12 Things to do in London – London on a Budget Series

Hello! Thanks for coming back to read another post in the London on a Budget series. If you are new here, thank you for visiting! I hope this series makes planning your trip to London a little easier & gives you some budget-friendly ideas. (Last post of 2019, more tips coming in 2020 :)).

1. Free Walking Tour

These were all over the major cities I visited in Europe. They are called Free Walking Tours, but you tip them at the end of your tour “whatever you think it was worth.” I went on 3 walking tours in London with Strawberry Walking Tours— City of London, South London, and the West London Tours. I learned so much about the history in London that I don’t think I would have learned otherwise. Another walking tour company I used in other countries was Sandemans NEW Europe Tours.

Another pro to free walking tours is that it helps you get acclimated to the city. After I went on a walking tour, I felt more comfortable about where I was going and being in the city in general. It’s fun to go on these tours and if you have time, go back to the places that intrigued you the most and go at your own pace! I did this a few times.

2.  Explore the City of London

Once you go on a few walking tours, you will probably feel pretty comfortable in the city. Exploring places you’ve always wanted to visit, strolling along the streets, visiting cafes, are all fun ways to visit a city.  The City of London is within London—I didn’t know this prior to going to London. Learning the history of why there is a city within a city is fascinating. You’ll also see modern skyscrapers of the Financial District near the old buildings from centuries ago. It’s a pretty cool contrast!

One of my favorite pictures I took in the City of London 🙂

3. Borough Market, South London

You can explore this as part of a tour, which is what I did. It would be fun to go at your own pace too! It is the oldest food market in London. You might hear some street musicians on the way to the food market too—it is a very cool ambiance! There is a little restaurant near the corner of the market, which is usually packed with a long line. The tour guide said that is a great place to dine at if you can get in, if you happen to see it while you are there—it is near the Borough Market sign (I couldn’t find the name of the restaurant, but if I do in the future I will link it here).

Borough Market, South London

4. West London

This area of London felt super posh and elegant. The beautiful neighborhoods and royal parks, palaces, buildings with character. It’s quite a delight.

Walks in West London

5. Journal & Walk in a park

There are a lot of beautiful parks in London. My favorites were the parks near the royal palaces. Hyde Park, St James’s Park, Kensington Gardens.

Journaling is something I really enjoyed doing during my trip! It’s nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, stroll through a park, find a nice bench, and write down your thoughts, memories…and journal away!

6. London Busses

You could either go with the classic double-decker tour or go for the more affordable option on a city bus. You can still see the city and have the hop-on hop-off experience, and ride on the upper deck. Check out the first article in the London on a Budget series, which talks about Transportation Tips in London.

Screen with platform numbers and train times :).

7. Have lunch by the Tower Bridge

Another iconic spot in London, it’s great to take a moment and just enjoy the view. There is a nice cobblestone pathway and benches along the River Thames.

8. Visit the London Eye and Clock Tower

Take a walk to the London Eye and Clock Tower. They are pretty close to each other, and it’s pretty crazy seeing these landmarks in person—just like the Tower Bridge.

9. Visit a museum

Museums are a great way to spend the day if it’s raining out, or if you’re wanting to learn a little more about the history of the places you are visiting! I ended up visiting many museums on my 2 month backpacking trip through Europe, but I did not go to any in London. At the beginning of my trip, I didn’t realize there were free museums/ museums that had free days/times. Here is a link that might be helpful for you: https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/london-attraction/museum/free-museums-in-london/

10. Visit major landmarks

There are many iconic places to visit in London, some of which I mentioned above. There are beautiful palaces, historical landmarks, churches, and cathedrals..Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Westminster Abbey.

11. Afternoon Tea!

This was one of my FAVORITE experiences from England. I went to Bettys in York, England for my Afternoon Tea experience. It’s such a fun thing to do by yourself. And I’m sure with others as well. You may need to “book” the experience through a reservation depending on where you go. There are many Afternoon Tea Rooms in London that look adorable.

12. Bonus- take a train out of the city! Windsor Castle

Visiting Windsor Castle was incredible. I would highly recommend the experience especially if you like learning about history and love castles. It is outside of London, but you can take a train or two to get to the castle.  You could also visit Stone Hedge on a tour, see what is near London and take a mini-trip outside of the city!

Hope you have fun exploring London & got some ideas for your future trip!! 🙂