Despite its many free attractions, museums and art galleries – from the National Portrait Gallery to the British Museum – London is a notoriously pricey city – where even a humble plate of fish and chips can cost around a tenner!
If you had just $10 (or £6.75 ish) in your pocket, what would you spend it on? We asked travellers in London for their ideas…
We’re London locals ourselves, though, so we played backpacker for the day and scoured the city for a list of great things to do when you’re staying in hostels in London on a budget. And we were pleasantly surprised at the more unusual things you can do in London with a bit of spare change…
1. Beigels in Brick Lane (£2)
In London’s now trendy East-End, Brick Lane is a popular place to soak up a bit of Brit-cool, with edgy bars and clubs, vintage clothing stores, and the infamous curry houses lining the streets. But after a night on the grimy-but-oh-so-hip tiles, London’s clubbers head to the Brick Lane Beigel Bake – perfect for soaking up the booze with a Jewish ‘Beigel’.
Cooked in the traditional way- boiled and then baked- these are the most authentic bagels you will ever eat, chewy and warm and served with all the typical fillings, from Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese to Pastrami. Open 24 hours a day, a plain Beigel is only 15p, and the classic Salt Beef is only £2. At these prices, you’ll have change spare to squeeze in a slice of cheesecake, or any other sugar-soaked pastry, for around 60p…
2. Full English Breakfast (£5)
If the Beigel wasn’t enough to prevent that hangover, spend a fiver on a traditional English Breakfast – otherwise known as ‘the Builder’s’ or the ‘Fry-Up’ . As it’s loving name suggests, this British ‘delicacy’ (just like fish and chips, pie and sausage and mash) is heavy with cholesterol and calories – but who cares when it tastes this good!
For an authentic but cheap English breakfast, forget the skinny lattes and croissants of more upscale breakfast venues and look out for a ‘Greasy Spoon’ Caff – the plastic tablecloths, wipe-clean booths and gruff builders downing cups of tea are all part of the charm. Each ‘Full English’ varies from place to place, but expect a greasy mash-up of bacon, eggs, sausage, beans, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, fried bread or hash browns, black pudding, and toast with lashings of butter, all washed down with a strong cup of tea. Dakin’s (under London Bridge) and The Other Side on Pentonville Road (by King’s Cross) are just two of the traditional joints where you can get all of the above for £5!
3. A Monu-mental View (£3)
The Monument is one of London’s most underrated tourist sites – just over from London Bridge, this tower (built to commemorate the great Fire of London in 1666) offers dizzying views of the city. It’s just reopened, so pay the small admission fee and brace yourself for a 61 meter climb to the top.
4. The ‘Bard’ in Action (£5)
Shakespeare is one of England’s most famous residents, and the esteemed playwright’s works are on show on the South Bank from April to October every year at The Globe Theatre. A recreation of a traditional Tudor playhouse, it comes complete with open roof and space for the ‘groundlings’ (that’s people standing to you and me). Standing tickets start from just £5, so if the weather’s nice, you can pay only peanuts to see the famous plays performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
5. The Opera (£4)
If Shakespearean dramatics are not your thing, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden also offers budget-friendly deals; it’s £4 for a last-minute standing ticket, which is perfect if you have high-class taste and an empty wallet!
6. A Bag Full of Records
From the Beatles at Abbey Road to the birth of Punk, London has long been famous for its music scene. With the demise of the traditional record shop, and even chains like Zavvi and Fopp going under, there seem to be less and less places to score some bargain beats. Luckily, Cheapo Cheapo records (53 Rupert Street) is still around – a real one-off and a chaotic Aladdin’s Cave of second-hand records, CDs and DVDs. Open from 1pm until the owner decides to close, this tiny shop in Soho is a ramshackle mix of old cardboard boxes crammed with vinyl and bags of rubble… Rummage here for a few hours and you can get a decent bag of goodies for your 10 bucks – but you’ll find yourself elbowing DJs out the way in search of an awesome bargain.
7. Art – And the Prettiest Corner of London? (£5)
Dulwich Village is an affluent part of South London, populated with gourmet delis, flower shops and shops selling trinkets and designer goods for yummy mummies. There’s a glorious park and beautiful old college, as well as some impressive houses, but the Dulwich Picture Gallery is the cultural gem worth heading south for. There’s an outstanding collection of 17th and 18th century art by masters such as Rembrandt and Rubens, housed in a mix of historic and ultra-modern buildings. Three times a year the Gallery hosts fascinating exhibitions, such as the ‘Age of Enchantment’ (illustrations for Fairy stories).
8. Take to the Water in Hyde Park
Hyde Park is beautiful all year-round, and when the weather warms up there’s nothing better than taking a pedalo ride across the Serpentine Lake, with glorious views of the gallery. Half an hour’s Pedalo Hire is £5 – double up for a romantic and leisurely lake ride.
9. Ride the Dodgems (£2)
For a more hectic ride, hit the dodgems at County Hall, by Waterloo Station. The ‘NamCo Experience’ is like an indoor fairground, with video game arcades, bowling and pool, but the hectic indoor dodgem rink is the best way to unleash your inner child.
10. Offbeat Nights Out
There’s loads to do on a night out in London, but once you veer from a cheap pub towards a club, prices can skyrocket. That’s why Shunt, a unique lounge bar and ‘performance space’ underneath the arches of London Bridge, is so refreshing – entry is only £5 to guarantee a quirky evening’s entertainment. Get there early (queues on a Friday often snake around the block) and prepare to witness an assortment of dancing, theatre, music, art shows and other oddball delights.
Looking for more inspiration on what to do in London? Check out our cheap day out in London, or 48 hour city break with just £48… It’s also fun to research other blogs from expats or frequent travellers who have moved to the UK to see London through the eyes of visitor rather than us cynical locals. Try Singapore in London which has some great tips about unique events and Emm in London’s adventures! And for all the London gossip, from the best parks to today’s weather, check out The London Word.
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