Cheap travel tips for london

London is one of the most visited cities in Europe, but it is also one of the most expensive. With some planning, you can help to keep down the costs of a visit here. The good news is that many of London’s museums and other monuments are still free to visit – and of course it costs nothing to just walk the streets of one of the world’s great cities.

To begin with, you will need somewhere to stay. A rock-bottom hotel room in London will cost around $80 for a single or double room with basic facilities and a shared bathroom. If you want a room with its own bathroom, expect to pay around $100 minimum. In England, cheaper hotels are usually described as 'bed and breakfast' hotels. As in the rest of Europe, hotel rooms in London are small and may not automatically come with a telephone, TV, alarm clock, etc as they do in the US.

There are some alternatives to expensive hotels. London has several youth hostels, which despite the name, are open to travelers of any age. Youth hostels have basic facilities, usually offer shared accommodation and may have a curfew. The advantage is the price – around $30 to $50 per night. The best located youth hostel is the one near St. Paul’s Cathedral. London has several other hostels; some of which are available only to students or travelers from certain countries; it’s worth checking to see if you qualify for any of them.

If you visit London during the summer, you can stay in the students’ rooms of several London colleges and universities. While the students are on summer break, their rooms are rented out to travelers – again, the accommodation is basic, although some offer single rooms. The advantage is the cost, around the same price as hostels, and the central location of many of these establishments. Anyone can stay in these rooms, you don’t have to be a student, but be sure to book a room in these places a long way in advance if you can. There are several campgrounds on the outskirts of London; the money saved on accommodation would have to be balanced against the 40 or 50 minute train ride into the center of London

Despite recent trends for many museums to charge admission, most of London’s major museums and galleries are still free to visit, including the British Museum, National Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum. You could spend several days admiring the extensive collections in each of these institutions alone. And it still costs nothing to people-watch in Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square. Some other London institutions are free as well – the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, and Speakers’ Corner, where Londoners exercise their centuries old right to address the crowd – about any subject they like. Many museums and galleries have a free program of concerts or talks, or offer guided tours of their collections. Covent Garden, apart from its indoor market, usually has plenty of free entertainment on the square outside St Paul’s church.

If you plan to visit at least several other of the museums and attractions that charge admission, the ‘London Pass’ is a good buy. The pass is valid for different lengths of time, ranging from 1 day to 6 days (The 6 day pass costs about $120) but make sure it will pay for itself – if you only visit one or two museums, it’s cheaper just to pay for the admission. The pass gives admission to many ‘must-see’ sights including the Tower of London and Windsor Castle; it also offers a ‘timed admission’ at some attractions to avoid standing in long line. There are other passes available too, a British Heritage Pass and a National Trust pass – do some research on what you want to see before you buy any of these passes. The official website www.travelbritain.org gives details on all these passes, as well as other discounts. If you are a student, carry your student card with you and ask for a discount when traveling, as many attractions offer discounts (sometimes called ‘concessions’ in England) to students.

London’s street markets are legendary, and can still be a good source for bargains, although you usually have to visit early in the morning to get the best items. Portobello Road and Petticoat lane are the two largest and most popular; both sell everything from genuine antiques to old clothes and household items. A good place to buy inexpensive fruit and vegetables for a picnic lunch is at the Berwick Street market, right in the middle of the theater district. Every London neighborhood has 'charity' shops which are the equivalent of consignment stores; they sell cheap books, clothes and furnishings.

London is the center of live theater, and a great way to see a show at a discount is to visit one of the half-price ticket booths on the day of the show. The two booths, one in Leicester Square and one near the financial district sell discounted tickets to events that same evening- there is usually a good selection available – but be prepared to stand in line. Apart from the major West End theaters, there are dozens of smaller venues offering live or experimental theater; many shows are free to attend.

One of the best ways to see London’s many neighborhoods is simply by walking, but London is so huge and spread out that sooner or later you will need to use public transport. The underground or ‘tube’ as Londoners call it is the world’s oldest mass transit system. Depending on how long you will be in London, you can buy a tube pass for different lengths of time; the passes also cover buses and local trains too. The tube goes to and from Heathrow airport, but not Gatwick. Taxis in London are reliable but very expensive – don’t take one unless there are several of you sharing.

Finally, make sure you visit at least one public house, or ‘pub’. London has over 7,000 and there will be one around the corner from your hotel. Apart from a great place to meet the locals and soak up some atmosphere, virtually all pubs offer traditional British food at reasonable prices.