How to Visit London for Less Than $500

London can safely be ranked as one of the most attractive cities in the world by any metric. It offers a beautiful confluence combination of royal history, a vibrant nightlife, fantastic sights, food, and genuinely global culture.

Don't stress about the high costs of visiting a city. We’ve put together a few useful hacks, courtesy of some of the trickiest, most frugal globe trotters so that you can explore this lovely city on a budget.  Grab your travel wallet, and let's go!

     1. Plan to Visit London’s Attractions That Are Close To Each Other

London is a sprawling metropolis, and depending on the time you intend to stay, it is best that you plan your sightseeing visits in a logical geographical manner. Minimize traveling expenses by planning your daily visits to attractions in groups. So you need to target places that are close together. Below is a readymade list for you to follow:   

• Westminster – Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye. Have a free tour to the House of Commons while you’re at it.
• London Bridge – Tower of London and St Paul’s Tower Bridge.
• South Bank – Tate Modern, Borough Market, and Globe Theatre.
• Kensington – Free museums (Science Museum, National History Museum, Victoria and Albert V&A

If you want to see the expansive metropolis that isLondon - on a budget, you must cut down on your traveling costs. The underground rail system and buses are quite cheap and convenient for moving around the city, as long as you know the proper routes.

Luckily, an oyster card (a prepaid card that can be used to commute around the city) will make the process easier and cheaper. The card saves you the hassle of waiting in the lines for a bus ticket, and more importantly, you pay a lot less, almost half the usual price on every ride.

     3. Cycle Around London

There is nothing like experiencing a city for what it is then going around it on a bike. Not only is it a cheap way of traveling, but it gives you so much more exposure to the culture and people around you, that you’ll make memories for a lifetime. Plus, hello Instagram photo awesomeness!

‘Boris bikes’, London’s famous bike hire company with its 750 docking stations around the city and over 1,000 bikes, makes moving around cheaper than cheap. Get one for as little as £2 ($2.58).  Don't forget your travel totes to make your journey carefree. Click here for men's city bags,  tote & belt bags or backpacks.

     4. Seek Out the Free Stuff

London can get royally expensive if you’re not making a whole-hearted and resolute effort to. Stay within your budget. So don’t be shy in seeking out the free attractions. On average most attractions would cost over £20 ($25.79) per visit, and exponentially more if you’re looking for something high-end. But good for you, there are several free attractions out there as well.

The list below will come in handy if you’re running low on pounds and want something to do in the city.

• Science Museum – a fantastic and interactive venue for the kids and grownups alike.
• V&A – fashion, design, and architecture all under a roof.
• City of London Churches – a historical and religious place to check out.
• South Bank Stroll – take a walk to remember along the river from the London Eye to Tower Bridge.
• Festivals and Events – keep an eye out for all the exciting free events coming up. 
• Tate Modern – modern art lovers, thank me later!
• Royal Parks – lush green spaces to take a stroll and a perfect picnic spot.

A one-day London pass could secure a bus tour which visits the London Zoo, Tower of London and shows you the view from the Shard for £66. Such a tour usually costs £107.79 ($139.01), so that’s a good deal. You can save even more by buying the pass for 3 or 6 days.

     6. Eat Cheap and Delicious

Eating is one part of traveling almost all travelers look forward to. However, when you’re in London on a budget, you need to know where to eat. As far as cuisine is concerned, London never disappoints. You don’t have to go to high-end restaurants when you can have some of the most amazing food every Sunday at Brick-lane neighborhood. There are cuisines from all over the world available here from curries to chow mein, to flatbread pizzas and Peruvian arepas. Camden market is another favorite spot flooded with eateries and food stalls of all origins.

Buy a sustainable water bottle as the tap water is fit for drinking in London.  Also, wrap up a snack before you head out and wrap it in our sustainable bee wax wrap.

 7. While traveling has become the new currency, we look towards Airbnb to find a home-away-from-home.

We hope you enjoy this blog post! And if you’re planning a trip to London on a budget, our tips help. Do please share your stories with us if you do go or have just been there, and share the post with your friends.