3 Cheap Places To Visit In London When You’re Saving The Pennies

My favourite city in the UK just happens to be the capital city. It’s one of the biggest tourist draws in the world, with over 30 million people flocking to see its famous sights each year. When planning a trip it can often be overwhelming trying to figure out where to go in the limited time you have. And there’s so much to do. It can also be tricky trying to do it in a cost-effective way. London is also widely regarded as the most expensive city in the UK. Exhibition visits, getting dinner, and even just buying a coffee can be things that quickly add up, especially if you have children.

With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of 3 affordable places to visit in London. They might not be as glamorous as the view from the shard, or a tour of the Harry Potter studios. But they can come in handy if you’re low on funds and still want to enjoy the capital.

The Natural History Museum

Home to around 80 million pieces, London’s Natural History Museum is instantly recognisable. The enormous blue whale skeleton hung up in its main hall is a standout. Around Valentines Day I went to an indoor cinema ran by Luna Cinema which was incredibly unique. With a large portion of the museum available to access for free, it’s easy to spend a day getting lost in the rich history the building contains. And it’s an excellent place to go on a rainy day if the summer weather continues to remain gloomy.

Did you know? For those wanting to see a little more, the museum offers behind-the-scenes tours, showing things that aren’t on general display for any to see. One freakish example is an 8.62-metre long squid, preserved in liquid to be examined by the brave.

Hyde Park

Looking to enjoy the city sights in the coming summer? London has some great parks and greenery to explore and relax in the sunshine. Better still, they’re free to enter. Hyde Park is a vast, open green space that is known both for music festivals and free speech demonstrations. It contains a rose garden which I have yet to explore. The Diana memorial fountain and even a playground for children. In a city that’s extremely busy and often congested in the daytime, it’s a great place to escape for a while. I really want to pack up a picnic and here there on a sunny Sunday.

Did you know? London is not just an expensive place for tourists, but its also proving to be increasingly unfeasible for homeowners and businesses. The average home costs over 3 times as much in London compared to Liverpool. So many people are looking towards the Northern cities for comfortable city living. I recently spoke about how Manchester is like the London of the North which you can read here. Property investment company RW Invest are offering luxury, affordable properties for potential investors looking to jump in on the ‘northern powerhouse’ market as it is growing.

The Changing of the Guard

Aside from visiting the breath-taking Buckingham Palace itself, the changing of the guard is undoubtedly worth watching. The easy to spot red-clad guards change at 11:00 AM and are accompanied by musical fanfare. Once again, it’s completely free to watch the ceremony in the summer months, and there is always a schedule available. So plan ahead and you’ll know exactly when to arrive.

Top-Tip: The London Underground is not only a great way to see London’s most well-known and renowned method of transport, but it’s an affordable and efficient way of getting from landmark to landmark.

What are your favourite free/ cheap things to do in London?

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