In addition to the more common free newspapers handed out on the tube, Cheapos can now get their hands on all sorts of other literature without spending a penny. It’s common knowledge for Londoners, but visitors to the city are often none the wiser. So here’s a quick run down of the city’s free publications available to you:

Daily Newspapers

Metro and City AM are free morning newspapers handed out at Tube stations from Monday to Friday. Metro is available nationwide, while City AM is London only and has more of a financial and city focus.

The Evening Standard accompanies most Londoners home in the evenings and is handed out at tube stations from 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Look out for the ES Magazine, which comes with the paper on a Friday and contains lots of London-centric weekend lifestyle reading.

Magazines

Tuesday: Time Out

The absolute staple for Londoners, Time Out has been going since 1968 and its success has been such that you can now find it in other destinations such as New York, Barcelona and Melbourne. It started out life as a paid for publication, but in September 2012 became free. A bitter sign of the times for the publishing industry, but on the plus side – great news for Cheapos!

The magazine is totally London-centric, including everything from features with musicians, book reviews, neighborhood focuses and, of course, extensive entertainment listings for the week ahead. Pick one up at tube and rail stations in zones 1 and 2 on Tuesday mornings, or at museums, cinemas and theaters across the city – see a full list of distribution points here.

Wednesday: Stylist

One for the ladies – Stylist is the hugely successful younger sister to Shortlist Magazine (see below). Distributed at tube stations on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings, pick up a copy to get your weekly fill of beauty, fashion, travel and lifestyle news for free.

Thursday: Shortlist

The original publication from award-winning publisher Shortlist Media, this weekly mag is aimed at a predominantly male audience, with the latest gadgets, health, tech, sport, fashion and grooming advice, but the excellent journalism and quirky features make it a good read for women as well. Pick up your copy on Thursday mornings at tube stations.

Friday: Sport

Sport-lovers can get their fill of news, interviews and analysis, as well as a look at upcoming events with this free sport-themed publication. Distributed at tube stations every Friday morning, it’s an informative and lighthearted read to welcome in the weekend.

Monthly magazines

Escapism

A relatively new kid on the block, Escapism is the UK’s first free glossy travel magazine and it’s doing a good job of rivaling the more established paid-for titles. While the content mainly serves as inspiration for your next trip, UK-based exhibitions and news are also featured in the magazine and accompanying website. The features are well written and the photography is great; a nice little pick-me-up on a drizzly London morning. Find Escapism at most zone 1 and 2 tube stations, as well as at UK airports and Eurostar terminals on the first Wednesday of every month.

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Luckily, plenty of other local sources can fill you in on what’s happening. When in Barcelona, check out these magazines, mini-guides, and Web sites for what is going down while you’re in the Catalan capital.

LeCool

This magazine and website used to annoy me because it is so last minute (it comes out once a week), making it a difficult source to use to plan ahead. However, I now see its virtues. If you are looking for something to do NOW, then this is the place to check. LeCool features music, theater, art, fashion, clubs, parties, and many other quirky underground events. (No flamenco here.)

Barcelona Metropolitan Magazine

The Barcelona Metropolitan Magazine maintains a good online presence, with daily updates on what is happening in the city. There is also a wide array of very useful articles pertaining to Barcelona. Finding the print magazine is harder and harder these days, but is still found at some English-speaking pubs and restaurants in the center of the city.

Mini-Guide

Available online,  Mini-guide is also found at bars and restaurants around the city. This small guide comes out monthly and highlights the best of the city’s cinema, theater, dance, club, party, concert, museum, and fashion scene. It also lists restaurants and bars (as does the Metropolitan).

Time Out Barcelona

Well, this one may be a stretch because it is in either Catalan or Spanish. But if you are up to the challenge, then buy a Time Out at any newsstand around town. Time Out gives the heads-up on new restaurants and bars in town, along with a very complete listing of entertainment options. It comes out every week.

Catalonia Today Newspaper

This paper covers all of Catalonia. Take a look if you are curious about politics, economy, news, and culture in this region of Spain. The paper comes out once a month and can be purchased at any newsstand. Catalonia Today often has cultural listings and reviews. The paper will give you a more local perspective, as it is meant for people living in Catalonia who have not bothered to learn Catalan (or don’t care to read the news in a language other than English).

Other sources

Other than these options, you can also always consult the daily paper (El Periodico, La Vanguardia, El Pais). Thursday’s papers are generally the best for listing what is happening over the weekend. Ask at the tourist information office for what’s on at Barcelona’s many theaters and concert halls and see if there are any discounts to be had (there usually are).

You can also ask at the tourist information office for information on festivals and holidays that might be going on while you are in town—in Spain, there’s a good chance something will be celebrated, and checking out a traditional festival is a unique experience.

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Budget Travel provides many good tips on where to eat, what to see, and what not to see (we appreciate that the magazine recommends skipping the Book of Kells in favor of exploring the grounds of Trinity College—there’s no need to spend extra Euros for a rushed, crowded experience, especially when there are plenty of free museums to enjoy in this town).

Here are some of the highlights from the article “Dublin on the Fly”:

Irish Pubs, People-Watching, and Day Trips

BT suggests hitting up the literary crowd’s favorite people-watching mecca, Metro Café, and the quintessential Irish pubs Library Bar and Neary’s. We especially like that they throw in some picks for vegetarian travelers, including the amazing-looking Café Fresh.

We also love that the magazine endorses a quick trip out of town. “Trip Coach” recommends a day trip to Howth, where you can soak in the picturesque cliffs and St. George’s Channel. “Trip Coach” also mentions Sandycove and Dalkey, cute seaside towns that are perfect for enjoying a cozy pint while looking out at the ocean. (We recommend day trips to Enniskerry and Newgrange in our Dublin city guide).
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A trip to Dublin isn’t complete without a visit to the Guinness Storehouse brewery, so we’ll be sure to follow BT’s advice and take the tour (tickets cost €15 and include a beer tasting plus a free pint) next time we’re in town.

But Don’t Forget the Freebies…

We’d love to throw in our own Cheapo cents and remind readers that the city is teeming with free activities. We’ve written about free admission to the Irish Parliament and the Dublin Castle. But there are many other Cheapo-friendly ways to spend a day in the city.

Don’t forget Dublin’s literary roots! There are plenty of unique little bookshops perfect for browsing or camping out over a copy of Ulysses for the afternoon. We especially like Cathach Books, which boasts a collection of rare Irish works, and The Secret Book and Record Store (because there’s nothing better than picking up an obscure, old-time record when you’re visiting a new city).

When the weather in Dublin is nice, take in the city surroundings with a nice walk along the river. Dublin’s Liffey Boardwalk is great for a scenic stroll. The boardwalk served as a commercial wharf before the O’Connell Bridge was built in 1795. Now, it’s a perfect spot for admiring the Liffey River. If you walk along the river’s left bank, the boardwalk will eventually bring you out near the Christ Church Cathedral in the city center.

Have any other Cheapo Dublin suggestions? Let us know by posting a comment below!

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