However, if you’re like me, and enjoy a more low-key but still very fun experience in the city, you don’t need to bring a suitcase full of cash. In fact, for a recent five-day visit, I spent just a little over £200 (around $300) for all of my non-hotel expenses, from the time I reached Victoria Station to the moment I left for Paris on the Eurostar. Throw in four nights at a budget hotel for another £244, and you have a surprisingly affordable trip to one of the world’s most expensive cities.

Related: How I scored a $298 airfare to Europe

Before you start thinking this is impossible, there are a few key points to remember. First you need to score a cheap hotel in a central location and an affordable airfare.

But don’t forget all of the savings that automatically come with traveling abroad. As a New Yorker, I’m used to throwing down a handful of dollars for a round of beers, 20% on top of a $80 meal, and even a dollar tip if I pick up a nice cappuccino. In London, you can throw all of these rules out the window. The money you save on tips really adds up fast over the course of five days.

Plus, with free museums galore, cheap food easily available, and no need for spendy cabs in a very walkable city, you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a memorable London experience. Still need proof? Read on for all the details.

Celtic Hotel is charming, cheap and centrally located. All photos by Craig Nelson

1. Book a budget hotel in a great spot

EuroCheapo has plenty of great London budget hotels to choose from, but Cheapos are especially in love with the Celtic Hotel. I reserved four nights here for £244 (about $90 per night, tax included), an incredible bargain for the posh Bloomsbury neighborhood in central London. Not only do you get friendly service from owner Rosanna, but  you also get a number of excellent and money-saving perks, like free WiFi and…

The full English breakfast at Celtic Hotel is the perfect way to start your morning.

2. Fill up with a free breakfast

Speaking of perks, the breakfast at the Celtic Hotel is legendary. And for good reason. Each morning you sit down to a hearty and delicious meal with juice, coffee or tea, cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit, as well as eggs, toast, and British favorites like mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and beans. Even bacon and sausage are available for the meat lovers. If you plan your meal right, you won’t be hungry until at least early afternoon or even dinner time!

A number of other London hotels on EuroCheapo also feature a complimentary full English breakfast like Luna & Simone and Arosfa Hotel.

Celtic Hotel is just around the corner from the Russell Square Tube station.

3. Choose your location wisely

Another benefit of the Celtic Hotel is that you can get to a lot of the top attractions in no time. The British Museum is only a five-minute walk through beautiful Russell Square. And when you do need to hop on the Tube with your luggage, Russell Square station is just around the corner. There’s no need for a taxi when you stay here.

St Pancras station is only a 15-minute walk from Celtic Hotel.

4. Walk, walk, and walk some more

I love to walk. It’s by far my preferred way of getting around when I’m traveling. You see so much more than cruising by in a taxi or underground on the subway. And even though the weather is usually a little grey, London is one of the finest walking cities in the world. Best of all, it was easy to walk across huge swaths of the city from where I was staying in Bloomsbury.

Most of the places I visited including Borough Market, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Millennium Bridge, British Library, Islington, Camden Town, and Tower of London were only a mile or two away. When it was time to head to my next destination (Paris), I was even able to hike up to St Pancras train station in about 15 minutes. Total cost of all these wonderful walks: £0.

Riding the bus is more fun and a lot cheaper than taking the Tube.

5. Hop on a double-decker city bus

In New York, I never leave home without my unlimited MetroCard, so it was a challenge to resist jumping on the Underground every time I walked by a station. However, I quickly learned that I didn’t have to give up on public transit altogether. Instead I just hopped on a famous double-decker bus. Not only can you grab a sweet view from the top deck, but you’ll save a little bit when compared to the Tube. When you use an Oyster Card, bus rides cost only £1.50 compared to at least £2.90 on the Tube.

Speaking of the Oyster Card, I was able to get everywhere I needed to go in five days with just £15 on mine. You have to pay a small fee to buy it up front, but then you can save the card for future trips to London.

A nice view of the ancient Roman city walls from the free Museum of London.

6. Go to free museums

Another big money-saver in London: You can see some of the world’s best collections of art, history and culture for FREE. During this trip I took in the British Museum, City of London Museum and the British Library.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the free museums in London, but it still provided me with hours of entertainment at absolutely no cost.  You can spend days staring at cultural treasures like the Rosetta Stone and original Beowulf manuscripts. One day, I did pay a €10 supplement to see a fantastic exhibit called Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination at the British Library.

Seeing the Tower of London is impressive from the outside. And cheaper than the pricey admission fee.

7. Admire pricey attractions from the outside

You don’t always have to go inside of a pricey landmark to have a memorable experience. I happened to be in town when the Tower of London poppies display was in full bloom. This tribute to World War I veterans was a stirring sight with the bright colors of the ceramic flowers contrasting with historic stone walls of the tower. Instead of shelling out €22 for an admission ticket, I joined the huge crowds that were there to remember their fallen soldiers. Refreshingly, it was mostly locals who were out to see the poppies, and I was able to chat with some Brits to get their take on this emotional scene.

An evening stroll across Millennium Bridge was a (free) highlight of my trip.

8. Stroll across Millennium Bridge

After a few pints and some fish and chips, an evening stroll is just what you need to end the day in London. My advice is to head to the river walk along South Bank and then cross over the Thames on the Millennium Bridge. It lights up when the sun goes down, and you don’t have to worry about squeezing onto a sidewalk with hundreds of other tourists — it was virtually empty around 8 pm. With the gorgeous St. Paul’s Cathedral hovering in the background, this Sunday night walk was a highlight of my trip.

Columbia Road Flower Market offers a bright splash of color on a grey Sunday morning.

9. Spend Sunday at the Columbia Road Flower Market

I’m not usually an early riser, but the Columbia Road Flower Market is a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. This year-round market in East London offers a dash of local color to your weekend. Grab a coffee at one of the small cafes and listen to the vendors hawk their plants. Sure, you can’t bring fresh flowers back home on the plane, but a few colorful photos make sweet smelling souvenirs.

Take a weekend walk along Regent’s Canal to Camden Lock Market.

10. Explore the canals

If you get tired of walking the city streets, hop onto the trails that hug the city’s canals. Regent’s Canal is a hidden path where you can experience the city from a very different angle. Not only will you see hundreds of cute houseboats and interesting public art, but you’ll be free from any cars zipping by. Along the canals, there’s no need to make sure you look right instead of left!

Taking a scenic break at the top of Primrose Hill.

11. Chill out in a park

London is famous for its large swaths of open green spaces, and few cities can compare to its park-to-concrete ratio. Make sure to spend at least one afternoon or morning relaxing in a famous London refuge like Hyde Park, Hampstead Heath, or Greenwich Park. For extra bonus points, climb to the top of Primrose Hill (adjacent to Regent’s Park) for stunning skyline views.

Related: Best London views for free

Spending a quiet Sunday night at the Lamb with the ghost of Dickens.

12. Spend a night writing postcards

Instead of spending money on a show or concert, I chose to spend a quiet evening at the historic Lamb pub. I found a cozy table, ordered a pint and dashed off some cards to friends and family back home. It’s one of the benefits of getting out on the road and disconnecting from your gadgets. I met a few locals and had some time to reflect on my trip and plan what else I wanted to do before I left. This relaxing night on the town cost a whopping £4.

Roaming around Borough Market is rewarded with tasty snacks and free samples.

13. Fill up on free samples

Wherever you may wander in London, try to plot a course for one of the many food markets across the city. After a lovely walk to Primrose Hill, I strolled the canals to Camden Lock Market on a Saturday where the Global Kitchen vendors offered an incredible selection of international eats. The next day I trekked across the Thames to Borough Market, which was celebrating the annual Apple Festival.

There was no need for lunch on either day, because I tried free tastes of everything from cave-aged English cheese and local smoked meats to Jamaican jerk chicken and Indian naan wraps. Some of the samples were huge!

Diwana offers a delicious special of Indian meals every night of the week.

14. Feast for £6.60

You might not find four-star atmosphere, but the Indian food served up at Diwana is fantastic. This busy spot near Euston Station offers a daily £6.60 dinner special, even on the weekends. I was very happy with my Sunday night meal of Muttar Paneer (pea and cheese curry), fresh paratha (grilled flatbread), raita and salad. Plus, it scores extra cheapo points for its BYOB policy.

15. Save on an upscale lunch (by sitting at the bar)

Since my mission was to spend wisely, I didn’t hit up any fancy restaurants for a blowout dinner. But that doesn’t mean I still didn’t eat well. For a more upscale lunch, you can visit St. John Restaurant, and sit in the bar section that’s open all day. Order a couple of small plates (£6-9 each) from the bar, and chow down on their famous roast bone marrow and parsley salad, or the mussels, leeks and salsify. It won’t be your cheapest meal of the trip, but it just might be your tastiest.

Wenlock Arms is a neighborhood favorite in Hackney for great cask ales and homemade food.

16. Get to know the neighborhood pubs

I love a good drink, and there’s no place like the pubs of London to enjoy a sip of ale. Surprisingly, the beer was not only bigger (20 oz.) than in New York bars, but it was also cheaper, even with the currency conversion! Many pubs offer lovely stouts, bitters and brown ales for around £3.50 ($5.25). Not bad at all since you don’t have to throw in an extra buck or two on top for the tip. I ventured outside the city center to local gems like Wenlock Arms and King’s Head Pub & Theatre.

Cittie of Yorke pours cheap pints of cask ale all day and night.

17. Grab a Cheapo pint in an historic tavern

I also found a great deal on pints in some surprising places. Two popular landmark pubs, Cittie of Yorke  and Princess Louise, were both serving special €2.90 pints of Samuel Smith pulled from wooden casks. That’s a tiny price to pay for a pint of excellent beer that you can enjoy in a marvelous historic interior.

Keep an eye out for unique snacks when exploring local markets.

18. Satisfy your snack attacks

Keep an eye out for local delicacies that make the perfect afternoon snack. Since I started each day with a huge breakfast, lunch was usually an afterthought. But when my stomach started to rumble I’d grab some homemade pasties or scones for (£2-3) or keep an eye out for something tasty.

For example I found a local shop named Lee’s Seafood near the Columbia Flower Market that was selling a special Sunday sandwich. It was packed with two delicious Cumbrian sausages, caramelized onions and rocket (“arugula” back in the States) for only £3.

19. Stock up at the supermarket

Supermarket prices at big-name chains like Sainsbury are very fair, especially when compared to New York. A huge bottle of sparkling spring water was going for 90 pence, and most of the scrumptious chocolate bars could be had for anywhere between 35 – 60 p. I dare you to try to buy a bottle of Perrier and two gourmet chocolate bars for $2.50 back in the States!

A crispy plate of fish and chips at Golden Union in Soho.

20. Don’t forget the classic fish and chips

To keep my budget in check, I stuck to classic British fare. Of course you can find British fare the world ’round, but somehow fish and chips just tastes better in London. For takeaway, you can try local shops like Kennedy’s where you can get a “small” (which could easily feed two) for about £6 or £7.

For something a little more fancy then your typical chip shop, Golden Union in Soho offers a range of fish from rock salmon, haddock and cod that are all local and sustainable. They even bake homemade pies. You can get either with a huge pile of chips for about £11.

21. Bring home unique cheapo souvenirs

Instead of typical tourist souvenirs, I tend to pick up a random assortment of items when I travel. In London I found a sturdy shopping bag at Borough Market, a bag of tea from a local shop, and a book at the newly renovated Foyle’s. Even if you don’t buy anything at the bookshop, it’s a great place to browse and escape the rain or hustle and bustle of the city. There’s a beautiful cafe on the top floor, and the public restrooms come in handy when you’re in and around Soho.

5-day budget

Transport: €20
Museums: €10
Food: €105
Drinks: €25
Coffee: €10
Souvenirs: €20
Postcards & stamps: €10
4 nights at Celtic Hotel: €244
TOTAL: £444

Your tips? How do you save in London?

Now you’ve seen the ways that I saved on my trip. How do you save when visiting London? Share with us in the comments section below.

The post 21 simple ways I saved on my trip to London appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

There are still lots of budget accommodation available in the area, while the large student contingent, courtesy of University College London, means Bloomsbury offers plenty of cheap eats and entertainment options, too. What more could a Cheapo ask for?

Where To Stay

The Ridgemount Hotel
65–67 Gower Street

One of the few hotels on Gower Street that is still family run, the Rees family are charming hosts (you can read our interview with Aled Rees here). This is a clean and comfortable base for a stay in London that offers excellent value for money. Accommodation is split between private and shared bathrooms. Doubles from £64.

The family-run Celtic Hotel offers affordable rooms with private bath (and a yummy breakfast). Photo: EuroCheapo

Celtic Hotel
61–63 Guildford Street

Owner Rosanna Marazzi is also one of our favorite proprietors (read our interview here) and is responsible for the warm welcome visitors receive at the Celtic Hotel. This traditional townhouse is homely and bedrooms are small but pretty, and exceptionally clean. No wonder past guests have been known to refer to it as their “home in London”. Doubles from £79.

Generator Hostel
37 Tavistock Place, Russell Square

For a different kind of accommodation option, head to this socially inclined hostel. It sleeps over 800 and, while perhaps not the place for those seeking some peace and quiet, it is perfect for those on the look out for something more lively. It’s even got its own nightclub offering different events every evening. Doubles from £60

Want more options? Here’s a full list of our recommended budget hotel picks in Bloomsbury.

Where To Eat

Mary Ward Centre
42 Queen Square WC1N 3AQ

This small but perfectly formed veggie café offers a hearty and healthy pit stop. Prices are extremely reasonable and you can indulge in a homemade soup for £2.15 or a hot main for £4.30. There are always vegan and gluten free options on the menu, too. The café is situated within an adult education centre and opening hours can echo the times of classes, so it’s worth checking ahead before making a special journey there, especially over the weekend.

Gig’s
12 Tottenham Street

Gig’s comes with the recommendation of many, including Aled Rees of the Ridgemount Hotel (see above). It’s been based here since 1958 and offers generous portions of traditional British fish and chips in all their fried and battered glory. You can take away, or eat in to enjoy the charming service on offer from the staff. Its owners are Greek, so expect some kebabs and Greek specialties on the menu alongside the usual cod and haddock.

Sfizio Caffe
35–37 Theobalds Road

This family run Italian café bar will service your culinary needs for breakfast, lunch and evening. It’s all traditional fare, and better quality than many of the “Italian” chains you’ll find around the city. Generously filled focaccie are about £5 and you can pick up a pizza for less than £8. It’s well worth popping in for an aperitivo, served up with tasty finger food between 5 pm and 7 pm every day.

Cheap drinks and no-fuss environment at the Fitzroy Tavern. Photo: Ewan-M

Where To Drink

Fitzroy Tavern
15 Charlotte Street

Samuel Smiths pubs are always worth seeking out for their cheap drinks served in no-fuss environments. In this case, the Fitzroy Tavern’s rich history is simply another bonus. Built as a coffee house in the 19th century, it’s been a meeting place for many bohemians over the years including Dylan Thomas and George Orwell. Who knows whom you’ll be drinking your pint next to?

Calthorpe Arms
252 Grays Inn Road

This Grade II listed pub was originally built to serve traders and shopkeepers and, for a busy area of central London, it still attracts a friendly local crowd. It’s very much a traditional boozer, with chat taking the place of music or TV screen, and Young’s Ales on tap. There’s pub food available, too.

Walk like an Egyptian at the Petrie Museum. Photo: Nics Events

Bonus attraction:

Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archeology
Malet Place

If you would rather avoid all the crowds in the Egyptian galleries at the British Museum, the Petrie is worth a visit. Part of University College London, it’s free and has one of greatest collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archeology in the world, with over 80,000 objects revealing what life was like in the Nile Valley thousands of years ago.

The post London: A cheapo guide to Bloomsbury’s hotels, restaurants and bars appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Tell me about how you came to be running the Celtic Hotel.

I came from Italy after the war. I was a trained teacher and I thought that by working in London, I would learn English. Instead I met my husband, fell in love and that was it!

I’ve been here 47 years, and it’s five years since I’ve been managing the Celtic. My husband and his family have always lived in Bloomsbury, Russell Square. And I loved this area too. There’s the British Museum, Charles Dickens House, Sir John Soane Museum. It’s a very interesting, smart area. It’s full of history.

Rosanna Marazzi is one of the proprietors of the Celtic Hotel in London.

This building looks like it’s full of history too.

It’s Grade II listed. I would think it dates to the 19th century. It’s different to the standard hotel. The way it looks and the way it’s shaped, it reminds you of the past. Some of the rooms are small – in London space is so precious! We think that the three buildings forming the present hotel were a private residence. Most rooms still have the original fireplaces and the lovely high ceilings.

Whilst doing renovations, we discovered some pretty earthenware chamber pots in a partition. They were probably from the early days when ensuite didn’t exist, even in palaces. There are only 14 of them left now, as people wanted them as historical souvenirs. I use mine as flowerpots.

And I can see from the scaffolding outside, you’re doing further renovations?

We’re re-painting and repairing the front of the building and, at the end, it will be complimented with window flower boxes. The interior is pleasant and homey.

Have you had regular visitors over the last five years?

Yes, I would say that we have had regular visitors for many years as they followed us from St. Margaret’s, our previous hotel. Some have become dear friends. In many cases we have the privilege of welcoming the first and second generation of various families. Many people from all over the world call the Celtic hotel “our home in London” as they did for St. Margaret’s hotel.

Is it that feeling which makes the Celtic Hotel unique, do you think?

Yes, and it is the kind, friendly and respectful service we offer to all visitors because we wish them to go away with happy memories to cherish. We have been and are rewarded with a very positive response.

That must help you enjoy your work.

Yes, I enjoy meeting people and working with good staff who share the same attitude.

And finally what do you advise your guests to do in London?

Visit the superb museums, which are free of charge, the art galleries and historical palaces. I also suggest visiting the financial part of the city which embraces the very antique architecture of Roman walls, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, many old churches and striking modern architecture such as the “Gherkin” and the Lloyds building. I’m not keen on the height, but I think the Shard is unbelievable. It’s a very different side of the city, as is Canary wharf.

Theaterland is within walking distance of the hotel and is also on our list of suggestions. After that I say, go and see the gardens because you see history there. We have so many gardens around us: Russell Square, Queen’s Square, Coram’s Fields, Tavistock Square, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.  You walk for a bit and you find yourself in another one. They’re unique. It’s all part of the London experience.

Thanks for talking with us, Rosanna! We wish you continued success with the Celtic Hotel.

The post Favorite Proprietors Q&A: Rosanna Marazzi of the Celtic Hotel in London appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.