Tips for Visiting London on a Budget
As any visitor quickly finds out, London is an expensive town. Unless you come from Scandinavia or one of those cities consistently listed as hazardous to your wallet (I’m looking at you New York and Tokyo), you’re likely to find London prices to be a bit of a shock.
However, there are a few ways to lessen the damage to your bank account. Here are our top tips for saving a few shillings in London.
1) Buy a rail ticket and grab a 2 for 1 coupon book
Even if you don’t use the National Rail, it pays to pick up a rail ticket and one of their 2 for 1 coupon books at a rail station (at Victoria station the booklets were on a rack right by the information booth). The coupon books have vouchers at the back that you fill out to redeem 2 for 1 admission at top attractions like St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London.
Sorry London…It’s Not You, It’s Me
Places are like people. What makes you fall in love is greater than the sum of its features and faults.
London had all the right parts. The buildings were beautiful, the history was rich, it’s museums were world class, and it’s people were friendly. But it just wasn’t my kind of town.
Perhaps it was the weather – mostly cold and cloudy – that kept us apart. It certainly didn’t help matters. Suffice it to say, no catalyst emerged to make us fit.
London is a grand city filled with sights that I can appreciate with an objective eye. Who can argue against the impressiveness of the British Museum, the loveliness of Hyde Park or the charm of Covent Gardens? The trouble was, I simply didn’t feel anything beyond a superficial “well, isn’t that nice.”
Fireplace at The Old Bell Pub in London
London is full of pubs, old and new. It’s hard to underestimate the pub institution in England. It’s much more than a bar in the North American sense.
They are usually full of little nooks where you can hide out for hours without being disturbed. I drew the little sketch above while sitting in The Old Bell pub on Fleet street here in London.
If in London, regardless of if you are a drinker, check out the pubs. They are really wonderful places.
About Us
We’re a married couple who quit our jobs to seek out new adventures and vistas on a round-the-world trip. We love meeting new people and sharing experiences and travel stories from our life on the road.
Join us on our adventures and subscribe to our weekly email updates! Instagrams
|
