This is day two of Loving Life With Cass’ second week long series and this month we are exploring the amazing and energizing city of London. Every month Loving Life With Cass will highlight one country, city or region for a week long. If you missed the first post in this series, read it here.

I spent 5 amazing days in London and guess what?! I did it all on a budget! Yes, that’s right, I explored the huge city and didn’t go over my budget. It is possible to fully enjoy an expensive city, like London and this blog is going to help guide you to do so.

Exploring London on A Budget:

1. Plan what activities you want to do.

Anytime you want to stick to a budget you should write out a budget plan and plan out what activities you really want to do and when you will do them. Write out how much you are going to spend on flights, accommodations, food, activities etc. There are endless things to do in London, so pick your top 3-5 and work them into your budget. If you need help planning a budget and your trip, grab a copy of my Travel Planner.

2. Find cheap flights

It is no secret that fights can get pricey, especially when you are hopping over the pond ( aka crossing oceans) but there are some tips you can follow to try and score lower price flights. A great way to get lower prices on flights, or  accommodations, rental cars etc is to book your trip to London in advance. London doesn’t really have an “off” season, but you could find cheaper tickets in April, May, the end of August and September. Something else you could do is to sign up for flight deal member clubs, like Next Vacy or Dollar Flight Club. Both of these companies will send you emails notifying you when there are AMAZING deals from your home airport. They find super great deals and the membership is ridiculously affordable. For more tips on how to find cheaper flights read my blogs post.

3. Skip the hotels and stay in a hostel.

The price of accommodations in London can get pretty pricey, but luckily London is also home to some cool cheap hostels! Your best bet for finding low priced places to stay is to stay at a hostel or Airbnb.  Check out these hostels:

• Generator Hostel  
• The Dictionary Hostel
• Astor Hyde Park
• Click 78
• Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage
• YHA London

Note from Cass: Lately, I have been having a lot of conversations about hostels and learning that a good amount of people are nervous to stay at a hostel. I just wanted to say that I have personally stayed at hostels all over the world and I always have great experiences. When you are booking a hostel, look at the ratings and read the reviews, and then pick a hostel with a high rating and great reviews.

4. Buy your own grocery and eat street food.

A great way to save money while travelling is to buy your own food from stores and local markets. Don’t be afraid to visit a grocery store or farmers market and make your own meals at your hostel or Airbnb. You can also pack a lunch and snacks and bring them with you so you don’t spend money you don’t want to or get hangry. I am a bigger believe in trying new restaurants while exploring the world, and just because you are on a budget it doesn’t mean that you can never eat out. Before you leave for your trip do some research on 1 – 3 restaurants you definitely want to eat at and add them into your budget. London has some delicious and cheap street food, so you can also enjoy some of the street vendors.

5. Enjoy the free activities.

Surprisingly London has a lot, and I mean A LOT, of awesome free activities that are perfect for any age! There are museums, art galleries, festivals, parks, walking tours, historical places and so much more that you can experience without taking out your credit card! Pro tip: ask the staff at your hostel for some free activities ideas that are in the area.

6. Pick up a London Pass and Visitor Oyster Card

For the activities that aren’t free you can purchase the London Pass that will allow to gain access to 80+ attractions for a one time fee, you will also get to skip the lines at all of these attractions and you will get to ride the Hop on Hop off bus for free, so you can easily get to all of the attractions! The Visitor Oyster Card is a reloadable card that makes using public transport in London easy and affordable. London has a great public transit system and it is the way to go for anyone wanting to explore and stick to a budget.

Visiting London, I believe is a must for anyone who loves hustle and bustle of a city. London is possible for anyone and everyone to explore no matter what your budget is. If London is on your bucket list book a consulting call with me today and let’s get you there.

Wishing everyone a wonderful London vacation no matter what your budget is,