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The Best London Nightlife Areas – A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London

July 23, 2019 by admin 7 Comments

The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London

 

Among the long list of things to do in London is experiencing London nightlife, so below I am guiding you through the London nightlife areas. Whether you want to check out Soho clubs and bars, experience punk and techno in Camden, edgy and hip in Shoreditch, of if you want a little hip-pop with a Carribean vibe in Brixton, there is plenty of cool and amazing nightlife in London waiting to be experienced. So if you are looking tips on the best places for a night out in London, read on!

 

The beauty of London lies in its variety. This big, beautiful and bodacious metropolis is a melting pot for different cultures and with that, you have this rich mix of places serving up entertainment to satisfy whatever your soul is yearning for.

 

Want soul music? We have that in spades. Prefer it in the background as you dine? Want live music? Want to dance like its 1999? Well, there are clubs serving up dance tunes whether you want techno, punk or want to dance to 80’s tunes, there are clubs for every genre of music that floats your boat!

 

 Southbank Walk London - River Thames Walk 

 

The Best London Nightlife Areas Perfect For Evening Entertainment and Partying

 

Below is a guide to the best London areas for nightlife, whether you are here for a little weekend stint a week-long vacation or a longer stint. There is something for students budgets to the very luxury of custom-tailored evening entertainment where you can sample the best districts in London. 

 

If your idea of the best nightlife in London is pubs, clubs for dancing, casinos or cool bars with great music London as all that and then some. Among the places mentioned below, you will also find the best bar areas in London for an easy evening for conversations over a drink.

 

Nightlife In Camden

Camden is not just known for one of the coolest markets in London but the bars and clubs in Camden draw the crowds in their own right. There pubs, music venues for play host to many concerts from small to the large. Similar to Shoreditch with alternative street art and live music almost every night.

 

There are also plenty of night clubs in Camden. Music has part of live in Camden. This is also where Amy Winehouse lived here.  You can find some of the coolest and quirkiest bars in Camden. Check out Brewdog, Camden Assembly, Blues Kitchen, and Fifty Five to name a few.

 

For the best clubs in Camden include the Underworld, Electric Ballroom and Jazz Cafe.

 

The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London

 

Nightlife In Westend, Soho and Covent Garden

Soho is home to a great mix of entertainment hubs. From cellar bars to Londons largest if not the UK’s LGBT scene. There are plenty of Gay bars serving up all manner of entertainment for the LGBT folks. Soho, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road and including Covent Garden and Mayfair here too. This is where you will find plenty of good pubs near Tottenham Court Road like The Dog and Duck Pub or The Guinea near Oxford Street.

 

Towards Strand and Shaftsbury Avenue you have cocktail bars, here you will also find Ronnie Scott’s famous jazz bar. Among one of my favourite places in London for a good dose of live jazz performances. Greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davies have performed here. Westend also plays host to a couple of speakeasy bars, like Cahoots just off Carnaby Street of which I shared in my post on things to do in London at night. 

 

Soho and the Westend as far as nightlife areas in London as concerned. There is plenty! This is the place in London that never sleeps. Open 24/7, there are restaurants that are open all day and night. Many of the bars and clubs in Soho London open until 6am. There are a couple of nightclubs by Leicester Square, in the heart of Soho and near Covent Garden too. If you are looking to club-hop there are plenty here where you can find the music you want to vibe to.

 

The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London

 

Nightlife In Shoreditch And Hackney

If you are looking for cool, quirky and funky night clubs in Shoreditch London, there are plenty! From Shoreditch and stretching all the way to Kingsland Road and Hackney, there are plenty of cool hangouts to fill your evenings for the whole week. Kingsland Road has a strip of pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants and gig venues for whatever entertainment you are in the mood for.

 

In the heart of city, you have night clubs in central London’s Shoreditch. I shared tips on top things to do in Shoreditch recently. You can find indie shops, cheap food, markets, galleries, bars and nightclubs. 

Places to check out for bars and nightclubs in Shoreditch include:

 

  • The Queen of Hoxton: pub, club and everything in between – offers an eclectic mix over two fun floors, with DJs playing on a cutting-edge disco/house tip on the weekends. They also have a rooftop perfect for summer evenings. 
  • Trapeze: a two-floor venue with a bar and kitchen up top and an intimate basement club down below. The house, disco and funk feel of East Village’s programming remains a fixture at Trapeze. Open Tues-Thurs 4pm-2.30am; Fri-Sat 4pm-3.30am. 
  • The Horse & Groom: a pub-clubbing venue in Shoreditch. During the day, it’s a good old East End boozer, but at night, the two-floor space turns into a disco hotspot.
  • Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes: A trendy Shoreditch hangout split over two floors where you can catch exhibitions and club nights too.

  • East Village: one of the East End’s best medium-sized venues, East Village is spread across two floors with a laid-back lounge space on the ground floor and a serious beat basement below. The top-notch, eclectic programming of DJs at East Village should suit any sophisticated clubber, with everything from monthly reggae sessions from old master David Rodigan to the finest house, disco and techno sounds.

 

The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London

 

Nightlife In Kensington And Chelsea

 

Among the best London nightlife areas for a classy night out in London. In Kensington and Chelsea, you can find London’s top clubs and bars. If you want to experience London nightlife on the stylish scene then this is where to head to. If you feel like a little jazz over cocktails then check out 606 Club and Barts in South Kensington for a speakeasy-themed cocktail bar.

 

For something super trendy check out Tonteria in Sloane Square. While you are in the area you also have Eclipse South Kensington and Ritorno on Kings Road all of which are just the perfect spot in London for London nightlife with a touch of glam.

 

The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London

 

Nightlife In Brixton

Brixton has always had a mix of Carribean vibes to it but has seen a lot of gentrification in recent years and with that a slew of new restaurants and bars has arrived altering the vibe. There are spots to grab the latest street food trends or the most in-demand craft beers.

You can still find a little of the area’s originality to grab the best jerk and fried. It is still one of the cool places to go out in London. Brixton offers nightclubs, jazz cafes, cool bars and still is one of the best party areas in London. Places like Phonox, Aquum and The Blues Kitchen offer places to dance. 

 

For places to grab a drink in Brixton, check out The Prince of Wales or Crown and Anchor for pubs in Brixton worth checking out. For the best cocktail bars in Brixton head to The Shrub and Shutter, Three Eight Four, Cattivo and Effra Social. 

 

The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London

 

 

 

Nightlife In Southbank And City Of London

One of my favourite places to hang out in London any time of day is Southbank. This place is alive at all hours. More so in the evening. There are bars, there are restaurants and cafes, cinemas and markets. If you are looking for cool things to do at night without too much fuss. This is the place to be and one of the best best place to stay in London for nightlife. Many bars here come with views of the river. They now have music to the mezzanine outside the Elizabeth Hall just about the Skate park and there is usually a stage for dancing both day and night so if you want to dance there is something for you as well.

 

If you are looking for something upscale then head further up the river towards London Bridge. You can stop and Mondrian which has a lovely Rumpus Room and further along the river is The Shard which has GONG Bar. Usually dimly lit creating an ambiance of mystery and intrigue about it. We visited this place last year and loved it!! Located in the Shangri La Hotel which I had the pleasure of staying in, GONG Bar comes with stunning views across the city as you chill out to music and cocktails.

 

This is the highest hotel bar in Europe! For similar views check out The Sky Garden and Skylounge Double Tree Hilton. Across the river, there is also another popular place on the London city nightlife scene. Just by St Paul’s Cathedral, you will find Madison Bar which I have posted about on the blog.

 

In the city, you have plenty of people who work hard and play hard so there are plenty of funky clubs in London that cater to this crowd. There are also pubs too to check out. Many of these are close to the river and by Borough Market too. Nightlife spots are plenty to suit whatever you feel like when evening comes.

 

The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London

 

Nightlife In Greenwich, Canary Wharf And Docklands

One of the financial hubs in London. Another spot in London where folks play as hard as they work. Here you also have another Ronnie Scott as well as a long list of trendy bars, some of which come with stunning views. I have had the pleasure of having many a project in Canary Wharf and many an evening night out for drinks.

 

This is not only another one of the best places for a night out in London if you want to hang out with city slickers. Canary Wharf is constantly changing and love the recent addition to their list of cool bars in Canary Wharf. The Big Easy, an American-style barbecue and seafood joint with a Jamaica-influenced rum bar. It’s open from 7am everyday!! There’s nightly live tunes too. 

 

There there is the sky-high restaurant and bar over Novotel in Canary Wharf.  Bōkan’s bar is up on the 38th floor of the hotel, with amazing views of London’s skyline. Going out in London tonight and looking for somewhere easy-going with views and a long list of cocktails and wine list. This is the place to check out.

 

Another place in Greenwich that is now making a mark among London nightlife areas, is the O2. There are bars and restaurants that have popped up now that this is a fully-fledged entertainment venue for concerts and sports. Open 7 days a week until late.

 

One of the places to go out in London’s Greenwich district is the LA Lounge. Its a two-floor nightclub on the waterside playing a mix of pop, rock and urban music. For something easy you can also check out The Grapes. A small but historical Pub said to have been visited by Dickens and Wilde. You also have river views on the back.

 

If you are a student at UEL another cool hang out is the Underground Bar.

 

The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London

 

Elephant and Castle

Not a lot of tourists hang out around this side much but if and when you make this side you will not be disappointed as you mingle with the locals. Here you will find one of the best places to go dancing in London. 

This is where you will find the Ministry of Sound, the home of dance music. Opened in 1991 and inspired by New York’s cavernous house venues. The club consists of four rooms: The Box, The 103, The Baby Box and The Loft. Each and everyone is worth checking out. If you want to dance, this is where to go.

 

Where To Stay In London For Nightlife

 

As far as where to stay in London for nightlife, the above London nightlife areas offer great options for hotels, bed and breakfast and hostels. There is everything from budget to luxury. I have shared tips on where to stay in Soho, hotels near the London Eye on Southbank, cool hostels in London for partying as well as a comprehensive guide to best areas to stay in London for tourists and tips on the best place to stay in London for nightlife. For more options on where to stay to experience London nightlife click here for hotels in London covering every budget and party size.

 

The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London 

 

Getting Around London At Night

 

London Transport at night just got easier as we now have London tubes running 24 hours for some lines. Check out the Night Tube map here for lines running 24 hours. Currently, Night Tube runs on Fridays and Saturdays on the Victoria, and on Jubilee. Then parts of the Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines. 

 

If you are using Uber and Taxi just make sure the car and driver match what the app says and always ask them to confirm the name not the other way around. Remember that black cabs may be significantly expensive. Many now accept credit cards but always just before getting in.

 

There you have it, places to experience the best nightlife in London. Whether you want to see Friday night out in London or Saturday night out in London. We have the best place for drinks in London to satisfy all tastes. 

 

How many of the bars above have you been to? Which one of the London nightlife areas is your favourite?

 

Also See:

  • Things To Do At Night In Athens
  • The Best Places To Stay In London For NYE Fireworks
  • London’s Unmissable Tourist Sights
  • The Best Hotels In London With River Views
  • Top London Theatre Shows To Check Out

 

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 The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London The Best London Nightlife Areas - A Guide To Best Place To Go Out In London

Filed Under: Travel Tips Tagged With: Europe, Export1, London, UK

The Best Ways To Get From London Airports To Central London

April 1, 2019 by admin 8 Comments

The Best Ways To Get From London Airports To Central London

 

London is serviced by a couple of Airport. I feel lucky that I have used all of them so below I am going to share tips on how to get from these airports to London. From the best way to get from Heathrow to London, how to get from Gatwick to London, and the same for London City Airport, Luton, Stansted and Southend Airport.

 

Insider tip: If your flight arrive after 1am from the smaller airports like Stansted, Luton or Southend, you may have to get a coach from these airports if you miss the last trains. Coaches arrive at Victoria Coach Station, which is in Central London and from there you can make your way to complete your journeys to parts of London. Also if there are issues with trains you can get a London airport transfer or coach from Victoria station to the airports. You need to allow enough time because London traffic is nothing to play with.

 

To get an estimate of how much Uber is from the airports or other locations you are coming in from then use: http://uberestimate.com/  Prices above are based on what I have paid when I used Uber.

 

You can also download a pdf tube map and plan your route from the airport to central London or to your hotel. If you are on a layover and want to make the most your time I have some cool and unique things to do in London at night or if you are in for a day then check out my one day London itinerary.

 

 

The Best Ways To Get From London Airports To Central London

London Airport Transport At A Glance

The fastest way to get from Gatwick to London: Gatwick Express from Victoria Station and Thames Link fast train 41 minutes from London Bridge to Gatwick. 

 

Best Ways To Get From London Airports To Central London

 

Other than foreign airlines, the main Airlines in the UK that are popular are BA, Aer Lingus, Flybe, RyanAir and EasyJet all of which serve Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southend, Luton, and City Airport. 

 

How To Get From Heathrow To London – LHR to London

 

London to Heathrow By Tube: Heathrow airport to central London by tube, the best way is by the Piccadilly Line. You can travel from Heathrow to central London via Holborn or Kings Cross in just 1 hour.  From Holborn station, you then have access to get to pretty much all of London but you can also continue on the Piccadilly Line to North London or change for other tube lines. Trains run every 5 minutes between 5am and 11.45pm on Sundays from 5.46am to 10.37pm. Fares are from £4 with an oyster card.

 

London To Heathrow By Express Train: Another fast way to get from Heathrow is via Heathrow Express from Paddington and then from Paddington you have the British Railway connecting you to other cities in the UK as well as other underground tube lines to get to the rest of London. Heathrow Express leaves Paddington about every 15 minutes and takes 25 minutes to get to Heathrow Airport. Tickets cost from £27 single and £42 for a return. You can save money by booking in advance online. Check Heathrow Express site for more details.

 

London To Heathrow By Car: Alternatively, the best way to get from Heathrow to London with luggage is to use Uber, also works out cheaper if you are in a group as you can split the taxi fare. Uber from the Heathrow to central London cost about £40-50 which is close to the cost of your one way trip from Heathrow to Holborn in a group of 4 people. 

 

London To Heathrow By Coach: You can also take the national express from London Victoria Coach Station. Just make sure you allow plenty of time because there can be a lot of traffic when leaving London. The usual journey time from London to Heathrow by Coach is around 40 to 60 minutes. Fares for the coach start at £7. If you are leaving super early in the morning and want to stay near Victoria Coach Station check out my post for recommendations.

 

 

 

 

How To Get From London City Airport To Central London

 

London to London City Airport By DLR Train: Not many airlines fly from here but those that do give you great access to Europe from London City Airport. I have flown to Dusseldorf from City Airport.  London City Airport is accessible by DLR – Docklands Light Railway Line. You can find the DLR line map and details of other stations on the line as well as event and activities in surrounding areas on the line. There are fast trains from London City Airport to Bank Station which is in central London. The journey time from Bank (central London) to City Airport is about 34 minutes. 

Tip: If you are coming from Canary Wharf to London City Airport, you need to change trains at Poplar station. Trains run every 7 minutes and journey time is around 22 minutes. Fares on the Oyster are from £3

 

Remember that Bank Station has many exits and is very busy with city commuters so bear that in mind during your journey through this station when you are here during rush hour with suitcases. Alternatively, you can change at Poplar and then use Tower Gateway if coming from the airport into the city.  

 

London City Airport is popular with professionals as you can get from the airport to Bank, ExCel or Canary Wharf within minutes. If you are visiting on business and want to stay near City Airport then check out my post on hotels near City Airport. I have also used Uber from London City Airport. The cost of Uber from London City Airport will likely cost around £20-35.

 

 

How To Get From Stansted To London

 

London to Stansted By Train: To get to Stansted from Central London, you need to take the Stansted Express train from Liverpool Street Station to Stansted. The fastest train takes 47 minutes with only a couple of stops between Liverpool Street and the airport. Tickets for the single fare is £18.10. You can also get a group discount for groups of 4+ people.

 

London To Stansted By Car: Alternatively, if you plenty of luggage or are in a small group its best to use Uber for a stress-free option. Also you can use Uber once you arrive at Liverpool Street Station. When you arrive at the station and come out of the barriers, right across are escalatora up where you can see a McDonalds.

Most Ubers will pick you up outside McDonalds as that is also where the taxi ranks are. If arriving late in the night Uber or taxis are the quickest way to get home or to hotels. There are also buses by other exits to the station but they take longer. As I live in central London it only takes 5 minutes in Uber to get home from Liverpool Station but a lot longer if I take the bus late at night.

 

London To Stansted By Coach: You also have the option of taking the National Express or EasyBus Coaches both of which leave from Victoria Coach Station. Coaches leave every 15 to 20 minutes. The journey is approximately 90 minutes with London traffic considered. Fares start from £10.

 

The Best Ways To Get From London Airports To Central London

How To Get From Gatwick To London –  LGW  To London

 

London To Gatwick By Express Train: There are several ways to get from Gatwick Airport to London. There is the Gatwick Express living from Victoria Station there Airport and tickets start from £25.80 for a single and take between 29 and 40 minutes depending on the time of day you depart. My preference is to use the Thameslink Line on the Blackfriars branch operating between through Kings Cross, Blackfriars and London Bridge. The fast train takes 41 minutes from London Bridge to Gatwick.

 

London To Gatwick By Overground Trains: Another route is to take the overground train from Victoria or Clapham Junction to Gatwick Airport. You can also take the trains from Waterloo and check at Clapham Junction for the train to Gatwick Airport. There are slow and fast trains. Just make sure you check the screens. The fast one from Clapham Junction only stops at Croydon Station before you get to Gatwick. The slow one stops are smaller stations on the way and takes about 1 hour instead of 25 minutes.

 

It helps to know how to get to the Gatwick via the other stations as there can sometimes be issues with trains and you need to change. Best to use National Rail to check trains before you leave as that will also show you if there are delays. If I see delays on the Thameslink then I tend to go to Waterloo and then through Clapham. If you are closer to Victoria then use the Gatwick express or the normal trains from Victoria to Clapham Junction. The Gatwick Express does not stop at any other station other than the airport then back to Victoria Station.

 

London To Gatwick By Coach: There are National Express coaches leaving from Victoria Coach Station, with two leaving every hour. The journey time is about 80 minutes so factor that in with an additional 20 minutes for traffic depending on the time leaving. Fares start from £15.

 

How To Get From Luton Airport To London

 

London To Luton By Train: Luton is served on the same route as Gatwick via Thameslink Line. From London Bridge or Blackfriar to Luton Airport Parkway. From Parkway you have to take the bus to the airport. The bus stops right outside the station and then stops outside the airport. Fares are £2.50 for the bus.

The train tickets for a single from London Bridge to Luton Airport Parkway start at £15.10. Again make sure to check there are no delays on Thameslink if so then you have an alternative route to take the Coach from Victoria Station to many of the airports. This is only the last result if there are no trains. Allow plenty of time if using the coach due to London traffic.

 

London To Luton Airport By Coach: There are at least 3 coaches leaving Victoria Coach Station to Luton Airport. The journey takes 80 minutes and a single journey fare is from £10.

 

How To Get From Southend Airport To London

 

The fastest way to get to Southend Airport from London is via Liverpool Street Station. Trains leave from Liverpool Street Station to Southend Airport and takes 52 minutes for the fastest train and 1 hour and 50 minutes for the slowest. The slow trains are usually in the late night when transportation starts to shut down. Tickets from Liverpool Street Station to Southend cost £16.70 for a single journey.

 

 

How To Get To Kingscross St Pancras For Eurostar

 

If you are traveling to and from London to Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels, you may find it easier to travel by Eurostar. To get to Eurostar you can travel by underground or bus to get to Kings Cross or Euston its a quick walk to St Pancras teminal for Eurostar. Eurostar is really easy to get to as there are many transport links and easily accessible via taxis, Uber and buses too. Just make sure you book your Eurostar tickets way in advance to save money vs cost of journeys by flight.

 

 

Also See

  • The Best Areas To Stay In London
  • London Budgeting Tips
  • Top Tourist Attractions In London
  • Things To Do In London At Night

 

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The Best Ways To Get From London Airports To Central London The Best Ways To Get From London Airports To Central London The Best Ways To Get From London Airports To Central London

Filed Under: Travel Tips Tagged With: Europe, Export1, London, UK

London On A Budget Tips – 10 Money Saving Tips For Visiting London

July 29, 2017 by admin 26 Comments

Cheap London Breaks - Top 10 Money Saving Tips For You Visit London - London On A Budget Tips
 
 
Finding travel hacks of tips to save you money in a new city can be tricky, hence my post with tips for saving money in London.  London is said to be one of the most expensive cities in the world. Yes, London can be expensive for local residents too but it needn’t be so for visitors, providing you come well versed with money-saving tips for visiting London. This post will allow you to find out where to stay in London, places to see in the city, cheap and free things to see and do in London and their for allowing you to make the most of your visit to London a pleasurable one without breaking the bank.
 
 
Also, booking where to stay in London, England should be an expensive task, you just have to know what options are available and what you get for your budget range. You can also get a detailed list of hostels on some of my favorite hotel and hostel booking sites like Booking.com, Agoda, and Trivago. I also shared a post on London’s best-located hostel with tips on tourist attractions close to them as well. The same goes for things to do in London. There are plenty of free things to do in London at night, from museums, free viewing points, beautiful parks in London.
 
 
 
 

Also See:

  • Breakfast At London’s Oldest Market
  • Where To Get The Best Visit Views In London
  • Tips On The Best Spots For Photography In London
  • The Best Hostels In London
  • Tower Bridge At Night

 

How To Save Money In London As A Tourist

 

Below are tips for saving money in London as a tourist but many of these also apply to those that are looking money saving tips for living in London. By far the best way to get around in London is by bus, underground as well as walking. You can see the majority of the tourist sights by walking along the River Thames.  For this post, I thought I would give you some tips for visiting London from a Londoner’s perspective on how to save money in London as a tourist and still have a great time! 

 

1. Save money on food and buy local and from the supermarkets

 
Eating in London can be expensive but if you are on a budget then get to Tesco buy you some lunch and chill in London’s city parks. You can shave of a lot of money from a typical average cost of a trip to London for a week. You can grab yourself a meal deal for 2.99. That includes a sandwich, salad or wrap, then a snack and drink too. Meals on offer are a selection of healthy and naughty. Boots, Sainsbury’s does the same, they also do gourmet lunch selection by chefs like Jamie Oliver.
 
 
They now have Tesco and Sainburys Express stores all over London which makes saving money on food while visiting London even easier. The point is you can find plenty of ways to eat around London without blowing the budget and eat as healthily or as unhealthy as you want. You also have plenty of local cafes(I am not talking chain cafes) that will rustle up a mean breakfast for a fiver! Also, check out markets which offer delicious meals on a budget. Many have a wide range too, from India, Malaysia, Lebanese, African, and so many more regions. Check out my post on Borough Market Breakfast for inspiration. 
 
 
Cheap London Breaks - Top 10 Money Saving Tips For You Visit London - London On A Budget Tips
 
 

2. Take a walk – Walk As Much As Possible In London

 
Walk! Yes, you might want to have an insta-staged shoot for the gram but pack some comfortable flats in your bag too and walk yourself to a firm rear end. You will save on our expensive transport system. Leave the Tube/Underground for when you are exploring tourist sights further away from you as those will take longer to get to on foot. This is by far one of the cheapest way to sightsee in London. My One Day London Itinerary post takes you on a walk around the Southbank, passing many tourist attractions on the way. Many of which you wouldn’t see by being on the underground or bus.
 
 
 
 
 

3. Stay within central London

 
Stay with Zones 1-3. This way I can guarantee you most of the majority of the places you will want to see will be within walking distance or a short bus ride away thus no need to buy an expensive travel card until it’s time to head back to the airport. Say, you stay in Greenwich, which is in falls in Zone 2 and 3 you still have places like Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park, and Observatory, Maritime Museum, Greenwich Market all near you together with the riverside views. For more travel tips for London on where to stay, check out my guide on the best areas to stay in London as well as cool places to stay in Shoreditch or if you want to stay in London’s self-catering hotels.
 
 
Cool pubs and local restaurants and cafes near you in addition to being a short bus ride into London Bridge for further exploring of London. So don’t overlook certain areas because you think you have to stay in Zone 1 of London. For more on things to do in Greenwich, I have a post on top 10 things to do in Greenwich. I will be publishing a post on where to stay in London England for variable budgets. I will start London’s best-located hostels including what tourist sites are near them.
 
 
Cheap London vacation - Top 10 Money Saving Tips For You Visit London - London On A Budget Tips
 

4. Use London buses to get around | The Cheapest Way To Sightsee In London

 
4. Public transport, use the bus and less of the underground. For one, you will see more of London without blowing your wallet. You will spend less money on the hop on/off buses and underground and still see more of London. Londist did a cool post on the best bus routes in London for sightseeing. Why do I say use the bus instead of the tourist buses? A hop on/off bus will cost you roughly £25-30 for a 24-hour ticket, while a 7-day bus pass covering buses and trams in London will costs you £21.20 for a 7-day pass.
 
 
You can hop on and off London buses until your heart is content! If you are in London for more than 2 days I would recommend getting a weekly travel card as this covers buses, underground, overground and trams. A Zone 1-2 will cost you £33 and 1-3 costs £38 so that works on cheaper for exploring the city. A one-day travel card is £12.30 so if staying a couple of day buying a weekly travel card is more cost-effective.
 
 
Cheap London Breaks - Top 10 Money Saving Tips For You Visit London - London On A Budget Tips
 

5. Buy a Visitor Oyster card Or London Pass Card

 
Buy a Visitor Oyster card. Unless you have a contactless credit/debit card you will have to buy an Oyster card to get around London. A visitor Oyster card costs £3. It makes buying a pay as you go fares easier and cheaper than buying paper tickets. Your daily fares are capped at £6.60 compared to buying a one-day travel card at £12.30. Any balance you have can also be refunded to you when you leave London.
 
 
You can also buy it online before you travel to London, in addition to special offers and discounts around London when you buy a Visitor Oyster card. You can also opt to purchase the London Pass Card, which gives you free entry to 60 attractions. Some of which I have covered on the blog. From free museums, the best river cruises in London, free entry to Hampton Court Palace, Westminister Abbey, The View from the Shard, Kensington Palace, The London Bridge Experience, Hop On Hop Off bus, Tower of London, and so many more places. Individual tips would cost you hundreds of pounds whereas the London Pass Card only costs £69.
 
 
 
 

 
 

6. Shop around for accommodation

 
Shop around for Hostels, Hotels and Airbnb apartments. Yes, London is expensive and more so if you are trying to keep up with the Jones for the gram. There are plenty of smaller bed and breakfast, hotels, and hostels in fantastic locations in the heart of the city. As I said above I will be sharing a post on London’s best-located hostels soon, but just bear in mind that you will spend the majority of your time exploring so why blow your budget on a super expensive hotel room that you only spent a night in, especially if you don’t have to or can’t afford it.
 
 
Don’t get me wrong I love a splurge and a treat when I travel enter private hideaway in Thailand, Twin Tower views in Malaysian or an African hideaway on the Zambezi. It’s up to you where you stay, my point is that there are plenty of places available that you won’t have sell your kidney to afford to tay in so don’t overlook small locally owned hotels that offer great value. Also if you are visiting during the summer, student halls offer great value on where to stay and most over great accommodation options all within the heart of the city(you can also search other cities in the UK). There are plenty within central London all offering a variety of options from self-contained rooms with breakfast included to those that provide a room with shared bathrooms.
 
 
Some of these, like Kings College student hall apartments, are within 5 minutes walk from Borough Market and the Shard for a further 5 minutes from beautiful tower bridge and a whole host of tourist places within walking distance such as Big Ben, London Eye, Tate Modern. For more on how to see London on foot, I have a Local’s Guide to exploring London. You also have YHA hostels that have hostels in fantastic locations in London. One is next to St Pauls Cathedral, Kings Cross, Thames side, and Central which is close to London’s shopping Mecca that is Oxford Street. Blackfriars and Waterloo have had few hotels pop up in recent years that provide easy access to tourist places within walking distance.
 
 
Waterloo has Hamptons, Park Plaza,H10 and Blackfriars hasIbis, also just around Tate Modern you have Citzen M, Hilton and Holiday Inn all within earshot of the Southbank, Borough Market and Tower Bridge all within 10 minutes walking. There is plenty of offer from apartments, hostels to hotel covering budget to luxury whatever your budget travel means to you in London so it’s only as expensive as you want it to be.
 
 
You can also get a detailed list of hotels, apartments and hostels on some of my favourite booking sites like Booking.com, Agoda,and Trivago. I also did a post on London’s best-located hostel with tips on tourist attractions covering the best tourist attractions within walking distance to your accommodation which also saves money as you also keep healthy while walking.
 

 

 
Cheap London Breaks - Top 10 Money Saving Tips For You Visit London
 
 

7. Use 2 for 1 Offers

 
Use 2 for 1 offers when you visit London. Check out sights like Attraction Tix  for a discount from restaurants to attractions as well as Time Out. This is one major tip I use for other cities I visit and a must as far as tips for visiting London go. You can also pick up the free magazine which has plenty of vouchers that you can tear out as and when you come up with places to see while visiting London. New magazines are available on Tuesdays. Also check out sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, and Wowcher for discounts to attractions, restaurants and more.
 

8. Check out free sights

 
Visit free sights and museums. Take advantage of Londons amazing museums and galleries majority of which are free. You may have to pay for special/temporary exhibitions. The BristishMusuem, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern are all great places to visit and all free. 
 

9. Get the best views | Views From The Shard & More

 
Get the Views for Free – We have plenty of places offering great views in London some of which are expensive just for a view. To save money you can opt for viewing decks with great views of London without paying ridiculous prices for the same view. I shared a point on where to get the best views in London here but can I also add to that, Greenwich Park (next to the observatory), Primrose Hill, and  Switch House! Superb views of the city and all FREE!!!
 
 
Cheap London Breaks - Top 10 Money Saving Tips For You Visit London
 
 

10. Book a free tour In London

 
 
Join Free Walking Tour – London has some cool and free walking tours on offer. From architecture walks to street art. Although these are free and you are under no obligation to pay I would recommend you tip the guides considering the work that goes into researching some cool spots to visit in the city. One free walking tour I have done and would highly recommend is the Alternative Steet Tour in London cool and hip district of Shoreditch.
 
 
You can read move in my post linked. There are also a million and one paid tours in London to choose from. There are other paid walking tours in London, whether your interest is in Shakespear, Charles Dicken, Harry Porter Series tours, architecture, ghost tours and more. You name it, they have it! To go beyond the tours I would also highly recommend checking out London’s theatre shows. You can bag a discount on theatre tickets by check out sites like Love Theatre.
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

More On London

  • Breakfast At London’s Oldest Market
  • Where To Get The Best Visit Views In London
  • Tips On Photography Shoots In London
  • The Best Hostels In London

 

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Filed Under: Travel Tips Tagged With: Budget, City Guides, Export1, London, UK

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