Explore in London on Your Own

London really is one of the best places in the world to explore on your own. The city is best explored when you start from the central, since many major landmarks are closer to each other. You can also fix your accommodation in the middle of the city that will allow you easy access to central London. Park Grand London Hyde Park, or the Barbican Hotel, for instance, are popular choices for having all the major transport links on their doorstep and gives the ease of travel to and from major airports, shopping areas and landmarks. London is one of the most foot-friendly cities in the world and its pedestrian environment is not only enjoyable, but also very healthy. London, home to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the beautiful Regents Park, its history has intrigued all throughout time and is one place that should take precedence on on your travel list to visit. Why not download our mobile-app to help make your stay in London memorable. As a budget traveller you can easily explore the best London has to offer as many London landmarks and attractions are free. Here is how to do it:

See the Changing of the Guard: Taking place every day at 11.30am during the summer (and every second day during the winter), the Changing of the Guard in front of Buckingham Palace is one of the most popular London attractions to witness in London. Watch as the Queen’s guards perform the switch in perfect sync, all decked out in ceremonial uniform. Make sure to get down early to get a good viewing point.

Catch up with a  movie: Located on Borough High Street near Borough Tube station (Northern Line), Roxy Bar & Screen is a bar with a difference. Out the back you can catch free movies, all the while sipping on a nice cold pint. They show everything and anything, from Paul Newman classics to kung-fu flicks and runs each Sunday through Wednesday

Attend a concert: If you’re one who likes all sorts of music and you’re near London’s National Theatre on Southbank near Waterloo Bridge, you’d be mad not to catch one of the free concerts there. Running Monday-Saturday at 5.45pm and at 1.45pm on Saturday afternoons, you can see jazz and folk, amongst other types of acts. Promoters put on free events all over the city, showcasing London’s up-and-coming and burgeoning musical talent. The number of pubs that put on music is pretty much countless, but highlights include Shoreditch’s Rhythm Factory, which puts on free shows during the week and is a favourite with the impossibly cool Indie bands in leg hugging jeans. The Lexington in Angel is the darling of North London crowd and puts on an eclectic mix of nights upstairs. They put on a lot of paid nights, but usually their Sunday sessions are free. If you’re looking for something a little grittier, then New Cross Inn is home to the best in emerging alternative rock, punk and metal bands and put on plenty of free shows during the week. Then there’s The Notting Hill Arts Club, located in one of London’s most famous suburbs (21 Notting Hill Gate). It has been showcasing London’s up and coming acts for 11 years now. Its small stage makes it that more intimate, while the old sofas are still perfect for enjoying the tunes.

Take a walk at Westminster Abbey: While visiting one of London’s most famous attractions may cost £16 during the day, if you leave your visit until when ‘Evensong’ takes place every evening at 5.30pm you won’t have to pay anything. Not only that, you’ll be treated to the sounds of the Abbey’s choir too.

Witness Oratory: Found at the north-east tip of Hyde Park near Marble Arch, Speakers’ Corner is where anybody and everybody can jump on an old crate and voice their opinion on all sorts of subjects every Sunday. Whether it’s politics or fashion, chances are there’s going to be someone talking about it here.

Go to the Museums: Pretty much all of London’s are museums are free. And we’re not talking any old novelty museums here either. No, we’re talking the city’s top museums – the famous ones! This includes the British Museum on Great Russell St. (which is London’s most visited attraction), the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, the National Portrait Gallery around the corner on St Martin’s Place, the Tate Modern and Tate Britain on the River Thames, and the Natural History Museum, Science Museumand Victoria and Albert Museum, all in South Kensington. Who could complain about a little free culture?

Shopping in London: Shopping in London can be a struggle – with street upon street packed with great stores, just knowing where to start can be tricky. Luckily, you can narrow down your options  according to your taste and budget. There's something to please every taste and budget, including a selection of the best department stores, quaint little boutiques, cavernous thrift stores, chic homeware outlets and designer fashion shops. If there’s ever been a good time to think about extending your overdraft, it’s now. There's the Rough Trade East for rare vinyl and in-store gigs, or Ray Man for the musically inclined, or Brick Lane Books for the bibliophile in you. So go forth – shop until your feet ache and your purse is begging for mercy.