Going Budget in London

First we had Brexit, then the recent passing of the Queen, and now the value of the pound has completely plummeted, making it an expensive time for Brits abroad. On the other hand, it could not be a better time for people to travel to England, where the dollar or peso will now go a much longer way. Described by many as being one of the most expensive cities in the world, London really has so much to offer, and much of it can be enjoyed free or at really low cost. Here are some ways that you can enjoy London on a budget:

Has there been a better time to visit London? With the pound being low, the city is opening up to foreign visitors and they are getting a bargain!

1. Hostels or Airbnb

Accommodation in general can be expensive, whether that’s monthly mortgage or rent, tax and the added cost of utilities. That’s one of the great things about travelling, that almost always, costs are all inclusive, therefore the final price that you see is the price that you pay.

The great thing about hostels is that unlike a hotel where you are isolated from other guests, hostels differ because not only do they offer shared and sometimes private bedrooms, but also typically a communal kitchen, shared spaces such as a bar or games room, and may even include weekly social activities such as pub crawls, quiz nights, and art activities.

Depending on the time of year, the facilities and location, hostels can start anywhere from as low as £10 a night. However, the price increases according to the number of people in the room. Therefore, if you’re looking to pay on the lower end of the scale, then typically mixed gender rooms with 10 or more people are usually cheaper.

Hostels are better suited for solo travellers, or people looking to make friends and create new connections. The residents are usually young, backpackers, looking to have fun, which often equals to alcohol, parties, and loud music.

Airbnb on the other hand can be a great alternative to hostels if you’re looking for a competitive price, privacy and a home environment. Do bear in mind however, that there is usually a cleaning fee and service fee applied to each booking, so although a room may be priced at £30 a night, the total cost for 3 nights would not be £90, but would instead exceed £100. If you do want to avoid these extra charges do not make the mistake of paying the host privately outside of Airbnb, as tempting as that may be. Alternatively, if you are able to negotiate a lower rate for your stay then request the host make the necessary price changes through the website. This way you are protected in the event that anything goes wrong.

The thing you need to understand about Airbnb is that you are in someone’s home which of course has its pros and cons. Bearing this in mind it is unlikely that you’ll have any kind of maid service. On the contrary, if you make a mess, you’ll be responsible in cleaning up after yourself. You will be staying in a shared space with the homeowner which means you may have to contend with noise early in the morning or late at night if they are leaving or returning from work. There may be limited fridge and freezer space for you to store your food, and of course despite reading a number of reviews there is really no guarantee of the condition of the property.

It may be some consolation however, that the Airbnb host does not get paid until the guest checks-out, therefore any issues that you have concerning your stay particularly if you want some type of reimbursement really needs to be bought to the attention of Air b n b whilst you are still at the property.

A word of warning is beware of hosts that try and coerce or blackmail you into posting a 5* review. If that happens report the situation immediately to Airbnb.

2. Take the bus

Transport in London, particularly on trains can be very expensive. Compared to somewhere like New York, where each train journey is $2.75 with a free bus transfer, in London, the cost of getting from point A to point B largely depends on the time of day you’re travelling, where you’re travelling to and the method of travel, whether that is the overground, underground, DLR or Elizabeth line.

Now, although the world is becoming cashless and contactless, that is not an excuse to avoid investing in an £5 visitor oyster card. In doing so, you are able to keep track of your spending, particularly in the event of an incomplete journey where you are overcharged, enabling you to more easily get a refund. It is cheaper than purchasing a paper ticket or day travelcard. Plus gives you discounts at restaurants, shops and entertainment venues.

Once you have an Oyster card, the next thing to do is download the TFL Go app. This provides you with up to date information enabling you to easily map out your route, including when there is a strike, closure or diversion.

Although the bus takes notably longer than the train to reach your final destination, generally speaking, particularly during week days, buses run regularly. Children under 5 are automatically free when accompanied by an adult, but require a Zip Oyster card from ages 5 – 15 for continued free bus travel. Adults pay £1.65 and get free transfers onto other buses taken within an hour of first Oyster card use. However, there is also a daily cap which means after spending £4.95, the remainder of travel for that day on the bus is free.

For long distance travel outside of London, in some instances you will be able to take the bus, however, unless it is a Transport for London bus, the fares are indeed different, and your Oyster card would be invalid. Bearing this in mind, you should always check with the driver before purchasing a return, day ticket or transfer, as some tickets cannot be used across different bus companies.

Coaches on the other hand, are a really efficient way to travel long distance, with routes connecting you easily from England to Scotland and Wales. Two of the most popular coach companies are National Express and Megabus. With National Express, you may find fares as low as £5.00, and Megabus, £2.95. The important thing to note is that prices vary, and so what is typically a £9.00 fare can jump up to £34.00 even if booked a week in advance, if for example there are train strikes.

In London, the cost of getting from point A to point B largely depends on the time of day you’re travelling, where you’re travelling to and the method of travel.

3. The best things in life are free

The great thing about England besides the free housing, free healthcare, and free education is the free entertainment, because no matter who you are, there is guaranteed to be something suitable for you. Notwithstanding the various old buildings and the history that they have, places like London Bridge, Big Ben, and the House of Commons to name a few can all be viewed at no cost.

That’s not to mention the museums and art galleries that can keep almost anyone entertained for hours.

London is world leader when it comes to museums and galleries. Many of which are free

Depending on the time of year that you come, and of course bearing in mind England’s reputation for always raining you want to come prepared. Not just with the appropriate attire which includes never leaving your accommodation without umbrella or rain coat in hand. But also by planning ahead of time what you would like to see and where you would like to go.

Assuming that you travel in the summer months, you will find lots of fun activities for children, held at play schemes, summer day camps, and even local libraries. Activities take children away from their mobile phones and modern technology, and typically involve arts and craft, and old fashioned board games. In many instances the parents can’t leave their children unattended during the workshops, and are often encouraged to also be an active participant.

Without having proof of address such as a U.K. bank statement or utility bill, it is not possible to get a library card and borrow books; however, they are of course, all available to read during opening hours.

One of My Great Holiday’s recommendations is free walking tours, whose information can easily be obtained at the front desk of most hostels. If you’re not staying at a hostel, or that information is not made available to you then Google is the next best alternative.

Free walking tours are not U.K. specific but can be found in most major cities around the world. Of course bear in mind two key points. 1, it’s free, and 2, it involves walking. This means that you are unlikely to cover a lot of distance during the tour, so may opt to go on more than one. In addition, because it’s free, you get what you pay for.

However, in saying that, it really depends on your tour guide, because after all a tour is only as good as it’s guide. Plus there is the caveat that he or she expects to be tipped at the end of the tour, therefore generally speaking you will likely get a good deal.

4. Olio

Although not strictly true it almost feels appropriate to say, gone are the days of food pantry, particularly when apps like Too Good to Go and Olio rear their heads.

Now unlike Olio, feedback about Too Good to Go has not been particularly positive. Suffice to say, leftovers are sold at incredibly low prices, and not always in great condition. Olio on the other hand, which is similar to the Canadian initiative, Feed it Forward, is an App for food distribution. How it works, is that food businesses throughout England such as Tesco, Waitrose, Iceland, Planet Organic and Pret A Manager donate their food for local distribution.

Now, the important thing to note is that this is not a food pantry or food bank where only certain categories of individuals are eligible, such as those in receipt of benefits. But rather, this food is free for all, because no matter your financial situation, absolutely no questions are asked.

The purpose of Olio is to save the environment by limiting the amount of edible food waste that ends up in land fields. The businesses that are on board with this program therefore make perishable food that are nearing the sell by date, or expiring that day available each week for collection by Food Waste Heroes. Exactly as the name suggests, this is simply a group of individuals, doing their part to reduce food waste. They can include couples, men and women, and quite simply people of all ages.

Typically all they are required to have is access to a vehicle, which in some instances includes a bicycle, a working smartphone, presumably a rather significant level of food storage space and most importantly time. They then go to the establishment, typically at the end of the day, collect the food and on some occasions drinks, carry it home, take photographs of each item and then upload it on to the app. Once the food becomes visible on the App individuals then have the option to view before sending a private message requesting the item. A dialogue ensues between both parties, a date and time is arranged for collection, with the venue usually being the Food Waste Heroes home. The food is then made available, sometimes by being left inside the porch or outside the front door.

With the cost of food rapidly increasing Olio is a fantastic way to completely cut the costs of food shopping. However, in saying that, it is important to note that a level of flexibility and patience should be applied, whilst also bearing in mind that not every Food Waste Hero is gifted in polite communication. Then there is also the added fact that you are not the only person viewing and requesting food, so be prepared for disappointment. Lastly, consider that the items you want may not be available in your area. An example of this would be that in North London, specifically Winchmore Hill and Enfield there is consistently a lot of vegetarian and vegan products. Around Notting Hill, much of the food comes from Planet Organic and Pret A Manger, which typically includes filled baguettes, fruit and yogurt pots. Whereas in Ipswich, there would often be doughnuts, pre-made sandwiches, and occasionally milk alternatives. Aside from these differences, you will never be without mixed salads, fresh fruit and vegetables, pastries, and every type of bread available in stores, including those of the gluten-free variety.

4. Is the price you see the price you pay?

If, on the other hand Olio is not for you, because you want to be in complete control of your food choices, then the best place to start would be Poundland. Now, unlike the U.S., in England, the price you see is the price that you pay, because tax is already included. The other great thing is that unlike times past, for years Poundland has been stocking good quality branded food items. The one major disappointment however, is that although originally every item cost £1 things have subsequently changed, where items are now of varying prices.

There are however, other discount stores, like B & M, Lidl, Aldi, and Pound Stretcher where you can purchase a range of items to fit your budget. If however, you do want to go a little more upmarket, then after Asda, you have Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and if you plan on breaking the bank then Marks and Spencers.

Another great thing that can be found in many food shops are the countless discounts, including BOGOFF which stands for buy one, get one free. This is exactly as described, with each purchase, you can get another of the same item, completely free. In addition, depending on how long you are in the country, you will become to familiarize yourself that some food items are always on offer. For example, Innocent Smoothies are almost always discounted in certain Sainsbury’s, similarly, Alpro yogurts are frequently on special offer at some Tesco branches.

If you do see a product you like which is discounted, then take a good look at the price label, because in doing so you should be able to identify a date. Depending on the store, there may be two prices, a start and end date. The latter date tells you when the product will no longer be sold at that discounted price, which will of course help you determine the quantity and frequency of your purchase, in the event that you want to stock up.

Of course, it goes without saying, no matter what food item you purchase, always choose them from the back of the fridge or shelf because shops use FIFO, First in First Out, which means the items closest to you will expire quicker than the ones further away.

One final thing to note is that Tesco and Sainsbury’s have customer loyalty cards, Clubcard and Nectar card respectively. They are free to received, but you would need a U.K. address to receive the physical card in the post. However, once received, you can then begin using it every time you make a purchase. The great thing about Clubcard is that there are often discounts on your purchases, where by swiping your card, you are immediately charged less for an item. This is in addition, to the vouchers that they send giving discounts on certain items, or money off, that can be used both in-store and online.

Similarly, Nectar card also allows you to accumulate points every time you spend, which can be used for money off the next time you shop in Sainsbury’s without having to wait for the billing cycle. In addition, unlike Clubcard that only works in Tesco, the Nectar card can also be used in conjunction with other shops including Argos.

When it comes to hostels, the best place to start is hostelworld.com. Whilst Booking.com is also a great resource particularly when through frequent purchase of accommodation, you are elevated to Genius level which results in frequent price discounts. Although the TFL Go App gives you up to date information on your travel around England on Transport for London, another great resource that My Great Holiday recommends is CityMapper, as not only can the App be used in other parts of the U.K, and the world, but best of all it provides you with the prices of each possible route to your destination. Finally, for an extensive list of free activities in London visit the VisitLondon website.