Skint City Guides: The Free and Cheap Guide for Frugal
By Max Milano
"The best things in life are free", so the famous
saying goes, and whoever penned it was probably thinking about London. No other
European capital can compete with the myriad of free and cheap things to do and
see in London. For that reason, the SkintCity team has compiled this handy
guide to the best free and cheap stuff to do in London.
Getting there and
away
Getting to your destination is often the biggest expense of
a day trip or weekend getaway. Savvy frugal travelers know to check online for
National Express Coaches coupon codes and promotions, or you can use this handy low coach fare finder.
I recommend taking advantage of British Rail’s Cheap Day
Returns tickets. These tickets offer big savings when the outbound and return journey
occurs on the same day (plus you also save on accommodation). Another advantage
of using British Rail is that you’ll save a ton on petrol (and the environment),
and of course parking (no, you don’t want to pay for parking in London, it’s
just not frugal!) Use this handy cheap rail fare finder instead.
Getting Around London
The Cheap Way
London’s Black Cabs may be iconic, but best avoided by
frugal travelers. Fortunately London’s Zone 1 and 2, where most of the fun
stuff is located, is compact enough to explore either on foot, by public
transportation, or on the popular “Boris Bikes” (Barkleys Cycle Hire).
Frugal tip: Plan all your bike rides to be under half an
hour and they will be free! That way you will only pay the £2 access fee for
the day.
Think of the bikes as an eco-friendly taxi and use them to
get from point A to B. Having access to the bike’s docking stations is another
convenient way to save on buying or carrying bike locks.
If it’s raining and not a good day to bike or walk (this is
London after all), get a Day Anytime Travelcard (Zone 1 & 2 £ 8.80 Pounds) valid
on all underground trains and buses within your fare area. You can get an off peak Travelcard and save £1.50 (you must travel after 9.30 am, but you’re on holiday anyway).
Now for the Free
Stuff
So you’ve finally arrived in London, armed with your
Travelcard or Cycle Hire. Where should you go? How about starting with the free
stuff? Here’s our top five free London destinations. You can visit in any
order, and remember to keep your biking time under 30 minutes to get it for
free (fortunately all these locations are located close enough to each other so
that walking or biking under 30 minutes is very easy).
London’s Top Five
Free Attractions
1-The British Museum
The Granddaddy of free London. You can easily spend a whole
day at the British museum. Don’t miss the famous Rosetta Stone, the mummies in
the Egyptian room, and the amazing Assyrian sculptures and Balawat Gates.
Admission is free.
2- The National
Gallery
The National’s Gallery main entrance right on Trafalgar
Square is well worth the price of admission, which is totally free. Go inside and admire the impressionist
masters, included Van Goth, Monet and other masterpieces.
3- The Victoria and
Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert offers the world’s the largest
collection decorative arts and design, showcasing 5,000 years of art, from
ancient times to the present day. Its location near the Royal Albert Hall and
Hide Park, offer a nice opportunity for riding your bike in the park and photo
ops at Kensinton Gardens (also free). Admission to the Victoria and Albert permanent
collections is free.
4- The Changing of
the Guard
Check out the schedule for this tradition occurring in
several locations in and around Buckingham Palace. In August (2013) it occurs
on even days (ie 2, 4, 6, etc.) Free.
5- Palace of
Westminster
Not only does Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament offer great photo opportunities, you can actually attend debates for free by queuing up to the visitor’s gallery of the House of Commons.
No comments:
Post a Comment