Each of these has that special combination of nightly rates at a good value, great locations, high customer ratings and enough essential amenities to ensure that you have a restful night’s sleep. Throw in a free English breakfast and we’re sold!

Our London Guide

• Read all hotel reviews

• Read ways to save in London

8 best budget hotels in London

Need to catch an early train? Alhambra offers a convenient location in King’s Cross. Photo: Booking.com

Alhambra Hotel

17-19 Argyle Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £87

The King’s Cross is filled with guesthouses, but you’ll find a budget-friendly and charming option in the Alhambra Hotel. It’s an especially helpful pick if you are getting into London or leaving super early or late. Breakfast is included in the nightly rate, and amenities abound: there’s free Wi-Fi, safes, coffee and tea facilities, flat-screen TVs, and more. (Read review)

Simple and sweet is the name of the game at St Athans Hotel.

St Athans Hotel

20-24 Tavistock Place
Average nightly rate for a double: £90

Situated in historic Bloomsbury, the family-run St Athans Hotel offers simple one-star rooms (with shared or private bathrooms) at rock-bottom rates. Most of the hotel’s 45 guestrooms share facilities and feature a sink and no other in-room amenities. A few rooms are equipped with private facilities, as well as a TV. (Read review)

Enjoy lush park views from your room at MacDonald Hotel. Photo: Booking.com

MacDonald

45 – 46 Argyle Square
Average nightly rate for a double: £93

Just a short walk from the British Library, the MacDonald is well-located in King’s Cross. Rooms may not charm you with their design, but they are clean and quiet and include TVs, fans, and coffee/tea makers. We recommend the front-facing rooms, which overlook a park. (Read review)

LSE Bankside House is only available in the summer, but rates are a steal.

LSE Bankside House (Summer Only)

24 Sumner Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £102

The LSE Bankside House is a London School of Economics dormitory, one of several open to the general public during summer months. All are well-priced for London, and Bankside has an enviable location next to the Tate Modern. Its 560 rooms are available in single, double, triple, and quad configurations. (Read review)

For a traditional English B&B experience, book a room at Hotel Meridiana.

Hotel Meridiana

43-44 Argyle Square
Average nightly rate for a double: £116

Situated in a smart, old-fashioned townhouse, this family-run two-star hotel has the charm of a traditional English B&B. The 25-room property is located on Argyle Square, a quiet street near King’s Cross Station and the British Library. Rooms are simple, but the location is convenient and the low rates include a full English breakfast. (Read review)

Cherry Court is an excellent cheapo find around the corner from Victoria Station with friendly owners that really appreciate their customers. Photo: EuroCheapo

Cherry Court Hotel

23 Hugh Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £134

With just 12 rooms near Victoria Station, the Cherry Court Hotel is a sweet and simple pick. Guests can enjoy the back patio kitchenette for prepping simple meals, plus a fresh breakfast basket delivered to your room each morning. Rooms and bathrooms can be a bit small, but they are spotless and well-equipped. (Read review)

The Celtic Hotel in Bloomsbury is one of our favorite budget hotels in Europe.

Celtic Hotel

61-63 Guilford Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £140

The Celtic Hotel is one of our favorite budget hotels in all of Europe. It boasts lovely proprietors, great rates, clean rooms, and a central location next to Russell Square in the heart of Bloomsbury. In short, it’s hard to find anything to complain about (aside from the difficulty of booking a room!). (Read review)

Enjoy some quiet time in the courtyard at 72QT.

72QT

72 Queensborough Terrace
Average nightly rate for a double: £194

The Latvian Guest House, also known as 72QT, is a surprising and somewhat hidden budget hotel near Hyde Park in Bayswater, offering 16 simple but well-maintained guestrooms. Free cooked breakfast, Latvian touches, and cheap rooms all add up to an excellent London cheapo stay. (Read review)

More hotel recommendations

Want to read more of our hotel picks for London? Check out all of our listings here, or click to see hotels in South Kensington, Bloomsbury, near Victoria Station, Paddington Station, and near Hyde Park.

The post Best budget hotels in London for 2026 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

While it’s often referred to as a visa, this registration is actually a type of visa waiver, so those traveling to the U.K. who don’t need a visa will need to have this waiver completed to enter the country.

Although this registration is a new requirement, it can be completed digitally. Just make sure you do so in advance of your trip to avoid any delays.

Need help navigating the process? Here’s everything you need to know about the new U.K. ETA.

How to apply for the U.K. ETA

There are two primary ways to apply for the new ETA. The easiest option is to download the U.K. ETA app, which is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. According to the U.K. government, applying by the app takes about 10 minutes and leads to quicker processing.

However, if you are unable to download the app, you can also apply online. Application and processing times may take slightly longer using this method.

What you need in order to apply for the U.K. ETA

Before applying, make sure to have your passport and a digital payment, such as a credit card, debit card, or digital wallet, close by. You can apply on behalf of someone else, but that person must be with you when applying, because the application includes taking a photo and, for people over age 9, scanning the face.

To sum all that up, here’s a list of what to have with you before applying:

• Anyone you will be applying for should be with you during the application process
• Valid passport
• Form of payment: credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay

Cost of a U.K. ETA

Yes, you will have to pay to apply for the ETA. Currently, the U.K. ETA costs £10 (around $13).

U.K. ETA processing time

It’s particularly important to know how long it takes for the ETA to be approved, because you’ll want approval before entering the U.K. If your ETA isn’t completed and processed in time, you will not be allowed out of the passport control area upon arrival.

The U.K. ETA processing may take as little as one day or up to three working days. With this in mind, be sure to apply before it’s time to head out on your trip so you aren’t delayed at the airport waiting for the application to be approved.

How long is a U.K. ETA valid?

Fortunately, if you plan to do multiple trips to the U.K., one ETA is valid for two years or until the passport used during application expires, whichever comes first. The ETA is valid for visits under 6 months in length.

Because the ETA is digitally connected to your passport, if the passport used during the application process expires, you will need to apply for a new ETA. Make sure to check those expiration dates well in advance of your trip to avoid some inconvenient surprises!

Who needs a U.K. ETA?

Every person traveling into the U.K. for less than 6 months, even if it’s a quick pass through the country to another destination, will need the ETA. Each person traveling to the U.K. will require their own ETA, including infants and children. However, one individual can apply for the ETA on behalf of another person, and children ages 9 and under will not have to complete the face-scanning requirement.

The U.K. government website includes a list of countries from which people can apply for their ETAs now, as well as another list of countries from which people can apply for ETAs beginning on March 5, 2025.

What other documentation will I need to travel to the U.K. or Europe?

Travelers from the U.S. will need their passport along with the ETA or a visa (if you plan to work in the country or will visit for longer than 6 months) to travel to the U.K.

Starting later in 2025, anyone from the U.S. (and select other countries) traveling to Europe will also need an ETIAS, another type of visa waiver. You can learn more about the requirements on the official ETIAS website.

More information on the ETA

Be sure to explore the U.K. government website and the U.S. Embassy website for more information on ETA and other travel requirements, then explore our U.K. blog posts for more travel tips!

The post The EuroCheapo guide to getting a U.K. ETA ‘visa’ appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

There are two cross-cutting factors at play. Let’s start with the good news for visitors. The pound is historically pretty weak at the moment, which means that, at the moment at least, day to day costs in the city are roughly comparable to costs in big American cities and most western European cities of note.

The bad news is that inflation is worse in the U.K. than just about anywhere else right now, so prices — especially prices for food and other consumer goods that arrive from the European Economic Area — keep inching up.

10 budget tips for visiting London

It goes without saying that it pays to have some budget weapons in your arsenal. Here are 10 ways to save on your trip to London.

1. Purchase a Visitor Oyster card

The Visitor Oyster card, a contactless smartcard that can only be purchased before you arrive in London, is a great way to save money. It determines the cheapest fare for any given public transportation journey and can be topped up along the way. It also caps fares at a maximum amount per day; for example, if you travel exclusively by bus, a £20 Visitor Oyster card will cap charges at £4.65 per day.

The Visitor Oyster card can be used on all Transport for London (TfL) services: The Tube, bus, tramlines, the Docklands Light Railway, Thames Clipper ferry services, and most National Rail train services within London as well as the Heathrow and Gatwick Express trains. Customers can obtain a refund for partially unused cards. The Visitor Oyster card is a cheapo traveler’s dream, but we’re not going to mislead: there is a good deal of fine print attached to its use.

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

2. Take a bus

If you decided to go the journey by journey route, choose the bus over the Tube. Buses may be slower than the Tube, but they are cheaper. About 95% of London residents live within 400 meters of a bus line: buses really are London’s transit capillaries, penetrating — in particular south of the Thames — in a way that the Tube does not. Bus fares now include an entire hour of unlimited travel.

If you do decide to take the Tube instead, make sure to ride like a local with these tips.

3. Take advantage of the Boots lunch deal

Due to insane hikes in food prices mainstays like Pret and Benugo have become much less affordable than they were in years past. But the Boots meal deal is still a bargain.

Boots is a chemists (drugstore) chain found across the U.K. The Boots meal deal is now £4.99 for a main entrée, snack and drink in London — admittedly more than the £3.99 it was in London just a couple of years ago — but it remains a great deal.

4. Shop for food at supermarkets

If you want to find food for even cheaper, you can always assemble meals on the go from supermarkets. Chains like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Lidl are good for ad hoc meals; even rather posher Waitrose offers up bargains here and there.

5. Walk

London, mostly a very flat city, is an ideal place for walking. (How flat? Check your stair counter on your phone: it’s not difficult to walk 20,000 steps in a day in London and find that you’ve only climbed two or three flights!) Use Google Maps or another customizable map to estimate travel times — don’t forget that London is huge.

6. Camp in the city

Yes, remarkably, you can pitch a tent in London! Crystal Palace Club Campsite in south London and Abbey Wood Club Campsite in far southeast London are safe and secure places to camp. There are also tent sites just barely beyond the borders of Greater London in Aldenham Country Park in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

Regency Cafe, London. Photo: distillated

7. Dine locally

Eat at local cafes and canteens to get the most bang for your buck. Most inexpensive restaurants are outside of central London, though even in the center, there are bargains to be had. For example, at Regency Café (17-19 Regency Street SW1P 4BY), the weekly curry is £6.20, the breakfast set is £5.50 and a veggie burger is £2.60.

8. Explore free museums

The best-known London museums are mostly free. Yes, you read that correctly. Permanent collections are always free at the Design Museum, the Museum of London, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Tate Modern and the Victoria & Albert, among other museums. The London Transport Museum is free to everyone under 17.

Just remember that some museums may require you to reserve time slots before you visit, even if tickets are free. Check the museum website before visiting to avoid being turned away at the door.

9. Score free and discounted theatre tickets

How to do theatre on a budget? I asked my friend Derek Craig, an avid theatre-goer, to weigh in. He suggested Seat Fillers, which offers free tickets — or tickets for the cost of booking fees only — to everyone. Another route to free (or hugely discounted) theatre tickets is The Audience Club.

10. Book budget hotels in London

Use EuroCheapo to book inexpensive hotels in London, from our favorite cheap hotels in central London to the best hostels around the city. (Did you think we weren’t going to sound our own horn?)

Ready to book your trip? Search for thousands of hotels in London.

The post 10 budget tips for visiting London appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

From the big name galleries to smaller art initiatives, entry fees have been waived across the capital so even if you’re sticking to cheap eats, you can still do high-end luxury when it comes to art. Here are our favorite free art museums in London.

London’s free national museums

All London’s national museums offer free entry, so whether you’re opting for a quick dose of artistic inspiration while taking cover from the rain, or you plan to spend all day admiring some of the world’s best loved paintings, you won’t need to spend a penny. Do be warned that some of the temporary exhibitions charge an entry fee and that you may well need to book in advance, but the permanent collections are always free.

National Gallery

A good place to start is at the National Gallery. Located in a beautiful building overlooking Trafalgar Square (tube: Leicester Square or Charing Cross), the gallery houses an impressive collection of more than 2,300 Western European paintings from the 13th to early 20th centuries. Here you can admire a historic Botticelli or a forward-thinking Van Gogh, taking in everything from Michelangelo and Rembrandt to Monet, Velazquez and Goya as you go. If you’re looking to delve beyond the paintings, check out the National Gallery’s upcoming free events.

National Portrait Gallery

Just around the corner, don’t forget to stop by at the National Portrait Gallery. Here you can peruse the largest collection of portraits in the world, from Tudor and Elizabethan portraits, through to contemporary works such as the painting of Kate Middleton.

Tate Collections

A trip to London just wouldn’t be complete without visiting at least one of the famous Tate collections. The Tate Britain in Millbank (tube: Pimlico or Westminster) is a celebration of British art, with paintings ranging from the 1500s to the present day. Expect to see works by the likes of Turner (the museum also runs the famous annual Turner Prize), as well as William Blake and more modern pieces by Tracey Emin.

In turn, the Tate Modern is found across the river and housed in the austere-looking former Bankside Power Station (tube: Southwark, Bankside or London Bridge). As the name suggests, the museum focuses on an impressive collection of contemporary art, both British and international, from the 1900s to the present day.

Saatchi Gallery

For something a bit more offbeat, head to London’s Saatchi Gallery, where Cheapos can peruse innovative, unseen contemporary art without parting with a penny. The museum is located on King’s Road, in the well-heeled borough of Chelsea (tube: Sloane Square), and aims to bring new and unsung artists into the limelight in the UK. The ground-floor exhibitions are typically free, but some exhibitions do require advance booking and an entry fee.

Serpentine Gallery

A trip to Hyde Park can also be given an artistic touch by popping into the beautiful Serpentine Galleries in Kensington Gardens (tube: Lancaster Gate, South Kensington or Knightsbridge). These modern and contemporary art spaces also showcase fantastical feats of architecture when a different architect is challenged to design the Serpentine Pavilion each summer.

Away from the traditional galleries

London’s artistic offering does not just have to be enjoyed inside the more formal, traditional art galleries.

If your trip to London coincides with the first Thursday of the month, then make it your mission to attend the Whitechapel Gallery’s First Thursdays, which sees East London galleries and museums stay open until 9 p.m. with special exhibitions, talks and events. Get informed by joining a walking tour led by an artist or curator or visit the top five exhibitions on the free art bus.

Or, why not support London’s rising artistic talents by visiting a degree show? University College London’s Slade School of Fine Art is one of the most highly acclaimed art schools in the world, and throughout May and June each year, the doors are opened to the public for the undergraduate and postgraduate degree shows. It’s free and well worth a look – you never know, you may just bump into a star of the future.

The post London: Our favorite free art museums and galleries appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

These oh-so-easy to make errors can add up over the course of a trip and make a serious impact on your wallet — not to mention your enjoyment. To make the most of London like a true Cheapo, be sure to avoid these 10 costly mistakes:

1. Not getting an Oyster card

Just getting around town is expensive in London. And, do you know what’s really cruel? It tends to cost tourists more. That’s because Londoners who regularly take the Tube use Oyster cards. These are like travel credit cards, and they charge a cheaper rate for tickets than just buying them as you go. Sometimes an equivalent journey without an Oyster card can be more than double the price!

Oyster cards are easy to get hold of, you’ll just need to pay a small deposit (which is refundable). Find out more about them here.

2. Taking the Tube for every trip

And while we’re on the subject of travel, don’t think you have to travel everywhere on the London Underground Tube network. It’s easy to get between most central London attractions on foot (not to mention a lot more interesting).

If that’s not an option, London buses are considerably less expensive than the Tube and just as user friendly (the name of the stops are always announced and come up on a screen). They’re better for those traveling with wheelchairs and strollers, too. (Here’s a list of 5 bus routes every tourist should know.)

The Tower of London might be an icon, but it also costs £24.50. However, if you do go, make sure to book ahead. Photo: Craig Nelson

3. Trying to do too much

London is huge! And there’s so much to see. You’ll never see it all in one trip, so don’t make the mistake of trying to cram it all in. Rushing from one expensive attraction to another is a sure-fire way to lose money and lose out on some of the city’s fun.

Plan the essentials and leave the rest to chance. Sunny day? Have a wander around one of the city’s great parks, maybe, or check out a market. Rainy day? Pop into a free museum. London is better when you don’t try and keep up with the city’s frantic pace.

4. Not booking ahead for the big attractions

Having said that, for the really big attractions that you know you don’t want to miss out on, it’s always best (and often cheaper!) to book ahead. Many, including the Tower of London, Madame Tussaud’s, the London Eye and London Zoo, are all cheaper when you book online ahead of your visit.

Related: Top budget hotels in London

Celtic Hotel offers an optimal Bloomsbury location with low rates and free breakfast. Photo: Craig Nelson

5. Staying in a hotel way outside the center

We’ve all been there: deciding to go for accommodation that’s slightly cheaper but not so well located. Honestly, in London that’s a false economy. Staying more centrally doesn’t only save you travel time, it means that you can most likely walk, or at least bus it, to the central locations.

For budget friendly, centrally located accommodations, check out our favorite hotels in the Bloomsbury neighborhood, near Victoria Station, or Bayswater, for starters.

Search London hotels now

Know your travel dates? Find hotels for your budget now through our reservation partner, Booking.com

6. Tipping too much

Britain is not a nation of tippers and applying some of British tipping habits will really help your wallet.

• Eating out? Look at the check to see if a service charge has already been added. If not, a tip of around 10% is normal (and that’s only if you have been happy with the service).

• Getting a taxi? Round it up to the nearest pound.

• In a bar? It’s quite rare to tip, although you may offer to buy the bartender a drink.

Of course if you want to reward exceptional service with a more generous tip, it will always be appreciated. However, in the vast majority of cases, tipping is really seen as a bonus.

Victoria & Albert Museum is not only the world’s biggest destination for design and decorative arts. It’s also free! Photo: mk30

7. Not making the most of the free attractions

Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London may leave you feeling culturally enriched – they’ll also leave you considerably poorer. But famous doesn’t always have to mean pricey.

Many of London’s popular museums are free and it’s definitely worth making the most of them, whether it’s hanging out with the Egyptian mummies and the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum, or marveling at the contemporary art and architecture at Tate Modern. Take a look at the list of 20 free museums here.

8. Being ripped off for food

Microwaved meals and soggy pasta is all-too-often dished up to unsuspecting tourists. Finding well prepared, decently priced food in many of London’s tourist areas can be a huge challenge.

If available options look suspect, head to one of London’s better chains. The following all offer tasty food for around £10-15: Wagamama (noodles), Wahaca (Mexican), Franco Manca (pizza), and Byron Burger (as the name suggests, burgers).

Markets are also a good option for foodies (especially for the free samples). Check out this list of our favorite food markets. As well as Borough and Maltby Street, check out many of the street markets such as KERB, a regular near King’s Cross.

Don’t overlook supermarkets for picking up snacks or even all the fixings for a cheap dinner. Tesco Express is a popular choice. Photo: Ewan Munro

9. Not using the supermarkets

Eating out in London all the time gets expensive quickly, but eating in is relatively cheap. Even if you’re staying in a hotel, it’s always worth popping into a supermarket for a lunch or a snack (check out our guide to supermarkets here). They’ll always have a good range of food to go, at a great price.

10. Overlooking discounts

Having an International Student Identity Card can make a huge difference to your stay and can offer discounts of between 20% to 50% on entrance tickets. If you’re not a student but still under 31, an International Youth Travel Card offers similar reductions. Similarly, seniors should ask about discounted admission to most big attractions and museums.

Your tips?

Have a tip to add to our list of mistakes to avoid when visiting London? Share with us in the comments section below!

The post Visiting London? Avoid these 10 costly mistakes appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

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.

Londoners may frequently grumble about the Tube, but there’s lots to love about it — including that it makes this big city much more navigable.

However, before you hop on board, there are a few written (and unwritten) rules that you should know about, so you can ride the Tube like the locals do.

London Tube tips to ride like a local

These tips will save you money, time and gain you the unspoken appreciation of your fellow passengers.

1. Don’t use the Tube in central London

Locals know that in central London it’s often easiest not to take the Tube. Getting the bus or even walking may be quicker and more direct — not to mention cheaper. This is a handy list of stops where it’s quicker to walk than to change tubes. Take note of the Covent Garden/Leicester Square/Piccadilly Circus/Charing Cross and Embankment one to feel extra smug around fellow Tube-reliant visitors.

Related: Top budget hotels in London

Use an Oyster card wisely and you’ll save a plethora of pounds. Photo: Mikey on Flickr

2. Play your Oyster or credit card right

Visitors may want to get an Oyster travel card for the cheapest Tube fares. You can read all about our guide to Oyster cards here.

Another option is using a contactless payment card to travel on the London transport network for the same price as an Oyster card. Just check with your card provider first that you can do so without incurring a transaction fee.

3. Don’t rely on the Tube 24/7 (on most nights)

The Tube doesn’t run 24 hours a day, so don’t rely on it to get you to that early morning train. (Note: A “night tube” was launched in September 2015 for certain lines on Friday and Saturday nights.)

Times vary from line to line, but most open shortly after 5 a.m. and close again before 1 a.m. The time of the first and last train should be displayed at each tube station. For public transit outside these hours, you’ll need to rely on the night bus services.

Related: How to save on Tube and bus tickets in London

Don’t even try to get on during the morning scrum on the Tube. Photo: Ted Sullivan

4. Avoid traveling during rush hour

Why on earth would you want to squeeze yourself into a carload of grumpy Brits during morning rush hour if you have the leisure of waiting a bit? Need another reason to wait to jump on board? It’s cheaper to travel after 9:30 a.m., too. Relax — have a coffee, then travel “off peak.”

5. Let everyone off before boarding

The train has pulled into the station. We know you’re eager to get onto the train, but don’t push your way in the second the doors open. Let everyone who wants to exit the train get off before getting on (admittedly this principle gets a little stretched at very busy times).

6. Be prepared to give up your seat

You shouldn’t need us to tell you, but consider this a gentle reminder to give up your seat on the Tube to someone who looks like they need it more than you — most expectant mothers will wear a “Baby on Board” badge — and take a look around before you throw yourself onto the last remaining seat in a carriage.

This being Britain, we’ll just glare, and perhaps mutter under our breath rather than simply saying if someone really does need a seat. But we always appreciate being offered one.

7. Move down!

Try not to stand by the doorways of the trains. Chances are there are plenty more people who’ll want to get on at the next stop. The same goes for the station platforms, too. The entrance to a Tube platform is not the best place to stop with your case and pull out your Tube map if you want to make new London friends. And when you get off, keep an eye out for directional signs to show you the nearest exit.

8. Everybody always gets off at your stop

It’s really busy and they announce your tube stop. You leap to your feet and start trying to make your way to the door so you don’t miss it, right? Rookie error. Chances are half the carriage will also be getting off at your stop, and trying to get there in advance is not only pointless but the pushing required will also wind up and frustrate most of the car.

Wait until the train gets to the station, then try and make your way to the exit (and then any pushing is, of course, fully justified).

9. Stand on the right. Walk on the left.

Perhaps the London Tube’s most sacred rule: When standing on an escalator, stand to the right; if you want to walk up or down it, do that along the left-hand side. Sorry, suitcases/friends/loved ones you want next to you will not be tolerated — it’s single file only. Londoners are so well-trained that you’ll probably catch us doing this on department store escalators too.

10. Keep it down

Shhh…  for a place that’s so busy and vital to the city, the Tube can be eerily quiet. Don’t take that as your cue to fill the void with noise. It’s not that we’re unfriendly; it’s just easier this way. Playing loud music, of course, is definitely a no-no and probably goes without saying. And going without saying is definitely one of a London tube traveler’s favorite things…

Your tips on the London Tube?

Do you have any tips for riding the Tube like a local? Share in the comments below.

The post London: 10 tips for riding the Tube like a local 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.

The post 5 tips for visiting England’s Lake District in autumn appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

With its university, literary links that stretch from Alice in Wonderland to Harry Potter, and its quintessentially English pursuits, such as punting on the river, it’s easy to see why Oxford has charmed many.

The city is small enough to explore on foot but large enough that you can spend a few days without getting bored.

More UK tips:
• How to visit Stonehenge on a budget 
• When (and when not) to tip in Britain
• A London seaside escape: A low-cost guide to Margate

Oxford budget tips

What’s the downside? Well, because of its popular attractions and proximity to London, Oxford is not always a cheap city to visit. But we’ve pulled together a few tips so you don’t have to lose out and to help make a stay a bit more affordable.

How to get there

Oxford is well served by public transport. You can take the airline bus from Heathrow (£23 single) or Gatwick airport (£28 single) directly to Oxford. Services run throughout the night too.

If you are traveling from London, there are regular trains from Paddington station, which take about an hour. However, a cheaper option is to take a bus. The Oxford Tube picks up from Victoria, Marble Arch, Notting Hill and Shepherd’s Bush, while the X90 picks up from Victoria, Marble Arch and Baker Street. Both take around 1 hour 40 minutes and cost around £15 for a round-trip ticket.

When to go

Oxford is charming all year round. But, for the cheapest deals, try and avoid the boom months of July and August and, whenever you go, book your hotel well ahead of time.

What to see

The great news for budget travelers is that Oxford historic center is best explored on foot. There’s a lot of pleasure to be had from wandering its twists and turns. Keep your eyes open for the Bridge of Sighs, so named because of its supposed resemblance to the Venetian original.

Free walking tours
Learn more about Oxford by taking one of the free walking tours available from Footprint Tours. Running several times every day of the summer months, they take about two hours. Even better: once finished you get a sticker entitling you to discounts in several Oxford places.

Visiting the colleges
Another must-see is the colleges that form Oxford University and give the city its unique feel. With 38 in total, you’ll never see them all, so pick carefully. Only some colleges allow entry to tourists and many charge admission. Christ Church is the most well-known — especially as its dining hall and grand stairs inspired the look of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films — but it’s also the most expensive to visit, costing £10 entrance at peak times (July and August).

If you want to get a sense of an Oxford college, but aren’t so fussed about which, All Soul’s, Corpus Christi and Lincoln College are all free to enter and have gorgeous buildings and grounds. You can see a full list of colleges, opening hours and charges here.

Books, books, and more books
The Bodleian Library is one of Oxford’s star attractions and a bibliophile’s dream, containing over 11 million printed items. You need to take a tour to enter, however, and a standard 60-minute tour is £9, with no concessions available. Taking the 30-minute ‘mini’ tour for £5 instead is a slight saving or you can upgrade for a 90-minute tour for£15. All tours are first come, first served.

Missed out on the Bodleian? Booklovers can seek consolation in Blackwell’s bookshop. It stocks over 200,000 titles – browsing is free, but we won’t be accountable for the amount spent on books!

Visiting free museums
A boon for budgets travelers is Oxford’s excellent free museums. The Ashmolean Museum has an amazing collection, spanning everything from Anglo-Saxon discoveries to modern Chinese art. For a more esoteric experience, check out the Pitt Rivers Museum, a unique collection of archeological and anthropological items. Modern Art Oxford caters for more contemporary tastes.

Where to eat

Head to the city’s historic covered market for top budget eats. There you’ll find Pieminister selling deliciously filling British pies. A traditional steak and ale treat costs £5; sides such as mashed potato and mushy peas are extra.

Order up a pie with minty peas, mash and gravy from Pieminister. Photo: Dani Lurie

Another option is the takeaway-only Alpha Bar, where it’s possible to grab lunch for around £5. Specializing in sandwiches and salads, they also have daily warm specials like a tasty-sounding lamb shoulder.

Finally, for those with a sweet tooth, swing by Ben’s Cookies for generous cookies, priced by weight. Warm from the oven, they’re at their best eaten fresh and gooey.

Outside of the market, Mission Burrito has a couple of locations in Oxford, and a satisfying burrito costs under £6. Also worth checking out is The Companion Café and Bread Bar. It’s slightly pricier but does delicious breakfast and sandwiches using the local Natural Bread Company’s own sourdough.

Where to drink

For a drink in a pub that has plenty of stories to tell, seek out the Turf Tavern — its foundations date back to the 13th century and, rumor says it’s where Bill Clinton famously didn’t inhale. The pub itself is a charming, low-ceilinged affair, with a large outside area. With a well-priced selection of drinks and free Wi-Fi, it’s a definite winner.

The Jam Factory’s previous life was as a factory where Frank Cooper’s marmalade was made. It’s now an arts center with its own restaurant and bar and has a happy hour on drink every day from 3 pm until 7 pm. As a bonus, take one of the many classes or even join the scrabble group that meets here regularly.

Where to stay

Just like finding a cheap room in London, Oxford can be a bit tricky to find a good hotel at a good price. But there are several options, from affordable bed and breakfasts to popular hostels with dorm beds and private rooms. Search over 80 hotels in Oxford to find the best rates. Just remember to book as far in advance as possible, as the best deals fill up fast.

A few of our picks include:

Golden Cross Guesthouse
This charming stay is a nice choice for those Cheapos willing to share a kitchen and a bathroom. Select rooms come with views of the city, and the hospitable owners make for a friendly stay.

Lake Street Accommodation
These family-run apartment-style rooms score high with visitors. The neighborhood location puts you close to a lovely footpath when you want some fresh air. A double room with a private bathroom goes for just over $100 per night.

Central Backpackers
If you don’t mind sharing a dorm room, you can stay at this popular hostel for around $20. It’s located in the city center and has a rooftop terrace.

Another way to get a taste of Oxford life is to stay in a college overnight. Many rooms in Oxford colleges are available outside term time, at prices starting at £30 a night. Book in advance and avoid the weekend for the cheapest stay. Check out University Rooms Oxford for more information.

Have you been to Oxford? What are your budget tips?

The post Budget guide for visiting Oxford, England appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

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.