Budget Travel London: Priceless Experiences You'll Remember Forever
See the Sights, No Matter Your Budget
Though it is one of the most expensive destinations to travel to, London is still one of the most popular. If you’re worried a visit to England’s capital will leave you broke after just a few days, don’t despair — there are many affordable activities you can find to make the city a budget-friendly European destination, if you take the time to look.
Save your money for your must-see attractions and delicious foods, and supplement your itinerary with these free ways to enjoy your trip to London.
1. Take a Stroll Through the Park
London has many fantastic green spaces and each of these parks is completely different. Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park border each other, making a massive park that has beautiful plants, fountains and statues.
Between the two, you can watch paddle boaters on the river, enjoy public art, see the park’s wildlife and get a lot of exercise.
Holland Park, one of London’s most underrated green spaces, can make you forget you’re in the middle of the city. It has two Japanese gardens, a plethora of avian residents (and squirrels who will not shy away from someone with snacks), public art installations, a vegetable garden, sport fields and more.
It’s perfect for the whole family and provides tons of photo opportunities.
With over a dozen parks to visit, you can get many different views of the city while taking in a brilliant London day and getting some much-needed fresh air.
2. Visit the Queen’s House
You shouldn’t miss a trip to Greenwich. Once you get there by underground or ferry boat, you can put your wallet away.
Pack a picnic to enjoy on the sprawling greens, stroll along the riverbank, and visit the Queen’s House. This former royal residence has been restored for tourists and includes a large collection of nautical and maritime paintings, as well as notable portraits from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
Make sure to head over to the Royal Observatory, where you can learn about astronomy and navigation. Greenwich is where all modern time zones originate and you can stand on the Prime Meridian (0° longitude), for a fee.
Nearby, you can visit the world’s largest Maritime Museum, which has activities for kids of all ages and plenty to entertain adults, too.
If you're looking for the cheapest place to fly into Europe, all 10 of these are great options.These airports don't skimp on conveniences, either!
3. Check out the Markets
You may not be out to buy anything, but even so, London has a diversity of markets for your perusing pleasure. From antiques to fancy cheeses, wandering from stall to stall is a fantastic way to see what a city is all about and to interact with locals.
Portabello Road Market, located in the photogenic Notting Hill, has both vintage treasures and fresh foods. Burough Market, under the railway lines, brings all of London’s best foods to one stunning building.
Camden Market, situated next to canal, has a great location but also offers visitors foods, trinkets and fashions.
More than 10 markets go on all over the city and throughout the week, so no matter when you visit, you can indulge in a big part of London’s culture.
