London money saving tips you’ll actually use

What are the best London money saving tips? I’ve found some smart ways to save money in London.

London is an expensive city, but there are many ways to save money in London.

In this guide I share my best London money saving hacks. They’re useful for anyone, whether you travel on a budget, or just want to cut the costs of your trip and avoid overpaying.

Find out how to save 50% at restaurants, last-minute theatre ticket tricks, what transport tickets not to buy, and how many free things you can do in London.

Revised and updated in 2025

Attractions and events in London – budget hacks

You can easily create a London itinerary based on free and low budget things to do.

Free museums in London

In many big cities, museums have one day a week or one day a month when entry is free. If you happen to visit on that day, you’re in luck.

But in London most of the big, famous museums are free every day. And London has some of the most amazing museums and galleries in the world.

These include the British Museum, Tate Modern, Natural History Museum, the National Gallery, and many more.

Some special exhibitions are paid, but the permanent exhibitions are free. You may need to book a ticket online with a time slot for some popular museums (especially the British Museum and the National Gallery) but those tickets are free.

At most London museums you can take a guided tour, and there are quite a few free museum tours worth checking out.

Free walking tours in London

You are literally spoilt for choice when it comes to free tours in London!

Classic free tours (if it’s your first or second time in London, take some of these tours to get to know the city):

• London Free Walking Tour
• Camden Town Free Tour
• East End Free Street Art Tour
• London Essentials
• Old City of London Free Tour
• Art, Architecture, Politics and Monarchy
• Buckingham Palace to Big Ben

Special interest free London tours:

• Harry Potter Free Walking Tour
• Rock and Roll Soho Free Tour
• The British Museum free tour
• London Theatres Free Walking Tour
• Ghosts, Ghouls & Murder Free Tour
• London Free Christmas Tour
• Westminster Highlights
• The Secrets of Covent Garden
• Ted Lasso’s Richmond
• The Timeless Thames
• The real Notting Hill tour

These tours are tip based – you pay the guide as much as you want at the end of the tour. Find out more about free tours in Europe.

Free festivals in London

There are many free festivals in London, especially during the summer.

You can see music concerts, theatre, circus, opera, dance, films, and so on – all for free.

Some of the best free festivals in London include:

• King’s Cross Summer Sounds – Excellent musical acts in an open-air festival in Coal Drops Yard.
• London Bridge City Summer Festival – Music, theatre, film, sport and pop-up events.
• Totally Thames Festival – Cultural events along the South Bank.
• Turning Tides Music Festival – Music, arts, film, and food.
• Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (GDIF) – East and South East London, featuring theatre, dance, music, and more.
• West End Live – Free West End musical performances in Trafalgar Square.

The London Pass

If you plan to visit many expensive London attractions in a short period of time, a London Pass may be worth it.

The most expensive attractions in London include the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Eye, and Madame Tussauds.

The London Pass Plus covers entry all of these and many others. It is available for 1-10 consecutive days. This means that to justify the cost of this pass, you have to visit enough attractions each day.

It may be rushed, but if you plan it carefully, the pass will save you money.

An alternative option for a more relaxed pace is the Explorer Pass – a flexible pass valid for 30 days that lets you pick 2-7 attractions.

There are a few other types of London passes, each covering different attractions. With any of these it’s best to make a plan before buying.

Accommodation in London can be affordable

Accommodation prices are the biggest pain point for anyone planning a trip to London on a budget.

I generally use TripAdvisor for quick hotel price comparisons, where you can also see hotels on a map.

London hotels

Broadly speaking, your best options are either affordable hotels or hostels with private rooms.

Some are quite central, some are located a little bit outside the centre, but close to public transport.

• Travelodge London Kings Cross Royal Scot
• Point A London Kings Cross
• ibis London Shepherd’s Bush
• Travelodge London Docklands Central
• Premier Inn London Hammersmith
• Travelodge London Central City Road
• Z Hotel Shoreditch
• Moxy London Stratford
• Premier Inn London Tottenham Hale
• ibis London Stratford

Vacation rentals in London

The selection of vacation rentals in London is massive, as you might expect, and that’s a big advantage.

Look for places to stay in zone 2-3 close to a station.

It’s important to read reviews before you book because London has a lot of old houses.

House sitting in London

Looking after people’s homes when they are away is a way to stay in London for free.

Sites like Trusted Housesitters make it easier to find the perfect house sitting gig.

I’ve done some pet-sitting in London several times and it really is a great exchange that’s convenient for everyone involved – you get a place to stay and the owners can go on holiday peacefully without worrying too much about their pets or plants.

Theatre in London on a budget

The West End in London is known as “Theatreland” for a reason. Going to the theatre is part of the London experience.

You’ll be surrounded by wonderfully enticing adverts for shows and musicals everywhere you go. But once you look at ticket prices for good seats you may be taken back…

Still, you don’t need to miss out on the opportunity to see a theatre show in London. Use these hacks to find discounts.

Take advantage of London theatre deals on booking sites

Some London theatre booking sites offer occasional deals and discounts.

The pages I normally check are SeatPlan discounts and Theatre Tickets Direct special offers.

Tip: take a picture from your seat and upload it to SeatPlan. You’ll get points for each seat review. When you earn enough points, SeatPlan will give you a discount voucher.

It’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for preview shows, namely the first runs of a new show, which are often discounted.

Secret theatre clubs – surprisingly cheap tickets

Some shows don’t sell out, so the theatres want to fill the empty seats at the last moment.

To do that, they are willing to reduce the ticket price considerably and those tickets are listed on seat filling sites.

The secret theatre club / seat filling site I use most often is called Central Tickets.

When you book, you’re asked to keep the price secret from other people in the audience.

When I’m in London I check it on a daily basis to see what’s new. If you’re quick to book, you can get great deals this way.

The offers are not limited to theatre, by the way, but can include comedy, cinema, concerts, festivals, and other events.

Day seats – last minute London theatre tickets at a discount

One way to get a discount for a theatre show is to go directly to the theatre on the day of the performance.

Each theatre has its own policy on this. Some offer day seats from 10 am, some run a lottery.

TKTS is the official last minute ticket booth, located in Clocktower Building in Leicester Square.

You can also book online at the last moment, using the TodayTix app.

Tip: If you’re not going for day seats or last minute discounts – book way in advance, as the good seats are likely to be taken quickly.

Shakespeare’s Globe – affordable standing tickets

The theatre Shakespeare wrote for was rebuilt near its original site. It is now one of the main attractions in London and quite an experience.

You can see some Shakespeare plays for just £10 if you are willing to stand throughout the show. However, this also means you will get a very good view of the stage.

Tip: the plays are performed using the original Shakespearean language, so come prepared. I read the synopsis last time I went and it certainly helped, but it’s even better to read the play itself before you go. You can find annotated editions online.

Free live recordings of TV show

If you’re a fan of British TV and radio shows recorded in front of a live audience, you can be in the audience yourself with a free ticket.

You want to apply online well in advance, as sometimes there’s competition for these free tickets. Join the waiting list if you can’t find a ticket.

• BBC
• ApplauseStore
• SRO audiences
• beonscreen
• Lost in TV

You might get to see your favourite TV stars live 🙂 I attended a recording of Live at the Apollo (stand up comedy) and it was good fun.

Pay attention to the location when you apply because some studios are outside of London.

London restaurant discounts and other food tips

In London you can easily find restaurants in any price range. Supermarket prices also vary, from affordable to expensive. The choice is yours 🙂

Here are my best London money saving tips on restaurants and supermarkets.

Restaurant discount apps

If you love eating out when you’re on holiday, try out some apps that give you discounts or rewards when you book a table through them:

• TheFork typically gives you 20-50% off the food menu, plus loyalty points (called Yums). Just search the app for all the restaurants offering discounts and pick one. You can also search for a particular cuisine and then filter by special offers.
• SquareMeal lets you collect points for reservations and also for writing reviews.You can then redeem them for restaurant vouchers.
• OpenTable lets you earn Dining Points that can be redeemed for rewards, including dining vouchers at specific restaurants.
• EatClub has offers that let you save up to 50% off the total bill, including drinks.

More food money saving tips

You can easily find current affordable dining options on the Hot Dinners website. These include up to 50% discounts, lunchtime specials, bottomless brunches, and soft-launch discounts (new restaurants).

For snacks on the go or even a light lunch, Meal Deals are a great solution. Most supermarkets have them and they typically offer a sandwich, a snack (like crisps or chocolate), and a drink for under £5. All the items that you can choose from for your meal deal are marked on the shelves.

Street food is hugely popular in London. There are food stalls and food markets just about everywhere you look. Prices vary, but you’ll often find great food at affordable prices in those markets, especially near closing time. The famous food markets include Borough Market, Camden, and Southbank Centre.

Too Good To Go is a great app for surplus food from bakeries, restaurants, and cafes at closing time. That’s the food they have left at the end of the day and they sell it at a discount so it doesn’t get thrown away. You can search for what’s available on the map, order it on the app, and collect your bag. It’s especially handy if you happen to be in central London or near one of the big railway stations in the evening.

For budget travellers, my best advice would be to find accommodation with a kitchen in London, so you can make your own meals at least some of the time. For example, you may decide to eat out once a day (a lunch out is often cheaper than dinner) and cook for yourself the rest of the time.

London money saving tips – how to save on transport

Public transport is one of the most expensive things in London, but it’s an essential expense, given the size of the city.

In some parts, the city is walkable or bicycle-friendly, but generally speaking, if you want to make the most of your time in London, you’ll have to use buses and trains.

If it’s your first time in London, it’s a good idea to get to know your public transport options before you go, to save time and potential mistakes.

As a visitor, you’re most likely to travel around in zones 1 and 2. These cover the city centre and a bit beyond. You might also go into zone 3 on occasion.

Here are my London money saving tips on public transport:

Use a rechargeable Oyster card or contactless payment. Never buy paper tickets.

When you use a card or pay with your phone, your daily/weekly spend is capped. This means you will not be charged more than the equivalent of a day pass or a weekly pass.

If you’re staying long-term, a monthly Oyster travel card gives you the best value.

Buses are generally cheaper than the underground trains (the Tube) and are not subject to the zone system.

Check the current fares on the Transport for London website.

Avoid peak hours (6:30–9:30am and 4–7pm on weekdays). Off-peak fares on the Tube and trains are lower.

When you take day trips from London, choose an off peak day return on the train. It’s usually the lowest cost ticket and the train times are flexible as long as they’re off-peak.

For day trips you can also choose affordable bus companies. Compare prices here and book early, because they use dynamic pricing.

Split ticketing is another way to save on train rides. Instead of buying one ticket, split into segments for the same train journey and save money.

Other London money saving tips

Here are some more tips that I use to save money in London:

• Smarty is the most budget-friendly sim card I’ve found for short term visits to London. Do your own research of course, as things may change over time.
• TopCashback is free to join and will give you some money back on your shopping. Another way to save is to buy discounted gift cards on TopCashback and use them to pay for your normal shopping, Uber, supermarkets, coffee shops, etc.
• Charity shops are a big thing in the UK. You’ll find them on every high street in London, often next to one another. They are run by volunteers and sell second hand clothes, books, accessories, and homeware at very affordable prices.

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