When planning trips to London, one of the first things you’ll notice is how expensive the city can be. If you’re traveling with your family, that expense adds up quickly. Fortunately there are ways to enjoy a family trip to London on a budget. Follow these simple tips and suddenly your trip becomes much more manageable.
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1. GET AROUND USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The Tube in London is probably the most famous mode of public transportation in the world. This is partly because London is one of the most visited cities in the world. In addition to its own large population, that adds up to a lot of passengers.
It’s a good thing that the Tube is so reliable and consistent. The system runs like clockwork. The layout and directions are easy to figure out.
Google Maps helps a great deal when navigating any foreign city, including London. You can get precise arrival and departure times just by inputting your starting point and your desired destination.
You can get information regarding which train to take and when, which station you should head to and which station you will get off of.
Even though you are underground you can follow along and see on the map where you are. You can adjust your departure time to plan ahead.
The best way to access this remarkable system is via the Oyster Card. You can purchase a card, load funds on it and swipe in on arrival and swipe out on departure. Its easy to top up at the various tube stations.
You can purchase the card upon arrival in London or order it and have it mailed to you so that you’re good to go upon arrival. With a family it’s even better because kids under 12 ride free with a paying adult.
Not only do you have access to the tube to get around London, you can also use the buses. The one difference is that you only swipe in upon boarding the bus and not when you exit.
The buses are also a part of London’s extensive and accurate public transportation system. A special treat is if your bus happens to be of the double decker variety.
You don’t have to worry about taxis or any other expensive forms of transportation. Using the public transport system will likely meet all of your family’s needs.
It’s not expensive at all to purchase an Oyster Card. Spending 25 pounds (plus a separate 5 pound fee to purchase the card.) should be sufficient for 4 days or so. Whatever you don’t use will be refunded to you.
Beyond the Oyster Card, London’s public transport system accepts contactless debit and credit cards, as well as mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
These methods offer the same fare capping benefits as the Oyster Card, eliminating the need to purchase and top up a separate card.
Simply tap your contactless card or device at the entry and exit points to enjoy seamless travel across buses, the Tube, and other services.
2. TAKE THE GATWICK EXPRESS
Local transport from the airport is easy to use. Public transport is also useful for transport to and from Heathrow. But what happens if you come in via Gatwick, which will likely happen if you use budget airlines such as easyjet or Air Transat? You may be tempted to hire a taxi or private car.
The better solution is to use Gatwick Express which runs from Gatwick airport to Victoria station. The ride is about 30 minutes or so and is in a clean, comfortable fast train with limited stops. There are ample areas to place your luggage and even a restroom on board.
The travel time into London can be a bear if you use a taxi or private car, but the Gatwick express bypasses all of that hassle.
From Victoria Station you can take the tube to wherever you want to go. An added bonus of taking the Gatwick Express is that select popular attractions will give you a 2 for 1 deal with the purchase of a fare from Gatwick Express, so hang on to your tickets.
Upon exit make sure you don’t use the automated queue which will take your ticket. Exit in the manned gates so that your ticket will be validated and you can hang on to it.
3. SHOP AT GROCERY STORES AND FOOD HALLS
The items that are your biggest expenses when traveling are usually your flight, accommodations and then your food. If you’re going to save on your London family vacation, cutting down on your food expenses will make a big difference.
If you want an expensive dining experience they’re all over and there are many world class selections to make your pick from. However, if you want to be a bit more selective in how you spend your money, especially if you’re traveling with a family then you’re going to want alternatives for most of your meals.
This is where grocery stores and food halls come to the rescue. It really helps to combine this with staying in an apartment or at least in a hotel with a fridge and microwave.
The apartment works best and that will be discussed later. Many groceries have prepared food sections that are very tasty and affordable. You’d be surprised at the variety of foods that are available for purchase.
Even for picky eaters, especially kids, you’ll likely find something that they will really like. It helps to grab sandwiches, fruit or other items that you can carry with you. This way you can have it for lunch or snack later in the day.
You’ll really appreciate purchasing food ahead of time when you find yourself in the middle of touristy area and the family is hungry. Then the only options are places that cater to tourists with the prices to match.
Just replacing one meal a day with something purchased from the grocery store or a food hall can really add up.
One of those meals that you could replace is breakfast. You could be fortunate to have a grocery store with a nice selection of croissants, muffins and other breakfast snacks.
It would be better to keep that in mind when planning your family vacation. Add some fresh fruit and juice or coffee and you have yourself a nice little breakfast and saved quite a bit of money.
4. STAY IN VRBO OR AIRBNB
Hotels in London can get pretty outrageous in price. And if you try to find a budget option please read the reviews first. For the amount that you pay, you would think that it can’t be so bad. However, there are plenty of horror stories of budget hotels in London.
A far better choice is some type of home sharing option. Either VRBO, Airbnb or another option will work very well for trips to London. It’s well known that in Europe, hotels are notoriously small. That’s if they even have room for 4 let alone 5 or more.
If you’re staying for any reasonable amount of time you probably don’t want to be in cramped quarters with your whole family especially if it’s little ones who need their room to move around and play.
Renting an entire apartment is a much more appealing option for the space alone. Then you add in the cheaper price and full amenities of being at home and you have a winning plan. There are trade offs.
You likely won’t get your pool, or room service and some other things. For a family looking to save costs, the things that you do get are much more valuable.
Another hidden benefit is that you often get to stay in residential areas. This provides a more authentic feel as you can get to know the area more as a resident than as a tourist.
During our visit, we were thrilled with both our apartment and the surrounding neighborhood. London’s efficient and user-friendly metro system was a game-changer, allowing us to explore a wide range of areas with ease.
Its convenience made accessing the heart of the city from different neighborhoods incredibly straightforward, giving us the flexibility to stay in a location that truly suited our preferences.
If you’re in a residential area away from the tourist heavy areas you’ll also have better prices to work with as well as better options for the aforementioned groceries and food halls.
5. SHOP FOR SIM CARDS
Communication and data are very useful when on trips to London. One of the easiest ways to get around is using Google Maps for its GPS and its ability to provide routes using public transportation.
There are other options to use to get around, but Google has an excellent service. If you want to use Google, you probably don’t want to rely solely on WiFi. You probably also want to use social media to stay connected. That way, you can send pics and share your wonderful London vaca with your friends, family and followers.
To do that you’ll need dependable data service. One of the best ways to do this is to purchase a sim card for your unlocked phone that you can use while in London.
There are many options but one of the easiest to use and most economical is Vodafone. They have a variety of plans for not a lot of money and a lot of data.
You’ll probably get more data than you will ever need. So you can be comfortable using your GPS service, uploading pics and videos and searching for activities and attractions. You can do all of this and not have to worry about a horrific phone bill when you get home. The coverage is good and the speed is excellent.
6. VISIT LONDON IN JUNE
If you have a family and you want to visit London you know the problem you face with working around the kids school calendar. It’s one of the reasons most families try to vacation in July and August.
Europe then becomes jammed packed with tourists. With high demand come higher prices and just extra crowds everywhere. And that also makes it one of the worst times to visit London.
To alleviate that problem it’s much easier to visit London in June.
You do have to gamble a bit with the weather, but on the upside it’s much cooler and less likely to have to deal with a heat wave. The weather is still comfortable but not too hot. You always have to bring an umbrella to London so not much changes there.
Any time in June works if you can make it fit on the calendar. There may be a tendency to wait a bit after the kids get off of school, but if you leave right away, visiting in June will pay off. It seems as soon as the calendar flips over to July everything becomes more expensive.
7. MAKE GOOD USE OF FREE ATTRACTIONS
For a city as expensive as London, it sure does have a lot of free activities for families. This includes some of the biggest and most well known things that you want to see and do when you visit London. Here are just a few of those things that you can see and do for free:
Houses of Parliament
The iconic gothic buildings that sit on the River Thames and includes Big Ben. You can get a perfect view of the building from the right bank of the Thames or from Westminster Bridge.
Any trip to London has to include seeing this famous landmark and getting a selfie with it in the background. Even kids will recognize and enjoy seeing Big Ben.
Hyde Park
Think Central Park but in London. It’s home to playgrounds, a lake and wide open green spaces perfect for kids. On the western edge of the park is Kensington Palace along with its beautiful gardens. I
f you want to tour Kensington Palace there is a fee, but it’s completely free to see the impressive palace and walk among its gardens.
Markets
London is known for its markets. Among the most popular are the Borough, Camden, and Southbank Centre markets. Besides these, there are many more to choose from. They’re a great place to get a feel for the city and enjoy a centuries old tradition in London.
They’re also a great place to find all kinds of delicious snacks and treats. So you’ll probably end up spending money but at least it’s free to go and sight see!
Sky Garden
Perched high up above the great city of London inside the Walkie Talkie Building sits the Sky Garden. You probably won’t get a better view of London for free anywhere else. They view is just breathtaking, especially on a clear day.
Even on a cloudy drizzly day, the view out onto the city is spectacular. The best part is it’s completely free.
You do have to get tickets and best way to do that is to reserve your spot online. Depending on the time of year you’re going, or the day, they can reach capacity so make your reservations ahead of time.
Buckingham Palace
It costs nothing to see the legendary palace. Actually, the palace is only part of the attraction, as the entire area is wonderful. The massive gold queen Victoria Memorial can’t be missed and neither can the view down the mall.
If you want to go inside and tour the palace there is a fee. You can purchase your tickets here to see Buckingham Palace.
Tip – walk part way down the mall for an excellent shot of the palace with the monument in front.
Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge is fun to cross and great for families. You can take your time crossing and enjoying the view of the Thames River and the impressive buildings on either side.
Museums
Free and especially useful when you get caught in that famous London rain. There’s plenty of world class options to choose from including one of the best museums in the world, the British Museum. There’s also the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery and the Tate Modern.
8. PRE BOOK TICKETS
London is a vibrant city brimming with attractions and activities that draw millions of visitors every year. From world-famous landmarks like the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace to unique cultural experiences and hidden gems, there’s no shortage of things to explore.
If you’re planning to experience some of the most popular attractions while staying within budget, a little advance planning can go a long way.
Start by researching online to explore the wide variety of tours and ticket options available for the sites on your list. Many attractions offer discounts for booking in advance, while others have special deals for certain time slots or group packages.
Comparing prices ahead of time not only helps you save money but also ensures you can secure tickets to must-see spots, avoiding last-minute disappointment.
9. ATTEND FREE EVENTS
London is a city that thrives on vibrant, cultural experiences, and many of them won’t cost you a penny—especially during the summer months.
Throughout the city, outdoor venues transform into hubs of activity, hosting free film screenings in parks, squares, and other iconic locations. These events provide a perfect opportunity to enjoy a relaxed evening under the stars while experiencing the city’s lively atmosphere.
In addition to screenings, London’s calendar is packed with free festivals and celebrations that cater to all ages.
Events like the world-renowned Notting Hill Carnival and the Mayor’s Thames Festival offer a mix of music, parades, performances, and cultural showcases, creating unforgettable memories for visitors and locals alike.
Checking the event schedules before your trip ensures you can make the most of these unique, budget-friendly experiences.
10. SAVE ON YOUR FLIGHTS
Your flight tickets to London will be the most expensive part of your trip. If you can save significantly on that expense, you’ll be well on your way to maximizing your budget.
Begin by monitoring flight prices several months ahead. For instance, our family saved over $3,000 on our flight to Europe, which included a stop in London.
We started our search for flights approximately 9 months prior to departure, found a deal, and purchased our tickets about a month later. Additionally, staying open to flexible travel dates and departure airports can help secure better deals.
For more of the best tips for booking flights to London, click here.
LONDON ON A BUDGET
London is an amazing city to visit and it’s absolutely possible to enjoy London on a budget. Don’t let the reputation of it being an expensive city keep you away. If you plan properly, even if you only have a day to see London, you can enjoy the city on a budget and still have a great time. Before you go to, be sure to check out what you need to pack for your trip to London.
