I love London. It’s one of my favourite cities for many reasons. From the dining, to the sightseeing opportunities, but mainly for the energy and buzz I feel when I am there. If you’ve been to London, you know what I am talking about. If you haven’t and you like experiencing life in the big city, then it’s definitely worth a visit! With so much to do it’s easy to get overwhelmed and not know where to start.
Don’t worry, I’ve got you! This is the part where you kick back and relax with a cuppa or your favourite drink and check out our guide on 5 things to do in London on a budget. Whether it’s your first time in the city or your 25th these are activities that you’ll be bound to enjoy!
Take in a Show
In my opinion, going to London and not going to see a show in the West End is like going to NYC and not going to Broadway – it’s something you do for the experience. With London being so expensive you’d be right to think you’ll have to pay up the nose for the chance to enjoy the West End.
I’ve enjoyed visiting London on a budget, with everything from Avios points, Tesco Clubcard vouchers, and using sites like www.best-tickets.co.uk to snag a good deal!
Whether you’re a fan of plays and musicals or not, you’ll be sure to find something as there is so much on! From the Book of Mormon to family friendly shows like Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain Part 5; it’s great to know that you have options for solo days out, family travel, couples, friends outings, etc!
London’s West End is full of attractions and lovely things to see (and taste!) so your visit to the area will involve so much more than just theatre if you let it. We always make our way to Chinatown so can’t recommend that enough!
Visit a Museum
If you like museums then London has what you are looking for! From the museums you’d expect – like The National Gallery; to museums that are a bit out of the ordinary, like the Museums of Brands. The latter takes you on a nostalgic journey of some of Britain’s favourite products through the years.
I haven’t been to any of the popular museums in London, as luckily it doesn’t take too long for me to make my way to the city should I want to. But for those of you who are visiting London for the first time or from afar then I would recommend The Natural History museum, which is at the top of my list!
Entry is free, though there is a charge for some temporary exhibitions. Overall a great option when visiting London on a budget.
Go Sightseeing
Sometimes you don’t have to spend much money to experience a city. I love that, in London, there is so much to see without spending much! If you want to see the sights all you need to do is charge your mobile to 100% and get on your way!
Story time, during the London 2012 Olympics I took a photo holding my giant US flag in front of Buckingham Palace. I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t because of the Olympics, but it was a lot of fun. If I find the photo I will post it on the My Dreamality Instagram so be on the look out!
Anyway, the point is that you can do silly things like take photos in front of monuments or world renowned sights and not have to spend a penny whilst making memories!
Visit the Park
There are so many parks in London, it’s incredible! The first time I visited the city I was amazed at how many green spaces there are for you to enjoy. I have made the best of them by having picnics in Green Park, and going to concerts in Hyde Park. But my favourite experience was being able to spend time on the grounds of Kensington Palace with the kids.
We visited the Sunken Gardens for a display honouring Princess Diana, and it was absolutely lovely. After seeing that, the kids ran about in the park and played – it was a great day and we made some lovely memories!
Go Window Shopping
Yes, I know … actual shopping is much better than window shopping. But if you’re going to spend money for the sake of it then you’re better of not even going out! With so many fantastic shops along Regent Street, for example, you can sample the best shopping in London without having to have buyers remorse at the end of your trip.
Our go to shop on Regent’s Street as a family is Hamleys! I can’t begin to tell you how much fun we have every time we visit. Did you know that Hamleys is the oldest and biggest toy shop in the world? I know, right! With over 7 stories of fun we love to try out the toys, and make our way to the top floor to have an ice cream or grab some sweets and sit down to rest our feet.
If you’ve got little ones and are looking after your money, this is a great activity to do with them. Not only that, but when you go back home you can say that you have taken your kids to the biggest toy shop in the world!
Take advantage of seeing some of the best sights in London on a budget, without breaking the bank! Let me know your favourites in the comments.
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