The Great Hunt: What are your tips for doing London on a budget?

Lance_De_Boils

For those visiting the Tower of London there is a very decent Wetherspoons just across the road. It has an upstairs section too, with great views of the tower and bridge.
The pub is called The Liberty Bounds.

Bollotom

I always mention the walk under the Thames. From Island Gardens or Greenwich (Cutty Sark) there's a foot tunnel with public operated lifts at either end. A bit damp and niffy but an experience, I think, not to be missed.

pb8770

I travelled to London in the January two years ago and saved over £100.

I booked 3 nights in the Bayswater area in the November and the price was £375... well it is London so expected it. At the same time two singles from Liverpool to London and two singles back cost £60, normally it would have been £130.
Out of curiosity I wanted to see how much the hotel would cost 5 days before,I noticed the room prices had come down by £125, so I rebooked the room and cancelled the original booking (baring in mind I had reserved the room and not paid for it and could cancel up to 24 hours before). So the savings paid for most of our drinks:beer:

jellybrains

Princess Diana memorial fountain is great on a hot day. Don't forget towels and a change of clothes.

Boris bikes through the parks are good fun. £2 for 24 hours but change your bike within 30 mins or you get charged more. It's worth getting the app to find out where the nearest docking spaces are.

My kids are petrol heads so love to go supercar spotting in Knightsbridge. Usually hear them ripping along Lowndes Square although this is being clamped down on and round the back of Harrods.

DigForVictory

One perk of being a Civil Servant is possible temporary honorary membership of the Union Jack Club & use of its hotel in London. I only know it by reputation, but if you come under this heading: "serving employees of the Fire, Police, Ambulance and Prison Services, NHS medical professionals, RNLI personnel, approved members of the Civil Service" - you may be in with a shot & the appartments sleep up to 6 from £225 a night. Check out The Union Jack Club website FAQs?

thrifty_thelma_2

The number 11 bus is also a good one for sight-seeing. (Check out the details on Wikipedia.)

gooismeid

Several years ago, when we were queuing up to put our bags in the luggage room at the British Museum, we were taken aside by a lovely security guard who whispered to us that there are free lockers for families in the Ford Room. It's not widely publicised, and a bit hard to find! In the Great Court, there's a stairway to the right of the main entrance which goes down to a mezzanine floor. There are benches and tables for having a picnic, child-sized loos, and free lockers for bags. We use the space every time we go there now.

Another thing that the BM is really good for is if you have kids with a particular animal obsession - ask one of the assistants if there are any interesting exhibits around that topic. We took the school's monkey on a trip (a soft toy I hasten to add!) one weekend, and introduced him to many of his cousins both in statue and in mummified form, thanks to the directions of the staff.

Lance_De_Boils

The museum of childhood in Bethnal Green is great. It is also free.
There are lots of buttons and knobs for kids to push and turn.
There is also a sand pit and one or two sit on toys. The museum has a caff but to save money I would bring my own scoff......the museum has a picnic section inside.
The caff section does have jugs of tap water and plastic cups that you can help yourself to.

There are Gregg's, McDonalds nearby if you need them.

Victoria park is a walk away and it is my favourite London park. It is less known to tourists and has plenty of room for everyone.
You can walk or cycle along the canal section and look at the lovely little houseboats.
There are swings, slides etc for the kids. In summer there are rowing boats and pedaloes.
Vicky park does have a caff, but it is one of those beardy hipster yummy mummy kinda caff. With prices to match.
I would avoid the caff and go to the bagel shop. The bagels are cheap and large. They also do cake, smoothies, coffees etc.

Have a google for the museum of childhood and Victoria park. And Victoria park bagel shop.
A great day out.

kboss2010

Hostel world/Hostelbookers are great for finding cheap private rooms in London. I've just booked a 2-night weekend stay for 2 people in a double room for £63 for the two nights (albeit with a shared bathroom) in a hostel that is a 12 minute tube ride from Baker Street - £15 a night pp in London? Bargain! They also have a kitchen in most hostels so you can make breakfast/packed lunch if your budget for meals is super tight.

Airbnb is also great for rooms/rented apartments

If you're flying into Heathrow DO NOT pay a stupid amount of money to get the express train into central London. The airport website sneakily hides that there is a tube station at the airport and you'll pay £6 and take an extra 10 minutes to get into London by tube compared with the train at £20+. Such a rip-off!

susancs

kboss2010 wrote: »

If you're flying into Heathrow DO NOT pay a stupid amount of money to get the express train into central London. The airport website sneakily hides that there is a tube station at the airport and you'll pay £6 and take an extra 10 minutes to get into London by tube compared with the train at £20+. Such a rip-off!

Same with Gatwick express, the southern or Thmeslink trains are much cheaper and not a lot more of a journey time.