Know before you go: top tips for travellers to London
Everyone wants to do as much as possible, but at the same time save money when they go to London - but it’s knowing how to do so in advance that’s the trick. We asked some visitors to London what their best money-saving tricks were, from places to eat, to sightseeing, travel and top tips. If you’re looking to save but not sacrifice on the fun then read these top 10 tips.
- Plan an itinerary in advance
You don’t want to take all the fun out of being spontaneous, but sometimes the best way to see a city as full of great attractions is by planning out your days in advance and creating an itinerary. This will really help you make the most out of your time in the city and make sure you don’t leave any out. For some great itinerary ideas, visit our itinerary page to get an idea of how much you can fit in.
- Arm yourself with freebies
Make sure you shop around for the all-important guidebooks and other handy resources before arriving. Everyone wants to come prepared but don’t spend money that you don’t need to. We offer handy resources for free (!) in our Download Centre – including a London Tourist Map plotting some of the best attractions, a tube map and a free multilingual guidebook. You can’t beat it, really! What’s more, keep your eyes peeled when you’re in London as often people hand out other freebies outside the tube stations such as coffee vouchers, which is always a great way to start a day of sightseeing!
- Stay in the know
It’s hard to stay in the know and be aware of what’s going on when you’re visiting a new city. Unless you have local contacts out there, sometimes it’s best to wait until you’ve arrived when you can get a feel for certain areas and find a common ground for yourself. One of the best things us local Londoners use to stay in the know are the free Time Out magazines that are given away every Tuesday. This has a great list of things to do in the week and weekend should you be looking for bars, restaurants or nights out – including special one off events.
- Take in the views
A walk along the Southbank is one of the best things to do in London to take in the impressive views spanning over the Thames. If you start from Westminster Bridge, south of the River, you’ll pass the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, a skate park, you’ll pass the iconic Southbank Centre and British Film Institute, a great second hand book fair under the arch of Waterloo Bridge, the impressive Oxo Tower, along Bankside and past Shakespeare’s Globe and right past Blackfriars Bridge and up to the Tate Modern art gallery. Make sure you wear comfy shoes!
- Transport
The London Underground is the best way to get around London with its network of 270 stations and 250 miles of tracks over 11 separate lines! There’s no doubt it’s the most time-efficient way to get from A to B and with the Oyster Card capping daily travel, it’s hard to overspend if you’re in central London sightseeing. But we do advise to check for travel updates as there are usually line maintenance at the weekends and some line closures so please check TFL website for the most up to date information.
- See all the sights for free
The London Pass is an indispensable resource to help you explore the city to the fullest and unlock all the great attractions for free. Available in 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 10 days this pass will let you in to over 60 of the best attractions in London at no further cost – from the Tower of London, to Westminster Abbey and a Thames River Cruise. You can see the best the city has to offer without breaking the bank and rest assured nothing will be left out. Get your fix of historic buildings, tours and experiences with just one card – it couldn’t be easier!
- It’s all about Apps
Everything is mobile these days and one of the best things to do is sync everything you need to your phone. If you’re wary of using the internet abroad, log onto free wifi and install some of these most useful Apps to use offline to help you discover London with ease. Our own free London Pass App can be downloaded on both Android and iOS so you can have this great resource at your fingertips as you explore London. Citymapper is also a great new tool to have on your phone to help you get around the city if you plan on using an Oyster Card.
- Summer pop ups
One of the best things about being in London in the summer is the range of pop ups available from food stalls to bars, music venues and independent shops. One of the best places to go to find the newest and hottest pop ups is the Southbank, along the river, or at BoxPark in Shoreditch, a pop up venue dedicated to hosting pop ups – from Caribbean jerk chicken shops to shops showcasing new items from up and coming fashion designers.
- Dine out for cheap
Although London is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, offering every type of cuisine imaginable, you can also eat very well for a snip of the price! From offers in Time Out, and word of mouth for the best places to eat, we also offer an exclusive Dining Guide where you can enjoy great offers at top restaurants around the city. Save up to 50% off your food bill at over 145 restaurants in London, from Italian to Thai, Chinese and America – perfect for grabbing a bite to eat when you’re out and about.
- Cheap theatre tickets
London’s West End is not to be missed and for those who love their shows and plays, there’s a wealth of great things to see in this iconic district. From the Lion King, to Billy Elliot, Wicked and Les Mis, there’s something for everyone to enjoy – both old and young! But before you pay full price for your tickets, make sure you do your research. We can offer you the best seats and great discounts at evening shows and matinee performances – visit out site to find out more: https://concierge.londonpass.com/