London has always had the reputation of being an expensive city. But with a variety of low cost carriers serving London and plenty of hostels to stay in, museums which can be visited for free , a lot of parks to enjoy nature, isn’t London an affordable destination, after all?
Getting to London
The biggest expense when it comes to any vacation is the plane ticket. Most of us start hunting for that perfect cheap plane ticket months before we plan to travel. Tickets to Europe are easy to find and if you plan to avoid the high tourist season, you will be pleasantly surprised. After all, London is a big hub and there are plenty of carriers fighting for serving those who need to get here.
Do keep in mind the cost of transfer from the airport to where you are planning to stay. Some hotels and hostels offer the service for a fee. Or you just need to relay on the public transport.
Where to stay
Another expense which usually burns quite a whole in the pocket is the accommodation. There are many cheap hotels in Europe and London makes no exception. It’s just a matter of choosing where you will be staying.
As for the budget travelers, nothing spells a cheap vacation in Europe than hostels . Location is important but in some cases, even the hostels located close to London’s city center can be reasonably priced. If you manage to find an affordable place which includes the breakfast in the bed price, it’s even better. Not to mention that having a common kitchen to use can really save money.
>>check out this list of hostels in London , all with reviews and photos
Fun & Food
Once you’ve found a place to stay, it’s time to start having fun and checking out the city. If you are worried about the budget, check out the prices at London pubs . If you stay away from the fancy tourist areas, you can eat breakfast for £4. A sandwich – which can be a small lunch or snack- costs around £4 as well.
Planning to visit some museums ? You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that many are free to visit so they won’t ruin your budget at all. Also, you can watch the changing of the guards and of course, waking in one of the parks doesn’t cost a thing.
You’d probably want to skip spending money on things like London Eye or St. Paul’s Cathedral , which can burn quite a whole in the pocket.
Photo credit: Ewan-M on Flickr
