Luxury For Less – London On A Shoestring

Selecting London hotels based on location as well as price can make a London vacation both comfortable and affordable even on a shoestring budget. There are many hotels located within an easy walking distance to “The Tube.” The Tube is London’s most commonly used form of transportation for residents and it can make getting around the city fast, easy, and affordable. With 275 Tube stations throughout London, it’s not difficult to find a hotel within easy walking distance to one of these stations, giving travelers easy access to the many sights and experiences London has to offer.

While guided tours of London can be costly and most museums charge admission, there are many things to do in this wonderful city that don’t cost a dime. For instance, visitors may want to check out Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park. Other suggestions include the many parks located in London, viewing art at Kenwood House and the National Gallery, watching London light up at dusk while walking the Embankment, or trying the free food samples that Harrods always has to offer. Many affordable London hotels are located in close proximity to these attractions or are just a short Tube ride away.

Dining in London does not have to break the bank either. There are certainly many wonderful restaurants in London for those who seek a luxurious (and expensive) dinner, but the true adventure of London comes in part from the pub experience. Not only can travelers get a pint of their favorite local ale, but they can also indulge in traditional English fare: Fish and chips, bangers and mash, Ploughman’s lunch, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Additionally, the pub is a great place to meet some of the locals and hear about some of the area’s history and folklore. Visitors may also learn of the favorite haunts of London residents and have the chance to see a side of city that other, less adventurous travelers might miss.

Saving money while on vacation may be a necessity for some travelers. For others, the savings may provide the opportunity to splurge on something very special, something to be remembered for years after the vacation. This splurge might be a dinner prepared by a world-renowned chef, enjoying a theatre production, or a memorable stay at one of many luxurious London hotels.

Unlike many other holiday or vacation destinations, London can accommodate all budgets, even very small ones. There are several London hotels available for £28 (about US $55) or less, many of which are located close to the Tube. The Tube provides fast, affordable, and easy transportation around the entire city, making it simple for visitors to get from one sight to the next without the expense of car rental or parking fees. London features many admission-free attractions and sometimes the best way to find them is by visiting a pub, enjoying a pint and some grub, and taking up conversation with one of the local residents.

How to save money while visiting London – Part 2

Visiting the home of Big Ben and the Queen Mother may not be as expensive as you think. If you’ve always dreamt of seeing the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, you can make it happen with a little careful planning and determination.

HOW TO VISIT LONDON ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET:

HOSTELS:

St. Christopher’s Inn, Globetrotters, Wake-Up and YHA are all nice hostels located right in the heart of London. They’ll give you nice accomodations for a fraction of what hotels or B & B’s will cost you. Avoid going through an agency to book a reservation at one (they’ll add fees). Instead, contact the hostel’s direct. Get contact information through www.visitlondon.com, or google the individual hostel name.

COLLEGES:

That’s right. If you’re going to be visiting London during university holidays (while students are away) these make great inexpensive places to bed down for the night. King’s College and City University are both highly recommended. Contact them directly for times they book these rooms to tourists.

SHOWS:

London is second only to New York City when it comes to great live-stage shows. My husband once saw James Stewart perform “Harvey” live on stage in London while he was there on tour with a college group many years back. Just as you can get leftover tickets for half-price or less on Broadway (if you wait until right before showtime) you can do the same in London. TKTS in Leicester Square has many half price ticket shows in the evenings.

FOOD:

There are a great many inexpensive restaurants in London. Avoid the trendy “fish and chips” style restaurants and go for something like “Wagamamas” (an inexpensive Japanese Noodle restaurant that uses fresh ingredients and has a buzzy atmosphere). Back plenty of snack crackers and peanut butter inside your suitcase before you leave home, taking time to eat only one restaurant meal per day.

HAPPY HOURS:

Two for one drinks and free hor d’oeuvres. Need I say more? This is how an aunt and uncle got a free lunch each day they were in London. They each ordered one drink, paid for one and filled up on cheese trays, nuts and the like. It held them over well until dinner, when they would go out to a restaurant for a “real” meal.

STREET MARKETS

Forget the trendy tourist shops that put a high price on everything they sale. Try Old Spitalfields Market (vintage clothes, jewelry, arts, crafts) or Greenwich Market (unique arts and crafts on Thursday-Sunday) instead. You’ll get better merchandise at a fraction of the cost.

FREEBIES

The really beautiful thing about London is that everything you really want to see (like the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace) is absolutely free of charge! Here’s just a taste of the free attractions:

*BUCKINGHAM PALACE (changing of the guards every other day at 11:30 am)

*MARTIN-IN-THE-FELD CHURCH (free lunchtime concerts on Mon, Tues and Fri)

*NATIONAL GALLERY (largest collection of European paintings in the world)

*NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

*BRITISH MUSEUM (London’s most visited museum)

*NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM IN GREENWICH

*OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE

*ROYAL OBSERVATORY IN GREENWICH PARK

*QUEEN’S HOUSE (built by Indigo Jones for the Stuart Queens Anne of Denmark and Henrietta Maria)

Monument, the world’s highest free-standing stone column, only cost 1.50 pounds to see. There are many other very low-cost attractions such as this.

Now all you have to do is make sure you have a current passport and find the cheapest flight you can. If you really want to travel inexpensively, may I recommend swimming across the Atlantic? Cheers!

Sources:

www.golondon.about.com

www.corporate.visitlondon.com

www.aardvarktravel.net