £11,03.70/£12,000.00 Beginning Balance: £12,976.79 Shortfall: £996.30:eek:
    This is the secret message.
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 12,645
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    The museums!

    Off the top of my head....

    South Kensington for the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V & A

    Trafalgar Square for the National Gallery and the Portrait Gallery,

    Plus you have the British Museum, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the British Library etc


    All free (excluding any special exhibitions) although donations are appreciated.....
  • RichyRich
    RichyRich Posts: 2,090
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    Any museum with "National" in its name is free as are the following:

    Science Museum
    Natural History Museum
    Muaeum of London
    British Museum
    British Library
    Museum of London Docklands
    Whitechapel Gallery
    Tate
    Tate Modern

    The Sam Smiths idea is a great one; my favourite us the Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street. Other good value pubs include the ones owned by Stonegate - https://www.greatvaluepubs.co.uk. but beware if you're out in the City that many are closed on weekends!
    #145 Save £12k in 2016 Challenge: £12,062.62/£12,000.00 Beginning Balance: £5,027.78 CHALLENGE MET
    #060 Save £12k in 2017 Challenge: £11,03.70/£12,000.00 Beginning Balance: £12,976.79 Shortfall: £996.30:eek:
    This is the secret message.
  • RichyRich
    RichyRich Posts: 2,090
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    See London by river! Take a riverboat tour and it will set you back several limbs. But take the commuter ferry (marketed as Thames Clippers) and it will take you from North Greenwich (for the O2) via Canary Wharf into Central London (Embankment/Waterloo) for about a fiver.
    #145 Save £12k in 2016 Challenge: £12,062.62/£12,000.00 Beginning Balance: £5,027.78 CHALLENGE MET
    #060 Save £12k in 2017 Challenge: £11,03.70/£12,000.00 Beginning Balance: £12,976.79 Shortfall: £996.30:eek:
    This is the secret message.
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