Can you really have fun in London on a budget?

London isn’t exactly renowned for being the cheapest place in the world to live and, for students, this can be a concern. After all, how can you enjoy a city that has so many amazing opportunities to offer without spending all of your money in the first few days after getting your latest student loan?

Well, first of all, worry not – it could be worse! London wasn’t even on a recent list of the nine most expensive cities in the world, which included cities like Zurich, Paris, and Singapore. Secondly, there are plenty of wonderful ways to enjoy London without having to spend a fortune. Here are just a few of those.

A trip to Borough Market

Borough Market might not be full of affordable delights but what it does offer hungry students looking to enjoy a taste of London is a range of great free samples. If you have a keen eye for a bargain, you can also find affordable gifts to take home at Christmas for your family.

“Sampling Some Sausage” by Gary J. Wood (CC BY-SA 2.0)

If you’re a fan of movies such as Bridget Jones, you will also be excited to know that Borough Market is one of the most famous movie locations in London. So, without paying a penny, you can spend a fun hour looking for the flat Bridget Jones used in the films, and can also keep your eyes open for some of the famous scenes in other films. The market is beautiful to look at and fantastic to watch as it bustles with activity on market days, making it perfect for Londoners looking to enjoy city life on a budget.

A cheaper view than the Shard

One of the most incredible aspects of London is the stunning skyline, whether that’s in the form of the Palace of Westminster, Canary Wharf, or even the Coca-Cola London Eye, which has become a part of the skyline in its own right. Unfortunately, getting a helicopter from the likes of Heli Air isn’t exactly a budget option but this shouldn’t stop you from seeing London from its best angles.

“London Skyline” by  (CC BY 2.0)

Indeed, while there is a great range of wonderful ways to see the London skyline, arguably the most stunning is the Sky Garden, which gives you an equally wonderful view of London as the one you get from the top of the Shard – but doesn’t cost a small fortune. All you have to do is pre-book your ticket and then head up to enjoy the sight of stunning London for free.

A social situation that doesn’t come with a cover charge

Arguably, the most frustrating thing about going “out out” in London on a budget is finding a place to go with your friends. Indeed, if you want to go to one of London’s iconic clubs like the Ministry of Sound, you will be paying a fair amount of money just to get your ticket, let alone when it comes to buying yourself a drink there.

There are ways to go out in the city though without spending a fortune and retro activities like bingo are becoming a big part of this affordable scene. Due to the relatively low outlay needed to take part at clubs such as the Buzz Bingo branch in Enfield, bingo is one of the best ways to enjoy a night out in London on a budget, especially compared to some other social events, including the escape room games with companies like ClueQuest, who charge people around £25 per person to enjoy what is pretty much just a social situation.

London is an incredible city, and these options should help you to avoid blowing all your money in the first week of term while still having a blast with your friends.

Tags: budget, London Eye, London markets, Shard

Category: Entertainment