Today, many London pubs have been turned into trendy gastropubs, whilst other more modern watering holes have gone to great lengths to achieve an old-fashioned look.

Nonetheless, those pubs that have been carefully preserved for hundreds of years make the perfect spot for any visitor to soak up a bit of traditional English culture and see day-to-day London life in action.

London: 5 classic pubs that we love

Before you head out, read our guide to drinking at a traditional pub in London. Ready to sip a pint? Here are five of the best to kick-start your London pub-crawl:

The Prospect of Whitby

57 Wapping Wall
E1W 3SH

This Docklands pub marks the spot where fishermen, sailors, smugglers and pirates used to stop off right back in 1520. Sadly, all but the flagstone floor was destroyed in a fire and the pub was rebuilt in the 1770s. In the seventeenth century, Samuel Pepys used to frequent this watering hole, hence the aptly named “Pepys Dining Room” upstairs. In more recent years the pub has attracted the likes of Frank Sinatra, Richard Burton and Kirk Douglas.

The Prospect of Whitby is perfectly positioned on the edge of the Thames making it an ideal spot to gaze out at the river and admire the city of London whilst enjoying the comforts of a real local pub.

The George Inn

77 Borough High Street
Southwark, SE1 1NH

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Borough Market and flanked by some of London’s most iconic modern buildings, the George Inn is a perfectly preserved little chunk of old London. The earliest reference to the inn is on a map dated 1542, however, the George had to be rebuilt after the Southwark fire destroyed the original building in 1676.

Today, the George is famous for its wooden galleries that characterize the front of the building. The simple, wooden interior boasts plenty of cozy corners to escape the cold and enjoy a good ale and in the summer months, the enormous outdoor terrace is popular with city slickers and market traders alike.

The Argyll Arms

18 Argyll Street
Soho, W1F 7TP

Ever popular and ever special, the Argyll Arms is strategically located just off Oxford Street, making it the pub of choice for office workers, theatergoers and West End shoppers. Built in 1742, the Argyll received a makeover in 1897 when “snugs” became fashionable and the bar was split up into several ornately decorated little compartments so that punters could drink privately. Several years later regulators demanded that some of the partitions were removed to prevent “unsavory” goings-on and so the Argyll took the shape it has today.

The beautifully etched glass partitions and mahogany bar and paneling even survived the Blitz and the Argyll remains one of London’s most atmospheric pubs. Lovers of ale are also in for a treat as the Argyll boasts some of the UK’s finest cask-conditioned real ales and the selection is constantly changing, giving punters another reason to keep coming back.

The Holly Bush

22 Holly Mount
Hampstead, NW3 6SG

A real treat hidden away in one of London’s oldest villages, The Holly Bush is one of those rare urban locals that manages to transport you far away to a rural countryside hideout. The pub opened in the early nineteenth century but is housed in a building that dates back to the 1640s and the original fireplaces, wooden booths and oak paneling are all still intact and beautifully preserved.

The warm, inviting ambiance of the pub draws you in, as do the many different dynamics going on as you meander in and out of the rabbit warren of rooms. From romantic whisperings on intimate tables by the fire and walkers refueling after a brisk stroll across Hampstead Heath to family get-togethers on long tables in the back rooms, this is a special place that embodies what a traditional pub should be.

The Dickens Inn

Marble Quay
St Katharines Way, E1W 1UH

A wonderful way to enjoy the calm of St Katharines Dock, the Dickens Inn is actually a relatively new arrival on the London pub trail. However, this inn has an interesting story to tell and is certainly worth a visit! The timber frame that houses the Dickens Inn was built as a spice warehouse in 1775 and was sadly encased in brickwork in the 1820s to fit in with the modernization of the dock.

Almost 150 years later architects discovered what lay beneath and, in order to save the building, they had to transport it 70 meters across the dock to make way for a new housing development. The timber frame was painstakingly restored in the style of an 18th-century balconied inn and was opened by Charles Dickens’ grandson in 1976.

Your favorite pubs in London

If you need even more ideas, check out our list of 10 favorite bars in central London. Do you have a favorite pub you’d suggest adding to our list? Tell us about it in the comments section.

The post 5 Traditional pubs in London worth a visit appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Outdoorsy nature lovers comprise one significant stream, as do the literary-minded – above all else fans of Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth.

For all of its beautiful countryside, England isn’t really a fall colors destination, though one overhears plenty of comparisons to New England in the Lake District in the autumn, and these comparisons are fair.

In the autumn months, the Lake District becomes a wet splendor, dripping with fall color and, well, rain. The region cradles the season in strong golds, reds and yellows. It’s captivating yet somehow understated. Tourist numbers dip in the off-season as well, and rates come down from their July and August highs.

Visiting the Lake District in fall

Here are five tips for making the Lake District work for you in the off-season.

1. Boats not cars

When it comes to the lakes themselves, consider opting out of a car rental and basing yourself at one or another lake. Traveling by car will mean getting wet and dealing with navigation hassles. Four lakes can be navigated on luxuriously slow, lumbering cruises.

Windermere Lake Cruises operates on Lake Windermere (limited winter schedule), Keswick Launch runs on Derwentwater (limited winter schedule), Ullswater Steamers churn the waters of Ullswater (limited winter schedule), and Coniston Launch provides tours of Coniston Water, though only through early November.

2. Bus tours – and buses as transportation

Bus tours can be booked by a company called Mountain Goat Tours, which operates daylong tours. In the off-season (November through Easter) the number of tours on offer shrinks to just two, but these are, arguably, the essential two: the Ten Lakes Spectacular (£39) and the Beatrix Potter & William Wordsworth’s Countryside (£35).

For general bus travel around the region, there is the North West Explorer day pass, which costs £11.50 for adults (£8.50 for children) and allows travel on buses throughout Cumbria and beyond.

3. Mint cakes

Get sugared up. The Lake District is known for the Kendal Mint Cake, a block of sugar cooked with peppermint oil that became a favorite of outdoor enthusiasts. Think of it as an energy booster. Or as candy. Your choice.

A cozy scene at the charming Ambleside Inn. Photo: Booking.com

4. Cheap beds

Bed down in the lap of value at The Ambleside Inn in the Lake District village of Ambleside. The rooms are above a successful restaurant and bar that serves locally brewed beers. Rooms are simple but cheery. Doubles begin around £99 per night.

Search for more hotels in Cumbria and the Lake District.

5. Escape the rain with Peter Rabbit.

If the weather is just too terrible to explore, there’s the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness for fans and the generally curious alike. There is a short film, a virtual walk through the surrounding countryside, various displays (or “areas”) devoted to various of Potter’s characters, and a shop and tearoom. Admission is £7.95 for adults and £3.95 for children.

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If you’re thinking of making a day trip from London, you have several options, from using a tour company to going on your own. We’ll help you get there, book your admission tickets, tell you how to get up close to the stones, and save a few British pounds along the way.

The cheapest ways to visit Stonehenge

Basics

Address: Wiltshire, England (8 miles north of Salisbury)

Admission: £17.50 (advance booking required)

Hours:
March 16 – May 31: 9:30 am to 7 pm
June 1  – August 31: 9 am to 8 pm
September 1 – October 15: 9:30 am to 7 pm
October 16 – March 15: 9:30 am to 5 pm

What exactly will you see?

Ancient Stonehenge is a mixture of constructions from different periods: an outer circle bank and ditch, and an inner circle of stones, and the distinctive Stone Circle itself, assembled around 2,500 BC. It’s been estimated that it would have taken around 600 people to carry each of these stones (in contrast to the Spinal Tap version!).

No one knows why these stones were assembled like this, but there are all sorts of theories, from it being for healing, burial, or astronomy — along with a few UFO conspiracies thrown in for good measure.

Yes, you will stand behind a rope with many other tourists, unless you get a special after-hour access pass. Photo: Adam P

To protect the site, there’s a rope between visitors and the stones (unless you apply for “special access” or visit at equinox — see below for details on both), but a new visitor center (opened in 2013) provides context to how these stones have been viewed over their thousands of years of history.

Should you go?

Visiting Stonehenge is an easy day trip from London. But, even with the tips below, it’s not super cheap. Furthermore, some visitors are slightly disappointed when they see the stones in real life — mainly becaus ofe the fact that it’s a busy tourist sight can kill the mystical atmosphere somewhat.

Bearing this in mind, I still find it to be a very special place to visit. Even without knowing why it was made, it’s amazing to realize that you’re standing somewhere that has symbolized so much to so many different people over thousands of years, and that it still has secrets waiting to be discovered.

Stonehenge is located southwest of London.

Getting there by coach: The cheapest option

By far the cheapest way to visit Stonehenge from London using public transportation is to go by coach. There are lots of competitive offers for these organized bus tours. Premium is the cheapest coach I’ve found, offering a half-day trip to Stonehenge — including entrance fees — for £53 (£43 ages 3-16). They, like many other tour companies, also offer the visit in a combination trip that also includes visiting Oxford and Bath. This would make for a really busy day but could be worth it if you don’t have much time to spend in the UK.

There is always competitive pricing between coaches, but be sure to check the small print carefully when deciding, and note that some of the coach tours don’t actually include the Stonehenge entrance ticket in their price.

What if I want to make my own way?

It is possible to get to Stonehenge independently, but it can be more expensive and also requires a bit of planning. Read on…

Ticket options

First, you need to book your ticket before you set out for the site. Entrance tickets for adults are £17.50 and must be purchased in advance.

Free admission: Members of English Heritage and National Trust (the national organizations that help manage the site) get in free with their annual membership. At £49 or £58 a year respectively, it’s probably not worth it unless you are a history buff planning on hanging around the UK for a while.

However, an English Heritage overseas visitors pass might be worth it. At £33-35 (depending on the time of year) for nine days, it allows free entry to many of the different historic properties managed by the organization, including Stonehenge.

One of the Stonehenge buses you can take from Salisbury. Photo: Ed Webster

Getting there by train, bus & taxi

To get there using public transportation from London, you’ll first need to book a train to Salisbury and then take a bus or taxi to the site. The train is about a two-hour journey from London’s Waterloo station and will cost about £25-40 per person depending on the date and time of day (book online in advance at thetrainline.com for the best deals).

However, that only gets you to Salisbury, and Stonehenge is located about eight miles away in an isolated spot. The easiest way to make this journey is by bus — the Stonehenge bus costs £15 (entry not included) or for £36.50 you’ll get the transport from Salisbury plus entry to Stonehenge and Old Sarum, a former Iron Age hill fort that was the original site of Salisbury.

If your group includes four or more people, it might be cheaper to share a taxi from Salisbury instead.

Walking is possible, but you need to cross a really busy road en route. If you want to follow in the steps of our ancestors and arrive on foot, see details here for a five-mile circular walk.

In short, this train-and-bus combo (plus ticket price!) all adds up to a more expensive trip than the coach option, and it includes a lot of pre-planning. But Salisbury also has a lovely cathedral, so if you do want to travel independently, it may be worth considering spending a night there instead of heading straight back to London.

Related: Search for cheap hotels in Salisbury

Getting there by car

If you plan to rent a car in the UK, then you don’t have to worry about the bus or train schedules at all. Stonehenge is located about 85 miles southwest of central London and could take two to three hours to make the drive (more during rush hour).

Stonehenge offers free parking for ticket holders on the grounds next to the visitor center. From there, you can catch a 10-minute shuttle ride (frequent departures) that takes you right up to the stones. If you want a little more fresh air, you can also get off the shuttle early, and walk halfway to the site.

Check out this handy map to see the layout of the facilities.

Getting up close to the Stones

During normal visiting hours, you have to view the stones from behind ropes. However, it is possible to get “special access” to go beyond the ropes, when visitors are restricted to only 30 at a time. You can arrange this through coach companies (for a premium price) or book it yourself (using the form here), although you’ll need to apply well in advance.

Remember that if visiting outside normal visitor hours, there will be no access to visitor facilities, including the gift shop and visitor center, and no hot tea after you’ve been out looking at the stones (so wrap up warm!). But that might make the whole experience even more special.

The Solstices: Free admission for all

Another option for visitors looking for easier access to the Stone Circle is to visit on the summer and winter solstices in late June and late December. On these dates, everyone is free to gather at the stones and communally witness the sunset and sunrise. This draws an eclectic mix of pagans, druids, and those who just like to celebrate this freedom. In the summer it can see crowds of up to 35,000 — another reason to work out how you’re getting there well in advance!

Your tips

Have you been to Stonehenge? What are your tips for doing it on the cheap?

The post Budget tips for visiting Stonehenge from London appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

And despite the oncoming Brexit issue, with the British pound still holding fairly strong against other currencies, we don’t expect prices to be dropping anytime soon.

However, as documented throughout our London guide and our list of the best cheap hotels in Central London, it is possible to live it up in London on a modest budget — with a little planning.

Related: 21 ways we saved on our trip to London

How? Besides the obvious (choosing a budget hotel, knowing how to eat cheaply, and getting around with an Oyster card, you’d be crazy not to take advantage of London’s free museums and attractions. Most of the nationally-run museums and art galleries are publicly financed and don’t cost visitors a pence. There are literally dozens of options from the incredible (and very busy) British Museum to lots of lesser-known gems.

Free is always a beautiful thing, and we’ve put together a list of our 20 favorites:

9 Must-visit free museums in London

British Library
World’s largest library holding an impressive 150 million+ items. Browse hotels near the British Library.

British Museum
A true blockbuster with artifacts from the Rosetta Stone to the Elgin Marbles. Stay close by at these
hotels near the British Museum.

National Gallery
Stunning collection housing works from masters like Cézanne and Van Gogh. Get there early by staying at these hotels near the National Gallery.

Natural History Museum
Earth science hub with hands-on exhibits and millions of specimens.

National Portrait Gallery
See depictions of the most famous Brits in history up close. Find nearby hotels.

Science Museum
Interactive exhibits, historic collections, and an IMAX theater.

Tate Modern
Huge collection of modern art situated in a former power plant along the Thames. Book a hotel close to the Tate Modern.

The Tate Britain
British art, ranging from 16th-century pieces to contemporary works. Nearby hotels.

Victoria and Albert Museum
The world’s biggest destination for design and decorative arts.

The outside of Sir John Soane’s Museum. Photo: Craig Nelson

11 Notable free museums

Bank of England Museum
The story of the country’s main financial institution since 1694.

Imperial War Museum
Framing the British wartime experience from World War I to the present day.

The Geffrey Musem
Focusing on living rooms highlighting furniture, textiles, and decorative arts.

Museum of London
Walk through the entire timeline of the city at this urban history institution.

National Maritime Museum
The world’s biggest collection dedicated to seafaring objects.

Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
Exhibiting 80,000 ancient artifacts from the Nile Valley.

Royal Airforce Museum London
Displaying over 100 military aircraft from historic to modern.

Sir John Soane’s Museum
Quirky personal art collection and effects in a stately townhouse.

V&A Museum of Childhood
Huge collection of toys, games, and clothes in an airy, historic space.

Wallace Collection
18th-century French painting, an armory, and more in a London townhouse.

Wellcome Collection
A fascinating collection exploring the intersection of medical history and art.

The Geffrye Museum is located in Shoreditch and offers a unique look into living room design. Photo: Heather C.

2 Bonus fun and free attractions

The Changing of the Guard
British pomp and ceremony at its best outside Buckingham Palace. Find the best cheap hotels near Buckingham Palace.

The Ceremony of the Keys
Witness an ancient Tower of London tradition. Book way in advance.

More budget help for London:

• Our article on budget tips for London
• What’s Free in London’s list of no-cost attractions, talks, tours, and festivals
• VisitLondon’s suggestions for free London attractions

The post London: 20 free museums in London appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

And now, it’s the UK City of Culture for 2017.

In 2013, the Northern Irish city of Derry-Londonderry was the first ever UK City of Culture. This year, Hull beat out Dundee, Leicester, and Swansea Bay for the title. The UK City of Culture designation is so precious that it is only given once every four years — unlike the European Capital of Culture program, running every year since 1985 (this year split between Aarhus and Paphos).

I recently visited Hull to get a sense of the town in the run-up to its year in the spotlight. There were smiling greeters at the train station passing out guides to the city and banners and posters throughout. There were schedules available as well, packed with events.

A huge chunk of the city center was undergoing serious refurbishment — and some of these renovations are still ongoing. The tourist office gave me a photocopy of artists’ versions of a handful of junctures — among these, Trinity Square and Queen Victoria Square look very attractive.

Looking ahead, a big concert and conference hall called Hull Venue is slated to open in 2018.

Visiting Hull: UK City of Culture schedule

The City of Culture year is divided into four conceptual seasons. January through March (“Made in Hull”) will focus on local ideas and art; April through June (“Roots and Routes”) will examine Hull’s place in the world; July through September (“Freedom”) will take on Hull’s place in the emancipation movement in the context of an ongoing fight for social justice; and October through December (“Tell the World”) will look to the future. Take a look at the full schedule for What’s On.

2017 is a great time to visit Hull. We’ve rounded up a few tips on how to get there, what free attractions to check out and the best affordable places to stay.

Getting there

Hull is about 2.5 hours by train from London’s King Cross Station. You can find fares starting at £15 each way on the Hull Trains website. You can also try Megabus for even cheaper fares but a longer journey at four to five hours.

Free museums

Beyond 2017’s City of Culture events, all of Hull’s museums are free. The city’s museums are impressive and wide-ranging in subject matter. Here are three of our favorites that all sit side-by-side:

The Wilberforce House Museum

Situated in the birthplace of William Wilberforce, this museum is where visitors can learn about the history of the transatlantic slave trade. It also focuses on the life of William Wilberforce who campaigned against the slave trade. There is also an exhibit on contemporary slavery.

The Streetlife Transportation Museum

This museum contains a recreation of a 1940s high street as well as galleries devoted to bicycles, cars, and the railway.

The Hull and East Riding Museum

Explore exhibits covering 235 million years of natural history from Ancient Rome to Medieval villages.

Cheap eats

The UK City of Culture website has a great guide to food and drink in Hull. You can find everything from quality pubs and burger shops to fine dining and vegetarian options.

The Whittington & Cat is a cozy hotel with a pub on the first floor. Photo: Booking.com

Budget hotels in Hull

Accommodations in Hull are surprisingly affordable, from four-star hotels in historic buildings to cozy B&Bs. Search over 100 hotels in Hull to make online reservations. Here are two choices that are great for budget travelers:

Campanile Hotel Hull

Just beyond the center of Hull, this budget hotel has chalet-style rooms and a European restaurant. It’s a short walk from the train station and basic double rooms begin around £47.

The Whittington and Cat

Located by the Railway Dock Marina, this cute hotel is also a pub. Eight cozy bedrooms are uniquely decorated that all come with flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms. Some rooms have views of the Hull waterfront (ask ahead when you book.) You can expect to pay around £65 per night for a double room.

Search all hotels in Hull

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I visited in late summer and everybody’s attire struck me as seasonally appropriate. But it took three darlins in a quarter-hour to teach me that Newcastle’s legendary friendliness was no fabrication. Later, when I found myself sharing a table with people I’d only just met, who then insisted on buying a round and sharing hilariously inappropriate information, Newcastle – just three hours from London by train – began to feel quite distant from the capital.

In the 19th century, Newcastle was one of Britain’s industrial motors, with shipbuilding of particular economic importance. The decline of coal and the protracted collapse of shipbuilding over the 20th century hit Newcastle very hard. In time, the city has reemerged, not without some struggles, with a very different economic base.

Gateshead Millennium Bridge spanning the tranquil Tyne River. Photo: Steenbergs

New attractions

What is so striking to recent visitors is the fact that so many of Newcastle’s star attractions are less than two decades old. The Gateshead Millennium Bridge (opened 2001) is one such attraction. It is a “tilt bridge.” When it rises to allow boats to pass underneath, it doesn’t lift – it tilts.

Just over the bridge in Gateshead are the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art (opened 2002, in an old flour mill) and Sage Gateshead (opened 2004). The former is a beautiful museum with special exhibitions, a great gift shop, two restaurants, and fantastic views. The latter is a concert venue and a music education center. Another key attraction, the Angel of the North statue, was completed in 1998.

In late May, Newcastle’s profile in the US is likely to rise with the launch of a direct flight from Newark on United.

Newcastle is on the upswing, and there’s never been a better time to visit. Here are some tips for keeping Newcastle affordable.

Virgin Train East Coast getting ready to depart Kings Cross in London. Photo: Photo: Aubrey M

Getting there cheaply

From London, you can take Virgin Train East Coast, where one-way fares can dip to as low as £15. Direct trains leave very frequently from Kings Cross station and take around three hours, depending on what time of day you leave. Buy as far in advance as possible to get the best deal.

Non-stop flights are available too, and on British Airways it takes a little over an hour. We found flights on a recent search for as low as £68 each way from Heathrow (LHR).

Learn about Newcastle history at Discovery Museum that offers free admission. Photo: here

Explore free museums

Admission is free to several key museums, including the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art (Gateshead Quays), the Discovery Museum (Blandford Square), and the National Glass Centre not far off in Sunderland. The Discovery Museum is especially good for kids, with information-packed exhibits focused on Tyneside, the surrounding region, and Newcastle.

Get an affordable public transportation pass

Consider a Day Rover pass for unlimited travel in the region. A Day Rover pass will set you back only £7.

This massive sculpture is a modern addition to Newcastle opening 1998. Photo: Psycho Delia

Visit the dramatic Angel of the North for free

Use your transit pass to visit the Angel of the North, about five miles south of the River Tyne. Conceptualized by sculptor Antony Gormley, it is over 65 feet tall and over 175 feet across. Its dramatic, rust-colored presence is striking. It is completely worth a visit – and there is no charge for admission.

Geek out with unlimited video games

In a timelier vein, gamers should visit Newcastle’s Life Science Centre (Times Square) between May 23 and November 1, 2015. The world’s biggest collection of playable computer games, spanning several decades, will be exhibited as part of “Game On 2.0”, an exhibition exploring the culture and history of gaming. Admission at £12.95 for adults and £7.50 for under-17s may be a tad pricey, but it permits access to every part of the museum – and access to all of the exhibition’s playable games.

The Newcastle branch of Sleeperz opened in 2012. It’s a quick walk from the train station and city center. Photo: Courtesy of Sleeperz

Book budget accommodations for £60

The Newcastle branch of Hotel Sleeperz is well located, just a skip from the city’s main train station. A search of upcoming double rooms turned up a fair number of rates at £60 and under. The sleek building offers 98 rooms that are basic but very cheerful. There’s a restaurant and lounge on site, and free Wi-Fi is available to all guests.

Click here to see all hotels in Newcastle available for your dates.

The post Budget tips for Newcastle upon Tyne, England appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Historically an important center of manufacturing and modern industry, Birmingham has more recently seen an extended refurbishment of canals and industrial areas and the creation of a media and arts district in the Custard Factory. Birmingham’s weekend crowds consist mostly of locals, in refreshing distinction to London’s tourist-filled inner districts.

Here are five tips for watching your pennies in the UK’s second-largest city.

1. Traveling by train

Forgive the assumption but you’ll probably be making the 90-minute journey from London by train. There is strong competition on this route, with three train companies offering services between the two cities. London Midland and Virgin Trains operate train services from London Euston, while Chiltern Railways operates a service from London Marylebone. Price tickets on each of these lines, and remember that advance purchases of tickets at non-peak hours (basically, non-commute times) will be cheapest.

Of note: For general advice on saving money on train tickets in the UK try MyTrainTicket.com.uk.

Related: Birmingham Britain’s second city

The Birmingham Back to Backs museum run by the National Trust. Photo: Elliot Brown

2. A guided tour of 19th century history

Birmingham Back to Backs (55-63 Hurst Street / 50-54 Inge Street), operated by the National Trust, consists of renovated 19th-century “back to backs,” or cramped housing organized around a courtyard. The site can only be toured on a guided tour, from £7.25 per adult. If you’re on a serious budget, do not fret. The museum includes a free exhibition exploring the Back to Backs’ living spaces and family histories. The free exhibition is located above the site shop.

The great parlor at Blakesley Hall. Photo: Elliot Brown

3. Plenty of free culture

Completely free cultural venues in Birmingham include the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (Chamberlain Square) and Weoley Castle (Alwold Road). In addition, admission to the gardens and grounds of Jacobean mansion Aston Hall (Trinity Road, Aston) and 16th-century timber-framed Tudor manor Blakesley Hall (Blakesley Road, Yardley) are free of charge.

4. An extraordinary library

The Library of Birmingham (Cententary Square, Broad Street), designed by leading Dutch architect Francine Houben, opened in 2013. It’s a high-tech building with bona-fide green credentials. Its lattice-like exterior decoration provides something of a counterbalance to the building’s basic muscularity. Wonderful greenery can be found in two garden terraces, on levels 3 and 7.

5. Cheap eats & sleeps from £54

The Warehouse Café (54-57 Allison Street) is a tasty vegetarian restaurant, with a £6.95 bulgur salad and veggie burgers from £6.75. It is located upstairs from the Birmingham Friends of the Earth headquarters.

Rooms at Campanile Hotel are modern, en-suite and simple, yet stylish. Campanile Hotel also provides Wi-Fi for guests free of charge. Rates are nice on the pocketbook, too, with double room rates as low as £54 per night online.

Search more cheap hotels in Birmingham available for your dates.

The post 5 tips for visiting Birmingham, England on a budget appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Southern Railway is currently offering excellent value £10 return train tickets on trains departing from St Pancras, Blackfriars and London Bridge, making a trip to Brighton even easier on the wallet. The cheaper fares are on a slightly longer route (the journey takes up to 1 hour 20 minutes as opposed to 55 minutes), but it’s well worth the extra travel time to save those pounds for an ice cream (or two) on the beach.

You can save even further by taking advantage of the 2for1 offers available to day trippers who travel by train. With a little forward planning, you can download vouchers with reduced entry and special offers for a number of Brighton attractions by claiming your voucher here. When you arrive at the museum / bar / restaurant / attraction of your choice, just present your voucher with your train tickets to take advantage of the deal.

Grab a bite to eat or pick up a few souvenirs in the Lanes. Photo: Iain H

Stroll through the Lanes

When you emerge from Brighton train station you’ll find yourself at the top of a relatively steep hill, which you just need to follow all the way to the bottom to reach the seafront. En route towards the beach, a great first stop is to dip into the Brighton’s famous Lanes, which are packed with quirky shops nestled within the twisting, narrow streets. Straddling either side of the main thoroughfare, North Street, you’ll find endless corners to explore in North Laine and the Lanes, all bursting with antiques, vintage clothes, jewelry, music and juggling shops, as well as lots of coffee shops and really tasty vegetarian cafes.

The dramatic Royal Pavilion is a must-see on any trip to Brighton. Photo: givingnot@rocketmail.com

Explore the Royal Pavilion

Carrying on down towards the sea, you can’t help but stumble across the Royal Pavilion—a building that looks like it might be more at home in India, but yet sits proudly in central Brighton. This original “pleasure palace” was built for the Prince Regent (later King George IV) between 1787 and 1823 as a summer house by the sea. It’s lovely to explore from the outside in the pretty gardens, but if you do want to go inside, be sure to print off your 2for1voucher and present with your train ticket to save on the entry fee.

A panoramic shot of the beach and pier. raindog

Hit the beach

On arriving at Brighton’s enormous pebbly beach, you may well be tempted to make like the rest of us during the Great British Summer and rent a deck chair or lay down your towel and have a paddle in the (icy) water. If the weather isn’t fine enough, there’s plenty to do along the beach, with tons of bars and restaurants serving up everything from traditional fish and chips to fine oysters. A nice spot for lunch is the Brighton Music Hall, with a big outdoor seating area where it’s easy enough to get a table even on a busy day, and free live music to set the summer scene. The food is reasonably priced and the Ocean sharing platter comes highly recommended—it’s big enough for three people and gives you a real taste of the sea!

The pier is packed with amusements and rides for kids and adults alike. Photo: future15

Fun at the pier

And before you take the journey back to London, make sure you leave enough time for some fun and games on Brighton Pier. It may be tacky, but who can say no to candy floss by the beach? Some of the roller coasters and bigger rides at the end of the pier will eat into your budget, but you only need loose change to while away hours in the arcade—air hockey tournament anyone?

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Why visit Bath?

The city is dripping in history, for a start. Romans built baths to manage and house the area’s hot springs, though it is believed that these hot springs were visited by Celtic tribes hundreds of years prior to the Roman invasion. Far more recently, in the 18th Century, Bath underwent a building boom. Bath’s distinctive Georgian architecture is a highlight of any visit. The most well-known landmark is probably the Royal Crescent, an impressive set of townhouses built in a semi-circle.

View from the rooftop pool at Thermae Bath Spa. Photo: Alex Robertson Textor

Also pleasing but less dramatic is the very material of most local buildings, a distinctive golden shade of stone, called, rather appropriately, Bath stone. Bath has a good cultural scene as well, with ample theater offerings and museums, including the American Museum, the only museum of American decorative and folk art outside of the United States. (The American Museum takes a break in the winter and reopens at the end of March.)

Here are five tips for making Bath more affordable.

1. First, feed yourself—and well

Make your way to the King William Pub for an outstanding two-course lunch for £13.50 ($22.50) or three courses for £15 ($25). This is very fine gastropub fare at a fraction of what you’d pay for food of this quality at most comparable restaurants in the UK. The food is straightforward and sophisticated, the atmosphere is cozy, and the service is personable.

2. Consider a midweek visit

Hotel deals tend to be found during the middle of the week, so if you can swing a non-weekend trip, you’ll save a few extra British Pounds.

3. Saving on hotels

If you can’t find a good deal—and even if you can—consider overnighting in nearby Bristol. It’s right next door, and it’s quite a treat on its own merits. A real city, manageable and hilly, Bristol has some charming districts; as a Fair Trade City, it also has a conscience. Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa stations are about 12 minutes apart by train, and the standard roundtrip train fare is £7.20 ($12). Check out Visit Bristol for more information.

Relaxing at the Thermae Bath Spa. Photo: Visit Britain

4. Spa plurge for less

If you do decide to splurge at Thermae Bath Spa, one of the key attractions in town, opt for a package. While Thermae Bath Spa doesn’t offer discounts or deals, its packages are less expensive than unbundled treatments. The least expensive package is the Twilight Package, which includes a three-hour spa session, one course, and a glass of wine, beer, or juice at the spa restaurant for a very reasonable £42 ($70).

5. Embrace local commerce at Green Park Station

Open all year, Green Park Station hosts the oldest farmers’ market in England, held on Saturdays from 9 am through 1:30 pm. Monday through Saturday, permanent traders sell decorative objects, antiques, leather goods and other items. The Bath Vintage & Antiques Market is held on the last Sunday of every month.

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Yes, Devon has a wonderful trawl of place names. Over the last year or two we’ve roamed from King’s Nympton to Eggbuckland, from Nymet Rowland to Weare Giffard.

Car-free Devon

If you really want to make the most of any stay in Devon, leave the car at home. The slow train on the Tarka Line to Barnstaple and the market day bus to Chagford tell more of the county than the nose-to-tail traffic on the Exeter bypass — which captured the public imagination in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s as a highway that each summer boasted fabulous traffic snarl-ups.

The bypass has been tamed, and these days the cars no longer splutter in a stop-and-go procession of exhaust fumes. But many of Devon’s roads are still crowded and, in a county that boasts a wonderful range of public transport options, it just makes sense to take the train… or the bus… or even a boat.

The 319 Hartland to Barnstaple bus. Photo © hidden europe

Devon by rail

For rail travel, the Devon Day Ranger ticket affords unlimited travel by train around Devon for a day. It costs just £10. On some routes there are restrictions on its use on weekdays prior to 9 a.m., but elsewhere you can set off at the crack of dawn — even on the first train of the day from Exeter to Barnstaple. Early birds who take the 5.50 a.m. train on the Tarka Line stand a better chance of seeing the famously elusive otters that frequent the banks of the River Taw.

The Devon Day Ranger rail ticket is superb value. Roam from Axminster (on the Dorset border) to Gunnislake in Cornwall — one of two stations in Cornwall to which the ticket may be used. The other is Calstock.

For travelers who fancy a summer evening roaming Devon by train, there is a half-price version of the Devon Ranger ticket generally valid from 6 p.m. It’s predictably called the “Devon Evening Ranger” ticket.

Devon by bus

Devon is blessed with an excellent network of local bus routes. The Cartogold website has a bang-up-to-date network map, where you can use a simple menu (in the left sidebar) to reveal route details and call up the latest timetable for any bus service in the county (and for services from Devon into the three neighboring counties of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall).

Two of our favorite year-round Devon bus routes are:

1. The 93 from Plymouth via Kingsbridge to Dartmouth, a 2hr 15min journey that takes in some of south Devon’s finest scenery.

2. The 319 from Barnstaple via Clovelly to Hartland, a 80-minute roller coaster of a ride that runs out to the bleak and beautiful coast of northwest Devon.

Bus maps and timetables

Check timetables carefully, as some routes run only in the summer season or on certain days of the week. Among the seasonal routes that are really worth making time for are the 82 Transmoor Link service from Exeter to the granite wilds of Dartmoor and Service 300 which plies the coastal route from Ilfracombe to Lynton and beyond — taking in some fine Exmoor landscapes along the way.

If you are planning to spend a few days exploring Devon by bus, it is worth getting hold of the excellent printed timetables prepared by Devon County Council’s public transport team. The timetables and the accompanying map are free.

Boats, too

Devon’s wonderfully indented south coast, where great inlets cut well into the heart of the county, is tailor-made for exploring by boat. The little ferry that shuttles across the mouth of the Exe (from Starcross to Exmouth — connecting conveniently with rail services at both ends) is a delightful ride.

But make time too for the network of routes from Dittisham, Totnes and Dartmouth operated by Greenway Ferry. Last month we used the company’s service from Totnes to Dartmouth. It’s a relaxing 95-minute trip down the River Dart (and half an hour longer if you opt to travel upstream from Dartmouth to Totnes), and the one-way fare of just £3.75 will appeal to budget-minded travelers. The same company also operates services from Torquay to Brixham.

Slow Devon

Many of Devon’s coastal communities have been shaped by their maritime links — and that’s especially true of both Dartmouth and Brixham. The best way to arrive in either town is by boat. Devon is, in short, perfect for devotees of slow travel. Public transport links of the kind mentioned here give an insight into local communities. Take time for Devon. And take Hilary Bradt’s excellent Slow Devon book with you on your travels.

Travel writers Susanne Kries and Nicky Gardner have penned warm words about Devon twice this month here on EuroCheapo. See their comments on Devon’s serenity (13 November) and their article on Exeter cathedral (20 November).

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