How to save money while visiting London – Part 4

London is a must see for every travel enthusiast out there, but if you don’t watch yourself a vacation to London could very easily break your bank. So how can you visit the home of Big Ben without spending hundreds of Ben Franklins? Well, to save money you need to first take into account what you spend the most money on. For vacationers in London, the most money is usually spent on accommodation, food, and attractions.

Accommodation:

London offers a plethora of places to stay. Some are better than others, but with that also comes a higher cost. Hotels in London are expensive, and not just the five star ones. Any hotel near the tourist attractions will easily cost over 150 American dollars a night. The plus side of staying in one of the expensive hotels is that you can probably walk to wherever you want to go, but it would still be cheaper to stay in a hotel outside of London and take the tube or bus (perhaps a double decker) to your destination. Hotels outside the heart of London are much cheaper, and they usually also include a continental breakfast.

However hotels are not the only place to stay in London. Young tourists often stay at hostels. Although they lack privacy, they are much cheaper than staying in a hotel. But hostels are not for everybody, and I, myself, could never bring myself to stay in one.

An alternative to both hotels and hostels is living in another person’s house. Home exchange programs are gaining popularity. In a home exchange, you trade homes with a person who wants to visit your hometown and lives where you would like to travel. This also offers a full kitchen, so you could cook your own meals and save tons of money on food. It also allows you to feel more like a Londoner than a tourist as you completely immerse yourself in their culture. The only downfall I could see with a home exchange is that you won’t have easy access to tour guides and help with tourist attractions or any questions about London.

If you are not comfortable living in another person’s house, or having a stranger live in your house, check out the bed and breakfasts that London offers. This way you’ll still get immersed in London culture, and you’ll also have a Londoner there to answer questions for you. An added bonus with the bed and breakfasts is that you will also have some meals covered a day. Perhaps you could also discuss arrangements with the family to cook other meals and save money as well.

Food:

Another big expense on

You Can’t Miss The London Eye

The London Eye is one of the most visual landmarks in London. It is formerly called the Millennium Wheel. It was opened on December 31, 1999 by Prime Minister Tony Blair and its purpose is to celebrate the Millennium. However due to some technical problems, it was only fully operational in March of 2000. But still, it quickly became one of the most popular attractions in the world as it entertains 2 million visitors each year.

Most people call the rides as flights because it was actually sponsored by the popular airline company, British Airways.

The London Eye Ferris Wheel is 443 feet above Thames River and will take you 30 minutes before you complete one revolution. It is located just opposite the very popular Big Ben Clock Tower and is just beside the River Thames.

Riding the Capsule

The London Eye Ferris Wheel consists of capsules where people can ride on. This capsule is very comfortable as it is fully air-conditioned and is designed to keep everyone in an upright position while the wheel is revolving. It can hold up to 25 people inside.

In order to ride it, of course you will need a ticket. You can visit the ticket box office to purchase one. However due its popularity, most of the time you really need to wait on a long line before you can take your turn. So, if you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to wait on a long line, then you can go online to purchase tickets in advance. The tickets may be a little more expensive than the usual though but it may be worth your penny instead of waiting on a long line under the sun.

A Good Tourist Attraction

When you go to London for a good sightseeing, you will most likely visit the Big Ben Clock Tower and the Westminster Palace or what is sometimes called the House of Parliament. Once you’re there, you will never miss the huge Ferris wheel just at the opposite side of the palace. At that moment you’ll realize how beautiful the London Eye is.

Though it is still not as popular as the Big Ben, it is becoming more and more popular over the past years as it attracts many people around the world. And besides, it opened just a few years ago and it really does not carry a deep historic background with it yet. But if you are in London, it will be really hard to ignore this beautiful site.

If you’re planning on visiting the London Eye, it will be worth your while as you’ll get to see other London attractions nearby. If you are lucky enough to ride it, you’ll have some great view of famous attractions like the Big Ben Clock Tower as it is connected to the Palace of Westminster. You will also have a great view of the long and famous Thames River. In addition to all the attractions, there are plenty of shops and restaurants around the place so you’ll have lots of options to relax and explore.

A Sightseeing Tour Around the Big Ben in London