Travelers Company

In this guest post Margaret Doherty gives Europe a la Carte readers a host of ideas and tips on how to enjoy London on a budget.

Introduction

Whether you’re on a romantic break, hoovering up the art and culture or trying to keep the kids amused, there are plenty of things to do for free in London. Yes, free. And if you have to splash the cash, there are savings to be made if you know where to look.

View to Big Ben from Trafalgar Square by ianbruce

Self-guided walks

Whether you fancy a stroll around famous landmarks or want to find a quieter part of town, self-guided walks are a great way to discover the city and prise the kids off the sofa. To get away from the bustle of the city centre check out some of the walks along London’s canals. A two and a half hour circular walk from Little Venice takes in the colourful flower-decked narrowboats moored along the Regent’s Canal, the busy market at Camden Lock and the panoramic views from Primrose Hill. For this and other waterside walks go to Waterscape.

There are also plenty of walks to choose from with the kids in mind. Thames themed walks can be found in the Walk this Way series with a couple of young persons’ guides focusing on the bridges, buildings and sights above the Thames – including the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral and Shakespeare’s Globe – as well as lost rivers and wildlife that can be seen in the area.

London Eye at night

Parks

The big hitters are London’s eight Royal Parks which can all be visited for free. With a diverse range of plants, animals, buildings and memorials they are the perfect place to take a walk, have a picnic or catch some of the free events like the bandstand concerts or wildlife guided walks. Richmond, Greenwich and Bushy still have deer, Regent’s Park has a large boating lake and an open air theatre while Kensington Gardens has its famous statue of Peter Pan and the impressive Albert Memorial.

Peter Pan statue, Kensington Gardens, London by amamdabhslater

From the wilds of Hampstead Heath to the local rec there’s bound to be a green space nearby wherever you are in London. There are around 140 sites of metropolitan importance that are home to rare species, as well as pocket parks, commons, community gardens and other small wildlife sites across the capital. To find the nearest parks, woodlands or wetland near you, go to Wild Web where you can search by postcode or borough.

Gallery highlight tours

Most galleries and museums offer a free tour you can just turn up and join. These usually last about an hour and will concentrate on four or five selected paintings or objects from a collection chosen by the guide. For example at Tate Britain Mon-Friday there are talks at 11am art from 1500-1800, 12.00 art from 1800-1900, 14.00 Turner and at 15.00 art from 1900. The National Gallery also has a host of free events. There are free guided tours daily at 11.30am and 2.30pm as well as lunchtime talks, 10 minute talks and family workshops at other times of the week. At the Victoria and Albert Museum free tours run every day on the half hour from 10.30 to 3.30pm which give a short history of the V&A and introduce a selection of treasures.

Glass sculpture, Victorian & Albert Museum, London by wedesoft

Family trips

Days out are notoriously expensive but planning ahead can ensure that there’s plenty to interest your family and save you money. Here are a few top tips to help you.

Always do a quick tally of overall cost so you don’t get a nasty surprise at the end of the day. Include travel/fuel, ticket prices, any additional activities and food costs to get a full picture of what the day out is costing. Ask if family tickets are available. This can save money for larger family groups. Plan ahead and check the websites to ensure there is enough to interest your family. Most attractions have extensive websites that detail costs, age restrictions and suitability and any possible closures or changes that might affect your visit. Some events may be free but require booking in advance.

Regional tourist websites can also be a great source of money off offers. The West Midlands has plenty of attractions from Cadbury World and Alton Towers to Warwick Castle. Or, if you’re getting the train to London and the south east Days out Guide has details of off-peak fares and special offers and 2for1 deals when you travel by train.

Spinball Whizzer rollercoaster, Alton Towers by gnislew

Find out where kids go free. For example, at Kew Gardens children under 17 get in free when accompanied by a paying adult. (Adult £13) There’s the new Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop walkway to see as well as kids trails and a special parents’ visitors guide on the website to help you make the most of your visit. Don’t assume that the popular attractions will cost a fortune. Even the latest blockbuster exhibitions at The British Museum have free entry for under16s when accompanied by a paying adult or offer family tickets that can provide greater savings. Of course, apart from special exhibitions, the British Museum is free to visit.

In some instances, membership of an organisation might be a useful option. For example, an adult membership of English Heritage is £43 a year which includes free entry for up to 6 accompanying children (under 19) within your family group. With over 400 properties throughout England, whether it’s castles, stately homes or rambling over romantic ruins that your family enjoys it could save you money in the long run.

Even places that usually charge may have free or reduced charges on certain days or times. For instance, the Courtauld Gallery with its extensive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist work has free entry on Mondays from 10am until 2pm (excluding public holidays) – usual adult charge £5 – and has free admission for under 18s.

London double decker buses by salimvirjl

Travelling around is one of the main considerations when in London. At Transport for London you’ll find details of how to make savings on with Oyster cards, freedom passes and details of children’s fares on tube DLR and overground services. Free and discounted travel is available for under-18s.

Go prepared. It might be a faff and stating the obvious but bringing your own drinks and snacks can save a small fortune.

Keep up to date with all the free events (and some which cost less than a fiver) in London from local arts festivals to markets and fairs at Free London Listings.