The city of London is renowned for being fairly expensive to visit, particularly if you are unfortunate enough to visit from a country with a poor exchange rate.  That being said, there are many ways to spend your time in London without breaking the bank, so long as know what you’re doing.  Here, we’ve put together some of our tips for you to enjoy the Big Smoke with a not-so-big bank statement.

Sort Your Travel in Advance

Booking your train tickets well in advance can save you a small fortune, especially those that are long distance.  A set number of tickets tend to be allocated on certain trains with a reduced price, but these are only available early on and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.  Normally, these are released around three months before the departure date, so it’s always worth checking the trains to London Kings Cross to see what deals are available.

Visit Free Attractions

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the London culture or fancy a more relaxed exploration of the city, there are plenty of museums and attraction for you to visit – better yet, a large proportion of them are free entry, or require only a small donation.  One of the most popular museums, the Tate Modern, is an enormous art gallery situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, home to collections of art over the last few centuries.  Similarly, the Natural History Museum is filled with historic wonders for all ages to explore.  Alternatively, you can walk through the Royal Parks; an area overflowing with green spaces to relax and have a picnic.

Food and Drink on the Cheap

The water is perfectly safe to drink in London, meaning you needn’t buy unnecessary bottled drinks during your travels.  Simply, bring along a reusable bottle and find yourself an establishment that allows you to refill your bottle free of charge.  For a bite to eat, why not visit one of the many markets within the city, such as Brick Lane?  Here you can try nearly every cuisine the world has to offer, including poutine from Canada or arepa from Peru.  There are also apps that notify you of restaurants offering discounts on food left at the end of the day.

Find Suitable Accommodation at a Suitable Price

If you’re planning on staying in London for a few days, you’ll want to choose accommodation that meets fits your budget whilst still allowing you to relax after a long day of sightseeing.  You may consider a cheap hostel in one of the central areas of London, such as St Pancras or Oxford Street.  For more privacy, there are capsule beds available as well at St. Christopher’s village, which is also a great place to socialise with other tourists.  If you plan on finding a room on Airbnb, your best bet is to choose somewhere in either Zone 2 or Zone 3, although, beware, the lower price tag is due to the area being fairly noisy.