Despite having quite the expensive reputation as a city, a day out in London doesn't have to cost a lot of money. There are a huge variety of free London attractions to visit, cheap restaurants to eat at, vast amounts of parks and discounted tickets for lots of top attractions! So whether you’re on a tight budget, or just want something to do for the afternoon, keep reading to find out some ideas for a cheap day out in London!
Make the most of London's open spaces and royal parks with a picnic! With spring on its way, the weather getting a little warmer and more suitable for outdoor activities, a picnic in the park is a great way to spend the afternoon and perfect occasion to spend some time with your loved ones, relax and have a good gossip with your girl friends.
London features 8 royal parks; St James’ Park, Regents Park, Hyde Park, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park and Kensington Gardens, which are such beautiful, picturesque locations for a relaxing and refreshing picnic! A personal favourite would be Hyde Park, where you can enjoy your homemade lunch and go for a little stroll along The Serpentine!
Preparing some homemade snacks is a perfect way to keep this outing to a small budget and not spend a great amount of money on food and drinks. From homemade sandwiches and cute cupcakes to chocolate cookies and healthy salads, as well as sausage rolls, pasta dishes and a tasty fruit salad, the possibilities are endless!
Some of London’s biggest attractions can come with quite the hefty price tag, but throughout the year, there are many chances to snap up a 2 for 1 ticket to save you some money! 2 for 1 tickets and offers allow you to have an enjoyable, fun day out, without it costing an arm and a leg, so you don’t need to worry about having an empty bank account! Whether Thorpe Park, London Zoo, Madame Tussuad's, London Eye or The Aquarium is your thing, you will be able to find plenty of these 2 for 1 offers in newspapers, your local supermarket or more easily on the Day’s Out Guide, with 150 locations and attractions; you shall be spoilt for choice!
A shopping spree in London doesn’t have to be expensive, especially if you know the best places to go! London is a host to such a variety of interesting and beautiful markets, with Camden, Portobello Road and Spitalfields firm favourites, as well as Brick Lane and Borough Market, sticking to a budget can be easily achieved with some bargain shopping. Whether you’re looking for some adorable ornaments or stunning homemade jewellery or just for a casual browse, there is definitely a market perfect for your tastes!
Finally, if something more intellectual and inspiring is more your thing, London is home to over 300 museums and galleries, where most of these have free entry! With a massive variety, including The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Saatchi Gallery, The Science Museum, Imperial War Museum, and plenty of others to choose from, visiting museums and galleries is a great opportunity to gain some extra knowledge in a specific field, as well as having an exciting and fun packed afternoon, without spending a penny! (Except on specific exhibitions or a cheeky purchase in the gift shop) Whether history, science, culture, art or design is your thing, London delves into the history of everything from astronauts to Da Vinci to boats to war and lots more!
So whether you’re looking to save yourself some money on a day out in London, or just want some inspiration of places to visit, hopefully this little budget guide has inspired you to do something different on a spare afternoon, or to go somewhere that interests you or your hobbies.
Where are your favourite budget places to visit? Will you be visiting any of the places featured in today's post this summer?
