Top 10 Things to Do in London on a Backpacker’s Budget
Everyone knows that London normally rapes your wallet. But if dropping pounds like an anorexic in the Sahara isn’t you’re idea of a good time, OTP has the skinny on just where to find the best of London on your wanker budget.
One of the quintessential English drinks is a Pimm’s cup made from Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur, ginger ale (or lemon-lime soda) fruit and cucumbers. Most pubs, however, charge around £4 ($6.50) for a glass, and frankly, you have better ways to spend your quids. Instead, grab a bottle of Pimm’s No.1 at the Duty Free (approximately £11 or $17) as you stumble off the plane (never mind that the man behind the counter thinks you’re an alcoholic – just tell him it’s Pimm’s o’clock), make a quick stop at the Tesco for some inexpensive ingredients, then head to any of London’s free parks for a liquid-laced picnic. One bottle of Pimm’s should net you about 16 drinks – or about 70 pence ($1.15) per drink. Big savings, good times.
Soak Up Some Culture
For a bona-fide cultural experience, you’ll be happy to know that many of London’s museums are free and open year-round. Drop in to the British Museum to see one of the largest collections of Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt. The Museum of London tells the story of the city from prehistory to present day and for art lovers, the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Modern will get you some material to draw upon when trying to impress the locals.
The English love their trivia, and almost every weeknight, there’s a pub quiz event somewhere in the city. Most are free but some cost around £2 ($3.20) per person, but, the prize for winning is usually a £50 bar tab. So, have a few pints, play along (at least some of the answers have to be Hugh Grant, the Beatles or the Queen) and laugh at the outrageous team names – OTP’s favorite is Busta Hymen and the Penetrators.
Afternoon tea is a ritual everyone should experience, but paying the usual price of around £35/pp ($56) is straight robbery. Save those hard-earned pounds and instead visit Soho’s Secret Tea Room. Wedged up a narrow flight of stairs over a dodgy pub, this tea room will provide lace doilies, embroidered table cloths and background music from an actual record player – just like the one you found in your great-granny’s attic. At £15 ($24), it’s one of the better bargains in the city for the full experience: tea, scones, jam, clotted cream, six finger sandwiches, a generous slice of cake and a cupcake. You’ll leave full and have enough money leftover to work off all of those carbs should you encounter one of Soho’s spicy Eastern European beauties for hire (since we’re talking prices, expect to pay £20 ($32) for 10 minutes).
Pray off the scent of hooker by apologizing to the man upstairs for your transgressions. Since you likely can’t afford a ticket to Westminster Abbey after paying for a round of hide the purple parsnip, you can attend Evensong at the Abbey for free almost every evening at 5:00 pm. Check the schedule as there can be other events during that time.
Pick through the undead with a trip to Highgate Cemetery. The cemetery is divided into two parts, East (£2/$3.20 for students with ID) and West (£5/$8 for students with ID). Follow your zombie-o-meter to the highest activity (note: Karl Marx is buried on the East side).
For another, more local experience, head up to the Kensal Green Cemetery where you can take guided tours every Sunday from March through October and the first and third Sunday from November through February. Also on the first and third Sunday of each month, you can take your zombie hunt down deep into the catacombs far below the earth. No photos are allowed, but, zombies aren’t particularly photogenic anyway.
If you’ve developed a putrid stench from days of schlepping your backpack through the tube, you might consider a dip in the Hampstead Heath swimming pools (your fellow man will be forever grateful). There are four outdoor pools, either single-sexed or co-ed, and for a mere £2 ($3.20), it’s a bargain for a good wash. The waters aren’t heated but the pools are open year round, so nut up and dive in.
London is famous for its kebabs and every local has their favorite. Amongst the meaty contenders, Best Turkish Kebab stands out for hitting that sweet spot right at the intersection of low prices (around £4/$6.40 for a kebab) and high flavor. Lots of veggie options available also.
John Travolta It
London is sprawling, but it’s perfect for a stroll through back alleys, high streets and tourist meccas. Walking without a destination in mind is certainly recommended, but if you feel like you need more guidance, Walk London developed a network of routes that will take you on whatever quest you crave. Download ‘Stayin’ Alive’ on your ipod so you can boogie down the street like you own the place.
Take Home Some Swag
Unless I heart London purses are really your idea of a great souvenir, you’ll want to head down to Bayswater Road on Sundays to check out the local artists who display their work along the outside of Hyde Park. The prices are reasonable and you’ll have a piece of London that won’t cause pangs of regret when you unpack. The art is varied from typical London scenes to surrealism and everything in between.
Steady your pinky and brush up your high society etiquette, London will never be for the broke. But if you explore around the nooks and crannies, you can almost afford to call it your favourite.
Sarah is happiest when she's sitting on a train, drinking wine, reading Paul Theroux, and ignoring her dissertation.
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Great tips, and great photos!
I actually had a curried kebab in London once – talk about a mix of cultures.
I will use a couple of these tips when visiting with family, we like to budget too:)
What a great list! Now all I need to do is backpack to London…
Eat like the locals, party with the locals…can’t go wrong!