How to do London on the cheap?

mountainofdebt

well done hubby for getting me some tickets for a show I've been wanting to see for ages!

However in my best MSE style I want to spend as little as possible without spoil the weekend by penny pinching.

It goes without saying the hotel will be done through Tesco Clubcard deals (and possibly the meals as well!) but have any one any ideas on how we can actually get to London cheaply?

The show isn't for a few months yet and to be honest I don't fancy spending 7 hrs on a coach for a 2 hr car drive so has anyone any ideas?

Any other thoughts/suggestions on how we can have a lovely weekend cheaply will also be appreciated

toozie_2

Last time we went to London, I managed to get a good deal by train, but that was with a Family Rail Card.

Will you be traveling with children, or can you apply for the Young Persons Railcard?

Quite often its cheaper to book singles there and back rather than a return, I think there is an offer on at the moment with GNER, 20% off. This may not work for when you want to travel though.

Some of the cheap things we did whilst there:

Go into the Old Bailey, and listen to a trial from the gallery-my 16 year old daughter found this facinating. You can't take any bags, phones, coats etc in with you, and there is nowher safe to leave them, so you have to go in with what you're stood up in!!

Churches, and museums...free entry.

Had a great time in Harrods, gouping at the prices and the food, and the people spending £100's!!!

Thames walk...free.

Jack the Ripper Walk-can't remember how much this cost, but it was great entertainment for an evening.

Bought the underground pass for 3 days, it saved our feet , as we must have walked miles. With this you can go out to the Docklands, on the Light Railway, good afternoon out.

The markets are all entertaining and Covent Garden.

Hope you have a great time, I want to do again....:o

Generali

toozie wrote:

Go into the Old Bailey, and listen to a trial from the gallery-my 16 year old daughter found this facinating. You can't take any bags, phones, coats etc in with you, and there is nowher safe to leave them, so you have to go in with what you're stood up in!!

If you want to see a trial, I recommend going to the Appeal Court at the Royal Courts of Justice (western end of Fleet Street). You can see much more of the building and you can see an entire hearing in an hour or 2 whereas the hearings at the Old Bailey go on for days as a rule. And the pub next door is very nice.

nickyc_2

Museums & art galleries are the mostly free and some are quite amazing.

Some websites to give you some ideas:
http://www.visitlondon.com/offers/

http://www.freeentertainmentevents.co.uk/

http://www.londonfreelist.com/home.asp

For food - if you book through toptable you can normally find a discount
http://www.toptable.co.uk/

register at Wagamamas and check the week you come down for any money off vouchers in the members area
http://wagamama.com/

Visit Borough Market (near london bridge station). One of londons farmers markets, it's great just to wander round and lots of the stalls cook their produce so you can try all sorts of things. Open Fridays and Saturdays.

Sometimes St Martin in the Fields (Church at Trafalgar Square) has free concerts, never been but keep meaning to
http://www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/page/home/home.html

and finally...
2-1 offers with train ticket or oyster card...you can get a cheap rail ticket and then use it for savings..
http://www.2for1entry.co.uk/Attractions.aspx?County=London

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tickets/oyster/deals/index.asp

jobbingmusician

I'm disappointed in all you MSE's! Fancy recommending the tube!!!!! The bus is MUCH cheaper - a day's bus pass is £3.50, or £3 if purchased with an Oyster Card. AND you can see where you're going, see the sights of London as you pass through, and admire some fabulous architecture if you sit on the top deck

Whilst I was searching for the bus pass price, I also found THe London Pass - this looks expensive at an initial look, but might be worth checking out depending on which attractions you are thinking of visiting.

toozie_2

jobbingmusician wrote:

I'm disappointed in all you MSE's! Fancy recommending the tube!!!!! The bus is MUCH cheaper - a day's bus pass is £3.50, or £3 if purchased with an Oyster Card. AND you can see where you're going, see the sights of London as you pass through, and admire some fabulous architecture if you sit on the top deck

Whilst I was searching for the bus pass price, I also found THe London Pass - this looks expensive at an initial look, but might be worth checking out depending on which attractions you are thinking of visiting.

We actually bought the London Pass, and had a free tube/bus pass ticket promotion!!

We did charge around quite a bit to use The Pass fully, but it was worth every penny, especially the Fast Tracking at The Tower of London etc, and the free Hamleys Bear, which we managed to get 4 of, with one till receipt, they were given as holiday gifts when we got home.

pbright

Dont mean to sound stupid but hoe do you use the London 2for1 offers. I am travelling down there by train in two weeks then travelling back 2days later. Would like to do the Millenium eye, Tussauds and maybe other things....am i eligibile for the 2for1 offers and how do i book them??

Also what do you recommend we do in London(young couple, looking to have fun)??

Thanks

alanrowell

pbright wrote:

Dont mean to sound stupid but hoe do you use the London 2for1 offers.

https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/faq.aspx

You need to download the voucher or pick up the leaflet

Swattie

toozie wrote:

We actually bought the London Pass, and had a free tube/bus pass ticket promotion!!

We did charge around quite a bit to use The Pass fully, but it was worth every penny, especially the Fast Tracking at The Tower of London etc, and the free Hamleys Bear, which we managed to get 4 of, with one till receipt, they were given as holiday gifts when we got home.

Hi Toozie,

How did you manage to get free Hamley's bears - I can't see anything about that mentioned on the site ?

Am thinking about the London pass and this would make a difference.

Thank you

nickyc_2

2-1 offers...
National rail - you'll need to pick up leaflet or download voucher and you'll also need to show a valid train ticket. All you need to do is go to one of the stations and buy a cheap single ticket. For example. London Bridge to Charing Cross is £1.80.

Oyster - (valid on buses, DLR and tubes) you'll need to get an oyster card from one of the stations (shops also have them). There is a £3 deposit for the card (which you can get back when you return it). Add on enough money for the journey (buses are cheapest) and then show card at the attraction...not sure how many of them have a card reader to show that you used it to get there.

pbright

So, you just show the voucher with the train ticket at the attraction and then you can buy two for the price of one???. Also, does this include the tube tickets?? So if i buy a zone 1 pass which i obviously will anyway then this will count.

Thanks