10 Things to do in London on a budget

London can be a very expensive city so here we have taken a look at 10 things to do in London on a budget. We have also included some more places that are free to visit that you may not know about.

Stand at the Globe Theatre

If you enjoy going to the theatre then Shakespeare’s Globe theatre is always worth a visit. It may be a bit difficult to understand if you see a Shakespeare play (it is for native speakers too!) but the atmosphere is always great and the performances never disappoint. If you are happy to stand for 2-3 hours then you can get tickets for £5. This way too you get to be closer to the stage. The only time it can be an issue is when it rains as it’s an open-air theatre but you are undercover if you book a seat. In spring and summer you should be fine though!

Check for student discounts

This one only applies to someone with a student card. If you are attending university or a college then it’s always worth checking to see if there are discounts on offer for you. Here are the discount locations available as of time of writing:

• National Theatre – if you’re aged between 16 and 25, you can get tickets for as little as £5
• The Barbican – see a concert, theatre performance, film screening or art exhibition with the ‘Young Barbican’ (14-25) scheme for discounted tickets
• English National Opera – offers discounts for below 21s (free tickets) and below 35s (tickets as low as £10)
• ODEON Cinema – get 25% off with a Student Beans card
• The London Eye – show your student ID card for £4.50 off standard ticket price
• Tower of London – 10% through UNiDAYs
• The London Dungeon – discounted tickets available through Student Beans

There are also discounts through some restaurants and cafes such as ASK Italian, Soho Coffee and Caffe Nero among others. If you’re 18 or over, a student and living in a London borough, you can get discounted travel with an Oyster photocard.

It’s more fun and cheaper on the bus

A single journey costs £1.75 with an Oyster or contactless card. You can take two bus journeys for the price of one if you use the same card within an hour. Whereas a single peak fare in Zone 1 costs £2.80 with an Oyster or contactless card.

Visit Sky Garden

Entry to the Sky Garden is totally free, but make sure you book your timed entry slot up to 3 weeks in advance, especially if you’re visiting at the weekend. Once you’re there, you can spend a relaxing hour taking in the calm atmosphere and wonderful greenery, absorbing the stunning cityscapes.

The British Museum

The British Museum is free to visit along with a number of other museums and galleries in London (listed below). Exhibitions are extra but if you become a member then you can visit them for free along with 10% discounts in the shop and the like exclusive to members.

You can also visit these places for free (10 More Things to do in London on a budget – well almost!):

• Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A)
• Imperial War Museum
• Natural History Museum
• National Maritime Museum
• Tate Modern
• The National Gallery
• Sir John Soane’s Museum
• Queen’s House

Do a taster tour at the National Gallery

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (excluding public holidays) you can go on a free 60-minute taster tour from 3 to 4pm. The guide will take you on a tour of some of their favourite pieces giving you a background story and pointing out any interesting features. If you are a fan of art then this is definitely worth going and it’s different each time as it depends on the guide you get.

Go to Hyde Park and Speakers’ Corner

Speakers’ Corner is located on the north-east edge of Hyde Park with Marble Arch and Oxford Street nearby. In 1872, an act of parliament set aside this part of Hyde Park for public speaking. Even nowadays, on a Sunday morning, you can find crowds gathering at Speakers’ Corner to listen to speakers enthusiastically presenting their views. Anyone can show up unannounced to speak on any subject, providing the police consider their speeches to be lawful. This was the beginning of free speech and historic figures such as George Orwell, Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin were known to often use the area.

Take in the view of the city on Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill is an area of open parkland in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath in north-west London. The hill, which is 98 metres (322 ft) high, has lovely views of the capital’s skyline. Hampstead Heath is an ancient heath that spans 320 hectares (790 acres) which has public ponds you can swim in all-year round.

Borough Market

Borough Market is a retail and wholesale market hall in Southwark. It is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, with a market on the site dating back to at least the 12th century. It has over 100 delicatessens, cheesemakers, fishmongers and butchers selling fresh produce, artisanal delicacies, meats and more. Great if you’re a bit of a foodie!

Notting Hill

Notting Hill has a distinctive, small-village feel, made famous by the movie of the same name. Portobello Road market is great for a visit and open every day except Sunday with Saturday being the main day. On a Friday you will find it full of antique stalls. The road was where George Orwell lodged with Mrs Craig in his first London home during the winter of 1927, a brightly-coloured house at number 22. In 1999 The Notting Hill Bookshop became famous after the interior was copied in the Notting Hill film featuring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Ever since the premiere thousands of fans of the film visit from all over the world. 

Do you have some more budget-friendly ideas?

If you can think of 10 Things to do in London on a budget that haven’t been mentioned here then contact us with your ideas. We hope you enjoy making a visit to a few places 🙂