How to Save Money in London Without Compromising Your Trip

London has a reputation for being an expensive city, and TBH, it can be. Between accommodation, attractions, eating out and getting around, the costs can add up surprisingly quickly. However, after spending three weeks in London, I realised that spending your money wisely where it actually matters, while avoiding unnecessary expenses along the way, can make a huge difference to your overall London travel budget.

Luckily, some of the best things to do in London are completely free, and a few smart choices around transport, sightseeing, food and where you stay can help you save even more.

So, if you’re wondering how to save money in London without staying miles outside the city, skipping all the good food or turning your trip into a budget backpacking adventure, these are the London budget travel tips I’d actually recommend.

Save Money Before You Even Arrive

Visit London in the Right Season

If you’re trying to save money in London, when you go can make a pretty big difference. I’d avoid the peak summer months, especially mid-June to August, when hotels can get crazy expensive and the city is at its busiest. It can also get surprisingly hot, and honestly, London doesn’t do heat particularly well. A lot of hotels don’t have AC, and neither do many buses or some Tube lines.

I’ve been to London in both May and June, and I much preferred May. The weather was a little gloomy at times, but it was much more comfortable for walking around, and the city felt less crowded. For a good balance of weather and prices, I’d pick May, early June, or September. And if you’re really looking to save, January–April and October–November are usually your best bet for cheaper stays.

Compare Cash vs. Points for Flights

When booking your flight to London, don’t automatically pay the cash price for your flight. First, check Skyscanner to see what flights are going for, and then compare that with how many points or miles you’d need for the same route.

London is a major international hub, so there are usually plenty of airlines and frequent-flyer programmes to choose from. And depending on which credit card points you have, you might find a much better deal by transferring them to an airline partner. Always compare the two before booking. Sometimes paying cash is the better deal and sometimes your points can save you a significant amount.

Save Money in London on Accommodation

Stay in Central London Using Hotel Points

Staying in central London is obviously amazing, but it can get really expensive. If you have hotel points, this is a great place to use them because you can stay in a central location without paying the full cash price.

Firstly, I’d compare hotels and Airbnbs before booking. Then, if you have credit card points that can be transferred to hotel programmes, check what you can get for them.

Accor hotels like Mercure, ibis, Pullman and Novotel can offer particularly good value per point. If you’re using Marriott or Hilton points, you can also get the 5th night free when you book five consecutive reward nights, which can make a longer stay much better value.

And don’t just pick the cheapest room you find. London hotel rooms can be infamously tiny, so check the room size before booking. If it’s under 14 sqm, I’d think twice! Saving money isn’t much fun if you can barely fit your luggage in the room!

Finally, try to stay within around 500 metres of a Tube station. Paying slightly more for a well-connected hotel can actually save you money (and time) on transport.

Look for Pub Accommodation

Here’s a slightly unusual one: some London pubs have rooms upstairs, and they can sometimes be a much better deal than a traditional hotel in the same area.

For example, you can find pub accommodation around London from roughly £120–£150 a night, while more central options can cost more. So when you’re searching for somewhere to stay, don’t just look at hotels and Airbnb. Search for pubs with rooms too- you might get a great central location for less.

Stay in Zone 2 or 3 to Save on Accommodation

If prices are super high in Central London (Zone 1) and you don’t have points to use, consider staying in Zone 2 or even Zone 3. Accommodation can be significantly cheaper, while you can still get into central London pretty quickly.

Canary Wharf is a great option – you can get to central London in around 15 minutes on the Elizabeth line, and there are plenty of restaurants around. You can also look at other areas along the Elizabeth and Piccadilly lines for well-connected options.

Just do a quick Google search about the safety of the specific area before booking. And check the transport connections too (500 metres to a tube/train station that gets you to central London).

Save Money on Getting Around London

Contactless Cards

London transport is actually surprisingly affordable if you use contactless payments correctly. There’s a daily cap, so once you’ve spent £8.90 travelling within Zones 1–2, you won’t pay more for eligible journeys that day. Buses are even cheaper, with a £1.75 single fare and a £5.25 daily cap.

But here are some important things to remember:

1. Make sure contactless payments are switched on for your credit or forex card if you usually keep them disabled. You can also use your phone for contactless payments.
2. Always tap in and out when using the Tube. Some stations don’t have obvious barriers, so it’s surprisingly easy to forget to tap out. If you don’t, you could be charged a maximum fare.
3. Use the same card or device for every journey. TfL needs to recognise all your journeys as belonging to the same payment method for the daily cap to apply. So don’t tap in with your physical card and tap out with Apple Pay, for example.
4. Travelling with kids aged 11–15? Get an Oyster card. You can add a Young Visitor discount, which gives them 50% off adult-rate fares for up to 14 days. This discount isn’t available when they use a normal contactless bank card.
5. Children under 11 travel free on TfL services when accompanied by a paying adult, subject to TfL’s rules.

Walk More

Save money in London by walking more. Instead of taking the Tube between every attraction, plan your day around one neighbourhood or area and explore it on foot. London is surprisingly walkable, so you can often see several sights without paying for multiple transport journeys.

And trust me, walking isn’t just a way to save money; it’s one of the best ways to experience London. There are beautiful streets, historic buildings, little shops and unexpected details everywhere, many of which you’d completely miss underground.

So group your sightseeing by area, walk between attractions, and save your transport budget for when you actually need it.

Here’s my 4-day London itinerary that does just that!

Save Money on Food

Eating out in London can get expensive quickly, with restaurant mains often starting at £15+. But you absolutely don’t need to eat at restaurants for every meal.

Meal deals: These are one of the best budget options. You can usually get a main, snack and drink for around £5 at places like Tesco, Sainsbury’s and M&S. It’s honestly pretty insane value for London.

Fast food chains: Don’t rule these out if you’re trying to keep costs down. They’re usually filling and can be considerably cheaper than sitting down at a restaurant. Think Wok to Walk, Chipotle, Shake Shack, etc.

Greasy spoons: These are no-frills, usually self-service cafés serving classic British food like full English breakfasts, pies and mash, and jacket potatoes. You can often get a filling meal for under £10.

That being said, don’t spend your entire London trip eating meal deals just to save money! Try some local dishes and treats too. I’d save your restaurant budget for the meals you actually want to remember.

Save Money on Attractions

Be Selective With Paid Attractions

There are so many things to do in London, but entry fees can add up really quickly. You don’t need to visit every paid attraction, so pick the ones that are actually worth the money to you.

I’ve put together a list of 7 paid attractions in London that I think are worth the money, along with a few that I personally think you can skip.

Save Money on West End Shows

West End shows are expensive but nowhere as expensive as broadway. I highly recommend checking out atleast one show on your trip. Some favourites are The Lion King, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Wicked and Mamma Mia! Here are some ways to save money booking a west end show:

1. Compare prices on TodayTix, SeatPlan, or directly through the show’s official website to get the best availability. Please do your research and choose good seats (with full visibility) as opposed to just buying any cheap ticket with partial views.

2. Look for weekday shows: These can often be cheaper than evening or weekend performances.

3. If you have a very low budget and are open to waiting till the last minute, head to the official TKTS booth in Leicester Square, where you can find same-day tickets for many shows at 25–50% off, often with excellent seats. If your chosen show isn’t available at a discount, you can still buy tickets there at face value without paying booking fees.

4. Another good option is to visit the theatre’s own box office on the day of the performance. Many theatres release same-day tickets or returns, and you can sometimes get excellent seats at a reduced price.

Consider a London Pass

If you’re planning to visit several paid attractions and do a bunch of activities, a sightseeing pass can sometimes work out cheaper than buying individual tickets. The Go City London Explorer Pass lets you choose between 2–7 attractions, and they regularly run discounts. Just do the maths before buying – add up the individual ticket prices for the places you actually want to visit and compare them with the pass price.

Do the Free Stuff!

This is probably the easiest way to save money on attractions: do more of the free ones! London has an incredible number of free museums, parks, markets, viewpoints and neighbourhoods to explore.

I spent nearly a month in London and still never ran out of free things to do. In fact, I could go back again and still not get bored.

So if you’re looking for ideas, here’s my crazy list of 50+ free things to do in London– you could easily fill several days without spending much at all.

Final Thoughts

London doesn’t have to be ridiculously expensive. The trick is less about cutting things out and more about spending your money where it actually matters.

Walk when you can, use public transport smartly, look for free things to do, be strategic about where you stay and don’t be afraid to look for cheaper alternatives. And most importantly, don’t try to save money on everything. If there’s a restaurant, attraction or experience you really want to do, go for it!

A little planning before your trip can make a surprisingly big difference to your overall budget, without making your London trip feel like a budget trip.

Have you been to London? What’s your best money-saving tip for London that I’ve missed? I’d love to hear it in the comments!