Tourist Tricks: 5 Ways to Save Money in London

All great cities can rip you off if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you’re traveling on a budget, it doesn’t mean that you have to settle for lousy accommodation, eat the cheapest food and do practically nothing all day. London is an amazing city, and you can learn about how it developed through the ages and experience the local lifestyle without staying in a pricy hotel, eating in the most expensive restaurants and calling a taxi every time you need a ride. The next five tourist tricks are quite simple, but very efficient – they will help a lot when it comes to saving money.

Rent, Don’t Book

This is the golden rule, and it doesn’t apply only to London. When you’re visiting a huge city such as London, you can’t afford the luxury of staying in a hotel – the food is overpriced, the rooms are usually small, and there’s that unbearable lack of privacy that I just can’t wrap my head around. Instead of booking a room, you should rent an apartment – no matter if you’re traveling with your family, friends or by yourself, I’m sure you’ll be able to find a perfectly comfortable place that will feel just like home.

Mind the Weather

The next problem you might have is a spot of rain as you are walking around the city. The only thing that you actually need to be worried about in England is the weather. London is a great walking city, because it doesn’t have any boring parts – if you decide to take a nice long walk through the city, you’ll be able to see famous landmarks, so I’m sure you won’t be bored. However, if the weather turns against you, you should get an Oyster Card that enables you to use the tube system and buses. You should also know that kids under ten can travel for free when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.

Eat In

Like with any big city, eating out can be a problem. The fact is, you won’t spend enough time there to really care about fine dining, so you can find small restaurants with great food that don’t overcharge. Still, take a look at this tipping guide by London Escape to get an understanding of how that part of the etiquette works so you don't walk into an awkward situation. On the other hand, eating at the first place that you stumble upon might cause some other problems, so you definitely need help. If you do decide to rent an apartment, you won’t have to deal with this because you’ll have a kitchen at your disposal. If not, you’ll have to do some serious research about where to eat in London, or simply consult a Londoner that you know.

Free Soul Food

London loves its tourist – people are friendly, landmarks are breath taking and there are free tourist tours you can simply join in! There’s another great fact about this city – the majority of museums have an admission free policy. The only thing they do charge for are special exhibitions, but visiting them is totally up to you. Is there a better way to get to know London and its history than spending a couple of hours every day in one of its museums? Just remember to bring a sandwich or two.

Parks Instead of Bars

Sure, London is widely known for its pubs and bars, but the situation can be potentially as problematic as the one with restaurants – if you don’t know how much the food and drinks cost, you might find yourself in trouble when the bill comes. Sometimes it is better not to enter if you aren't sure. If you don’t have anyone to consult about this, you can always have a beer in one of London’s parks. There’s an offy (off-license store) or a supermarket on every corner, and they usually have an excellent offer when it comes to locally produced beers and other liquor which you can enjoy outdoors.

The secret of getting to know the real London without having to pay a small fortune is in traveling off the map. Therefore, avoid big agencies and large tours – their organizations are usually overbooked, and you won’t be able to see nothing but the crowd around you. It’s important to take your time and do your homework before you arrive, so that you know where you’re headed and what to expect. Bon voyage.