Top Tips For Visiting London This Summer

For those planning a trip to London this summer we’ve put together some money saving ideas & ways to beat the queues to help you make the most from your visit.  Whilst London can be an expensive city to visit, with a pinch of imagination and a sprinkle of fun you too you can enjoy this capital city on a budget.

Tower Bridge For FREE

Tower Bridge has been a working bridge over the River Thames since 1894 and remains one of the symbolic images of London. Admission charges allow you to walk across the high level walkways, explore Tower Bridge from within & take in views over the city.  However a more cost effective method is simply to watch the lifting of Tower Bridge from the banks of the River Thames. A perfect opportunity to see Tower Bridge in operation whilst making some easy savings on a visit to London.

More information on lifting times/days within our Guide to Tower Bridge.

Tower Bridge

Location, Location, Location!

As with all large cities you can spend considerable time navigating journeys between attractions that cost you both time & money.  It can be worth planning an itinerary that takes account of the location of respective settings such as;

Enjoying the Southbank; not only home to the London Eye but also houses popular attractions such as The London Dungeon, SEA LIFE London Aquarium & Shrek’s Adventure! London.

Travel By Boat; make use of the Thames Clipper to move between attractions along the river such as the London Eye, The Tower of London, Big Ben &  the Cutty Sark.

By Foot; it can be quicker to walk than take the underground as many of London’s top London attractions are found within close proximity to one another.  Did you know that within a 15 minute walk you can take in the London Eye, Houses of Parliament & Big Ben, 10 Downing Street & Trafalgar Square?

Straddle The Meridian Line For FREE

Straddle the Meridian Line & you’ll be standing with a foot in both the eastern & western hemispheres. It draws hundreds of thousands of tourists each year and whilst most people purchase tickets to the Royal Observatory to try this out, did you know you can do this for FREE and often away from the crowds too! More details available within our Guide to Greenwich.

The London Eye, (photo; Phil Loach)

Explore The River Thames

Rather than selecting an expensive river cruise, opt for an alternative method to explore the Thames for some easy savings away from the crowds.  Why not take the lesser-known IFS Cloud Cable Cars across the river that runs from Greenwich to the Royal Docks.  Alternatively explore Greenwich Foot Tunnel that runs under the banks of the river for free or take the Thames Clipper that runs at a fraction of the price of other river cruises.

Multi Attraction Tickets

If you are planning to visit a number of popular London attractions, then look out for Multi Attraction tickets that allow you to blend savings with flexibility. For those planning a visit to London Eye, then consider a Multi Attraction Ticket that can also include the London Dungeon, Madame Tussauds, London SEA LIFE and/or Shrek’s Adventure where tickets valid for 90 days.

National Theatre; Rush Tickets

The National Theatre, located on the Southbank of the Thames, plays host to a full range of highly acclaimed productions.  Each Friday the National Theatre releases available tickets from just £10pp in their Rush promotion. Each Friday, between 12.30pm & 1pm, a promotional link appears on their website site where you can click the link to join the queue for tickets. Released tickets relate to last minute availability for the following week so is subject to availability. Participating productions vary & bookings are limited to 2 Friday Rush tickets for each production.

More information over at National Theatre Friday Rush Tickets.

Horizon 22

Budget Views of London

There are now a number of locations around London that offer FREE viewing decks offering fantastic views over the city.  A number require some level of pre-planning, others offer a limited number of walk in tickets but some are just lesser known to the public.  Follow our round up of free & cheap options that help you save money whilst offering you some of the best views over London.

More details available within our Guide To Budget Views Of London.

Popular Visitor Attractions

No visit to London is complete without a flight on the London Eye, a visit to Westminster Abbey, hear chilling tales from the Beefeaters at the Tower of London or taking a selfie with your favourite celebrity at Madame Tussauds London.  These sights are synonymous with our capital city and there’s no getting away from the fact that they’re going to be busy during the summer.  Worth noting that there are ways & means to help you make some easy savings whilst avoiding the worst to the queues;

A Guide To The London Eye; including fastrack ticket options, passholder perks & online ticket discounts.

Top Tips for the Tower of London; why not explore late at night for a very cheap option away from the crowds.

Westminster Abbey Guide; experience Evensong away from the bustling crowds and expensive admission charges.

Madame Tussauds London; how to get ahead of the queues and other money saving ideas for this popular visitor attraction.

Santander Cycles

Santander Cycles

The Santander Cycle Hire Scheme is an effective and cheap way to navigate London with bikes are available to those over the age of 14 years.  Cycle lanes have now improved within London,  although worth noting that cycles do not come with cycle helmets, that offers you an alternative mode of transport.  There are a range of price options available to suit each traveller that offers you a cost effective means of public transport.

Free Entry to National Museums

All the ‘National’ Museums in London are FREE & full of interactive exhibits for children of all ages.  Try the Science Museum in Kensington full to brimming with interactive activities or the British Museum which contains some fascinating finds throughout the ages.

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

The Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place regularly throughout the year, (weather permitting) and offers a FREE look at the royal guards in actions accompanied by a Royal Guards band.  Children & adults alike will enjoy this experience although this does get busy during peak times of the year.  You can also take see similar ceremonies at Windsor Castle & Horse Guards Parade that run throughout the year.

Extreme Sightseeing; Budget London

See how we managed to take in spectacular views of London, saw Tower Bridge in operation, enjoyed a boat trip along the Thames, rejoiced in an art gallery, bolted up a historic tower & finished off with a West End Show and all for a very limited budget.  Find out more within our Extreme Sightseeing in London Guide.